Written Answers of 11 March 1997

ENVIRONMENT

  Sewage (UV Disinfection)
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of sewage plants with ultra violet light disinfection treatment, indicating the relevant water and sewerage company. [18777]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency has provided the following list of the locations of sewage plants with ultra violet light disinfection treatment:

  Location

  South West Water

  Lyme Regis

  Exmouth

  Menagwins (St. Austell)

  St. Columb Major

  Southern Water

  New Romney (Littlestone)

  Dymchurch

  Camber

  Anglian Water

  Cleethorpes (Newton Marsh)

  Mablethorpe

  Wells-next-to-the-Sea

  Heacham

  West Mersea

  North West Water

  Newbiggin

  Askham-in-Furness

  Silloth

  Welsh Water Dwr Cymru

  Newgale

  Aberystwyth

  Llanelli (Bynea)

  Tywyn/Aberdyfi

  Criccieth

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the percentage of sewage treated by ultra violet light disinfection for each water and sewerage company. [18778]

  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency has provided the following estimates of the percentage of sewage treated by ultra violet light disinfection for each water and sewerage company:South West Water, 2.9 per cent.; Southern Water, 0.3 per cent.; Anglian Water, 2.9 per cent.; North West Water, less than 0.1 per cent.; and Welsh Water Dwr Cymru, 4.7 per cent.

  Sewage Discharge
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines govern the prosecution of breaches in discharge consents. [18780]
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  Mr. Clappison
  The Environment Agency follows the code for Crown prosecutors and the Attorney-General's guidelines on criteria for prosecutions. Specific prosecution policies are under development. Currently, in respect of prosecution for breaches of discharge consents, the agency follows procedural guidance adopted by the National Rivers Authority.

  Departmental Web Site
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department established its Internet site; what representations he has received and what data he has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps he is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19149]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The Department of the Environment's Internet site was established in late 1994. The average weekly accesses are 8,500 from a wide cross-section of users both at home and overseas. My Department has received no representations on its use of the Internet. We view the Internet as an important means of augmenting the provision of information in all areas of the Department's responsibilities. My Department is looking at increasing the availability of information on the Internet as part of its normal publishing procedures.

  Water Safety
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that in each water company area in England the water is safe to drink. [19305]

  Mr. Clappison
  The main task of the drinking water inspectorate is to check that water companies supply wholesome drinking water and in doing so comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, as amended. The results of the inspectorate's checks are published in its annual reports. The inspectorate also investigates incidents which adversely affect, or threaten to affect, drinking water supplies. Local authorities can also carry out their own monitoring.

  Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the current remuneration of the chief executive of the QEII Conference Centre; and what was the figure in(a) March 1996 and (b) March 1995; [19577]

  (2) if the remuneration of the (a) chief executive and (b) senior management of the QEII Conference Centre will be linked to the profitability of the centre following the change to trading fund status; and who is responsible for determining remuneration levels and benefits packages. [19576]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  I have asked the chief executive of the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre to write to the hon. Member.
  119
  Letter from M. C. Buck to Mr. Gordon Prentice, dated 10 March 1997:

  1. Current: £50,000 per annum + up to 15% bonus based on performance, paid in a lump sum, not pensionable.

  2. March 96: £46,588 per annum + up to 10% bonus based on performance, paid in a lump sum, not pensionable.

  3. March 95: £45,764 per annum + up to 10% bonus based on performance, paid in a lump sum, not pensionable.

  The Chief Executive is a member of the Senior Civil Service, and his pay is not linked to the profitability of the Centre. The Chief Executive is not a member of the Centre's Pay and Grading Scheme, or entitled to receive any bonus earned by all Centre staff.

  The DOE is responsible for determining the Chief Executive's pay and bonus, under the terms of his contract.

  The Directors' are members of the Centre's Pay and Grading scheme, as are all staff with exception of the Chief Executive.

  They therefore are linked to the profitability of the Centre. However the amounts payable are capped by the constraints of the Centre's Pay and Grading Scheme.

  The Chief Executive is responsible for the operation of this scheme.

  The total amount payable to the Centre's staff is subject to approval from the Secretary of State.

  Art (Open Spaces)
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which organisations he consults on the effectiveness of his Department's policies to encourage greater provision of art in open spaces; [19655]

  (2) whom he consults when evaluating the provision of (a) fountains, and (b) other types of sculptures using water in public open spaces. [19656]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  These are matters essentially for local decision. Only exceptionally would the Secretary of State be asked to comment.

  Port of Tilbury (Ammonium Nitrate)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the findings of the Health and Safety Executive, following its visit to the port of Tilbury in February to examine the unloading and storage of ammonium nitrate. [19853]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The port of Tilbury was visited by two inspectors form the HSE's chemical and hazardous installations division on 4 February 1997. Ammonium nitrate was being stored in bulk in a dedicated warehouse towards the centre of the port complex. No unloading was taking place at the time of the visit. The storage arrangements were considered satisfactory and in accordance with published HSE guidance.

  Countryside Commission
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 March,Official Report, column 467, if he will list the changes he is making to the consultants' report to the Countryside Commission before placing it in the Library. [19734]
  120
  Mr. Clappison
  The Countryside Commission has amended the original report on the A36 Salisbury bypass, prepared by the consultants Novell Tullett. The two changes are:

  (i) Report summary (Page 1, paragraph 1.2)—the words "with its" have been added to the second sentence, between "the Avon Valley" and "Conservation Area";

  (ii) Appendix 2 to the report—the summary of the draft report by English Nature to the Highways Agency has been replaced by a summary of their final report.

  A copy of the final report has been placed in the Library.

  Fuel Tanker Incident (West Thurrock)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigation the Health and Safety Executive is considering into the scale of hazard and the circumstances surrounding the roll-over of a fuel tanker at West Thurrock shopping park on Monday 3 March. [19851]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The fuel tanker in question shed part of its load when it overturned at West Thurrock shopping park on 3 March 1997. The HSE is aware of the incident and is making inquiries with the operator and manufacturers of the tanker.

  Wytham Woods Experimental Site
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, what were the findings of the HM specialist inspector of biosafety, from the Health and Safety Executive, following his visits to the experimental site at Wytham Woods in June 1994 and September 1995; and if he will place the reports in the Library. [19901]

  Sir Paul Beresford
  The HSE inspectors concluded that there were no concerns for either human health and safety or environmental safety as a result of this work, and the release had been carried out in accordance with the terms of the consent.

  The information contained within the reports is available under the Environmental Information Regulations 1992. I have arranged for a copy of the report to be placed in the Library.

  Commission for the New Towns
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has decided upon the future of the Commission for the New Towns; and if he will make a statement. [20010]

  Mr. Curry
  On 15 May last, in reply to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir S. Chapman)Official Report, column 489, I explained our intention to establish a residuary body to deal with any assets and liabilities of urban development corporations and housing action trusts that remained at wind up, and to dispose of the remaining new town land holdings. I said that, subject to parliamentary approval of powers given in the then Housing Grants, Construction and Regeneration Bill, we intended to base this body on the Commission for the New Towns. We believed it made sense to build on the CNT's expertise and experience in order to maximise the return to the Exchequer.
  121
  Following enactment of the Bill, we appointed consultants to consider whether it would be better to retain the CNT as a legal entity and reform it for this residuary role, or to set up a new body that would draw largely on the skills of former CNT staff. We also asked them to advise on the optimal size, structure and locations for the residuary body.

  The consultants have advised that better value for money would be achieved by retaining the CNT, albeit in a slimmed-down form with a revised structure and focus, than by starting afresh with a new body. The Government agree with this advice and have therefore decided to extend the life of CNT for a number of years so as to enable it to continue to dispose of its assets and liabilities in an orderly and cost-effective manner. We intend, however, to undertake a fundamental review in 2000 of future strategy options and to determine in the light of conditions prevailing at that time how soon the commission could be closed.

  From 1 April 1998, therefore, a revamped CNT will concentrate on selling the remaining new towns land and on disengaging from the residual assets and liabilities of the eight urban development corporations which wind up at the end of March 1998. It will also be able to act as a residuary body for those housing action trusts which wind up during its lifetime.

  I have every confidence that the CNT will continue to maintain its excellent track record, which has led to receipts of over £2.3 billion in the last 15 years as well as resulting in additional private investment, good quality development and economic growth in the new towns. We shall expect it to meet challenging performance targets, but without resorting at any stage to firesales of its assets, since that would not achieve value for money and would be likely to disrupt local property markets. The CNT will also be expected to continue to take account of the interests of the local community when disposing of assets or settling liabilities.

  Environment Council
  Sir Kenneth Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 3 March. [20067]

  Mr. Gummer
  I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council on 3 March. The Council agreed conclusions to establish the Community's negotiating position for the preparatory meetings for the third conference of the parties to the framework convention on climate change, in Kyoto, Japan, in December of this year. They agreed that the EU should propose that developed countries should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent. below 1990 levels by the year 2010. They identified current commitments from member states, including a commitment from the United Kingdom for a reduction of 10 per cent. that would enable EU countries as a whole to reduce their emissions by 10 per cent. by the year 2010. They also agreed to identify further policies and measures to enable EU countries to deliver an overall reduction of 15 per cent. by 2010, should developed countries agree to that target at the Kyoto conference.

  The Council discussed the draft council resolution on the implementation and enforcement of Community environmental law but agreed to defer a final decision
  122
  until the views of the European Parliament become available; a common position was agreed on the funding of European non-governmental organisations subject to a UK parliamentary scrutiny reserve.

  In the Council discussion on the two directives on proposed fuel quality and car emission standards by 2000 (Auto-Oil Stage 1). I welcomed the progress being made on these important proposals and emphasised the need for agreement to be reached as soon as possible. I also supported the majority view that it was important for the Commission to bring forward by the end of 1998 its proposals for mandatory fuel and car emissions standards for 2005.

  Over lunch, the Council discussed the position of the negotiations on the proposed framework agreement on leghold traps. I reiterated my concerns that the existing proposals were inadequate and emphasised the need for a much stronger agreement. Further negotiations with the third countries are expected to begin shortly.

  There was a presentation by the Commission on its recently adopted proposals for the reduction of emissions of volatile organic compounds; the Dutch presidency hopes to secure political agreement on this at the June Environment Council. The water framework directive was also presented. In the discussion on the use of environmental agreements, I welcomed the Commission's recent communication and highlighted the importance of these measures as an alternative or complement to a regulatory approach.

  The Council also adopted a directive amending the directive 85/337 on environmental impact assessment. This is to be implemented by March 1999 and the Government will be consulting on its implementation later this year.

  I also took part in the structured dialogue meeting with Environment Ministers from the countries from central and eastern Europe in which we had a useful exchange of views on climate change and energy efficiency issues.

  Petrol Vapour Recovery
  Sir Kenneth Carlisle
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in response to the 1995 recommendation by the Environment Committee concerning the introducing of petrol vapour recovery for vehicle refuelling (stage II). [20114]

  Mr. Clappison
  In response to a recommendation from the House of Commons Select Committee on the Environment, we undertook to consider the case for implementation of the stage II petrol vapour recovery system at service stations once the results of further research into its costs were available. Stage II is designed to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds. These can be harmful in their own right and also contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone which can have adverse effects on human health and on the environment.

  Research has demonstrated that stage II offers better value for money than alternative methods for reducing emissions arising from vehicle refuelling at petrol stations. Stage II also compares favourably with abatement techniques used in other industry sectors. The

  123
  Government therefore intend to consult later this year on proposals for the introduction of stage II controls at certain petrol stations.

  In so doing, we shall be seeking to involve the petroleum industry and other interested parties as fully as possible. The final adoption of the proposals will be based on consideration of the overall costs and benefits. Our research has shown that the cost per tonne of volatile organic compounds abated rises rapidly at smaller stations and this will obviously influence our proposals. We are particularly aware of the need to avoid imposing any necessary costs and regulatory burdens on small stations, especially those in rural areas where availability of supply can be a problem.

  Preliminary research undertaken for my Department has shown that evaporative emissions during vehicle refuelling may also contribute to ambient levels of benzene around some petrol stations which exceed the proposed national air quality standard. Over the coming year, we shall be carrying out further research to evaluate the extent of this problem and to consider the potential abatement options.

CHURCH COMMISSIONERS

  Parishes Protection Group
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what assessment he has made of the letter from the Parishes Protection Group of 11 February, to the Church Commissioners; if he will place a copy of the reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement. [19029]

  Mr. Alison
  I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 10 February, column 14.

  The Church commissioners have been engaged in extensive correspondence with the Parishes Protection Group on a wide range of issues relating to their work, in particular the proposals for the future financing of clergy pensions. The Parishes Protection Group has made a number of assertions which the commissioners do not accept and the commissioners have made their position clear to the group. The hon. Member, in this connection, will have received a copy of a recent note on the legality of the payment of clergy pensions. I will place this in the Library.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Business Tenants
  Mr. Fraser
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will conduct a review of the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 to assess the impact of modification of section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927 on business tenants. [18480]

  Mr. Streeter
  The Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995 came into force on 1 January 1996. The modifications to section 19 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1927, made by section 22 of the 1995 Act, apply, broadly speaking, only to tenancies, other than residential 124
  tenancies, which came into force after 1 January 1996 and apply only to assignments. It is too early to review the operation of section 22 of the 1995 Act.

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Entry Clearance (Mr. Javed Iqbal)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date a recommendation was issued to the British post in Islamabad to issue Mr. Javed Iqbal, ref: TH/21422/96, with a visa; and if he will make a statement. [19751]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The adjudicator's determination dated 18 October 1996 on Mr. Iqbal's appeal against the decision by the entry clearance officer in Islamabad to refuse him entry clearance was received by my Department on 28 October 1996 but, due to an administrative error which I very much regret, details were not forwarded to the entry clearance officer until 6 March 1997.

  Mr. Iqbal's representatives in the United Kingdom were informed of the position on the same date.

  Yardies
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if illegal immigrants described as yardies have been allowed to remain in the United Kingdom in order to act as informers for the Metropolitan police in the period since January 1993. [19664]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  The management and use of informants are operational matters for the police. It is police practice never to confirm or deny whether someone is an informant.

  Although there may be exceptional circumstances in which it is in the public interest, in the handling of immigration cases, to take account of an individual's assistance to the authorities, there is no general policy of allowing illegal entrants to remain in this country because they have agreed to provide information to the police.

  Deportation
  Mr. Keith Hill
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the police or immigration enforcement officers have the power to prevent the serving of Home Office deportation orders on illegal immigrants. [19665]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  There may be circumstances in which it is decided not to pursue service of a deportation order, but all such cases would need to be authorised at a senior level in the deportation section of the immigration and nationality directorate.

  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he gives to the postponement of deportation in circumstances in which absence of the deportee would place a temporary, but significant, additional burden on voluntary or statutory community care services. [19082]

  Mr. Kirkhope
  There is no provision under the immigration rules for people who are subject to deportation action to remain here on the basis that they
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  are providing care which would otherwise be provided by voluntary or statutory services. However, in all cases where consideration is being given to whether deportation should proceed, any compassionate circumstances are balanced against the public interest in maintaining an effective immigration control.

  Criminal Injuries Compensation
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next expects to meet the chairman of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to discuss the delay in hearing cases, with particular reference to the case of Mr. Paul Melling of 8 Parkgate drive, Astley Bridge, Bolton; and if he will make a statement. [18904]

  Mr. Maclean
  I am fully aware of the volume of cases awaiting a hearing before the board and, in consultation with its chairman, Lord Carlisle of Bucklow QC and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, I increased its membership last year to help reduce delays. Lord Carlisle knows that I am open to further approaches should he consider that further members are needed to complete the work on the 1990 scheme, now superseded by the tariff-based scheme effective from 1 April 1996. Ministers do not intervene in, or comment on, the handling of individual applications.

  Drug Education
  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy that the drug confiscation fund may be used for prevention campaigns on the lines of drug abuse resistance education. [18953]

  Mr. Maclean
  I am not sure whether the question refers to the seized assets fund or the central drugs fund, both of which draw on the proceeds of drug trafficking seized under international confiscation agreements.

  The seized assets fund is used for individual projects directed against the misuse of drugs and drug trafficking. Its use is not restricted to enforcement initiatives—expenditure is split about equally between enforcement work and projects for prevention, education and rehabilitation. All applications are considered on their merits. Because of the uncertainty of the amounts available from one year to the next, the fund supports one-off projects rather than continuing programmes.

  The central drugs fund is focused on enforcement. It helps meet the additional costs to United Kingdom police forces of international drugs investigations.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations on anti-drug campaigns he has received from the Department for Education and Employment since 26 February. [18951]

  Mr. Sackville
  My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Employment wrote to me on 3 March 1997 to draw my attention to the debate on drug abuse resistance education which took place on 26 February 1997.

  Mr. Allen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he is giving to reforming the budget process of police forces to enable them to 126
  invest equal funds in drug prevention campaigns on the lines of drug abuse resistance education and on drug law enforcements. [18952]

  Mr. Maclean
  None. The allocation of resources and the deployment of officers are operational matters for individual chief officers of police. They must decide on their own priorities, taking local needs into account. Each force has a drugs strategy, which covers prevention and education as well as enforcement, and all forces are represented on their local drug action teams.

  Prison Ship (Portland Harbour)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations the Prison Service has had with Dorset police authority concerning the(a) potential security risks and (b) extra costs of mooring a prison ship in Portland harbour. [18744]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what consultations the Prison Service has had with the Dorset Police Authority concerning the potential security risks and extra costs of mooring a prison ship in Portland harbour.

  Discussions have been held between the Dorset police and Prison Service headquarters staff and the governor-designate of the prison ship about the operational implications of mooring a prison ship in Portland harbour. Arrangements were made by the Prison Service for representatives of the Dorset police to make a familiarisation visit to the ship in New York. Further detailed discussions are planned for later this months when key prison managers are transferred to the commissioning project team.

  There have been no representations from the Dorset Police Authority concerning any extra costs to them of mooring a prison ship in Portland port.

  Prisons (Drugs Testing)
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 211, if he will list the prisons involved in the research project carried out by the university of Oxford centre for criminological research; what type of (a) drug testing and (b) methodology this research project will employ; if it will include recommendations for future Prison Service drug policy in its final report; and if he will publish the results of the research. [18747]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the research project being carried by the University of Oxford Centre for Criminological Research.

  The project has as its focus the Mandatory Drug Testing Programme introduced in all prisons from April 1996. The researchers will obtain information using structured interviews with

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  prisoners and staff, at each of the five establishments involved in the study: Wellingborough; Long Lartin; Onley; New Hall; and Swansea. No drug testing takes place as part of the study.

  The researchers' report may make recommendations for policy. Generally findings of research in prisons are published.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January,Official Report, column 211, what methodology the research project carried out by the national addiction centre will use; if it will include recommendations for future Prison Service drug policy in its final report; and if he will publish the results of the research. [18748]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent question about the research project being carried out by the National Addiction Centre.

  The researchers have been asked to compare information on the prevalence of drug misuse in prison obtained from The Mandatory Drug Testing programme, the specific characteristics of the drugs in use in prison and information on the criminal and other background of prisoners, with a view to identifying factors and trends in prisoner drug abuse while in prison.

  Where appropriate the researchers have been asked to make recommendations on future Prison Service Drugs policy. Generally findings of research in prisons are published.

  Mr. Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to incorporate random drug testing in the Prison Service key performance indicator for mandatory drug testing. [18746]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the incorporation of random drug testing in the Prison Service's mandatory drug testing key performance indicator.

  Random drug testing already forms the basis of the Service's key performance indicator in respect of mandatory drug testing. In 1996–97 the target is for the percentage of random drug tests in which the result is positive to be lower in the fourth quarter than in the first.

  Privately Operated Prisons
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what would be the cost of replacing all the locks in each of the privately operated prisons; [18718]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the security grounds on which the Prison Service may withhold payment to privately operated prisons on the basis of unsatisfactory performance. [18719]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
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  Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about security at privately operated prisons.

  We have a commercial contract for the supply of locks for all prisons, including the existing privately operated prisons. The cost of relocking establishments will vary according to the size of the prison and the class of locks. Typical costs will be in the range of between £40,000 and £64,000.

  Payments may be withheld from contractors at privately operated prisons for failure to deliver contracted performance; this may include failure to meet required security standards.

  Firearms (Compensation)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a breakdown of the estimated costs of compensation arising from the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997. [18736]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The estimated breakdown of expenditure arising from the compensation and ex gratia payment schemes provided by the legislation is as follows:

  Large calibre handguns: up to £50 million;

  Ancillary equipment for large calibre handguns: about up to £80 million;

  Small calibre handguns: up to £12 million; and

  Expanding ammunition: de minimis.

  In addition, it is estimated that up to £5 million will be required in relation to administrative costs, for example storing guns and handling compensation claims.

  Blakenhurst Prison
  Mr. George Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional security measures were introduced at Her Majesty's prison, Blakenhurst following the publication of a photograph of a bunch of keys in The Birmingham Post in 1994. [18715]

  Miss Widdecombe
  Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Hugh Taylor to Mr. George Howarth, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about what additional security measures were introduced at Blakenhurst prison following the publication of a photograph of a bunch of keys in the Birmingham Post in 1994.

  Following such an incident (in 1993 not 1994) locks in parts of the prison were replaced.

  Irish Republic (Repatriation of Prisoners)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date a request by Patrick Lynch, detained at Her Majesty's prison Parkhurst, to be repatriated to the Republic of Ireland, was referred to the Republic; what response he has received; and if he will make a statement. [19016]

  Miss Widdecombe
  The request submitted by Mr. Lynch for repatriation to the Republic of Ireland was referred to the Irish authorities on 20 January 1997. The
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  Irish authorities acknowledged receipt of the documentation by letter dated 28 January 1997. No further communications have been received in this case.

  National Criminal Intelligence Service
  Mr. Mullin
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the inquiries into leaks of confidential information from NCIS which took place in each of the last three years, indicating for each by whom the inquiry was conducted and the outcome. [19066]

  Mr. Maclean
  There have been two inquiries into leaks of confidential information from the NCIS in the last three years.

  The first inquiry was in September 1995 and followed the publication in the media of confidential information from a strategic assessment of the impact of Russian organised crime in the United Kingdom. The inquiry was conducted by the Metropolitan police at the request of the Director General of NCIS. The information in question had been circulated to other relevant law enforcement agencies in the normal way and it was not possible to identify who was responsible for the leak.

  Table A: Number of females aged under 18 convicted for offences under the Street Offences Act 1959 section 11 by age, 1985 to 1995

  England and Wales

  Year

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  Total under 18

  18+

  All ages

  1985

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  31

  223

  259

  8,900

  9,159

  1986

  1

  —

  —

  —

  2

  2

  24

  268

  297

  8,794

  9,091

  1987

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  24

  313

  338

  7,833

  8,171

  1988

  —

  —

  —

  1

  —

  7

  22

  420

  450

  8,379

  8,829

  1989

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  5

  24

  361

  390

  9,742

  10,132

  1990

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1

  2

  22

  346

  371

  9,649

  10,020

  1991

  —

  —

  3

  —

  —

  5

  35

  278

  321

  9,238

  9,559

  1992

  —

  —

  1

  —

  —

  7

  25

  215

  248

  8,530

  8,778

  1993

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  7

  25

  73

  105

  7,243

  7,348

  1994

  —

  —

  —

  1

  3

  13

  35

  89

  141

  6,433

  6,574

  1995

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  4

  25

  72

  101

  5,411

  5,512

  1Common prostitute loitering or soliciting for the purpose of prostitution.

  Table B: Number of persons aged under 18 convicted for offences under the Towns Improvement1 Act 1854 section 72 and the Belfast borough bylaws, 1987 to 1996

  Northern Ireland

  Year

  Total under 18

  18+

  All ages

  1987

  —

  50

  50

  1988

  —

  53

  53

  1989

  —

  52

  52

  1990

  3

  57

  60

  1991

  —

  43

  43

  1992

  —

  39

  39

  1993

  —

  16

  16

  1994

  —

  6

  6

  1995

  —

  2

  2

  1996

  —

  —

  —

  1Prostitutes—soliciting.

  Mr. Sheerman
  To the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that criminal
  130
  The second inquiry commenced, at the request of the Director General of NCIS, in December 1995 and was conducted by John Stevens, at that time the Chief Constable of Northumbria. The inquiry was prompted by a case in which telephone intercept material was supplied unlawfully to defence counsel. It also examined the administrative process for handling intercept material and future safeguards. The inquiry found no evidence of corrupt practice at NCIS and all the intercept material has been accounted for. The Director General has welcomed the inquiry's review of procedures for handling intercept material and all of its recommendations are being taken forward.

  Child Prostitutes
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were convicted in the United Kingdom as common prostitutes in each of the last 10 years. [19062]

  Mr. Maclean
  The available information for England and Wales is given in table A.

  My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has contributed figures shown at table B.

  Information on convictions in Scotland are the responsibility for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

  proceedings are taken against those who abuse children and young people as suppliers or purchasers of child prostitutes. [19091]

  Mr. Maclean
  The institution of criminal proceedings is a matter for the police and the prosecuting authorities. The Government regard the abuse of children in prostitution as a serious matter and are satisfied that all working in this field share that concern.

  The Government are currently reviewing the penalties available for all sex offences, including those relating to the organisation of prostitution, to ensure that these are adequate to reflect the gravity of the behaviour concerned.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. John Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications were made in(a) January 1996, (b) February 1996, (c) January 1997 and (d) February 1997. [19095]
  131
  Mr. Kirkhope
  A total of 2,275 applications for asylum in the United Kingdom were lodged in January 1997; data for February are not yet available. The equivalent figures for January and February 1996 were 3,310 and 2,850 respectively.

  Polling Stations (Disabled Access)
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of polling stations require remedial work to facilitate access for disabled people; and if he will make a statement. [19229]

  Mr. Sackville
  It is the responsibility of district and London borough councils under section 18 of the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended by schedule 4 of the Representation of the People Act 1985, to designate as polling places, so far as is reasonable and practicable, only places which are accessible to the disabled. Councils are not required to account to this Department for their progress in meeting this responsibility and no details are available centrally. However, acting returning officers are regularly encouraged to apply to the Home Office for grants towards the cost of providing temporary ramps where it is not possible for them to use a building for the purpose of a polling place which would otherwise afford easy access for the disabled. £175,400 has been provided in grant aid for these purposes since the last general election.

  Deaths in Police Custody
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many(a) men and (b) women have died in police custody in the Metropolitan police area in each of the last five years. [19489]

  Mr. Maclean
  The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has provided the following information on the number of deaths in police custody, based on Home Office deaths in custody criteria:

  Year (January-December)

  Men

  Women

  1992

  14

  1

  1993

  16

  2

  1994

  14

  0

  1995

  12

  0

  1996

  18

  2

  Total

  74

  5

  CS Gas
  Mr. Loyden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions Merseyside police have used CS gas; what criteria apply in respect of its use; and if he will make a statement. [19616]

  Mr. Maclean
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: I understand that Merseyside police have used hand-held CS spray 300 times since 1 March 1996. The use of any form of force is governed by section 3 of the Criminal Law Act 1967. The Association of Chief Police Officers has issued guidelines to forces on the use of CS spray.
  132

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (Institutes)
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much of the money paid in respect of staff costs to each of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council-owned institutes in 1994–95 was attributable to(a) salaries and (b) other costs; and if he will indicate the nature of those other costs. [18884]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The figures are shown in the table. "Other" includes research expenditure and general maintenance and running costs. Capital is excluded.

  £000

  Salaries

  Other

  Total

  Institute for Animal Health

  9,827

  7,408

  17,235

  Babraham Institute

  6,605

  4,160

  10,765

  Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research

  7,836

  3,642

  11,478

  Institute of Arable Crops Research

  11,113

  4,389

  15,502

  John Innes Centre

  8,524

  4,485

  13,009

  Institute of Food Research

  9,379

  6,602

  15,981

  Silsoe Research Institute

  5,286

  1,843

  7,129

  Rolsin Institute

  4,320

  3,104

  7,424

  Total

  62,890

  35,633

  98,523

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19348]

  Mr. Lang
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

  Research Councils
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will place in the Library further memorandums concerning the prior options reviews of research council establishments. [20063]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  I have placed in the Library of the House today memorandums setting out the rationale for the decisions concerning research council establishments which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade announced on 29 January,Official Report, column 231–32

  Chemical Weapons Convention Advisory Committee
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will appoint the chairman of the Chemical Weapons Convention Advisory Committee. [20064]
  133
  Mr. Nelson
  I have appointed Dr. T. D. Inch, Secretary-General of the Royal Society of Chemistry, as chairman of the National Authority Advisory Committee for an initial period of four years.

  The other members will be announced in time for the committee to be in place before the convention enters into force on 29 April 1997.

  Lloyd's (Solvency)
  Mr. Garnier
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he intends to implement to improve the supervision of the solvency of Lloyd's of London. [20065]

  Mr. Nelson
  Following the successful completion of Lloyd's reconstruction and renewal plan last year, I have been considering whether any steps need to be taken to strengthen further the protection to policyholders provided by the solvency margin regime in the Insurance Companies Act 1982, as adapted for Lloyd's.

  I have concluded that it would be appropriate to introduce an additional solvency test for Lloyd's supplementing those already specified in the legislation. I have today laid regulations before the House that will achieve this with effect from the end of this year.

  Under the arrangements provided for by the Insurance Companies Act 1982, Lloyd's is currently subject to two separate solvency tests. The first requires an auditor to certify that there are assets, including centrally held assets, of sufficient value to meet the liabilities of each member of Lloyd's. The second test treats Lloyd's as a whole as if it were a single insurance company and requires Lloyd's to maintain sufficient assets to cover its total liabilities plus a minimum margin of solvency. That global required solvency margin equates broadly to the greater of 16 per cent. of the total net premiums in the previous year or 23 per cent. of the average total claims incurred over a three-year period. Failure to meet either of these test would trigger the intervention powers of the Secretary of State.

  The third test which I have now introduced requires Lloyd's to demonstrate that it can cover an additional "combined" minimum margin of solvency. This combined margin is calculated on the basis of a prescribed level of net assets for each member, in addition to that required to cover their liabilities. If any members are unable to demonstrate such net assets, Lloyd's will be required to show that sufficient centrally held assets—principally the central fund—are available to cover the aggregate of the individual shortfalls. The assets of other members which exceed their prescribed level of net assets may not be taken into account for these purposes. Failure to meet this additional test would also trigger the Secretary of State's intervention powers.

  This additional test reflects better the fact that members of Lloyd's are not responsible for each other's losses, while recognising that Lloyd's does have centrally held assets that can be used to cover any shortfalls. It will provide policyholders with an additional degree of protection against adverse developments, and will also encourage a prompt response should financial difficulties ever begin to develop at Lloyd's in the future. Lloyd's is reviewing its own financial requirements, placed on its members and other aspects of the Lloyd's chain of
  134
  security, in ways which should complement the changes I am announcing today and which should enhance further the security of policyholders.

  Small Firms Loan Guarantee Scheme
  Sir Michael Grylls
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what has been the impact to date on lending under the small firms loan guarantee scheme of the changes to the scheme implemented from 1 September 1996. [19736]

  Mr. Page
  It is too early to assess the impact on lending of the changes introduced on 1 September 1996.

  Research and Development
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 24 February,Official Report, columns 61–62, if he will list (a) the current number of jobs associated with each of the projects listed; and (b) the amount of regional aid awarded in each region and each year to the projects. [19355]

  Mr. Greg Knight
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost because it is not held centrally by my Department.

  Advisory Committee on Chemical Weapons
  Mr. Ingram
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he plans to announce the chairmanship and membership of the Advisory Committee on Chemical Weapons. [19258]

  Mr. Anthony Nelson
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: I have appointed Dr. Tom Inch, secretary-general of the Royal Society of Chemistry, to chair the Chemical Weapons Advisory Committee. The appointment will be for an initial period of four years.

  The other members of the committee will be selected following consultations with Dr. Inch and an announcement will be made as soon as possible, so that the committee can be in place before the chemical weapons convention enters into force on 29 April 1997.

  Architectural Technologists (Guidance Booklet)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to permit the British Institute of Architectural Technologists to publish an appointment and fee scale guidance booklet equivalent to those published by other allied professional bodies. [19517]

  Mr. John M. Taylor
  The decision to publish such a guidance booklet is one for the British Institute of Architectural Technologists. However, the institute should take into account the provisions of the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.

  Clean Technologies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives exist to promote investment and development in clean technologies in United Kingdom businesses; and if he will make a statement. [19328]
  135
  Mr. Page
  The joint Department of Trade and Industry and Department of the Environment environmental technology best practice programme—ETBPP—has as one of its main aims the encouragement of the take-up and development by business of cost-effective cleaner technology. Support for collaborative research and development with European partners under EUREKA, LINK—particularly the waste minimisation through recycling, reuse and recovery in industry programme—and the Office of Science and Technology's funding of research councils, are also relevant. In addition, proposals to help business enhance environmental performance and competitiveness were among those eligible to bid for support under the sector and local challenges.

  Environmental Technologies
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the level of funding for research into environmental technologies in each of the last five years; and what funding is planned for 1997–98. [19330]

  Mr. Page
  Support for research and development on technologies for a specific environmental function under the environmental technology innovation scheme, EUREKA-EUROENVIRON and the environmental technology best practice programme was as follows:

  Year

  £ million

  1992–93

  2.91

  1993–94

  2.95

  1994–95

  2.53

  1995–96

  1.75

  1996–97 (to 28 February 1997)

  0.71

  Total

  10.85

  That support includes programmes operated by both the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment.

  Some of the research and development supported under general DTI programmes, such as the small firms merit award for research and technology, the support for products under research, LINK and other EUREKA activities and through the Office for Science and Technology's funding of research councils, will be relevant to environment technologies.

  Support for new and renewable energy technologies and clean coal technologies was as follows:

  £ million

  Year

  New and renewables

  Clean coal

  1992–93

  25.5

  4.0

  1993–94

  25.2

  7.8

  1994–95

  19.1

  7.9

  1995–96

  18.3

  7.7

  1996–97 (to 31 December 1996)

  10.2

  3.4

  Estimates for 1997–98 will be published in the Department's expenditure plans report.

  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what initiatives and schemes for assistance there are to encourage the export of(a) British environmental technologies and (b) British environmental services. [19329]
  136
  Mr. Page
  The environmental technology and services sector can, of course, benefit from the full range of overseas trade services which are available to all UK companies. Proposals to help businesses enhance their export performance were among those eligible to bid for support under the sector challenge. In addition, under the business and environment programme, the joint environmental markets unit—JEMU—undertakes a variety of activities specifically to assist the environmental industry.

  JEMU has done much to raise the profile of the industry overseas. Our export services now treat environmental technology as a priority in nearly two-thirds of Britain's top 80 markets. The unit has published around 60 market opportunity briefs and five sector reports to help UK suppliers identify markets and benchmark performance. JEMU has established a database of more than 4,500 UK suppliers of environmental technology and expertise which is used to answer queries from overseas customers looking for British sources of supply as well as identifying companies for missions and other awareness-raising events. JEMU also works closely with the industry to help representative bodies to identify and address competitiveness issues, such as the major problem of fragmentation, which impact on export performance. This has included help with establishing world-class certification schemes and benchmarking trade association performance.

  Pollution Abatement Technology
  Ms Walley
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom's share of the world market for pollution abatement technology; what estimate he has made of the size of that market share during(a) the next five years and (b) the next 10 years. [19327]

  Mr. Page
  This information is not available.

  Roslin Institute
  Mr. Cash
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much public money has been provided to the Roslin institute in each year since its inception. [18964]

  Mr. Ian Taylor
  The figures for income from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and other research councils and Government Departments are:

  1993–94: £6.3 million

  1994–95: £6.6 million

  1995–96: £7.3 million.

SCOTLAND

  Rural Residents (Buses)
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of rural residents who live more than half a mile from a bus route; and if he will make a statement. [18404]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  None. Our recently published Green Paper, "Keep Scotland Moving", (Cm 3565) however recognised the clear role of transport
  137
  in rural areas of Scotland in enhancing accessibility, promoting economic development and preventing depopulation.

  Schools (Safe Routes)
  Mrs. Liddell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made is implementing safe routes to schools. [18380]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The identification and implementation of safe routes to school is primarily the responsibility of local authorities. Projects involving safe routes to school may be eligible for funding from the Scottish cycle challenge fund announced in December 1996.

  Local Government (Overseas Visits)
  Mr. Bill Walker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the visits abroad made by councillors and officials of Scottish councils in the last three years which were paid for out of public funds. [18379]

  Mr. George Kynoch
  I am aware that expenditure by councils on overseas visits is quite rightly a matter of substantial public concern, particularly in the light of recent allegations about overseas visits by Glasgow city councillors. That is why I wrote to the leader of Glasgow city council on 7 February asking for information on this. The response which I have received from that council reveals that a total of £79,656 has been spent during the current financial year sending councillors to overseas events which include a cultural symposium in St. Petersburg, a "City Days" event in Rostov-on-Don, the international rose trials exhibition in Rome and a meeting of the International Badminton Federation in Hong Kong. The information from Glasgow records amounts of up to £2,819 being paid as subsistence to individual councillors for particular overseas visits. Glasgow city council has not submitted information about expenditure on officials' visits. I have placed a copy of Glasgow city council's letter in the Library of the House.

  I also wrote to the president of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 7 February asking for information on other councils' expenditure sending councillors to conferences and overseas visits. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has so far failed to reply, and I am today asking for information about councillors' and officials' visits directly from councils. I intend to make this information publicly available when I have received it.

  Blind and Partially Sighted People
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are registered(a) blind and (b) partial-sighted. [19085]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  At 31 March 1995, there were 21,124 people registered blind and 9,351 people registered partially-sighted in Scotland.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many answers to parliamentary questions by 138
  Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19339]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large number of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for the Scottish Office to systematically calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

  Oral Cancer
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for oral cancer in each of the last five years. [19315]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table.

  Total number of in-patient and day cases discharges for oral cancer: Scotland

  Year

  In-patient

  Day case

  Total

  1991–92

  1,014

  66

  1,080

  1992–93

  1,063

  93

  1,156

  1993–94

  1,107

  128

  1,235

  1994–95

  1,087

  115

  1,202

  1995–96

  1,164

  207

  1,371

  Cataracts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for cataracts in each of the last five years. [19316]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table.

  Total number of in-patient and day case discharges for cataract extraction: Scotland

  Year

  In-patient

  Day case

  Total

  1991–92

  10,645

  41

  10,686

  1992–93

  12,384

  324

  12,708

  1993–94

  12,276

  1,420

  13,696

  1994–95

  12,270

  2,847

  15,117

  1995–96

  11,459

  4,332

  15,791

  Housing
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his answer of 20 February,Official Report, column 678, in what circumstances a local authority can act under the terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 against the owner of a privately owned property in a state of disrepair; what action these powers require the owner of the property to take; what liability use of this legislation beings on the local authority; and which clauses of that Act confer on the local authority the power to act. [19530]
  139
  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Section 87 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 enables a local authority to serve a notice on the owners of buildings requiring that they be brought into a reasonable state of repair. If the owners comply the authority may be liable to pay repairs grant. If they do not comply the local authority may arrange and pay for the works to be carried out and recover the cost from the owner. If in the interests of health or safety, or to prevent damage to any property, it appears necessary to an authority to repair a building immediately it may do so without prior notice and recover the costs from the owner.

  Electoral Registers
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the numbers of electors in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland on the registers that will be used in the general election. [19622]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  The information is set out in the table.

  Number

  Aberdeen Central

  54,548

  Aberdeen North

  54,895

  Aberdeen South

  60,982

  Airdrie and Shotts

  58,255

  Angus

  60,359

  Argyll and Bute

  49,982

  Ayr

  56,455

  Banff and Buchan

  59,189

  Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

  41,953

  Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley

  66,392

  Central Fife

  58,884

  Clydebank and Milngavie

  52,643

  Clydesdale

  64,048

  Coatbridge and Chryston

  52,547

  Cumbernauld and Kilsyth

  48,590

  Cunninghame North

  56,147

  Cunninghame South

  50,234

  Dumbarton

  56,875

  Dumfries

  63,360

  Dundee East

  58,790

  Dundee West

  57,809

  Dunfermline East

  52,530

  Dunfermline West

  53,005

  East Kilbride

  65,915

  East Lothian

  57,988

  Eastwood

  67,525

  Edinburgh Central

  63,969

  Edinburgh East and Musselburgh

  60,097

  Edinburgh North and Leith

  61,962

  Edinburgh Pentlands

  60,338

  Edinburgh South

  62,949

  Edinburgh West

  61,715

  Falkirk East

  57,331

  Falkirk West

  53,308

  Galloway and Upper Nithsdale

  53,273

  Glasgow Anniesland

  53,324

  Glasgow Baillieston

  51,589

  Glasgow Cathcart

  49,765

  Glasgow Govan

  50,150

  Glasgow Kelvin

  57,695

  Glasgow Maryhill

  52,854

  Glasgow Pollok

  49,693

  Glasgow Rutherglen

  51,106

  Glasgow Shettleston

  48,270

  Glasgow Springburn

  53,814

  Gordon

  59,503

  Greenock and Inverclyde

  49,364

  140

  Number

  Hamilton North and Bellshill

  54,158

  Hamilton South

  47,023

  Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber

  66,278

  Kilmarnock and Loudoun

  62,091

  Kirkcaldy

  52,618

  Linlithgow

  54,258

  Livingston

  60,944

  Midlothian

  48,045

  Moray

  58,957

  Motherwell and Wishaw

  52,702

  North East Fife

  59,352

  North Tayside

  62,007

  Ochil

  57,170

  Orkney and Shetland

  32,621

  Paisley North

  50,261

  Paisley South

  54,573

  Perth

  60,887

  Ross, Skye and Inverness West

  56,141

  Roxburgh and Berwickshire

  47,739

  Stirling

  53,069

  Strathkelvin and Bearsden

  63,822

  Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale

  51,448

  West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine

  59,884

  West Renfrewshire

  53,096

  Western Isles

  23,293

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many hospitals screen patients for MRSA on admission; [19846]

  (2) how many hospitals have reported cases of MRSA in the past 12 months; how many cases there were in total; and in how many cases MRSA was the cause of or contributed to death; [19847]

  (3) what measures are being taken to prevent the spread of MRSA outside hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [19848]

  Lord James Douglas-Hamilton
  Information regarding hospitals is not held in the form requested, but the Scottish centre for infection and environmental health monitors the overall incidence of MRSA across Scotland.

  In May 1996, the Scottish Office issued information and advice to health boards, social service departments and residential nursing homes about the care of people in the community with MRSA and about infection control generally in residential and nursing homes. This included Department of Health publications entitled "MRSA—What nursing and residential homes need to know" and "Guidelines on the Control of Infection in Residential Homes", copies of which are in the Library.

  Fisheries Research Services Agency
  Sir Hector Monro
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Fisheries Research Services Agency will be established; and when its framework document will be published. [20101]

  Mr. Raymond S. Robertson
  Fisheries Research Services will come into existence as an executive agency on 1 April 1997. Its framework document has been published today and a copy has been placed in the Library.
  141

TREASURY

  Private Employment Agencies
  Mr. Hall
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the private employment agencies used by his Department and its agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available, indicating(a) the names of the agencies, (b) the numbers employed by the agencies in work for his Department, (c) the total cost to his Department of using employment agencies and the median cost paid to the agency per person recruited and (d) the average length of contract for persons recruited via such agencies. [16178]

  Mrs. Angela Knight
  The Treasury does not use private employment agencies for the recruitment of permanent staff. In the last three years, it has used only the Recruitment and Assessment Agency. However, it does use Brook Street Bureau plc and Excel Recruitment Ltd. to provide emergency secretarial cover on an ad hoc basis—and also Employment Services to recruit administrative staff on a casual basis.

  The responses for the Department's agencies are given below.

  HM Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue

  As the recruitment of staff has been delegated to local budget holders the information requested is not readily available.

  Royal Mint

  In 1996 the Royal Mint used two agencies. The answers to the specific points are given below.

  (a) NBS consultants

  (b) 1

  (c) £14,000

  (d) Permanent

  (a)Office Angels

  (b)1

  (c)£3,000

  (d)Permanent

  In 1995, the Royal Mint also used the following agency to employ a casual for six months: Hays Accountancy Personnel—cost £916.

  Paymaster

  Paymaster has not used private employment agencies during the past three years.

  Office for National Statistics

  The ONS was formed on 1 April 1996 following the merger of the Central Statistical Office—a Chancellor's Department—and the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys—formerly the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Health. The CSO assumed responsibility for part of the former Employment Department in July 1995. The answer refers only to the former CSO part of the ONS.

  The CSO used private employment agencies to provide short-term only temporary cover, usually for secretarial staff and messengers. The number of such staff employed is not readily available, nor the cost to CSO. The usual period of employment was about two weeks.

  The private employment agencies used for the employment of temporary staff were: Josephine Sammons Ltd., Adecco Alfred Marks and Meridian.

  The Recruitment and Assessment Agency was used to assist in recruitment when it was a Government agency. Its successor, Capita, was similarly used in November—December 1996 for an executive officer recruitment scheme. The total cost was £14,733.32. The
  142
  median cost per person recruited was £998.75. All 13 recruits were offered initial one-year contracts, with the possibility of subsequent permanent status.

  Valuation Office

  The following is all the information available from the Valuation Office's new financial system. The system holds information relating to payments made on invoices but does not hold the detail necessary to ascertain the answers to parts (b) and (d) of the question.

  (a) The agencies used by the VA are:

  Brook Street Bureau

  Back-up Training and Personnel

  Blue Arrow Personnel

  Susan Hamilton Personnel

  Michael Page UK Ltd.

  Reed Staffing Services

  The Capita Group PLC

  Manpower PLC

  Kelly Services (UK)

  Adecco Alfred Marks.

  (c) Figures are only available from the NFS for this financial year—1 April 1996 to date: £66,280.82.

  Public Debt
  Mr. Denzil Davies
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those EU states whose public debt as a ratio of gross domestic product price exceeded the ratio as provided by the Maastricht treaty at the latest available date; and if he will indicate the percentage by which the debt exceeded the ratio. [17386]

  Mr. Jack
  Figures for public debt as a ratio of gross domestic product can be found in the publication "European Economy" which is available in the Library.

  European Tax Levels
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each European Economic Area country the amount of tax as a percentage of income paid by(a) a married couple with two children under 11 and (b) a single taxpayer without children on (i) average, (ii) highest quintile and (iii) lowest quintile incomes. [18589]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 4 March 1997]: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Married Couples (Taxation)
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1997–98 of giving a married taxpayer the option of(a) transferring his or her basic personal allowance to their spouse and (b) allowing married couples to be assessed jointly in each case on the basis that the allowances to which each was entitled would be added together and set against the joint income and the amounts chargeable at the lower and basic rates would be double that chargeable in the case of a single person and that couples would not also receive the married couples allowance. [18590]
  143
  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 4 March 1997]: The estimated full-year cost at 1997–98 income levels of allowing couples to transfer their unused personal allowance to their spouse is estimated to be £3.4 billion. If married couples could opt for joint assessment, the estimated total full year cost would be £5.2 billion. These figures do not take into account any behavioural change which would result from such measures.

  Inland Revenue (Targets)
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 406, when the Inland Revenue last published its performance against annual targets; and when it next expects to do so. [19484]

  Mr. Jack
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: The Inland Revenue last published its performance against annual targets on 4 November 1996 in its report for the year ending 31 March 1996 (Cm 3446). The report for the year ended 31 March 1997 is expected to be published in autumn 1997. The Inland Revenue also expects to publish the 1996–97 customer service results against targets for the regional executive offices responsible for the local tax offices in a press release in early summer 1997. Leaflets for customers showing the results will be available in local tax offices at the same time.

TRANSPORT

  Automatic Train Protector System
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the advantages of fitting the automatic train protector system to locomotives; and if he will make a statement. [19666]

  Mr. Watts
  On 30 March 1995 the then Secretary of State for Transport announced that the Government had concluded, on the basis of independent advice from the Health and Safety Commission, that applications of automatic train protection—ATP—may be justified on certain parts of the rail network. Advice received from both the British Railways Board and Railtrack, and endorsed by HSC, confirmed that network-wide fitment of ATP, as piloted, was not reasonably practicable, because the costs far outweighed the benefits and that there were alternative safety investments which would be likely to yield greater effectiveness in terms of lives saved, and be better value for money. This information was subsequently published in "Railways Safety", HM chief inspecting officer of railways' annual report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain during 1994–95, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

  Railtrack remains committed to a co-ordinated programme to reduce the risks of ATP preventable accidents. These measures comprise Railtrack's train protection strategy and are described in a letter from the chairman of Railtrack dated 21 November 1995, which was placed in the Library of the House on 29 November 1995. The strategy includes a driver reminder appliance—DRA—due to be installed in train cabs during 1997 and completed in 1998, and a train protection warning system—TPWS—due to be piloted in 1997 and to
  144
  commence installation by early 1998. Subject to technical feasibility and the test of reasonable practicability, TPWS will be installed at those locations assessed by Railtrack to be at greatest risk of ATP preventable accidents.

  In the longer term, ATP measures will be included in the Heathrow express route, the west coast main line modernisation scheme, the channel tunnel rail link and any future high speed lines. The Great Western and Chiltern line pilot schemes will continue. In addition, full consideration will be given by Railtrack to the option of including ATP functions in all future major resignalling schemes.

  Ambulance Service Minibus Drivers
  Mr. Morgan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulations govern the requirement for ambulance trust district transport service minibus drivers to be medically tested for their public service vehicle licences; and when these regulations were last reviewed. [19671]

  Mr. Bowis
  The medical requirements for drivers of minibuses depend on a number of factors, including the number of seats in the vehicle and the date on which the driver obtained a licence. The requirements were reviewed recently in the context of the second EC driving licence directive, whose licensing provisions were implemented, with effect from 1 January 1997, by the Driving Licences (Community Driving Licence) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/1974), the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/2824), and the Minibus and Other Section 19 Permit Buses (Amendment) Regulations 1996 (SI 1996/3088).

  Ferry Safety
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the percentage of ferries operating to and from UK ports which do not meet SOLAS 90 standards; and if he will make a statement. [18683]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 4 March 1997]: All ferries operating to and from UK ports comply with the relevant survivability standard which applies to them. The SOLAS 90—safety of life at sea—standard was being phased in on a timescale ending in 2007. That standard and timescale have now been superseded by the Stockholm agreement, which requires a higher standard phased in on a much shorter timescale, ending in 2002. At least 35 per cent. of all seagoing ro-ro passenger ferries operating to and from United Kingdom ports already meet the SOLAS 90 standard.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those ferries operating to or from UK ports which do not meet SOLAS 90 standards; and if he will make a statement. [18682]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 4 March 1997]: The Government have no plans to publish a list of ferries related to the SOLAS 90 survivability standard alone. New regulations come into force on 1 April to implement the Stockholm agreement on ferry safety, which sets a survivability standard higher than SOLAS 90. Under the regulations, all ferries operating regular scheduled international services to or from United Kingdom ports, and on UK domestic routes where conditions are

  145
  comparable to those on international voyages, will be required to meet the SOLAS 90 survivability standard and have the ability to resist capsize with up to half a metre of water on the car deck. We shall be publishing a list in April showing the dates by which individual ferries must comply with this new higher standard. Some vessels operating to United Kingdom ports already meet that standard.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of whether the Pride of Cherbourg, the Pride of Hampshire, the Havelet and the Sea France Matisse will comply with the 1996 Stockholm agreement on ferry safety by 1 April 1997. [18770]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 6 March 1997]: The Government are implementing the Stockholm agreement by the Merchant Shipping (Ro-Ro Passenger Ship Survivability) Regulations 1997 which will come into force on 1 April. We will publish an updated list of ferries operating to and from UK ports once the regulations come into force, which will clearly indicate the compliance date for each ferry.

  The timescale for implementation agreed internationally means that those ferries further from standard must be modified sooner than those closer to it. The regulations provide that those ferries furthest from the standard must comply with it not later than at their first periodical survey following 1 April 1997. There is a duty on shipowners to ensure that their ships comply by the relevant deadline in each case and the regulations contain penalties for non-compliance.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all ferry accidents reported to UK authorities since 1987 indicating(a) the nature of the accident, (b) the ferry company involved and (c) the date; and if he will make a statement. [18684]

  Mr. Bowis
  [holding answer 4 March 1997]: The Marine Accident Investigation Branch, which was established in 1989, investigates accidents to United Kingdom ships or other vessels in United Kingdom territorial waters. If appropriate, a report of the investigation is published. There have been five published reports of investigations of accidents involving ferries since 1989, as follows:

  Nature of accident

  Ferry company

  Date of accident

  Grounding

  Sealink

  19 September 1989

  Fatal accident

  North Sea Ferries

  5 February 1992

  Fire

  Sally Line

  25 August 1994

  Machinery damage

  P and O European Ferries

  25 September 1994

  Stranding

  Stena Line

  19 September 1995

  Other accidents to ferries which have been subject to inspectors' investigations since the establishment of MAIB's database in 1991 are listed hereafter.

  Nature of accident

  Ferry company

  Date of accident

  Fire

  Sealink Stena

  23 March 1991

  Loss of cargo

  Swedish Gulf Shipping

  4 May 1991

  146

  Nature of accident

  Ferry company

  Date of accident

  Fatal accident

  P and O European Ferries

  20 June 1991

  Collision

  Wightlink Ltd.

  30 June 1991

  Machinery failure

  Hoverspeed Ltd.

  4 October 1991

  Fire

  Sally Line Ltd.

  20 October 1991

  Collision

  P and O European Ferries

  8 December 1991

  Accident to person

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  31 March 1992

  Collision

  North Sea Ferries

  10 April 1992

  Collision

  P and O European Ferries

  8 June 1992

  Accident to person

  P and O European Ferries

  5 July 1992

  Machinery failure

  Red Funnel

  18 August 1992

  Fire

  Wightlink

  15 October 1992

  Heavy weather damage

  Stena Sealink

  17 January 1993

  Collision

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  11 February 1993

  Accident to person

  Commodore Shipping

  17 April 1993

  Machinery failure

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  30 August 1993

  Collision

  P and O/Brittany Ferries

  25 September 1993

  Fire

  Hoverspeed Ltd.

  21 March 1994

  Accident to person

  Red Funnel

  8 November 1994

  Accident to person

  Stena Line Ltd.

  8 December 1994

  Accident to person

  P and O European Ferries

  7 March 1995

  Grounding

  Channiland

  17 April 1995

  Fire

  Sealink Transmanche

  21 August 1995

  Heavy weather damage

  Sea Containers Ltd.

  27 September 1995

  Heavy weather damage

  P and O European Ferries

  14 December 1995

  Fatal accident

  P and O European Ferries

  17 February 1996

  Heavy weather damage

  P and O European Ferries

  21 February 1996

  Accident to person

  North Sea Ferries

  28 October 1996

  Other more minor incidents have also been reported to MAIB during the period.

  Air Traffic Services (Contracts)
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what additional payments have been made by National Air Traffic Services to the new en-route centre contractor since the original contract was signed; to what they related; and when they were made; [19401]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the extent to which the full range of functions specified in the original contract for the new en-route centre will be available when it becomes operational; and what compensation will be sought from the contractor for restrictions in that availability; [19403]

  (3) if he will list the contract change orders which have been agreed between the Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services and the contractor involved with the new en-route centre since the contract was signed. [19402]

  Mr Bowis
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: I have asked the chairman of the CAA to reply direct to the hon. Member on this matter.
  147

OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

  UNHCR
  Mr. Evennett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance he is giving to the general programmes budget for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1996. [20008]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has approved a grant of £5 million for UNHCR's general programmes budget for 1997. The UK is one of the foremost national donors of UNHCR; last calendar year, our contributions, both indirect payments and assistance in kind, exceeded £30 million.

  Red Cross
  Mr. Jacques Arnold
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assistance has been provided by the Government to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support its humanitarian work. [20009]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has recently announced a new contribution of £5 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross. This contribution will support programmes which include protection and assistance for victims of conflicts, the dissemination of international humanitarian law, and the provision of humanitarian relief and medical assistance to conflict affected groups.

PRIME MINISTER

  Interception of Communications and Security Service Tribunals
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97 of operating the(a) Interception of Communications Tribunal and(b) Security Service Tribunal; how many cases have been dealt with by each of these bodies during these periods; and in how many cases complaints have been upheld by the tribunals involved. [19381]

  The Prime Minister
  The available information is as follows. The outturn for expenditure in 1995–96 for the tribunals and commissioners appointed under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, the Security Service Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994 is £47,000. The provision for 1996–97 is £67,000. The Interception of Communications Tribunal completed investigation of 63 complaints in the calendar year 1995 and 34 in 1996. In the same periods, the Security Service Tribunal completed investigation of 25 and 26 complaints respectively. On no occasion did the Interception of Communications Tribunal conclude that sections 2 to 5 of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 had been contravened. The Security Service Tribunal made no determination in favour of a complainant.

  Official Transport
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister what guidelines govern the use by Ministers of official transport in undertaking party political activities. [19404]
  148
  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Ministers for whom the security authorities exceptionally consider it essential may use their official cars for all journeys by road, including those for party purposes. Otherwise, official transport should not be used for journeys on party business, such as constituency visits or attendance at party meetings; though there is no objection to a Minister using an official car if the meeting involving party business takes place immediately between two official engagements in the course of their working week.

  Engagements
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 March. [118595]

  Sir Peter Tapsell
  To ask the Primer Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 11 March. [18597]

  The Prime Minister
  This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition, to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

  Interception of Communications
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Prime Minister how many warrants were issued under the Interception of Telecommunications Act 1985 in 1996 by the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Home Affairs covering(a) mail interceptions and (b) telephone interceptions. [19529]

  The Prime Minister
  The number of warrants issued in 1996 under the Interception of Communications Act 1985 by the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland are as follows:

  Letters

  Telecommunications

  Home Secretary

  69

  1,037

  Secretary of State for Scotland

  0

  228

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 25 February,Official Report, column 156, if he will commission an independent expert valuation of the provenance and estimated worth of gifts received from the President of Albania. [19747]

  The Prime Minister
  I have nothing further to add to my reply of 25 February,Official Report, column 156.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Roads (Water)
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what responsibility DOE (NI) has for protecting road users from hazardous road conditions caused by water flowing on to roads from fields and approach roadways to premises in rural areas. [18270]
  149
  Mr. Moss
  Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Roads Service under its chief executive, Mr. W. J. McCoubrey. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from W. J. McCoubrey to Mr. Roy Beggs, dated 4 March 1997:

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me to reply to your recently tabled PQ enquiring about responsibility for protecting road users from icy conditions on roads in rural areas as a result of water flowing onto them from adjoining lands.

  Roads Service has no statutory responsibility to treat roads affected by frost or ice. However, as a service to the public, some 6,750 km (27%) of the public road network receives salt treatment when ice or snow is forecast. Responsibility for water flowing from adjacent land onto a road rests with the owner or occupier of the land in question. Where this occurs, Roads Service has powers to serve a notice on the relevant person requiring him or her to do such works as are reasonably practicable to remedy the situation.

  I do appreciate the particular difficulties which can arise when water flowing from private land freezes in wintry conditions. If any particular site is giving you concern please do not hesitate to contact the Divisional Roads Manager for the area who will be glad to have the matter investigated.

  I do hope you find this information helpful.

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) intends to introduce the nursery vouchers scheme to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [18476]

  Mr. Ancram
  No date has been set for the introduction of the pre-school voucher scheme in Northern Ireland. It is the Government's intention to implement the scheme when resources permit.

  Government Training Centres
  Mr. Beggs
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the trainee intake at(a) Enniskillen, (b) Londonderry, (c) Omagh and (d) Newry training centres in each of the years 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96 and 1996–97; and how many of the trainees who enrolled in each year, in each centre, were normally resident in the Republic of Ireland; [18566]

  (2) what is the estimated annual cost of a training place at each Government training centre in Northern Ireland; [18565]

  (3) how much was paid to trainees at Government training centres in Northern Ireland in respect of board and lodging charges in each of the last five years for which records are available. [18567]

  Mr. Ancram
  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. Roy Beggs, dated 10 March 1997

  The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me, as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency (T and EA), to reply to your questions about the Agency's Training Centres.
  150
  Parliamentary Question 418 (Ref: 18566)

  Trainee intake figures for 1992/93 and 1993/94 cannot be made available, other than at disproportionate cost, in a form which permits meaningful comparison between Training Centres or with subsequent years. For those 2 years the information available is based on funding provided for numbers of trainee-weeks. To ensure consistency therefore I am providing recruitment figures for the last 3 years which are as follow:

  Centre

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Enniskillen

  105

  155

  159

  Springtown

  319

  321

  313

  Maydown

  161

  261

  136

  Omagh

  152

  178

  198

  Newry

  169

  197

  214

  Any attempt on the part of the Agency to estimate how many of the trainees were normally resident in the Republic of Ireland would be purely speculative. In order to be eligible for entry to the Youth training Programme and subsequently the Jobskills Programme, trainees were required to be resident in Northern Ireland at the time of their application.
  Parliamentary Question 420 (Ref: 18565)

  The estimated annual cost of a training place in the Training Centre Network for the 1996–97 financial year is £5,261. Funding and apportionment arrangements are such that it is not possible to provide separately the cost of a training place at each Training Centre at other than a wholly disproportionate cost. Financial information systems being installed will enable the Agency to provide this information in the future.

  Parliamentary Question 421 (ref: 18567)

  The following amounts were paid in respect of board and lodging charges in each of the last five years:

  1992–93: £102,453

  1993–94: £144,915

  1994–95: £125,123

  1995–96: £66,889

  1996–97: £61,664 (provisional)

  I hope you find the information useful.

  Housing Executive Dwellings
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will ensure that any repair work following a fire in one of its dwellings brings that dwelling up to the current standard of building regulations; [18971]

  (2) if the building regulations apply to dwellings constructed (a) by or (b) on behalf of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. [18968]

  Mr. Moss
  I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that the answer is yes.

  Mr. Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what investigations the Housing Executive carries out to determine whether dwellings erected by it, or on its behalf, comply with building regulations. [18969]

  Mr. Moss
  I am advised by the chief executive of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive that all dwellings erected either by or on behalf of the Housing Executive are subject to on-site inspections by the building control department of the relevant district council at specified intervals during construction, to ensure compliance with the building regulations.
  151

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many hospitals have reported cases of MRSA in Northern Ireland in the past 12 months; how many cases there were in total; and in how many cases MRSA was the cause of or contributed to death; [19849]

  (2) what measures are being taken to prevent the spread of MRSA outside hospitals; and if he will make a statement. [19850]

  Mr. Moss
  Information relating to the number of cases of MRSA in hospitals in Northern Ireland is not available centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Last year the Department issued for distribution to residential and nursing homes a booklet entitled "Guidelines on the Control of Infection in Residential and Nursing Homes" which contained a section on MRSA. On 7 February 1997 two publications dealing specifically with MRSA were issued to a wide range of medical and nursing personnel. These were a "Patient Information" leaflet and a booklet called "Guidelines for Residential and Nursing Home Staff for Management of Residents with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus".

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Bahrain
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what inquiries officials at the British embassy in Bahrain have undertaken into the detention of Mr. Yasser A. Al-Sayegh; and if he will make a statement. [19017]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  Mr. Al-Sayegh has been in detention since 5 December 1996 for possessing and distributing illegal pamphlets. Mr. Al-Sayegh is a dual British-Bahraini national, living and working in Bahrain where he has a family. The Bahraini authorities do not recognise dual nationality and denied the British embassy consular access in February. The embassy has no jurisdiction to intervene in his case.

  Treaties
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the treaties ratified by Her Majesty's Government during 1996, giving the date of signature for each. [19221]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  A list of the treaties ratified during 1996 with signature dates will be deposited in the Libraries of the House shortly.

  Departmental Web Site
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when his Department established its Internet site; what representations he has received and what data he has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps he is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19146]

  Mr. Hanley
  "FCO On-Line", the worldwide web service of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (diplomatic wing), was launched on 1 May 1995. Updated 152
  several times daily, it is now one of the most heavily accessed sites in Whitehall distributing many thousands of documents a week to a world audience. Over 1,000 pages of information are available, including speeches, statements, press releases, consular and travel advice, foreign policy briefing papers, visa forms and more. Recent additions include sound and video files. Anecdotal evidence shows a high level of use by many international organisations worldwide, including London embassies.

  A growing number of British missions overseas now have their own web sites, offering public information, sometimes in the vernacular, to a regional audience. These are all referenced on the FCO homepage.

  The Overseas Development Administration is a major partner of the successful "OneWorld OnLine" web site, which hosts organisations concerned with human development and global justice.

  The addresses are as follows:

  FCO: http://www.fco.gov.uk/

  ODA: http://www.oneworld.org/oda/

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19344]

  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for this Department to calculate systematically the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

  Entry Clearance (Shakil Hamid)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action was taken by the first secretary (immigration) and consul at the British high commission in Islamabad on receipt of letters dated 25 October 1996 and 20 November 1996, from Kenningham Underwood Armstrong, solicitors at Bradford, about the entry clearance application on behalf of Shakil Hamid; when a decision is to be taken on this application; when replies will be sent to the solicitors; and if he will make a statement. [19737]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I have asked our high commission in Islamabad to provide a detailed account of the position. Thereafter, I will send the hon. Member a substantive reply as soon as possible.

  Albania
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 27 February,Official Report, column 314, if he will commission an independent expert valuation of the provenance and estimated worth of gifts from the President of Albania. [19746]
  153
  Sir Nicholas Bonsor
  Gifts received by Ministers in their official capacity are dealt with in accordance with the procedures set out in "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". The details are not made public. There is no case for an independent valuation.

  Entry Clearance (Taqir Mahmood)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision by the British embassy in Islamabad on the application by Taqir Mahmood (Ref. IMM/B2368) to join his wife in the United Kingdom will be made; by what date the documents requested by the post of the sponsor in the United Kingdom were received; and if he will make a statement. [19738]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I have asked our high commission in Islamabad to provide me with a detailed account of the position. Thereafter, I will send the hon. Member a substantive reply as soon as possible.

  Entry Clearance (Mr. Javed Iqbal)
  Mr. Madden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date a recommendation was received at the British post in Islamabad from the Home Office in London concerning the issuing of entry clearance to Mr. Javed Iqbal (Ref: TH/21422/96) following the upholding of his appeal against refusal to grant him entry to the United Kingdom; on what dates the post referred inquiries about this case to the Home Office in London; and if he will make a statement. [19744]

  Dr. Liam Fox
  I have asked our high commission in Islamabad to provide me with a detailed account of the position. Thereafter, I will send the hon. Member a substantive reply as soon as possible.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Nursery Vouchers
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many four-year-olds who have already received three terms of pre-school education in phase one of the voucher scheme have now been sent vouchers in respect of provision for a fourth term. [19011]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 10 March I997]: Following formal consultation with admission authorities, including local authorities, on the arrangements for national implementation of the nursery education voucher scheme there will be uniform dates by which children become eligible for vouchers. These differ from those used in the first phase.

  As a consequence of the change, some children would be left without a voucher for the term before they reach compulsory school age if they were not issued with a fourth voucher. This transitional issue affects an estimated 700 four-year-olds in the phase one local education authority areas in the summer term of 1997. A similar effect will apply for the autumn term of 1997 and the
  154
  spring term of 1998, involving some 6 per cent. of the estimated number of children eligible to receive three vouchers.

  Parliamentary Questions
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many answers to parliamentary questions by Ministers in her Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if she will make a statement. [19346]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for the Department to calculate systematically the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.

  European Social Fund
  Mr. MacShane
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what funding has been allocated to the United Kingdom under the European social fund for the period 1994 to 1999. [19077]

  Mr. Paice
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: The total amount allocated to the United Kingdom from the structural funds over the period 1994 to 1999 is £9,530 million and we expect that £4,344 million of this will be allocated to the European social fund: the precise allocation to the ESF will be known when the current negotiations on the objective 2 programme for 1997–99 have been completed. These figures are based on 1994 prices and an exchange rate of 1.39 ECU to £1.

  Pupil to Teacher Ratios
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the pupil to teacher ratio in(a) primary and (b) secondary schools in each of the last five years. [19678]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  I refer the hon. Member to statistical bulletin 11/96 which shows pupil teacher ratios in maintained schools by local education authority area in England in January 1996. A copy of the bulletin is in the Library.

  Primary School Classes
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number and proportion of children in primary school classes or(a) up to 25 pupils, (b) 26–30 pupils, (c) 31–35 pupils, (d) 36–40 pupils and (e) 41 and over pupils (i) in each LEA and (ii) nationally. [19259]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The information requested is shown in the following table.
  155

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in one teacher classes by size in maintained primary schools in each local authority area in England

  January 1996

  Up to 25

  26–30

  31–35

  36–40

  41+

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Total pupils

  Corporation of

  London

  23

  21.5

  84

  78.5

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  107

  Camden

  1,597

  18.7

  6,487

  76.0

  410

  4.8

  37

  0.4

  0

  0.0

  8,531

  Greenwich

  6,380

  36.1

  9,868

  55.9

  1,412

  8.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  17,660

  Hackney

  4,494

  33.1

  8,427

  62.0

  664

  4.9

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  13,585

  Hammersmith

  1,935

  24.6

  4,880

  62.2

  1,036

  13.2

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  7,851

  Islington

  3,107

  23.3

  9,243

  69.3

  982

  7.4

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  13,332

  Kensington and Chelsea

  2,099

  42.4

  2,668

  53.9

  187

  3.8

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  4,954

  Lambeth

  6,358

  40.9

  8,327

  53.6

  857

  5.5

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  15,542

  Lewisham

  6,462

  36.7

  10,244

  58.1

  917

  5.2

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  17,623

  Southwark

  5,957

  31.0

  11,223

  58.4

  1,979

  10.3

  72

  0.4

  0

  0.0

  19,231

  Tower Hamlets

  4,103

  27.6

  9,928

  66.7

  822

  5.5

  37

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  14,890

  Wandsworth

  4,766

  33.0

  7,264

  50.5

  1,969

  13.7

  342

  2.4

  62

  0.4

  14,423

  Westminster

  2,873

  41.8

  3,457

  50.3

  508

  7.4

  36

  0.5

  0

  0.0

  6,874

  Barking

  3,580

  23.6

  9,984

  65.8

  1,331

  8.8

  272

  1.8

  0

  0.0

  15,167

  Barnet

  4,784

  22.8

  14,343

  68.4

  1,648

  7.9

  152

  0.7

  48

  0.2

  20,975

  Bexley

  2,674

  12.9

  9,162

  44.4

  8,673

  42.0

  148

  0.7

  0

  0.0

  20,657

  Brent

  4,758

  25.3

  11,797

  62.7

  2,053

  10.9

  111

  0.6

  95

  0.5

  18,814

  Bromley

  2,401

  10.3

  9,151

  39.1

  11,664

  49.8

  186

  0.8

  0

  0.0

  23,402

  Croydon

  3,418

  13.1

  16,235

  62.5

  6,083

  23.4

  258

  1.0

  0

  0.0

  25,994

  Ealing

  5,653

  25.2

  11,302

  50.3

  5,246

  23.4

  218

  1.0

  44

  0.2

  22,463

  Enfield

  2,057

  9.5

  10,659

  49.4

  8,804

  40.8

  36

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  21,556

  Haringey

  3,654

  21.8

  12,130

  72.5

  948

  5.7

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  16,732

  Harrow

  2,128

  13.5

  9,784

  62.1

  3,797

  24.1

  36

  0.2

  0

  0.0

  15,745

  Havering

  3,489

  17.6

  10,615

  53.7

  5,443

  27.5

  185

  0.9

  50

  0.3

  19,782

  Hillingdon

  5,444

  29.1

  8,447

  45.1

  4,361

  23.3

  418

  2.2

  41

  0.2

  18,711

  Hounslow

  3,336

  20.2

  7,483

  45.4

  4,996

  30.3

  637

  3.9

  41

  0.2

  16,493

  Kingston upon Thames

  869

  8.6

  2,160

  21.3

  6,610

  65.3

  438

  4.3

  47

  0.5

  10,124

  Merton

  2,392

  18.7

  6,459

  50.4

  3,560

  27.8

  344

  2.7

  51

  0.4

  12,806

  Newham

  3,111

  12.9

  18,694

  77.3

  2,177

  9.0

  152

  0.6

  52

  0.2

  24,186

  Redbridge

  1,930

  11.2

  6,205

  36.1

  8,518

  49.5

  542

  3.2

  0

  0.0

  17,195

  Richmond upon Thames

  2,453

  23.7

  5,609

  54.1

  2,309

  22.3

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  10,371

  Sutton

  2,599

  20.1

  6,067

  47.1

  3,868

  29.9

  367

  2.8

  0

  0.0

  12,921

  Waltham Forest

  4,216

  23.6

  10,387

  58.1

  3,282

  18.4

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  17.885

  Birmingham

  16,684

  17.1

  55,058

  56.5

  24,041

  24.7

  1,444

  1.5

  157

  0.2

  97,384

  Coventry

  5,839

  21.7

  13,476

  50.0

  7,108

  26.4

  530

  2.0

  0

  0.0

  26,953

  Dudley

  6,528

  26.6

  11,420

  46.5

  5,389

  21.9

  454

  1.8

  775

  3.2

  24,566

  Sandwell

  4,666

  16.4

  11,991

  42.1

  10,269

  36.1

  1,460

  5.1

  83

  0.3

  28,469

  Solihull

  3,427

  18.0

  7,247

  38.0

  7,488

  39.3

  915

  4.8

  0

  0.0

  19,077

  Walsall

  7,622

  32.8

  8,390

  36.1

  6,351

  27.3

  845

  3.6

  45

  0.2

  23,253

  Wolverhampton

  6,186

  28.3

  8,902

  40.7

  5,684

  26.0

  845

  3.9

  233

  1.1

  21,850

  Knowsley

  4,335

  24.1

  8,399

  46.7

  4,599

  25.6

  603

  3.4

  52

  0.3

  17,988

  Liverpool

  12,584

  27.2

  21,664

  46.8

  11,461

  24.8

  590

  1.3

  0

  0.0

  46,299

  St. Helens

  4,643

  31.4

  4,563

  30.9

  4,360

  29.5

  1,120

  7.6

  83

  0.6

  14,769

  Sefton

  5,701

  22.7

  8,763

  34.9

  9,677

  38.5

  993

  4.0

  0

  0.0

  25,134

  Wirral

  9,168

  31.1

  13,357

  45.3

  6,505

  22.0

  482

  1.6

  0

  0.0

  29,512

  Bolton

  5,160

  21.9

  6,712

  28.5

  8,924

  37.8

  2,260

  9.6

  535

  2.3

  23,591

  Bury

  2,538

  15.8

  6,551

  40.8

  6,125

  38.1

  843

  5.3

  0

  0.0

  16,057

  Manchester

  10,716

  25.2

  22,143

  52.0

  7,968

  18.7

  1,137

  2.7

  582

  1.4

  42,546

  Oldham

  3,490

  16.1

  8,785

  40.5

  8,440

  38.9

  816

  3.8

  178

  0.8

  21,709

  Rochdale

  2,032

  10.5

  8,992

  46.5

  7,687

  39.7

  588

  3.0

  41

  0.2

  19,340

  Salford

  6,098

  26.7

  9,754

  42.7

  5,750

  25.2

  933

  4.1

  314

  1.4

  22,849

  Stockport

  5,191

  20.6

  11,735

  46.6

  7,045

  28.0

  1,085

  4.3

  117

  0.5

  25,173

  Tameside

  2,534

  11.7

  7,670

  35.3

  10,552

  48.6

  956

  4.4

  0

  0.0

  21,712

  Trafford

  3,013

  15.7

  6,801

  35.4

  8,286

  43.1

  1,103

  5.7

  0

  0.0

  19,203

  Wigan

  5,001

  19.2

  9,970

  38.3

  8,702

  33.4

  2,258

  8.7

  127

  0.5

  26,058

  Barnsley

  3,618

  17.7

  8,203

  40.0

  7,926

  38.7

  599

  2.9

  152

  0.7

  20,498

  Doncaster

  5,227

  19.1

  12,525

  45.8

  7,870

  28.8

  1,739

  6.4

  0

  0.0

  27,361

  Rotherham

  5,984

  25.7

  11,590

  49.7

  5,310

  22.8

  422

  1.8

  0

  0.0

  23,306

  Sheffield

  9,897

  24.8

  18,895

  47.3

  9,684

  24.2

  1,268

  3.2

  229

  0.6

  39,973

  Bradford

  6,693

  20.0

  15,247

  45.7

  9,852

  29.5

  1,554

  4.7

  43

  0.1

  33,389

  Calderdale

  3,737

  20.2

  8,406

  45.5

  5,990

  32.4

  296

  1.6

  45

  0.2

  18,474

  Kirklees

  5,614

  17.3

  12,451

  38.4

  12,402

  38.2

  1,854

  5.7

  139

  0.4

  32,460

  Leeds

  11,605

  19.1

  27,756

  45.6

  18,345

  30.2

  2,866

  4.7

  244

  0.4

  60,816

  Wakefield

  5,060

  17.9

  12,583

  44.4

  9,071

  32.0

  1,550

  5.5

  52

  0.2

  28,316

  Gateshead

  5,463

  32.1

  9,101

  53.5

  2,327

  13.7

  116

  0.7

  0

  0.0

  17,007

  Newcastle upon Tyne

  4,528

  22.1

  9,174

  44.8

  5,737

  28.0

  1,006

  4.9

  49

  0.2

  20,494

  North Tyneside

  3,604

  23.3

  6,944

  45.0

  4,322

  28.0

  525

  3.4

  50

  0.3

  15,445

  South Tyneside

  3,765

  25.6

  6,878

  46.8

  3,331

  22.6

  637

  4.3

  99

  0.7

  14,710

  Sunderland

  11,028

  40.1

  12,345

  44.9

  3,963

  14.4

  185

  0.7

  0

  0.0

  27,521

  Isles of Scilly

  151

  100.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  0

  0.0

  151

  Avon

  14,741

  19.0

  36,166

  46.6

  25,060

  32.3

  1,543

  2.0

  44

  0.1

  77,554

  Bedfordshire

  10,321

  26.5

  16,829

  43.1

  9,269

  23.8

  2,116

  5.4

  482

  1.2

  39,017

  Berkshire

  13,121

  21.9

  28,517

  47.6

  16,895

  28.2

  1,368

  2.3

  46

  0.1

  59,947

  Buckinghamshire

  14,055

  23.2

  23,689

  39.2

  18,981

  31.4

  3,400

  5.6

  372

  0.6

  60,497

  156 157

  Numbers and percentages of pupils in one teacher classes by size in maintained primary schools in each local authority area in England January 1996

  Up to 25

  26–30

  31–35

  36–40

  41+

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Number of pupils

  Percentage1

  Total pupils

  Cambridgeshire

  11,265

  19.8

  27,535

  48.4

  17,039

  30.0

  1,026

  1.8

  0

  0.0

  56,865

  Cheshire

  17,936

  20.8

  36,276

  42.0

  28,174

  32.6

  3,909

  4.5

  142

  0.2

  86,437

  Cleveland

  15,662

  26.7

  29,231

  49.7

  11,239

  19.1

  2,630

  4.5

  0

  0.0

  58,762

  Cornwall

  9,028

  22.7

  15,827

  39.8

  13,611

  34.2

  1,284

  3.2

  41

  0.1

  39,791

  Cumbria

  11,381

  28.2

  17,594

  43.6

  10,050

  24.9

  1,221

  3.0

  111

  0.3

  40,357

  Derbyshire

  12,675

  16.0

  25,416

  32.0

  30.873

  38.9

  9.622

  12.1

  722

  0.9

  79,308

  Devon

  19,060

  23.6

  33,458

  41.5

  25,046

  31.1

  2,904

  3.6

  128

  0.2

  80,596

  Dorset

  8,134

  18.4

  16,377

  37.1

  18,294

  41.4

  1,274

  2.9

  86

  0.2

  44,162

  Durham

  8,718

  16.7

  23,700

  45.3

  17,894

  34.2

  1,820

  3.5

  167

  0.3

  52,299

  East Sussex

  9,688

  19.6

  18,801

  38.0

  19,915

  40.3

  1,056

  2.1

  0

  0.0

  49,460

  Essex

  28,872

  22.9

  62,239

  49.5

  33,937

  27.0

  695

  0.6

  109

  0.1

  125,852

  Gloucestershire

  9,703

  21.9

  20,387

  46.0

  13,616

  30.7

  630

  1.4

  0

  0.0

  44,336

  Hampshire

  24,974

  19.2

  60,358

  46.3

  42,406

  32.6

  2,485

  1.9

  47

  —

  130,270

  Hereford and Worcester

  14,782

  30.4

  20,658

  42.4

  12,087

  24.8

  988

  2.0

  150

  0.3

  48,665

  Hertfordshire

  20,122

  24.9

  37,216

  46.1

  22,667

  28.1

  729

  0.9

  0

  0.0

  80,734

  Humberside

  15,732

  19.8

  35,897

  45.2

  23,422

  29.5

  4,181

  5.3

  229

  0.3

  79,461

  Isle of Wight

  2,112

  29.3

  2,858

  39.6

  2,128

  29.5

  115

  1.6

  0

  0.0

  7,213

  Kent

  23,398

  17.9

  63,110

  48.3

  43,200

  33.0

  923

  0.7

  89

  0.1

  130,720

  Lancashire

  21,128

  17.4

  46,439

  38.2

  46,181

  38.0

  7,877

  6.5

  41

  —

  121,666

  Leicestershire

  18,945

  25.1

  34,810

  46.1

  19,238

  25.5

  2,322

  3.1

  224

  0.3

  75,539

  Lincolnshire

  12,811

  25.6

  23,292

  46.5

  12,778

  25.5

  1,142

  2.3

  42

  0.1

  50,065

  Norfolk

  18,798

  31.2

  28,213

  46.8

  12,444

  20.7

  737

  1.2

  43

  0.1

  60,235

  North Yorkshire

  17,114

  29.5

  22,316

  38.4

  16,543

  28.5

  1,980

  3.4

  140

  0.2

  58,093

  Northamptonshire

  12,915

  26.1

  25,440

  51.5

  10,477

  21.2

  570

  1.2

  42

  0.1

  49,444

  Northumberland

  4,426

  22.6

  6,686

  34.1

  7,033

  35.9

  1,445

  7.4

  0

  0.0

  19,590

  Nottinghamshire

  15,849

  18.7

  35,891

  42.4

  28,198

  33.3

  4,521

  5.3

  212

  0.3

  84,671

  Oxfordshire

  10,824

  26.2

  19,825

  48.1

  9,401

  22.8

  1,207

  2.9

  0

  0.0

  41,257

  Shropshire

  8,605

  24.5

  13,078

  37.3

  12,117

  34.5

  1,206

  3.4

  102

  0.3

  35,108

  Somerset

  8,758

  23.9

  14,180

  38.8

  12,840

  35.1

  768

  2.1

  41

  0.1

  36,587

  Staffordshire

  21,087

  23.4

  36,813

  40.9

  26,272

  29.2

  5,352

  5.9

  539

  0.6

  90,063

  Suffolk

  16,330

  37.4

  19,351

  44.4

  7,468

  17.1

  472

  1.1

  0

  0.0

  43,621

  Surrey

  21,148

  29.7

  35,924

  50.4

  13,837

  19.4

  315

  0.4

  45

  0.1

  71,269

  Warwickshire

  9,193

  21.3

  16,405

  38.0

  16,008

  37.1

  1,514

  3.5

  44

  0.1

  43,164

  West Sussex

  13,742

  25.4

  25,959

  47.9

  14,114

  26.1

  333

  0.6

  0

  0.0

  54,148

  Wiltshire

  10,168

  20.7

  23,856

  48.5

  14,355

  29.2

  773

  1.6

  0

  0.0

  49,152

  England

  891,551

  22.5

  1,813,871

  45.7

  1,130,762

  28.5

  120,354

  3.0

  9,435

  0.2

  3,965,973

  1 Pupils in one teacher classes of size expressed as a percentage of all pupils in one teacher classes.

  — Less than 0.05 per cent.

  Nursery Classes
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment in how many cases in each of the last five years she has given notice that the addition of a nursery class to a county school requires her approval. [19260]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 415, if she will indicate, in respect of each of the outstanding nursery proposals from county schools if (a) she has given notice under section 37(3)(a) of the Education Act that the proposal requires her approval or (b) objections have been made under section 36 of the Education Act. [19261]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The following list shows outstanding proposals for new nursery classes in respect of county schools for which(a) the Secretary of State has given notice under section 37(3) of the Education and Act that the proposal requires her approval or (b) statutory objections have been received. The list does not include outstanding proposals that have not been called in or attracted statutory objections—some of these are still within the two-month statutory objection period.
  158

  Proposals where Secretary of State has given notice that her approval is required

  LEA

  School name

  Essex

  Kings Ford County Infant School

  Essex

  Northlands County Primary School

  Essex

  Hazelmere Infant School

  Essex

  Montgomery Infant School

  Hertfordshire

  Priors Wood School

  Hertfordshire

  Panshanger School

  Hertfordshire

  Abel Smith JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Killigrew Infant School

  Hertfordshire

  Goldfield Infant School

  Hertfordshire

  Leavesden Green JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Grove Road Primary School

  Hertfordshire

  Eastbury Farm JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Woodside JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Mayfield Infant School

  Hertfordshire

  Wheatcroft JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Springmead JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Kimpton JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Templewood JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Abbotts Langley School

  Hertfordshire

  Fairfields JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Gade Valley JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  HollyBush JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Micklem JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Mill Mead JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Millbrook JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Sheredes JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  The Reddings JMI School

  Hertfordshire

  Ryde JMI School

  159

  Proposals where Secretary of State has given notice that her approval is required

  LEA

  School name

  Hertfordshire

  Studlands Rise JMI School

  Liverpool

  Belle Vale County JMI School

  Proposals where objections have been made

  Hertfordshire

  Cassiobury Infants School

  Hertfordshire

  Russell JMI School

  Schools
  Mr. Blunkett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 28 February,Official Report, column 415, in respect of each of the proposals to open new primary and infant schools that she has received but not yet approved, what is the target time for considering such a proposal and how long she has had to consider each proposal. [19262]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  The target time for reaching a decision on proposals for the establishment of schools is five months from the date of publication of the proposals. The following lists shows outstanding proposals for new primary schools in respect of county, voluntary aided, voluntary controlled and grant-maintained schools in order of date of publication. Most of the proposals outstanding for longer than five months are awaiting further information or action from promoters or other interested parties.

  LEA

  School name

  Publication date

  County schools

  Gloucestershire

  Bishop Cleeve Primary School

  29 December 1994

  Hampshire

  Flying Bull Primary School

  7 July 1995

  Kent

  New Swanscombe Primary School

  1 February 1996

  Hereford and Worcester

  New County School

  22 August 1996

  Sandwell

  New County School

  19 September 1996

  Liverpool

  New County School

  3 October 1996

  Liverpool

  New County School

  3 October 1996

  Liverpool

  New County School

  3 October 1996

  Liverpool

  New County School

  3 October 1996

  Coventry

  (New) Spon Gate Primary School

  10 October 1996

  Coventry

  (New) Mount Nod Primary School

  10 October 1996

  Cambridgeshire

  New County School

  30 October 1996

  Sandwell

  New County School

  6 December 1996

  Sandwell

  New County School

  12 December 1996

  Enfield

  New County School

  18 December 1996

  Essex

  New County School

  19 December 1996

  Berkshire

  James Elliman School

  20 December 1996

  Cheshire

  Oakwood Avenue County Infant and Junior School

  24 January 1997

  Essex

  New County School

  31 January 1997

  West Sussex

  New County Primary School

  21 February 1997

  Redbridge

  New County Primary School

  27 February 1997

  Voluntary aided schools

  Cambridgeshire

  New VA School

  7 September 1995

  Kent

  St. Mary's Island

  2 August 1996

  Milton Keynes

  New VA School

  10 October 1996

  160

  LEA

  School name

  Publication date

  Hampshire

  St. Marks VA CE Primary School

  18 October 1996

  Tameside

  New VA School

  7 November 1996

  Bolton

  New VA School

  8 November 1996

  Hertfordshire

  New VA School

  30 January 1997

  Cheshire

  New VA School

  21 February 1997

  Voluntary controlled schools

  Oxfordshire

  Long Hanborough CE VC Primary School

  22 December 1995

  Liverpool

  New CE VC Primary School

  6 December 1996

  Cheshire

  St. Mary's CE Controlled School

  10 January 1997

  Grant maintained schools

  Brent

  Torah Temimah Primary School

  1 August 1996

  Barnet

  Menorah Foundation Primary School

  24 October 1996

  Barnet

  Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Primary School

  7 November 1996

  Hertfordshire

  New GM School

  12 December 1996

  Birmingham

  Al-Furqan Primary School (GM)

  7 January 1997

  Brent

  Islamia Primary School

  9 January 1997

  School Inspections
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will require Ofsted to inform hon. Members of the date of inspections of schools in their constituencies. [19597]

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

  Jobseeker's Allowance
  Mr. Donohoe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidance has been issued to staff of the Benefits Agency in relation to the application of regulation 9 of the Jobseeker's Act Regulations 1996; and what level of remuneration for employment set by an applicant in applying for jobseeker's allowance would result in their application being refused. [19527]

  Mr. Forth
  Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

  Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 11 March 1997:

  The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the guidance that has been issued to staff in the Benefits Agency in relation to the application of Regulation 9 of the Jobseeker's Act Regulations 1996 and on what level of remuneration for employment set by the applicant in applying for Jobseeker's Allowance would result in their application being refused.

  I should first explain that Regulation 9 of the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations is not a matter for the Benefits Agency. The Employment Service is responsible for ensuring that jobseekers satisfy the labour market conditions for receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance. Jobseekers are generally required to be available for any work immediately, and for a minimum of 40 hours a week. For a

  161
  "permitted period" of up to 13 weeks they can, however, limit their availability to their usual occupation and at the rate of pay they used to receive. After the permitted period, they can continue to impose restrictions on the type of work they will accept, initially including the rate of pay, providing they can show that they have reasonable prospects of securing employment notwithstanding those restrictions. Regulation 9 provides that no restriction on the level of remuneration is allowed once a jobseeker has been claiming for more than six months.

  This means that if a jobseeker insists on specifying a rate of remuneration after the six month period has expired, their claim will be referred to the independent adjudicating authorities for a decision on their entitlement to benefit. The importance of making sure that the jobseeker is insisting on stipulating a rate of remuneration, and not just stating a preference, is included in our guidance to Jobcentres. If the jobseeker is merely stating a preference this would not amount to a restriction unless that was all they were prepared to accept.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Latin and Ancient Greek
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many and what percentage of(a) comprehensive and (b) grant-maintained schools currently offer (i) Latin and (ii) ancient Greek as (A) compulsory, (B) a GCSE and (C) an A-level option; and if she will make a statement; [19886]

  (2) what assessment she has made of the decline in the availability of Latin and ancient Greek tuition in comprehensive and grant-maintained schools; and if she will make a statement. [19887]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect information as to which schools, or which types of school, offer Latin and ancient Greek. The following table shows the numbers and percentages of(a) local education authority-maintained comprehensive, (b)LEA-maintained selective, (c) grant-maintained comprehensive and (d) grant-maintained selective schools which entered pupils for GCSE and GCE A Level examinations in these subjects in 1994–95, the latest year for which data are available.

  Except for the routine collection of examination entry data, my right hon. Friend has made no assessment of the availability of these subjects in schools. They are not required to be taught under the national curriculum, but schools are free to offer them once they have satisfied the statutory national curriculum requirements, if they have the necessary resources and if the demand is there.

  Number of schools

  Percentage of schools

  LEA Comprehensive

  GCSE Latin

  239

  10.0

  GCSE Greek

  10

  0.4

  GCE A Level Latin

  58

  2.4

  GCE A Level Greek

  5

  0.2

  Total schools

  2,398

  LEA Selective

  GCSE Latin

  45

  61.6

  GCSE Greek

  10

  13.7

  GCE A Level Latin

  28

  38.4

  GCE A Level Greek

  5

  6.9

  Total schools

  73

  162

  Number of schools

  Percentage of schools

  GM Comprehensive

  GCSE Latin

  68

  14.1

  GCSE Greek

  9

  1.9

  GCE A Level Latin

  19

  4.0

  GCE A Level Greek

  3

  0.6

  Total schools

  481

  GM Selective

  GCSE Latin

  57

  60.6

  GCSE Greek

  14

  14.9

  GCE A Level Latin

  37

  39.4

  GCE A Level Greek

  8

  8.5

  Total schools

  94

  School League Tables
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans her Department has to investigate claims that school league tables are misleading indicators of educational achievement; and if she will make a statement. [19880]

  Mrs. Gillan
  My right hon. Friend consults each year on the indicators to be included in school performance tables. The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority has confirmed that key stage 2 data are appropriate for use in tables, and a large scale independent evaluation by the University of Bath reported general satisfaction with the 1995–96 testing arrangements.

  Early Retirement (Teachers)
  Mr. Rendal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the number of identified incompetent headteachers and teaching staff who have been granted pension enhancement in return for their early retirement since 1990. [19705]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect information on the reasons why individual teachers are granted enhancements to their pensions.

  Education Council
  Mr. Spearing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what items were on the agenda for(a) discussion, and (b) decision, at the meeting of Education Ministers of member states of the European Community held in Amsterdam on 3 March. [19743]

  Mr. Paice
  The informal meeting of EC Education Ministers on 2 and 3 March, at which I represented the UK, discussed a Netherlands presidency paper on information and communications technology and teacher training and the European Commission Green Paper, "Education, Training Research: The Obstacles to Transnational Mobility". No decisions were taken at the meeting.

  Residential Visits
  Mr. Jamieson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the number of school children who have been on residential visits in the last year. [19702]
  163
  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect this information.

  School Governing Bodies
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what means the competence of school governing bodies is monitored. [19703]

  Mr. Robin Squire
  Under the Ofsted inspection framework registered inspectors comment on the overall management of schools, including aspects of school governance. Significant national trends are reported in HM chief inspector's annual report. At local level governors are directly accountable to parents and the local community, both through their published annual report, and the meeting they have to hold annually with parents.

  There are 350,000 school governors in England and Wales working as unpaid volunteers. The Government welcome the considerable contribution they are making to the education system.

  Teachers (Disciplinary Procedures)
  Mr. Rendel
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many(a) headteachers and (b) teaching staff have been suspended and subsequently dismissed without proper procedures being used since 1990. [19704]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The Department does not collect this information. My right hon. Friend occasionally receives representations from teachers and other staff in schools about their employers' actions, including questions about the use of dismissal procedures.

  Assisted Places Scheme
  Mr. Tipping
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list by participating

  1997–98

  Percentage

  Part of relevant income to which percentage applies

  One assisted pupil

  Each of two assisted pupils

  Each of three assisted pupils

  That part which exceeds £9,969 but does not exceed £10,840

  9

  6.75

  5.25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £10,840 but does not exceed £11,725

  12

  9

  7

  That part (if any) which exceeds £11,725 but does not exceed £13,481

  15

  11.25

  8.75

  That part (if any) which exceeds £13,481 but does not exceed £16,186

  21

  15.75

  12.25

  That part (if any) which exceeds £16,186 but does not exceed £19,712

  24

  18

  14

  That part (if any) which exceeds £19,712

  33

  24.75

  19.25

HEALTH

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the number of beds and wards closed, and admissions and operations postponed or cancelled, as a result of outbreaks of MRSA in the last year. [18712]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not held centrally.

  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will call for a report on the recent incidence of MRSA among patients at Walsgrave hospital, Coventry,164
  school in Nottinghamshire the number of pupils and cost of the assisted places scheme for the last three years for which figures are available. [19735]

  Mrs. Gillan
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Assisted places scheme in Nottinghamshire

  School name

  Academic year 1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Nottingham High School

  Number of assisted pupils

  170

  171

  174

  Cost of places £000s

  445

  466

  498

  Nottingham High School for Girls (GPDST)

  Number of assisted pupils

  210

  204

  197

  Cost of places £000s

  514

  526

  529

  Worksop College

  Number of assisted pupils

  25

  25

  27

  Cost of places £000s

  113

  122

  131

  Mr. Tracey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement about the level of parental contributions to the fees of pupils in the assisted places scheme in the next academic year. [20007]

  Mrs. Gillan
  Remission of tuition fees under the assisted places scheme is dependent on the level of fees at participating schools and the amount parents can afford to contribute. Subject to parliamentary approval of regulations to be laid in due course, the parental contribution scales will be adjusted for the school year 1997–98 to allow for inflation, so that the cost to parents remains broadly the same in real terms. Where the relevant income for the appropriate financial year does not exceed £10,135, the tuition fees will be wholly remitted so that the pupil receives a free place. The new scales are set out in the following table.

  with particular reference to the manner in which the hospital has complied with the 1986 national guidelines on MRSA infection control systems. [19596]

  Mr. Horam
  Guidance on the control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcos aureus in hospitals was issued in September 1994 and work is currently underway to revise the guidance. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Gary Reay, chairman of the Walsgrave Hospitals NHS trust for information on the local application of these guidelines.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of screening all hospital patients for MRSA; [19888]
  165
  (2) what assessment he has made of the factors which have led (a) some hospitals to screen for MRSA and (b) others not to. [19852]

  Mr. Horam
  Cost-effective strategies for screening are outlined in the guidelines on control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus which were issued to the NHS in 1994 under cover of EL(94)74. Implementation of screening policies is for local determination based on local circumstances.

  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what antibiotics are available to combat MRSA; and how many hospitals currently hold supplies of these. [19845]

  Mr. Horam
  Antibiotics effective in combatting methicillin-resistent staphylococcus aureus will be dependant on the particular strain of MRSA. Two of the strains associated with a large number of MRSA occurrences can be combated by a number of antibiotics such as rifampicin, fusidic acid and tetracycline. The glycopeptide antibiotics—vancomycin and teicoplanin—are effective against all strains of MRSA. The range of antibiotics held by hospitals and the control over their use are a matter for local decision.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of treating those infected with MRSA in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [19862]

  Mr. Horam
  MRSA infection can take the form of many different diseases from trivial skin infections to pneumonia or septicaemia. No estimates have been made of the costs of treating MRSA nationally.

  Negligence Claims
  Mr. Chris Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the total amounts paid out by(a) NHS trusts and (b) health authorities, in response to negligence claims in each of the last 10 years; and if he will list the amounts by region. [18768]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to replies given to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 6 March 1995, columns 41–42, and 17 May 1996, column 586, and to the hon. Member for Dulwich (Ms Jowell) on 28 November 1996, columns 371–72. These replies still give the current figures for clinical negligence for health authorities.

  Further to the reply given to the hon. Member for Darlington on 4 December 1995, column 44, with regard to expenditure by trusts, the tables show the information given in that reply broken down by region.

  Clinical negligence claims settled in the year by NHS trusts

  £ thousand

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Northern

  0

  0

  38

  Yorkshire

  2

  3

  48

  Trent

  8

  5

  10

  East Anglian

  0

  0

  0

  North West Thames

  133

  140

  203

  North East Thames

  0

  31

  64

  South East Thames

  0

  28

  370

  South West Thames

  137

  21

  35

  Wessex

  0

  0

  119

  166

  Clinical negligence claims settled in the year by NHS trusts

  £ thousand

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  Oxford

  0

  0

  24

  South Western

  0

  99

  155

  West Midlands

  0

  0

  25

  Mersey

  0

  299

  304

  North Western

  0

  0

  19

  Total England

  280

  626

  1,414

  Source

  NHS trust TAC summarisation schedules.

  Clinical negligence claims settled in the year by NHS trusts, 1994–95

  1994–95

  £000

  Northern and Yorkshire

  241

  Trent

  100

  Anglian and Oxford

  229

  North Thames

  858

  South Thames

  642

  South and West

  841

  West Midlands

  26

  North West

  370

  Total England

  3,307

  Source

  NHS trust TAC summarisation schedules.

  Brain Scans
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many brain scans have gone missing at NHS hospitals in each year since 1992. [19297]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Prescriptions (Information)
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what systems he has put in place for ensuring the coherence and consistency of written information provided to patients through patient packs, through(a) pharmacies and (b) the Prodigy prescribing pilot system. [19100]

  Mr. Malone
  The information to be supplied with medicines, in the form of labels and patient information leaflets, is set out in regulations, and all such information is approved by the Medicines Control Agency before use. Information must be consistent with the summary of product characteristics and written in clear and comprehensible terms.

  The Prodigy pilot system provides general information to patients about their condition, the main treatment options and sources of further support. In general, this is intended to supplement the more detailed statutory information accompanying individual medicines. Where the Prodigy leaflets refer to specific medicines, we will ensure that the information is consistent with the statutory patient information leaflets.

  NHS Numbers
  Mr. Barron
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the provision of a tracing service for the NHS number; and if he will make a statement. [19101]
  167
  Mr. Horam
  A tracing service for the new national health service number has been in operation since November 1996. The service is provided by the NHS central register at Southport. Since its introduction, the tracing service has been used by 159 NHS trusts to find the NHS number for 67 million patient records.

  Blind and Partially Sighted People
  Mr. Thurnham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are registered(a) blind and (b) partially sighted. [19081]

  Mr. Burns
  Latest centrally available figures, as published in "Registered blind and partially sighted people at 31 March 1994, England", copies of which are available in the Library, show that at 31 March 1994, there were(a) 149,700 people registered with local authorities as blind and (b) 115,700 registered as partially sighted.

  Complaints and Disciplinary Issues
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to address the criticisms by the Council of Tribunals of the way in which the new arrangements for complaints and disciplinary issues in the NHS were dealt with by his Department. [19291]

  Mr. Malone
  The new arrangements for complaints and discipline in the NHS were successfully introduced in April 1996 and the Council on Tribunals welcomed the separation of complaints handling from discipline issues. The complaints procedure is now more accessible,

  Primary diagnosis of cataract Finished consultant episodes—cataracts, England

  1990–91

  1991–92

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  OA

  DC

  OA

  DC

  OA

  DC

  OA

  DC

  OA

  DC

  Northern RHA

  7,075

  197

  6,992

  568

  7,774

  1,073

  6,993

  2,939

  5,326

  4,818

  Yorkshire RHA

  5,853

  154

  6,782

  411

  7,907

  881

  7,939

  1,588

  8,748

  2,402

  Trent RHA

  7,308

  846

  8,294

  974

  8,245

  1,148

  9,585

  1,613

  9,606

  2,567

  East Anglian RHA

  3,916

  358

  4,160

  1,258

  4,313

  1,603

  4,139

  2,020

  5,300

  3,789

  North West Thames RHA

  5,422

  579

  6,858

  1,041

  6,359

  1,632

  5,996

  2,224

  4,342

  2,974

  North East Thames RHA

  5,133

  426

  4,986

  783

  5,311

  747

  4,879

  1,045

  8,147

  5,520

  South East Thames RHA

  6,869

  671

  7,374

  894

  8,163

  1,703

  8,196

  2,241

  7,940

  3,554

  South West Thames RHA

  5,955

  913

  6,630

  1,451

  6,142

  2,224

  5,686

  3,477

  4,554

  5,523

  Wessex RHA

  6,315

  538

  6,425

  1,216

  6,227

  1,514

  6,632

  2,299

  6,650

  4,229

  Oxford RHA

  3,542

  497

  4,143

  516

  4,271

  540

  4,815

  785

  5,088

  1,489

  South Western RHA

  6,690

  856

  7,905

  1,276

  8,064

  2,015

  8,100

  3,589

  8,647

  4,697

  West Midlands RHA

  10,799

  499

  10,401

  942

  10,860

  1,421

  11,715

  2,702

  11,147

  5,049

  Mersey RHA

  5,612

  306

  5,470

  1,006

  5,613

  1,251

  5,609

  1,797

  5,646

  2,594

  North Western RHA

  6,400

  1,479

  9,819

  2,564

  10,074

  2,775

  9,692

  3,988

  10,694

  9,190

  SHAs

  4,424

  277

  4,044

  1,598

  3,723

  1,679

  3,605

  1,879

  —

  —

  England

  93,316

  8,595

  100,284

  16,498

  103,045

  22,205

  103,581

  34,188

  101,804

  58,396

  Total number of ordinary admissions and day cases

  101,911

  116,782

  125,250

  137,768

  160,200

  Notes

  Figures are rounded and may not total. Data in this table is grossed for both coverage and unknown invalid clinical data. Finished consultant episodes are defined as the period that a patient spends with the continuous care of a specific consultant in a specific health care provider (which may be more than one hospital within that health care provider).

  Special Health Authorities (SHAs) were abolished on 1 April 1994.

  OA = ordinary admissions.

  DC = day cases.

  Source

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).
  168
  equitable and rapid; most complaints are being resolved at local level without the need for further investigation. The disciplinary procedure enables health authorities to deal efficiently and flexibly with possible breaches of family health service practitioners' terms of service. The new arrangements are being kept under review.

  Medicines Control Agency
  Ms Corston
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the members of the Medicines Control Agency indicating(a) the organisations which they represent, (b) if they are scientific or lay members and (c) how many are employed by, or consultants to, pharmaceutical companies. [19685]

  Mr. Malone
  The Medicines Control Agency is an agency of the Department of Health, all of whose staff are employees of the Department of Health on standard civil service terms and conditions. The agency has 420 staff, of whom half are scientifically qualified. None are employed by, or are consultants to, pharmaceutical companies.

  Cataracts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) by region and (b) nationally received hospital in-patient or day care for cataracts in each of the last five years. [19318]

  Mr. Horam
  The latest available information for finished consultant episodes is set out in the table. Information on numbers of patients is not available centrally.
  169

  Oral Cancer
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients(a) by region and (b) nationally received hospital in-patient or day care for oral cancer in each of the past five years. [19317]

  Mr. Horam
  The information requested is not available in precisely the form requested. The figures given in the tables are the latest available estimated information taken from the hospital episode statistics, which are based on a count of finished consultant episodes. Since an individual patient may have more than one consultant episode in any one year, the figures do not equate to the number of patients.

  Primary diagnosis: oral cancer (ICD9 codes 140–149) Estimated number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs), by ordinary admissions and day cases and region of treatment, NHS hospitals, England

  Data year 1994–95

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  Total

  Northern RHA

  590

  75

  664

  Yorkshire RHA

  488

  45

  532

  Trent RHA

  726

  74

  800

  East Anglian RHA

  300

  49

  349

  North-west Thames RHA

  661

  119

  780

  North-east Thames RHA

  541

  38

  579

  South-east Thames RHA

  429

  40

  469

  South-west Thames RHA

  290

  29

  319

  Wessex RHA

  453

  106

  559

  Oxford RHA

  295

  27

  322

  South Western RHA

  408

  29

  437

  West Midlands RHA

  878

  74

  953

  Mersey RHA

  675

  22

  697

  North Western RHA

  865

  221

  1,086

  England

  7,598

  948

  8,547

  Data year 1993–94

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  Total

  Northern RHA

  639

  69

  708

  Yorkshire RHA

  648

  67

  715

  Trent RHA

  681

  46

  726

  East Anglian RHA

  294

  44

  338

  North-west Thames RHA

  414

  84

  499

  North-east Thames RHA

  488

  35

  522

  South-east Thames RHA

  406

  17

  423

  South-west Thames RHA

  319

  23

  342

  Wessex RHA

  354

  90

  444

  Oxford RHA

  249

  12

  261

  South western RHA

  412

  17

  429

  West Midlands RHA

  889

  88

  978

  Mersey RHA

  705

  32

  737

  North Western RHA

  671

  134

  805

  SHAs

  238

  90

  328

  England

  7,406

  849

  8,255

  Data year 1992–93

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  Total

  Northern RHA

  602

  70

  672

  Yorkshire RHA

  674

  63

  738

  Trent RHA

  818

  41

  859

  170

  Data year 1992–93

  Ordinary admissions

  Day cases

  Total

  East Anglian RHA

  310

  118

  428

  North-west Thames RHA

  426

  88

  515

  North-east Thames RHA

  617

  61

  678

  South-east Thames RHA

  421

  20

  441

  South-west Thames RHA

  293

  22

  314

  Wessex RHA

  470

  27

  497

  Oxford RHA

  247

  14

  260

  South Western RHA

  348

  19

  367

  West Midlands RHA

  902

  44

  946

  Mersey RHA

  674

  34

  708

  North Western RHA

  526

  87

  613

  SHAs

  270

  10

  280

  England

  7,599

  717

  8,316

  Data year 1991–92

  Ordinary admission

  Day cases

  Total

  Northern RHA

  599

  38

  637

  Yorkshire RHA

  617

  48

  665

  Trent RHA

  775

  31

  807

  East Anglian RHA

  283

  86

  369

  North-west Thames RHA

  582

  93

  675

  North-east Thames RHA

  552

  51

  603

  South-east Thames RHA

  518

  22

  540

  South-west Thames RHA

  258

  27

  285

  Wessex RHA

  450

  20

  470

  Oxford RHA

  269

  6

  275

  South Western RHA

  377

  36

  413

  West Midlands RHA

  968

  47

  1,016

  Mersey RHA

  584

  19

  602

  North Western RHA

  792

  144

  935

  SHAs

  282

  21

  303

  England

  7,906

  690

  8,596

  Data year 1990–91

  Ordinary admission

  Day cases

  Total

  Northern RHA

  559

  21

  579

  Yorkshire RHA

  444

  48

  491

  Trent RHA

  729

  34

  764

  East Anglian RHA

  260

  43

  303

  North-west Thames RHA

  415

  29

  444

  North-east Thames RHA

  581

  24

  605

  South-east Thames RHA

  518

  19

  537

  South-west Thames RHA

  199

  30

  229

  Wessex RHA

  351

  16

  367

  Oxford RHA

  214

  5

  220

  South Western RHA

  469

  26

  495

  West Midlands RHA

  749

  25

  774

  Mersey RHA

  567

  25

  592

  North Western RHA

  844

  124

  968

  SHAs

  84

  0

  84

  England

  6,982

  468

  7,450

  Notes

  Figures are rounded and may not total.

  Data in this table is grossed for both coverage and unknown/invalid clinical data.

  Source

  Department of Health, Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).
  171

  Human Embryos
  Mr. Alton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many human embryos have been created since the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1991; how many have been destroyed; how many have been frozen; and how many have been used to secure live births. [19528]

  Mr. Horam
  I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 25 March 1996, columns 421–23. These remain the latest available figures.

  The number of babies born from IVF treatments between 1 August 1991 and 31 December 1994 was 12,743, which includes 1,339 from frozen embryo replacement.

  Diabetics (Prescription on Needles)
  Mr. Corbett
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what recent consideration he has given to providing needles used in conjunction with a pen injection device on prescription to patients with diabetes; [19620]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost to public funds of making needles used in conjunction with a pen injection device available on prescription to patients with diabetes. [19621]

  Mr. Malone
  We are currently considering whether insulin injection pen needles should be prescribable by general practitioners on the national health service and we are considering evidence of cost to public funds.

  Royal London Hospital Air Ambulance
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the(a) greatest, (b) lowest and (c) average call-out cost of the Royal London hospital air ambulance since it became operational; and if he will make a statement. [19861]

  Mr. Horam
  Information on the helicopter emergency medical service's call-out costs is not collected centrally.

  It is for health authorities to decide the most effective way of providing emergency services for local people.

  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
  Mr. Macdonald
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will fund further research into the possible link between the incidence of ME in rural communities and the use of organophosphate sheep dips. [19110]

  Mrs. Browning
  I have been asked to reply.

  Following a recommendation of the Veterinary Products Committee, the Government set up the medical and scientific panel as a sub-committee of the VPC to advise, among other matters, on any additional work that may be needed to elucidate the potential long-term effects on humans of organophosphorus sheep dips. With the advice of the panel, the Government awarded £500,000 to the Institute of Occupational Health in Edinburgh for such research. The results of that study are expected to be completed in April 1999. Meanwhile my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will study any reports he receives on possible higher than average levels of ME in rural communities.
  172

WALES

  South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee
  Mr. Alex Carlile
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning funding of the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee; and if he will make a statement. [19044]

  Mr. Hague
  I have received a number of representations about the funding of the South Wales Sea Fisheries Committee; I have also met representatives of the committee.

  Sea fisheries committees are committees of local government, and their funding arrangements are a matter for member authorities of each committee.

  Oral Cancer
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for oral cancer in each of the last five years. [19319]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Patients receiving in-patient or day care treatment for oral cancers1

  Number

  1991–92

  566

  1992–93

  580

  1993–94

  574

  1994–95

  505

  1995–962

  561

  1 Spells in hospital are counted separately, so an individual may be included in the figures more than once.

  2Provisional.

  Cataracts
  Mr. Simon Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many patients received hospital in-patient or day care for cataracts in each of the last five years. [19320]

  Mr. Gwilyn Jones
  The information requested is given in the following table:

  Patients receiving in-patient or day case treatment for cataracts1

  Number

  1991–92

  7,739

  1992–93

  10,651

  1993–94

  10,367

  1994–95

  11,699

  1995–962

  12,722

  1 Spells in hospital are counted separately, so an individual may be included in the figures more than once.

  2 Provisional.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost to the NHS of treating those infected with MRSA in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [19870]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The information requested is not held centrally.
  173
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered cases of MRSA there have been in each NHS trust area in each of the last five years; how many of these resulted in death; and if he will make a statement. [19873]

  Mr. Jones
  Information on the number of registered cases in each NHS trust is not available centrally. The available data on the number of reported cases for Wales as a whole are shown in the following table. Reliable information on deaths is not centrally available.

  Laboratory confirmed cases of MRSA in Wales1

  Number

  1994

  535

  1995

  443

  19962

  2,667

  Source

  CDSC Welsh Unit MRSA Surveillance Programme in Wales.

  Notes:

  1Completeness of reporting by laboratory is variable. Data may include some GP referrals. The number indicated are patients identified with MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus). Only a proportion of these will have clinical illness (estimated at 50 per cent.) due to MRSA infection. The remainder will be carriers of the organism.

  2 Provisional. In 1996, increased emphasis was placed on reporting and additional features were requested.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the last outbreak of MRSA occurred in a Welsh hospital; how many people(a) were affected and (b) died; and if he will make a statement. [19871]

  Mr. Jones
  The most recent information reported to the Welsh nosocomial infection study/hospital outbreak reporting scheme indicates that three hospitals recorded MRSA outbreaks in January 1997 affecting a total of 11 patients. It should be noted that participation by laboratories is voluntary and that not all returns for January have been received. Data on deaths are not collected centrally under this scheme.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment his Department has made of the cause of the recent MRSA outbreaks in Welsh hospitals; what proposals he has to reduce the number of cases; and if he will make a statement. [19872]

  Mr. Jones
  Information on the source of outbreaks of hospital acquired infections is not held centrally. Extensive guidance on infection control procedures has already been issued to the NHS in Wales. Initiatives underway, to ensure that cases of hospital acquired infection, including MRSA, are kept to a minimum, include a three-year study on nosocomial infections being undertaken by the Public Health Laboratory Service (Wales) and the MRSA surveillance project being undertaken by the communicable disease surveillance centre (Welsh unit).

  These studies will provide valuable information for use in determining future action to reduce the incidence of MRSA.
  174

  Examination Results
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Waleshow many and what percentage of children(a) sat and(b) achieved a grade A to C in (i) one and (ii) two ormore live foreign language GCSEs in 1996; and if he willmake a statement. [19865]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  The breakdown requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information for pupils—at school, aged 15 to 31 August 1996—entering at least one modern foreign language GCSE in 1996 is as follows:

  Pupils entered for at least one modern foreign language GCSE: 17,075

  Pupils achieving at least one grade A*- C in a modern foreign language: 9,289

  Number who achieved grade A*-C as a percentage of the number entered: 54 per cent.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Waleshow many and what percentage of children(a) sat and(b) achieved a grade A to C in (i) one and (ii) two ormore science GCSEs in 1996; and if he will make astatement. [19863]

  Mr. Evans
  The breakdown requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information for pupils (in school, aged 15 at 31 August 1995) entering at least one science GCSE in 1996 is as follows:

  Pupils entered for at least one science GCSE: 31,744

  Pupils achieving at least one grade A* to C in science: 15,666

  Number who achieved grade A*-C as a percentage of the number entered: 49 per cent.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Waleshow many and what percentage of children(a) sat and(b) achieved grade A to C in (i) history; (ii) geographyand (iii) Latin (1) GCSEs and (2) A-levels in 1996; andif he will make a statement. [19867]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is, in respect of children at school, as follows:

  History

  Subject Geography

  Latin

  GCSEs

  Number of 15 year olds entered1

  11,058

  16,596

  188

  Number who achieved grade A*-C

  6,516

  8,849

  165

  Number who achieved grade A*-C as a percentage of the total number entered

  59

  53

  88

  A levels

  Number of 16, 17 and 18 year olds entered1

  1,717

  1,741

  13

  Number who achieved grade A-C

  1,004

  986

  11

  Number who achieved grade A-C as a percentage of the total number entered

  58

  57

  85

  1 Ages are as at 31 August 1995.

  175
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many and what percentage of children(a) sat and (b) achieved a grade A to C in (i) one (ii) two and (iii) three or more live foreign language A-levels in 1996; and if he will make a statement; [19866]

  (2) how many and what percentage of children (a)Sat and (b) achieved a grade A to C in (i) one, (ii) two and (iii) three or more science A-levels in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [19864]

  Mr. Evans
  The information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  LEA-maintained secondary schools

  Grant-maintained secondary schools

  Subject

  Number of schools with entries in 1996

  Number of schools with entries for Latin as a percentage of all LEA-maintained secondary schools with entries in any subject at the relevant level

  Number of schools with entries in 1996

  Number of schools with entries for Latin as a percentage of all grant-maintained secondary schools with entries in any subject at the relevant level

  Latin

  GCSE

  10

  4.7

  1

  9.1

  A-level

  1

  0.6

  —

  —

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were for (a) each unitary authority and (b) Wales as a whole for each year since 1992 in constant 1997 prices (i) total actual spending, (ii) the amount and percentage of total spending accounted for by (1) central Government funding and (2) local taxation and (iii) any other source

  Local authority revenue expenditure at constant 1996–97 prices1

  Funded by-

  Total spending

  Total revenue expenditure

  Central government2

  Local taxation3

  Other4

  Central government2

  Local taxation3

  Other4

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  £ million

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  Per cent.

  1992–93

  2,923

  2,683

  253

  -13

  92

  9

  0

  1993–94

  2,810

  2,567

  291

  -49

  91

  10

  -2

  1994–95

  2,896

  2.604

  310

  -17

  90

  11

  -1

  1995–965

  3,026

  2,587

  340

  99

  85

  11

  3

  1996–975

  3,038

  2,595

  379

  64

  85

  12

  2

  Local authority revenue expenditure 1996–97

  Blaenau Owent

  72.9

  65.4

  5.6

  1.9

  90

  8

  3

  Bridgend

  117.1

  99.4

  17.7

  0.0

  85

  15

  0

  Caerphilly

  155.3

  137.3

  16.7

  1.3

  88

  11

  1

  Cardiff

  270.7

  230.4

  33.2

  7.1

  85

  12

  3

  Carmarthenshire

  163.4

  138.4

  24.6

  0.3

  85

  15

  0

  Ceredigion

  68.1

  58.0

  9.8

  0.3

  85

  14

  0

  Conwy

  95.1

  80.4

  12.2

  2.5

  85

  13

  3

  Denbighshire

  86.3

  74.2

  11.6

  0.5

  86

  13

  1

  Flintshire

  122.0

  102.4

  19.6

  0.0

  84

  16

  0

  Gwynedd

  118.4

  99.0

  15.5

  3.9

  84

  13

  3

  Isle of Anglesey

  64.3

  55.6

  7.4

  1.3

  86

  12

  2

  Methyr Tydfil

  60.2

  54.4

  5.9

  0.0

  90

  10

  0

  Monmouthshire

  67.0

  54.9

  11.0

  1.1

  82

  16

  2

  Neath Port Talbot

  152.6

  118.1

  17.8

  16.7

  77

  12

  11

  Newport

  132.1

  107.7

  12.2

  12.2

  82

  9

  9

  Pembrokeshire

  104.7

  91.4

  13.2

  0.0

  87

  13

  0

  Powys

  121.7

  104.8

  15.6

  1.3

  86

  13

  1

  Rhondda, Cynon, Taff

  232.7

  206.9

  23.0

  2.7

  89

  10

  1

  Swansea

  210.5

  180.0

  24.0

  6.5

  85

  11

  3

  Torfaen

  82.7

  74.8

  7.9

  0.0

  90

  10

  0

  The Vale of Glamorgan

  102.1

  84.2

  15.4

  2.6

  82

  15

  3

  Wrexham

  107.0

  90.3

  14.4

  2.3

  84

  13

  2

  All authorities6

  2.706.7

  2,307.9

  334.3

  64.5

  85

  12

  2

  1 Includes police authorities.

  2 Includes re-distributed non-domestic rates and council tax reduction scheme grant.

  3Net of council tax benefit grant, which is included under central government funding.

  4 Includes use of reserves and other adjustments.

  5 Budgets

  6 Differs from the total for Wales due to police authorities not being included.

  176
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of (a) comprehensive and (b) grant-maintained schools in Wales offer (i) Latin and (ii) ancient Greek as a (A) GCSE and (B) A-level option; and if he will make a statement. [19868]

  Mr. Evans
  The available information is given in the following table and relates to the number and percentage of schools entering pupils for examinations in Latin in 1996. There were no entries for ancient Greek from LEA maintained or grant-maintained secondary schools at GCSE or A-level in 1996.

  of revenue; and if he will estimate the figures for the current unitary authority areas where boundaries have changed since 1992. [19860]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  The available information is given in the following tables. There are no estimates for the financing of spending in the current unitary authority areas prior to 1996–97.
  177

  Public Bodies (Expenditure)
  Mr. Win Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what were the total costs for each of the last three years for which figures are available of the advisory bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1996", separately identifying(a) the remuneration costs of members and (b) the administration costs; and what was the total expenditure of each body; [19667]

  (2) what were the total costs for each of the last three years for which figures are available of the executive bodies listed in "Public Bodies 1996", separately

  £ thousand

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total expenditure

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total expenditure

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total expenditure

  Health Authorities

  Clwyd

  280

  1,450

  169,827

  273

  1,079

  179,100

  369

  846

  190,535

  Dyfed

  198

  2,486

  110,845

  204

  889

  107,174

  444

  741

  161,649

  Gwent

  280

  3,199

  192,974

  287

  583

  200,440

  298

  745

  205,647

  Gwynedd

  340

  8,556

  116,184

  272

  514

  118,890

  429

  414

  119,769

  Mid Glamorgan

  277

  11,046

  249,251

  288

  6,522

  258,110

  246

  6,268

  272,643

  Pembrokeshire

  105

  53

  49,372

  105

  12

  50,482

  0

  0

  0

  Powys

  273

  311

  61,583

  249

  319

  59,732

  460

  239

  60,723

  South Glamorgan

  228

  16,454

  233,866

  210

  15,942

  239,270

  514

  1,160

  228,302

  West Glamorgan

  333

  8,991

  155,334

  315

  5,952

  157,602

  345

  5,225

  179,995

  Total

  2,314

  52,546

  1,339,236

  2,203

  31,812

  1,370,800

  3,105

  15,638

  1,419,263

  Family health services authorities

  Clwyd

  148

  739

  75,180

  109

  806

  80,681

  172

  707

  87,011

  Dyfed

  106

  723

  59,734

  109

  793

  72,073

  276

  631

  80,924

  Gwent

  87

  917

  77,363

  89

  1,136

  82,636

  125

  1,106

  93,288

  Gwynedd

  99

  584

  39,560

  102

  597

  46,876

  106

  559

  51,539

  Mid Glamorgan

  103

  1,010

  87,324

  97

  1,031

  94,420

  339

  981

  102,768

  Powys

  96

  362

  24,581

  93

  340

  27,614

  90

  325

  33,302

  South Glamorgan

  106

  992

  62,988

  104

  954

  72,886

  191

  900

  82,636

  West Glamorgan

  93

  638

  70,741

  91

  686

  75,586

  108

  671

  82,384

  Total

  838

  5,965

  497,471

  794

  6,343

  552,772

  1,407

  5,880

  613,852

  Sources:

  Financial returns and annual accounts of health authorities and family health services authorities.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the total costs for each of the last three years for which figures are available of the NHS trusts referred to in "Public Bodies 1996", separately

  £ thousand

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1993–94

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Bridgend and District NHS Trust

  351

  3,572

  66,199

  351

  3,298

  61,299

  330

  3,251

  58,385

  Cardiff Community NHS Trust

  364

  3,895

  55,043

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Carmarthen and District NHS Trust

  284

  2,687

  38,974

  292

  2,391

  36,834

  285

  2,325

  35,410

  178
  identifying for each (a) the remuneration costs of members and (b) the administration costs; and what was the total expenditure of each body. [19670]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  "Public Bodies" is an annual publication. Information for the last three years is contained in "Public Bodies" 1994, 1995 and 1996, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

  Mr. Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the total costs for each of the last three years for which figures are available of the health authorities in Wales listed in "Public Bodies 1996", separately identifying(a) the remuneration costs of members and (b) the administration costs; and what was the total expenditure of each authority. [19668]

  Mr. Jones
  The information is in the following table.

  identifying (a) the remuneration costs of members and (b) the administration costs; and what was the total expenditure of each trust. [19669]

  Mr. Jones
  The information is in the following table.
  179

  £ thousand

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1993–94

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Ceredigion and Mid Wales NHS Trust

  266

  1,346

  23,514

  246

  1,224

  22,724

  250

  1,204

  21,936

  Clwydian Community Care NHS Trust

  340

  3,629

  62,757

  371

  3,521

  62,150

  291

  3,421

  59,030

  Derwen NHS Trust

  281

  1,219

  22,399

  297

  1,357

  22,102

  —

  —

  —

  East Glamorgan NHS Trust

  272

  2,953

  48,610

  284

  2,657

  45,245

  —

  —

  —

  Glan Glwyd NHS Trust

  289

  3,472

  60,159

  278

  3,254

  55,323

  269

  3,237

  53,291

  Glan Hafren NHS Trust

  402

  5,801

  91,306

  367

  5,512

  88,524

  340

  5,223

  85,567

  Gwent Community NHS Trust

  369

  3,454

  59,345

  327

  3,452

  55,815

  301

  3,149

  54,608

  Gwynedd Community NHS Trust

  258

  2,832

  48,198

  227

  2,555

  45,625

  —

  —

  —

  Gwynedd Hospitals NHS Trust

  408

  3,969

  58,075

  287

  3,949

  56,475

  —

  —

  —

  Llandough Hospital NHS Trust

  358

  3,858

  56,685

  355

  3,366

  48,100

  350

  3,233

  43,509

  Llanelli Dinefwr NHS Trust

  333

  1,478

  30,451

  308

  1,489

  29,339

  281

  1,576

  28,449

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance NHS Trust

  279

  185

  8,199

  233

  188

  7,562

  —

  —

  —

  Morriston Hospital NHS Trust

  352

  3,851

  69,364

  295

  3,160

  57,660

  —

  —

  —

  Nevill Hall NHS Trust

  335

  2,253

  41,405

  289

  2,120

  38,616

  —

  —

  —

  North Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  223

  438

  12,689

  225

  332

  11,904

  —

  —

  —

  Pembrokeshire NHS Trust

  358

  3,202

  41,199

  363

  3,037

  39,874

  373

  3,346

  39,487

  Powys Healthcare NHS Trust

  343

  2,437

  41,728

  317

  2,364

  40,133

  312

  2,397

  39,679

  Rhondda Healthcare NHS Trust

  274

  2,021

  30,133

  291

  2,132

  27,900

  —

  —

  —

  South East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  280

  491

  18,408

  211

  345

  17,241

  240

  276

  15,774

  Swansea NHS Trust

  353

  2,911

  55,902

  331

  2,743

  51,239

  305

  2,653

  49,175

  University Dental Hospital of Wales NHS Trust

  167

  574

  7,938

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  University Hospital of Wales NHS Trust

  378

  14,845

  162,654

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Velindre Hospital NHS Trust

  252

  916

  13,004

  218

  554

  9,850

  —

  —

  —

  180 181

  £ thousand

  1995–96

  1994–95

  1993–94

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  Remuneration costs of members

  Administration costs

  Total operating expenses

  West Wales Ambulance NHS Trust

  166

  792

  10,582

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Wrexham Maelor NHS Trust

  353

  2,751

  54,222

  339

  2,594

  49,916

  327

  2,481

  46,215

  Total

  8,688

  81,832

  1,289,142

  7,102

  57,594

  981,450

  4,254

  37,772

  630,515

  Notes:

  1. Cardiff Community, University Dental Hospital of Wales, University Hospital of Wales and West Wales Ambulance NHS Trusts were not operational in 1994–95.

  2. The trusts in note 1 plus Derwen, East Glamorgan, Gwynedd Community, Gwynedd Hospitals, Mid Glamorgan Ambulance, Morriston Hospital, Nevill Hall, North Wales Ambulance, Rhondda Healthcare and Velindre Hospital were not operational in 1993–94.

  Sources:

  Financial Returns and Annual accounts of NHS Trusts.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many and what percentage of farms in Wales are currently classified as organic; and if he will make a statement. [19856]

  Mr. Jonathan Evans
  According to the "UK Register of Food Standards", in February 1997 there were 97 organic farms in Wales. This is less than 0.5 per cent. of the total number of farms.

  Reported cases of E.coli poisoning in Wales1

  21992

  21993

  21994

  21995

  1996

  Bro Taf

  11

  3

  4

  6

  9

  Dyfed Powys

  14

  12

  9

  10

  5

  Gwent

  6

  12

  6

  3

  4

  Morgannwg

  5

  1

  4

  4

  4

  North Wales3

  3

  5

  6

  58

  16

  Wales

  39

  33

  29

  81

  38

  Source:

  Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales.

  Notes:

  1 Data are reported cases of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli 0157 (VTEC 0157).

  2 For figures before 1996—Bro Taf = Mid and South Glamorgan; Dyfed Powys = East Dyfed, Pembrokeshire and Powys; Morgannwg = West Glamorgan; North Wales = Clwyd and Gwynedd.

  3 The Figure ro 1995 includes specimens from the north Wales nursery outbreak examined using more sensitive methods.

DEFENCE

  Eurofighter
  Mr. Llwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his current estimate of the time for completion of the Eurofighter project; and if he will make a statement. [18044]

  Mr. Hawkins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Eurofighter will be ready for service. [18061]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We expect production of Eurofighter for the RAF to continue until around the year 2014. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to the Royal Air Force at the end of 2001.
  182

  Food Poisoning Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of E. Coli poisoning have(a) been recorded and (b) resulted in death in each NHS trust in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [19869]

  Mr. Gwilym Jones
  Information on the number of cases of E. Coli poisoning is not available for NHS trusts. The number of reported cases for each health authority area is given in the following table. Reliable information on the number of deaths is not available centrally.

  Wrens
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to allow Wrens to serve on submarines. [18045]

  Mr. Soames
  We have no plans at present for Wrens to serve in submarines.

  Army (Expenditure)
  Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his plans for expenditure on the Army over the next three years. [18046]

  Mr. Soames
  We currently spend some £7 billion a year on the Army and, consistent with our policy of stable funding for defence, we expect to maintain spending at around this level over the next three years.
  183

  Gulf War Syndrome
  Miss Lestor
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Gulf war syndrome. [18047]

  Mr. Soames
  Some of the British troops who served during the Gulf war have subsequently developed a range of illnesses. The Government fully understand the health concerns of Gulf veterans and, governed by the best available medical advice, we treat these concerns with the grave seriousness and attention that they rightly demand.

  Deterrence Capability
  Sir Fergus Montgomery
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the importance to the deterrent capability of United Kingdom forces of spending above the European average. [18048]

  Mr. Portillo
  A reduction in UK defence expenditure to the current NATO European average would involve cuts of around £5 billion per year. This would have a devastating effect on the capability of our armed forces and on their ability to deter aggression.

  Defence Expenditure
  Mr. Cunliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on defence expenditure in the next two years. [18049]

  Mr. Portillo
  Under the latest spending plans, defence expenditure will be £21,822 million in 1997–98 and £22,276 million in 1998–99. These plans reflect the Government's commitment to strong, capable and properly resourced armed forces.

  Army Training Regiment
  Mr. Fabricant
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of the Army training regiment; and if he will make a statement. [18050]

  Mr. Soames
  We envisage a continuing role for the army training regiments in providing initial training for recruits.

  Vetting Procedures (Senior Officers)
  Mr. David Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to revise the vetting procedures for senior officers. [18051]

  Mr. Soames
  My Department has no plans to revise the vetting procedures for senior officers.

  Defence Exports
  Mr. Robert G. Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent measures his Department has taken to support exports by British defence companies. [18052]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  My Department's Defence Export Services Organisation continues to provide British defence exporters with the strongest possible Government support, within the framework of our defence, security and foreign policies.
  184

  Cyprus
  Mr. William O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current role of Her Majesty's forces in respect of the UN presence in Cyprus. [18053]

  Mr. Soames
  The United Kingdom contingent of some 388 service personnel is playing a prominent role in the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus.

  Nimrod
  Mr. Gallie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investment he estimates will be made in upgrading Nimrod aircraft; and if he will make a statement. [18054]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Following the announcement on 25 July last year that British Aerospace had won the competition to supply the RAF's replacement maritime patrol aircraft, a contract was signed with BAe on 2 December 1996 for 21 Nimrod 2000 aircraft and a package comprising training, logistic support and post design studies. The procurement costs are estimated to be in the order of £2 billion.

  RAF Equipment Upgrades
  Sir Michael Shersby
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what major equipment upgrades the RAF will be receiving over the next two years. [18055]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Over the course of the next two years the RAF will take delivery of upgraded Tornado attack and fighter aircraft, new C-130J transport aircraft, additional Chinook helicopters and the advanced short-range air-to-air missile. These and other important programmes represent significant enhancements to the RAF's capabilities.

  NAAFI Services
  Mr. Barnes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received recently concerning NAAFI services; and if he will make a statement. [18056]

  Mr. Soames
  I have received a number of letters from NAAFI employees concerning the award of the food services contract and my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence met a delegation of NAAFI employees from the Manufacturing, Science and Finance Union, led by the hon. Member for Warrington, North (Mr. Hoyle).

  The contract awarded to Booker Food Services Group represents best value for money for the Department. NAAFI will now concentrate on its core businesses of providing shops and clubs. Recent innovations in these areas have been very successful and have been enthusiastically accepted by the armed forces. I have every confidence that NAAFI will continue to provide a quality service for service personnel for the foreseeable future.
  185

  Low Flying
  Mr. Home Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the management of low flying training in the United Kingdom. [18057]

  Mr. Soames
  The management of military low flying training in the United Kingdom is kept under continuous review to ensure that the amount carried out is strictly limited to that necessary for aircrew to achieve and maintain operational effectiveness and that this essential activity is conducted as safely as possible with the minimum of disturbance to the public.

  Trafalgar Class Submarine
  Mr. Luff
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the procurement of the second batch of Trafalgar class submarine; and if he will make a statement. [18058]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Negotiations continue with GEC-Marconi. Subject to a satisfactory conclusion, I hope to make an announcement around Easter.

  Challenger 2 Tanks
  Mr. Riddick
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Challenger 2 tanks he expects will be delivered to the Army in the next five years; and if he will make a statement. [18059]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  An order for a further 259 Challenger 2 main battle tanks was placed with Vickers plc in July 1994, bringing the total ordered to 386. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence informed the House on 24 October 1996,Official Report, columns 7–8, that the in-service date for Challenger 2 would be June 1998. Thirty-six tanks have already been delivered and I expect the remainder to have been delivered to the Army by February 2002.

  Front-line Infantry
  Mr. Pawsey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many front-line infantry there are currently; and what estimate he has made of the number required to fulfil the Army's existing responsibilities. [18060]

  Mr. Soames
  As at 1 February 1997, the strength of the front line infantry, including the Gurkhas and Royal Irish Regiment, general service, was 24,200 officers and soldiers against a corresponding establishment of 26,200.

  Horizon Frigate
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the Horizon frigate will come into operational service. [18062]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The common new generation frigate will have major operational importance. It remains our intention to bring the vessel into service as soon as practicable, which is planned to be 2004.

  Defence Industries (Employment)
  Mr. Waterson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the number of people employed in the United Kingdom defence industries. [18063]
  186
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  We estimate that in 1994–95—the latest year for which figures are available—my Department's contracts for equipment and other goods and services sustained some 270,000 jobs in the United Kingdom. We estimate that a further 90,000 United Kingdom jobs depended on defence exports.

  Army Fighting Capability
  Mr. Batiste
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what upgrades are planned in the Army's fighting capabilities over the next two years. [18064]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Over the next two years we plan to bring into service with the Army a number of major new equipments, including the Challenger 2 main battle tank, additional Rapier Field Standard C fire units, the Phoenix unmanned air vehicle, the Bridging for the Nineties family of bridges, the Shielder vehicle-launched scatterable anti-tank mine system and the truck utility light/truck utility medium. The Army's deployability and manoeuvrability will be improved by the acquisition of a second ro-ro transport for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary and new C130J transport aircraft and additional Chinook helicopters for the Royal Air Force. At the same time, as announced last month, we are planning to improve Army manning, including through a new Army Foundation college, and to strengthen key units at the higher end of the readiness spectrum.

  Airwork Ltd.
  Mr. Sweeney
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his Department's claim for compensation for damage caused to Tornado F3 aircraft by Airwork Ltd. [20069]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  A negotiated settlement has been reached in respect of my Department's claim for structural damage to Tornado F3 aircraft while being modified by Airwork Ltd. during 1992–93. I am pleased to report that, of the 16 aircraft involved, 11 have been repaired and delivered back to the RAF and the remainder will be delivered progressively over the next few weeks, with the last due for delivery in May this year. One aircraft was lost in the crash off Blackpool in September 1996, the cause of which was not related to the modification programme on which Airwork had been engaged. The F3 aircraft were repaired by replacing the damaged centre fuselages with those from surplus F2 aircraft which had been earmarked for disposal. This was to ensure that the aircraft were returned to operational service as soon as possible.

  In choosing to replace the centre fuselage, the aircraft have been given valuable additional fatigue life. The overall cost of this work has been around £20 million. Taking this improvement into account, together with the costs which might have been incurred had arbitration been pursued, we have agreed that the Bricom Group, which owned Airwork at the time of the damage, will pay £5 million to the Ministry of Defence in settlement of our claim.

  Equipment Expenditure
  Mr. Callaghan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure on equipment in each of the last five years for each of the armed services. [19679]
  187
  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I refer to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 28 November 1996,Official Report, column 386.

  Gibraltar
  Mr. Harry Greenway
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many troops are expected to be stationed in Gibraltar over the next five years; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [18596]

  Mr. Soames
  Current UK force levels in Gibraltar were determined in the Review of the Gibraltar Garrison and announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Henley) when Minister of State for the Armed Forces on 7 July 1994,Official Report, columns 262–63. The review identified the core activities central to our defence responsibilities there. At present, there are some 660 service personnel stationed in Gibraltar, including about 160 members of the Gibraltar Regiment. On current plans, there will be about 50 fewer personnel stationed in Gibraltar in five years' time. These projected force levels enable us fully to carry out our core tasks. They are a clear manifestation of Her Majesty's Government's continuing commitment to the people of Gibraltar.

  Over the same period, the cost of the Gibraltar garrison will reduce to less than £50 million per annum, compared with expected costs of some £63 million for the current financial year.

  British Defence Doctrine
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to his Department of producing the document, "British Defence Doctrine"; who will receive the receipts from the sale of the publication; what factors determined the pricing of the book; how many copies were produced; what is the role of the Royal United Services Institute in the publication; and if he will make a statement. [19628]

  Mr. Soames
  "British Defence Doctrine" was produced at a direct cost to my Department's budget of £134,801. This includes the cost of the dedicated team set up to write the document. A total of 35,000 copies of the book have been produced, 33,000 of which are for internal MOD use. The other 2,000 are for sale to the public. We have agreed with the Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies that it will sell these additional copies through its existing book option scheme, its Whitehall series of publications and other marketing avenues. It is involved solely in the marketing of the book and has had no involvement with the editorial content. Receipts from those copies available for sale to the public will be split equally between my Department, to offset the cost of producing the additional copies for public sale, and the Royal United Services Institute, to offset its costs of marketing and selling the book. In determining the price for the book an assumption on likely sales was based on sales to date of "The Fundamentals of British Maritime Doctrine" and a price set that was assessed as being reasonable and in line with similar publications.
  188

  Merchant Vessels
  Dr. David Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of merchant vessels chartered for use in military exercises or operations involving United Kingdom forces, indicating the flag nationality of those vessels and the total cost of these charters, for each of the last seven years. [19619]

  Mr. Soames
  Total figures for the period before 1992 could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost. The number of merchant vessels chartered for use in military exercises/operations involving United Kingdom forces over the period 1992–1997 are as follows:

  1992

  Thirty five vessels were chartered—20 Danish, seven German, two Norwegian, two Swedish, one Dutch, one Luxembourg, one Bahamian, one Italian—at a total cost of £12,067,580.

  1993

  Twenty six vessels were chartered—nine Swedish, nine Danish, three Norwegian, two German, one French, one Luxembourg, one Spanish—at a total cost of £5,495,841.

  1994

  Ten vessels were chartered—seven Danish, one Norwegian, one German, one Spanish—at a total cost of £2,369,569.

  1995

  Thirty five vessels were chartered—nine Danish, four Spanish, four German, three Maltese, three Norwegian, two Swiss, two Greek, two Ukrainian, one British, one Polish, one Panamanian, one Italian, one Finnish, one Dutch—at a total cost of £9,779,266.

  1996

  Forty three vessels were chartered—seven Norwegian, seven Ukrainian, four Danish, four German, four Bahamian, four Swiss, two Panamanian, two maltese, two Finnish, two Polish, one Swedish, one Liberian, one Italian, one Cypriot, one Spanish—at a total cost of £15,569,937.

  1997 (up to 28 February)

  Three vessels have been chartered so far—two Danish and one Swiss—at a total cost of £631,966.

  Note:

  Some vessels may have been chartered on more than one occasion.

  Trident
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the warhead for the Trident system is of fixed or variable yield. [19224]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The UK has some flexibility in the choice of yield for the warheads on its Trident missiles.

  AWE Aldermaston
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current status of the A90 building at AWE Aldermaston; and on what date it is expected that this building will become fully operational. [19220]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The A90 building at AWE is now fully operational in its production role, enabling plutonium production to cease at the original facilities. Other equipment and processes in A90, not directly linked with production, are being progressively brought into use.
  189

  Nuclear Depth Bombs
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if all nuclear depth bombs removed from service have been dismantled. [19222]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  All such weapons have been withdrawn from service and the dismantling process is continuing satisfactorily.

  NATO
  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy towards the conclusions of the US Department of State report on the enlargement of NATO, with particular reference to the responsibility for bearing the costs associated with improving NATO's regional reinforcement capabilities. [19107]

  Mr. Soames
  We are aware of the recent report to Congress by the US Administration on the enlargement of NATO, and believe that it provides a useful assessment of the issues. Rapid reinforcement is already a fundamental tenet of NATO doctrine. The Government have invested significantly, and will continue to invest, in the required capabilities, but we do not expect the enlargement of NATO of itself to require any significant changes to the level of this investment.

  Mrs. Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the financial cost to Britain of NATO expansion up to the year 2000. [19108]

  Mr. Soames
  No decisions have been taken on which countries will accede to NATO membership, when and on what terms. The costs of enlargement, which will fall both on the countries which join and on the existing members of the alliance and will be incurred over a long period, will depend on those decisions but are not expected to be unaffordable. We expect the accession of new members to result in a proportionate reduction in the UK share of NATO common budgets.

  Fast Jets
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of fast jets which are not combat ready because(a) of failings in the maintenance programme and (b) they are awaiting spares. [19301]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  The RAF has sufficient aircraft available to meet all its operational commitments. These commitments are given the highest priority in terms of logistic support, which can affect overall serviceability rates. On occasion, specific technical and industrial problems have also, temporarily, affected serviceability amongst the fast jet fleets.

  Barracks (Acquisitions)
  Mr. Caborn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what price the developers Dukeminster paid to acquire the three Walmer and Deal barracks sites, which were made redundant due to the closure of the Royal Marines school of music; and for what type of development the land will be used. [19014]

  Mr. Soames
  The overriding concern for the development of the barracks will be to provide an economically sustainable future for the site. The 190
  prospective developers, in conjunction with other interested parties and the local planning authority, are considering a range of options which will form the basis of a development plan for the site. For reasons of commercial confidentiality, I am withholding information regarding the proposed sale price under exemption 7 of the code of practice on access to Government information.

  Defence Contracts
  Mr. Dykes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has made to the representations made in recent months on behalf of the Marconi Defence Systems Ltd. subsidiary group within GEC plc for inclusion in significant high-technology defence contracts; and if he will list the recent contract awards in which Marconi Stanmore and the other subsidiaries have been so included. [18274]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  Other than the representation that my hon. Friend made in July 1996 about the advanced air launched anti-armour weapon, SR(A)1238, to which I replied on 24 July 1996 my Department is not aware of any other representations. During the last three months, the various companies within GEC-Marconi Ltd. have received about 400 contracts from MOD and DERA, ranging from a few hundred to several million pounds in value. As there are so many contracts and as details of the nature of individual contracts are not held centrally, to research the requested information and list those over a certain value could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.

  Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 March Official Report, column 710 on the MRSA outbreak at Cambridge Military hospital, what antibiotic was used following the screening for MRSA in 1994. [19900]

  Mr. Soames
  The antibiotic used at the Cambridge military hospital was Bactroban nasal. This is a nasal ointment comprising 2 per cent. Mupirocin in a white soft paraffin basis.

  Medium-Support Helicopter Fleet
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for training for the medium-support helicopter fleet. [20068]

  Mr. Arbuthnot
  I am pleased to announce that a medium support helicopter aircrew training facility is to be provided under the Government's private finance initiative, and that a consortium led by CAE Electronics of Canada, containing the UK companies Vega and Serco, has been selected as the preferred bidder. This will provide a training service for our Chinook HC Mk 2 and 3, Merlin HC Mk 3 and Puma HC Mk 1 helicopter crews based on dynamic mission simulators, together with computer-based training and support, housed in a single facility at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. We plan to let a contract for at least 20 years with CAE for this service on the successful completion of final negotiations, which we hope to complete in the next few months.
  191

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

  Government Records
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the efficiency and effectiveness of records storage keeping and storing in Government departments. [20062]

  Mr. Freeman
  The efficiency unit and Public Record Office recently undertook a joint study of records storage and management within government. I have placed a copy of their report in the Library of the House.

  Custody Services
  Mr. Simon Coombs
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has made a decision on the sale of custody services. [20060]

  Mr. Freeman
  I announced on 16 January 1997,Official Report, column 310, that I had granted Apax Partners and Co., the proposed acquiror of the support services division of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency—DSSD, exclusive access to further information about custody services, with a view to their supporting a final bid for the business. I also announced that their final bid would be compared with the option of retaining the business in the public sector. The offer for custody services from DSSD/Apax did not represent better value for money than retention in the public sector.

  The custody services will, alongside the special services group, remain part of the Security Facilities Executive, the future of which I announced on 3 December 1996, Official Report,column 602 A competition will be held in due course for a new chief executive, whose remit will include the development of a robust commercial strategy for improving the competitiveness of the business.

  Civil Servants (London Supplement)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the annual cost of paying a London supplement to civil servants working in London in the last year for which figures are available. [17686]

  Mr. Freeman
  [pursuant to his answer, 27 February 1997, c. 287–88]: I regret that the date that I gave for the delegation to Departments and agencies of authority to determine pay and allowances was incorrect. The correct date was 1 April 1996.

  Next Steps Agencies
  Ms Eagle
  To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to increase the number of next steps agencies. [15537]

  Mr. Bates
  [pursuant to his answer, 24 February 1997, 123]: I regret that the information that 1 gave on the number of agency launches expected in April and the list that I placed in the Library were incorrect. Preparations are in hand for the launch of 10 new agencies and the relaunches of two existing agencies being expanded to take on additional functions. The correct list is as follows:
  192

  Functions being prepared for launch as next steps agencies in
  April 1997

  Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency

  Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

  Defence Estates Organisation

  Defence Medical Training Agency

  Defence Vetting Agency

  Employment Tribunals Service

  Farming and Rural Conservation Agency

  Fisheries Research Services

  Forestry Commission Research Agency

  Government Car and Despatch Agency

  The Army Individual Training Organisation is being expanded to take in Army recruiting and the RAF Training Group Defence Agency is being expanded to take in RAF recruiting and selection.

  I have arranged for the earlier list to be withdrawn from the Library.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Independent Living Fund
  Mr. Alan Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what estimate he has made of the additional numbers of severely disabled people who would be eligible for assistance from(a) the independent living fund and (b) direct payments from their local authority if the £500 upper limit was (i) raised to £1,000 and (ii) abolished entirely; and what would be the additional cost of assistance in each case; [16299]

  (2) how many people have been refused consideration for payments from the independent living fund as a result of their care needs being assessed as over the £500 limit during (a)1994–95, and (b)1995–96; [16298]

  (3) what would the upper limit for payments from the independent living fund be if it had been uprated by (a)prices and (b)earnings since its introduction; and what would be the extra cost of payments from the fund in each case. [16300]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  We intend to bring the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 into force on 1 April 1997. No upper or lower limits for the cost of care packages under the direct payments scheme have been set.

  In 1994–95 and 1995–96, the independent living fund declined 13 and 28 applications respectively where the total cost of the care package exceeded £500.

  If the current upper limit of £300 for payments by the fund set on 1 April 1993 had been increased in line with pries, it would now be £324 and £333 if it had been increased in line with average earnings. The annual estimated extra cost would be £100,000 and £135,000 respectively for 1996–97.
  193
  Notes:

  1.Source: Independent living fund—100 per cent. count subject to change.

  2. Calculated according to the retail prices index, earnings and average earnings index for all full-time employees; movement in RPI September 1993 to September 1995; movement in average earnings index for 1993–1996. In both cases the upper limits for independent living fund payments are assumed as adjusted from April 1996. All figures are rounded to the nearest £1.

  Benefits Agency (Reorganisation)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many representations he has received(a) in support of and (b) against the proposals for reorganisation of the Benefits Agency offices in Wales set out in "Blueprint for the Future"; and if he will make a statement. [18247]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has received 17 representations—11 from hon. Members and six from outside organisations, all of which are against the proposals.

  Child Support
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the total payments to mothers by absent fathers in(a) the last full year before the coming into operation of the Child Support Agency and (b) the most recent year for which figures are available. [18470]

  Mr. Andrew Mitchell
  In 1992–93, the last full year before the Child Support Agency came into operation, maintenance worth around £2201 million was collected to offset payments of income support. It is not possible to identify how much of this maintenance was paid in respect of children as opposed to spouses.

  During 1995–96, the last full year for which figures are available for the Child Support Agency, the agency collected or arranged over £300 million in child maintenance alone. It is on course to collect or arrange child maintenance of over £380 million in the current financial year.

  Note:
  1If parents come to a mutually acceptable arrangement over child maintenance, and prescribed social security benefits are not being claimed, the Child Support Agency will not be involved. No estimate is available of the amounts of maintenance involved.

  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of the court system in respect of child support in the last full year before the coming into operation of the Child Support Agency. [18468]

  Mr. Mitchell
  The latest available figures prior to the establishment of the Child Support Agency are for the period 1989–90 where the direct administrative costs of the court system attributable to child support maintenance were estimated to be around £20 million. Detailed information is not available separately on legal aid costs for child and spousal maintenance proceedings in the High Court and county courts but the annual gross cost of legal aid in matrimonial proceedings was around £80 million in 1989–90.
  194

  Benefit Offices (Wales)
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his target date for the Benefits Agency to submit to him its proposals on the future of benefit offices in Wales following the evaluation exercise on the public response to the consultation document, "BA Wales—Blueprint for the Future"; if he will make it his policy not to take any decisions on the future of these resources until the evaluation exercise has been completed; and if he will make a statement. [18580]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  In order that all submissions and representations can be given full consideration and are properly evaluated, it is not appropriate at this time to place a deadline on the submission of revised proposals as to what, if anything, will be implemented.

  The evaluation process is now under way. All representations will be taken into account before any decisions are made.

  Basic Pension Plus Proposal
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are the costs of implementing the basic pension plus proposal for each year from 1998 to 2040, in today's prices; [19639]

  (2) if he will estimate the cost of the £9 rebate in the basic pension plus proposal for each year from 1998 to 2040 in today's prices; [19643]

  (3) how much will be spent on (a) the basic pension guarantee and (b) income support for each year from 2040 to 2060; [19640]

  (4) when, under the basic pension plus proposal, he estimates total expenditure on the basic state pension will start falling; and how large the reductions in spending on the basic state pension are for each year after that. [19625]

  Mr. Heald
  The net effects on revenues of basic pension plus will rise on average by £160 million in each year following implementation, reaching a maximum of about £7 billion a year by 2040 or later. Thereafter, there would be a rapid decline in expenditure on state pensions.

  Initially, the £9 rebate will represent half or more of the total cost of new rebates under basic pension plus, depending on the starting age limit, falling gradually to a little over a third by 2040.

  The first people to retire under basic pension plus will do so after 2040. Basic pension guarantee payments will build up thereafter to a broadly assumed level of £10 billion a year by 2070. We do not expect income support expenditure to rise as a result of basic pension plus.

  Under basic pension plus, expenditure on state retirement pension will start to fall when people in the new scheme start to retire after about 2040. Savings will build rapidly and will reach about £40 billion a year in the longer term.

  It would not be appropriate to give precise figures for each year, since the exact costs will depend on when the scheme is introduced, what the initial age limit is, and other details to be considered during the consultation.
  195
  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the expected income under the Government's basic pension plus proposal, on retirement for an individual who works for(a) 44 years, (b) 34 years and (c) 24 years, for (i) a male and (ii) a female on (1) average and (2) half average earnings; and if he will express these figures as a percentage of average earnings in 2040. [19641]

  Mr. Heald
  The precise details of the new basic pension plus are yet to be decided. The figures in the table are for illustration only. They assume retirement soon after 2040 and they give the pension payable around 2040, in 1996–97 prices, on the assumptions listed. The figures are calculated on the basis of the minimum contributions only and that the yield on investment does not exceed that assumed by the Government Actuary in setting rebates.

  Pension per week £

  Pension as a percentage of final earnings

  Males on average male earnings

  24 years contributions

  125

  12.3

  34 years contributions

  153

  15.1

  44 years contributions

  184

  18.1

  Females on average female earnings

  24 years contributions

  121

  16.5

  34 years contributions

  145

  19.7

  44 years contributions

  168

  22.9

  Males on half average male earnings

  24 years contributions

  104

  20.4

  34 years contributions

  121

  23.9

  44 years contributions

  138

  27.2

  Females on half average female earnings

  24 years contributions

  89

  24.3

  34 years contributions

  101

  27.4

  44 years contributions

  112

  30.5

  Notes:

  1. The figures shown in the table depend significantly on the assumptions made in the calculations. In particular they will depend on the real rate of investment return, the real state of earnings growth, the expenses, precisely when in the working life the contributions are made and the rate at which the lump sum at retirement can be converted into pension.

  Assumptions:

  1. Real investment returns of 4.25 per cent. per annum in excess of prices.

  2. Real earnings increases of 2 per cent. per annum in excess of prices.

  3. Expenses of 6 per cent. of each contribution, 0.8 per cent. of the fund each year and 2 per cent. of the fund at retirement.

  4. The pension in payment will increase in line with prices each year.

  5. Average earnings for males on full-time adult earnings in 1996–97 are £400 a week.

  6. Average earnings for females on full-time adult earnings in 1996–97 are £290 a week.

  7. The accrued lump sum at retirement at age 65 can be converted into an annual pension equal to 7 per cent. of the lump sum.

  8. Any shortfall between the current basic state pension and the pension provided by the accumulation of the £9 per week rebate is made up by the guarantee. For this purpose it has been assumed that in all cases there will be a sufficient record based on actual or credited contributions to entitle the person to the full rate of basic state pension of £61.15 per week.

  9. Where 44 years contributions are made it is assumed that the missing five years are all at the youngest ages.
  196
  10. Where 34 years contributions are made it is assumed that the 15 missing years comprise 10 at the youngest ages and 15 at the oldest ages.

  11. Where 24 years contributions are made it is assumed that the 25 missing years comprise 15 at the youngest ages and 15 at the oldest ages.

  12. Where the person has been assumed not to be working in the final years up to age 65, the pension as a percentage of earnings has still been expressed as a percentage of the earnings at age 65 rather than the earnings when the person ceased working.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social, Security if he will estimate(a) the state earnings-related pension scheme pension payable on retirement to an individual who works for (i) 44 years, (ii) 34 years and (iii) 24 years, on average male earnings and (b) the basic state pension plus SERPS payable on retirement to an individual who works for (1) 44 years, (2) 34 years and (3) 24 years, on average male earnings. [19645]

  Mr. Heald
  Since no-one who has already worked for 44 years has a full entitlement to SERPS, it is assumed that the question relates to the pension payable to someone starting their working life around the year 2000. Accordingly, the table sets out the pension payable after 2040, in 1996–97 prices, on the assumptions listed.

  Basic pension per week£

  SERPS pension per week£

  Total of basic pension plus SERPS per week£

  Males on average male earnings

  24 years contributions

  61.15

  57.20

  118.35

  34 years contributions

  61.15

  81.80

  142.95

  44 years contributions

  61.15

  106.80

  167.95

  Females on average female earnings

  24 years contributions

  61.15

  54.40

  115.55

  34 years contributions

  61.15

  75.20

  136.35

  44 years contributions

  61.15

  94.80

  155.95

  Assumptions:

  1. Real earnings increases of 2 per cent. per annum in excess of prices.

  2. Average earnings for males on full-time adult earnings in 1996–97 are £400 a week.

  3. Average earnings for females on full-time adult earnings are £290 a week.

  4. Where less than 44 years contributions have been paid it has been assumed that sufficient credits will be available to secure the full basic state pension of £61.15 a week.

  5. Where 44 years contributions are made it has been assumed that the five missing years are all at the youngest ages.

  6. Where 34 years contributions are made it has been assumed that the 15 missing years comprise 10 at the youngest ages and five at the oldest ages.

  7. Where 24 years contributions are made it has been assumed that the 25 missing years comprise 15 at the youngest ages and 10 at the oldest ages.

  Source:

  Government Actuary's Department.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions he has made about the number of people who will be members of basic pension plus in(a) 2000, (b) 2010, (c) 2020, (d) 2030 and (e) 2040. [19647]

  Mr. Heald
  In drawing up our proposals, it has been assumed that basic pension plus will apply to all new entrants to the labour market and those aged up to their early twenties once the scheme begins. Over a working
  197
  lifetime, the whole of the labour force will be covered. The precise details of the scheme will be decided in light of the consultation on the Green Paper.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the pension generated by the basic pension plus for(a) men and (b) women will be based on the same actuarial assumption; and if the same assumptions will apply to the £9 a week rebate to pay for the basic state pension and the 5 per cent. rebate on earnings subject to national insurance contributions to pay for the second tier pension. [19649]

  Mr. Heald
  Annuities bought from any funds accumulated under basic pension plus would be subject to the same annuity rates for men and women.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what will be the additional tax payable over a 44-year working life under the tax regime set out in the basic pension plus proposal. [19638]

  Mr. Heald
  Future tax rates are a matter for the Government of the day and we shall be consulting on the pensions tax regime proposed under basic pension plus.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average pensioner income on retirement for the most recent year, expressed in cash terms at today's prices, and as a percentage of average earnings. [19642]

  Mr. Heald
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

  The pensioners' incomes series 1994–95 shows that the average gross weekly income, before housing costs, for recently retired pensioner units is estimated at £235.60, in July 1994 prices. This figure is equivalent to £248.70 in July 1996 prices, which is 70 per cent. of the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees in July 1996.

  Sources:
  The pensioners' income series 1994–95 and the "Abstract of Statistics for Social Security Benefits and Contributions and Indices of Prices and Earnings", 1996 edition.

  Notes

  1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.10 and 1 per cent.

  2. A pensioner unit is defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple where the man defined as the head is over SPA. A recently retired pensioner unit is defined as a pensioner unit where the head of the benefit unit is less than five years older than SPA.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the Government Actuary's advice on(a) the £9 a week rebate and (b) the 5 per cent. rebate proposed in the basic pension plus proposal. [19644]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government Actuary's advice on the rebates for basic pension plus is incorporated in the technical note and is consistent with his review of certain contracting-out terms, Cm 3221.

  Ms Harman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the projected national insurance rates until 2050 under(a) the most recent Government Actuary projections taking into account the effects of the Pensions Act 1995 and (b) the basis pensions plus proposal. [19646]
  198
  Mr. Heald
  The most recent projections on national insurance rates are contained in table 3 of "Pension Bill 1994. Report by the Government Actuary on the Financial Provisions of the Bill on the National Insurance Fund", Cm 2714.

  It will be for the Government of the day to decide the future balance between different taxes, charges and borrowing.

  The proposals will not require a change in the rates of national insurance contributions especially since existing tax rates would yield far more than they do now.

  Mr. Frank Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will ask the Government Actuary to cost the additional net increase in public expenditure for the period during which workers are building up the contributions to their own accounts under his proposed benefit pension plus proposal. [19660]

  Mr. Heald
  We have already done so. The results are in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's announcement of 5 March 1997 and "Basic Pension Plus—A technical note", copies of which are in the Library.

  Mr. Field
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he asked the Government Actuary to cost the impact on public expenditure of his basic pension plus proposal before they were published. [19661]

  Mr. Heald
  The figures on the impact of basic pension plus on public expenditure in the technical note, a copy of which is available in the Library, are based on projections by the Government Actuary.

  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what rate of return on investments in state pension funds under his new proposals is predicted by the Government Actuary; on what basis this prediction is made; and how increases in this expected rate of return affect national insurance contribution rebates. [19623]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government Actuary's assumed rates of return on investments for basic pension plus are a real rate of 4.25 per cent. per annum net of prices pre retirement, and 3.75 per cent. per annum net of prices post retirement. These assumptions are as in his calculation of age-related rebates for Appropriate Personal Pensions, as set out in "Occupational and Personal Pension Schemes Review of Certain Contracting-Out Terms", Cm 3221, which sets out the factors taken into account in setting these assumptions.

  Mrs. Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the assumed level of charges which the Government Actuary used in calculating the expected returns in relation to the Government's basic pension plus proposal. [19624]

  Mr. Heald
  The Government Actuary's assumed level of charges is the same as allowed for in the Government Actuary's calculation of the rebates from SERPS which come into force next month, Cm 3221—i.e. 6 per cent. of the rebate, a 0.8 per cent. reduction in the annual rate of return before retirement, and a 2 per cent. loading on the annuity purchase price.
  199

  Appeal Tribunals
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 4 March,Official Report, column 561, if he will make it his policy either to answer questions regarding appeal tribunals or to refer them to the president of the Independent Tribunal Service for reply. [19907]

  Mr. Roger Evans
  No. I refer the hon. Member again to the reply that I gave him on 4 March 1997,Official Report, column 561.

  It will depend upon the terms of the particular question. Matters within the statutory responsibilities of the president of the Independent Tribunal Service should be raised with him directly. Matters on the Government's policy in relation to the Independent Tribunal Service will continue to be answered by Ministers.

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many medical members of disability appeal tribunals are involved in examining claimants for the purpose of entitlement to disability living allowance or attendance allowance. [19855]

  Mr. Evans
  The information requested is obtainable only by matching the Independent Tribunal Service's records of medical members of disability appeal tribunals against current information held by the Benefits Agency medical services.

  The results of such an exercise indicate that 232 medical members of disability appeal tribunals are approved by the Benefits Agency medical services for the purposes of examining claimants in connection with claims to disability living allowance or attendance allowance.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Pigs (Export)
  Mr. Morley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his Departments' export health certificates for pigs which were issued as for production or breeding during 1996 listed an abattoir as the final destination. [17841]

  Mrs. Browning
  The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

  Live Animal Exports (Computer Data)
  Mr. Hinchliffe
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what data is collated via the computer system created by his Department under the auspices of the European Commission regarding the number of veal calves exported in each year from 1990 to 1996. [18206]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: The purpose of the Animo computer system, which became operational in Great Britain in November 1993, is to send messages to other member states informing them that animals have been certified for export and are expected to be consigned to their territory. We are able to extract from the system statistical information on the number of animals certified for export, but by its nature this information does not always accord with the actual numbers of animals consigned from Great Britain.
  200

  Beekeeping
  Mrs. Helen Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from beekeepers about the threat posed by varroa; and if he will make a statement. [18799]

  Mr. Boswell
  We take the threat to honey bees from varroa most seriously and this is a matter upon which we have received a number of representations from beekeepers. The Ministry continues to work closely with beekeeping organisations to control the impact and spread of varroa.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what grants are available to beekeepers(a) to test their bees for varroa and (b) to treat bees with Bayvarol. [18797]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Ministry provides a free diagnostic and information service for varroa, with the cost of treatment being borne by beekeepers. In addition the Ministry funds around £200,000 of research and development work relating to varroa.

  Mrs. Jackson
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion he has had with EU representatives about United Kingdom beekeepers through the EC Council regulation COM(96)596. [18798]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Commission's proposals for a regulation concerning honey and beekeeping have been discussed in Brussels both at working group level and in the Special Committee for Agriculture. They have yet to be discussed in the Council of Ministers.

  Lindane
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what mechanisms were put in place to monitor the(a) purpose and (b) quantity of use of lindane since its relicensing in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [19292]

  Mrs. Browning
  A full review of the agricultural uses of lindane was completed by the independent Advisory Committee on Pesticides in 1996. The committee concluded that when approved pesticides containing lindane were used properly they posed no unacceptable risk. The committee therefore recommended, and Ministers accepted, that approvals should continue.

  Monitoring of all agricultural pesticides including lindane continues to be carried out by the working party on pesticide usage surveys. Monitoring indicates purpose of use, as well as quantity used, and covers all sectors of agriculture in a four-year rolling cycle, though arable crops are surveyed every other year. The results are published in the MAFF publications series; the arable survey—which covers most lindane uses—for 1996 is due to be published this autumn.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will commission research into the threat to human health from the use of lindane; and if he will make a statement. [19293]

  Mrs. Browning
  Lindane is used in both agriculture and non-agricultural pesticides. To allow authorisation of such compounds, companies must supply comprehensive
  201
  scientific information for evaluation by the Government's independent advisers. In the case of lindane, there is also considerable information available from other sources.

  The pesticidal uses of lindane have recently been comprehensively reviewed on the basis of these data. Human health issues were fully considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and specific aspects by the Committee on Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment and the Committee on Mutagenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment. Following advice from the committees, Ministers concluded that when approved pesticides containing lindane were used in accordance with their conditions of approval they posed no unacceptable risk.

  Roslin Institute
  Mr. Eric Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the impact of recent reductions in the budgets of projects relating to(a) animal welfare, (b) pig genome mapping and (c) development potential of quiescent cells derived from sheep embryos, foetuses and adults on the work of the Roslin Institute. [19019]

  Mrs. Browning
  Some reduction in MAFF funding of work at Roslin Institute is a necessary consequence of recent modest reductions in our overall research budget and also of changes in the funding arrangements for Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council institutes. We have, in addition, as part of our ongoing effort to ensure that the work we support is relevant to our current needs, redirected funding in certain areas:

  (a) following a review of our research on poultry welfare all contractors were invited to bid for new work. While the size of the overall programme has not been significantly changed, allocation of funds in accordance with our priorities has resulted in a loss of funding to Roslin Institute;

  (b) funding for work on the pig genome has lead to notable successes such that it now attracts considerable industry support, hence there is less need for MAFF funding;

  (c) the project on sheep cloning has achieved its aims.

  However, most of the funds released from the last two projects have been redirected towards other work at the Roslin Institute.

  Mr. Clarke
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors governed the length of notice given by his Department of recent funding reductions at the Roslin Institute. [19020]

  Mr. Boswell
  Every effort is made to give contractors as much notice as possible of planned changes to the funding of their programmes. MAFF wrote to the Roslin Institute in June 1996 and suggested that it should look for 50 per cent. co-funding for a range of its livestock science projects due to end between March and June 1997. Discussions with contractors on the programme of work on the welfare of poultry began with a formal review in 1995.

  Milk
  Ms Walley
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list in kilolitres the quantities of(a) plain whole milk, (b) flavoured whole milk, (c) plain semi-skimmed milk, (d) flavoured semi-skimmed milk,
  202
  (e) plain whole-milk yoghurt for which claims have been made from Great Britan under the EC school milk subsidy scheme for (i) the spring term 1996 and (ii) the summer term 1996; and if he will make a statement. [19230]

  Mr. Baldry
  The quantities claimed under the EC school milk subsidy scheme from Great Britain are as follows:

  (Kilolitres)

  Spring term 1996

  Summer term 1996

  Plain whole milk

  16,987.216

  13,641.030

  Flavoured whole milk

  406.861

  185.677

  Plain semi-skimmed milk

  1,210.478

  494.483

  Flavoured semi-skimmed milk

  211.418

  59.950

  Plain whole milk yoghurt

  15.199

  4.792

  Total

  18,831.172

  14,385.932

  Departmental Web Site
  Mr. Sheerman
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when his Department established its internet site; what representations he has received and what data he has collated on the use and utility of the site; and what steps he is taking to increase the amount of information available via the site. [19150]

  Mr. Boswell
  The Department introduced a dedicated world wide web site on the Internet in October 1996, following experience gained over the previous two years in publishing information via the CCTA Government Information Service. MAFF's web pages have been accessed over 90,000 times since the service was introduced, and over 550 new pages have been added. The Department encourages feedback and suggestions for improvement to the site, and has provided an E-mail address for this purpose. A number of comments on the content and structure of the site have been received, and these are being addressed as part of the continuing effort to improve and extend the service.

  Slaughterhouses
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines he has issued on the use of goads in slaughterhouses. [19575]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: Guidance on the use of sticks and goads in slaughterhouses was given in the code of practice on the welfare of red meat animals at slaughter which came into operation on 1 January 1993, having been laid before Parliament. Revised codes are in preparation. Any problems in individual premises are followed up by Meat Hygiene Service staff with the operator concerned.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines he has issued since 14 December 1995 relating to the necessity of sterilising slaughtering implements in slaughterhouses. [19550]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: None since 14 December 1995. Detailed guidelines on the necessity of sterilising slaughtering implements in

  203
  slaughterhouses are contained in the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual, issued in April 1995 to all official veterinary surgeons and plant operators. Any premises in which improvements are needed are followed up on an individual basis by Meat Hygiene Service staff with the operator concerned.

  Mr. Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines he has issued since 14 December 1995 concerning ventilation in sheep lairages at slaughterhouses. [19570]

  Mrs. Browning
  [holding answer 10 March 1997]: None since 14 December 1995. Guidance on ventilation in lairages at slaughterhouses is given in the code of practice on the construction and layout of red meat slaughterhouses in relation to animal welfare which came into operation on 1 January 1993, having been laid before Parliament. Revised codes are in preparation. Guidance on welfare matters generally is given in the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual, issued in April 1995 to all official veterinary surgeons and plant operators. Any premises in which improvements are needed are followed up on an individual basis by Meat Hygiene Service staff with the operator concerned.

  Red Meat (Hygiene Report)
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the hygiene advice team report on red meat. [19548]

  Mrs. Browning
  I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 6 March 1997,Official Report, columns 1023–35.

  Livestock Diseases Prevention
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will undertake further research into methods of livestock production which reduce disease levels without the use of drugs; and if he will make a statement. [19215]

  Mrs. Browning
  One of the Department's research objectives is to promote disease control in livestock through methods other than treatment with veterinary medicines. The sustainable livestock production research programme, jointly funded by Government and industry, includes work to improve the efficiency of control of diseases in farm animals and therefore to reduce the amount of veterinary medicines used. In addition, there is ongoing research into organic livestock production methods.

  Veterinary Drugs
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will undertake urgently research into cross-resistance between enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin; and if he will make a statement. [19287]

  Mrs. Browning
  Information on work at the Central Veterinary Laboratory on cross resistance between enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in salmonella was published in The Veterinary Record in May 1989 and in
  204
  The Lancet in July 1990. The independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee keeps the issue of antibiotic resistance under review.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received over the therapeutic use of enrofloxacin to control respiratory disease in poultry; and if he will make a statement. [19285]

  Mrs. Browning
  I am unaware of any representations received about the therapeutic use of enrofloxacin to control respiratory disease in poultry.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons and in what circumstances tylosin is available without the need for a prescription; and if he will make a statement. [19282]

  Mrs. Browning
  Tylosin is authorised for use throughout the European Union as a zootechnical feed additive under directive 70/524/EEC. It is an aid to improving growth rate and feed conversion efficiency in pigs. In the UK, the sale and supply of products containing tylosin are subject to the provisions of the Medicines (Veterinary Drugs) (Pharmacy and Merchants' List) Order 1992, as amended. Seven products containing tylosin as the active ingredient may be made available through veterinarians or pharmacists or certain agricultural merchants registered with, and inspected by, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Sales are restricted to persons whom the seller knows, or has reasonable cause to believe, to be persons who keep animals for business purposes.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the use of growth-promoting antibiotics in lactating cows. [19290]

  Mrs. Browning
  No antibiotic growth promoter is authorised for use in lactating dairy cows. The current authorisation for avoparcin as a milk enhancer will be withdrawn, together with all other feed additive uses of avoparcin, by 1 April 1997.

  Mr Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what data his Department collates on changes in the purpose for which antibiotics in agriculture are used, and if he will make a statement; [19216]

  (2) what statistics are collated by his Department on the quantities of each antibiotic used in agriculture; and if he will make a statement. [19283]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Government do not hold such data or statistics.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the use of (i) virginiamycin, (ii) zinc bacitracin, (iii) bambermycin, (iv) spiramycin and (v) avoparcin in lactating cows; and what representations he has received on their use. [19289]

  Mrs. Browning
  The Ministry does not commission research into the use of antibiotics in veterinary medicine. No veterinary medicinal product is authorised for use in the UK unless it first satisfies statutory criteria for safety, quality and efficacy. Data submitted in support of applications for authorisation are assessed by the veterinary medicines directorate and all antibiotics for the
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  treatment of food producing animals in the UK are also very carefully considered by the independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee.

  With the exception of avoparcin, none of the antibiotics listed is authorised for use in lactating cows. Authorisations for avoparcin are to be withdrawn by 1 April 1997.

  I have twice met the technical manager of Roche Products Ltd., which manufactures avoparcin.

  Drug-resistant Food Poisoning Outbreaks
  Mr. Martyn Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list with dates each known outbreak of drug-resistant campylobacter food poisoning linked to British poultry; and if he will make a statement. [19288]

  Mr. Horam
  I have been asked to reply.

  The information requested is not routinely recorded.

  Mr. Jones
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has evaluated into farm animals as a source of vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection in man; what assessment he has made of this research; and if he will make a statement. [19360]

  Mrs. Browning
  The "Report of the Scientific Committee for Animal Nutrition (SCAN) on the Possible Risk for Humans on the Use of Avoparcin as Feed Additive", dated 21 May 1996, lists the relevant 206
  information. A copy of the report is available in the Library of the House. The UK's independent scientific Veterinary Products Committee has considered the SCAN's report and agrees with its conclusions.

  Set-aside Scheme
  Mr. Cox
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total acreage of land in the United Kingdom currently in set-aside; and what has been the total cost to public funds of payments to farmers for land in set-aside during 1996. [19486]

  Mr. Baldry
  The total acreage of land currently in set-aside will not be known until later this year In 1996 the total acreage of land in the United Kingdom set aside under the arable area payments scheme was 1,209,915 acres and payments to claimants in respect of that set-aside totalled £156,627,421 up to the end of February 1997.

  Organic Farming
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of farms are currently classified as organic; and if he will make a statement. [19857]

  Mr. Boswell
  There were 646 registered organic units in England as at February 1997. These constitute less than 0.5 per cent. of the total number of agricultural holdings in England, although it is not possible to make an exact comparison because the figures are produced on different bases.

  Landmines: Vienna Conference
  Landmines: Vienna Conference
  Red Cross: Support
  Red Cross: Support
  UNHCR: Support
  UNHCR: Support
  Fisheries Research Services
  Fisheries Research Services
  VAT and Repairs to Listed Buildings
  VAT and Repairs to Listed Buildings
  Child Welfare
  Child Welfare
  NHS: Payment of Creditors
  NHS: Payment of Creditors
  Petrol Vapour Recovery
  Petrol Vapour Recovery
  Environment Council, 3 March
  Environment Council, 3 March
  Genetically Engineered Cotton: Patent
  Genetically Engineered Cotton: Patent
  Special Procedure Orders: Identity of Petitioners
  Special Procedure Orders: Identity of Petitioners
  Legal Aid Payments to Lawyers
  Legal Aid Payments to Lawyers