Written Answers of 2 June 1998

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Wheel Clamping
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of discussions with the Home Department on the regulation of the wheel clamping industry. [43193]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Government intend to include a statement on this subject in their forthcoming Transport White Paper.

  Road Maintenance
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the current backlog in road maintenance on(a) trunk roads and (b) other adopted roads. [43188]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  In December last year, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced an increase of 50% in the Highways Agency's provision of capital maintenance on trunk roads and motorways to £300m for 1998–99. It is estimated that this will overcome underfunding in recent years and hold the trunk road network in a steady state condition. There is currently no central government estimate of maintenance backlog for local authority roads. Road maintenance for the future is an issue which we are considering in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

  Water Abstraction
  Mr. Brake
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on Government policy in relation to proposals from the Water Companies Association to increase abstraction to meet demand in areas of water shortage. [43548]

  Angela Eagle
  Proposals for new or increased abstractions of water to serve the needs created by development must be discussed with the Environment Agency which regulates abstractions through its licensing system. A review of that licensing system was announced at the water Summit last May and we shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper on a range of proposals for change. Water companies have duties to maintain and develop efficient and economical water supply systems to meet the needs of their areas, and to promote the efficient use of water by their customers. They are currently preparing water resource plans to maintain a balance between demand and supply over the next 25 years.
  154

  Air Bags
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to the letter of 10 November 1997 from the Minister for Transport in London to the hon. Member for Linlithgow (J/P50/10405/97), what is her Department's latest assessment of the development of air-bags for aircraft. [44064]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  There have been no further developments to those outlined in my letter of 10 November 1997.

  No Man's Heath Bypass
  Sir Alastair Goodlad
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to announce a decision on the A41 No Man's Heath bypass; and if he will make a statement. [43382]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Inspector's report on the public inquiry into the proposed A41 No Man's Heath and Macefen bypass was received on 3 December 1997. My right hon. Friend will announce his decision in the light of the Inspector's recommendations as soon as possible.

  Single-person Households
  Mr. Tom King
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the proportion of households formed in each region between 1991 and 1996 which were single-person households. [43858]

  Mr. Raynsford
  There are no suitable survey sources for the information requested. However, my Department makes annual estimates of the total number of households by applying household information derived from recent censuses and the Labour Force Survey to the annual mid-year population estimates produced by the Office for National Statistics.

  Using these figures for 1991 and 1996, the net change in the number of one person households as a percentage of the net change in total households is as set out.

  Government office region

  Net increase in the number of one person households (thousands)

  Net increase in the total number of households (thousands)

  Percentage of total net increase that is one person households

  North East

  34

  34

  102

  North West

  71

  87

  82

  Merseyside

  15

  10

  149

  Yorkshire and the Humber

  64

  84

  76

  East Midlands

  59

  95

  62

  West Midlands

  69

  90

  77

  Eastern

  85

  135

  63

  London

  112

  158

  71

  South East

  122

  194

  63

  South West

  73

  110

  66

  England

  702

  996

  71

  In some areas the net growth in one person households exceeds the net growth in total households. This can be explained by, for example, one person households being

  155
  formed when one member of a couple dies. This increases the number of one person households by one but the overall number of households remains unchanged.

  A49
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he plans to review proposals for improvements to the A49 between Ludlow and Shrewsbury. [43383]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Paul Marsden, dated 2 June 1998:
  The Minister of Transport in London has asked me to reply to your recent question about plans to review proposals for improvements to the A49 between Ludlow and Shrewsbury.
  The Highways Agency regularly reviews the operation of its trunk roads and last year commissioned its agent, at that time, Shropshire County Council, to carry out a number of safety and traffic calming studies on the A49. From 1 April, we appointed a new agent, WSP Graham, who will be reviewing the outcome of those studies with a view to acting on their recommendations at the earliest opportunity. The Agency's Area Manager, whose responsibilities include this length of A49, recently met with representatives of a newly formed Safety Campaign Group to listen to their concerns. We shall be carefully considering the points which they raised as part of the review process.
  In addition, you will be aware that a review of the trunk road programme is currently being carried out, the results of which are due to be announced shortly.

  National House-building Council
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received about the operations of the NHBC. [43868]

  Mr. Raynsford
  In the last year I have received representations concerning some 35 cases involving the NHBC Buildmark warranty scheme, some of which also involved NHBC in its capacity as an approved building control inspector. From these representations and other sources I am aware of the dissatisfaction with the way the Buildmark scheme sometimes operates. That is why, on three occasions in the past year, I have met the Chief Executive and other senior staff of the NHBC to hear progress with their Buildmark review. I am awaiting a further update from them on action to improve the operation of the scheme. As regards building control, I have welcomed the setting up by the Construction Industry Council, the Local Government Association and the Association of Corporate Approved Inspectors of a steering group to draw up recommendations on a common performance standard applicable to private sector approved inspectors and to local authority building control officers.

  Wild Boars
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the wild boar population in(a) East Sussex, (b) Kent, (c) Dorset and (d) elsewhere in the United Kingdom; what is his policy in respect of these animals; and if he will make a statement. [43217]
  156
  Angela Eagle
  The Central Science Laboratory has recently completed a review of the current status and potential impact of wild boar on the English countryside. This Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are currently considering the review and a statement will be made in the near future.

  Driving Test Centre, Chelmsford
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the progress being made to move the Driving Test Centre in Beeches Road, Chelmsford, to an alternative site in the town; and if he expects the move to be completed prior to 31 December. [43165]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Planning approval has recently been granted for the building of a new driving test centre at the Chelmer Business Park. We are confident that we shall be able to switch driver testing to there and cease at the current premises in Beeches Road, by the end of this year.

  Traffic Conditions (Warrington)
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the effect on weekend traffic conditions on the A49 and on Cromwell Avenue in Warrington of building a new Junction 8 on the M62. [43385]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I have asked the Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, Mr. Lawrie Haynes, to write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Helen Jones, dated 2 June 1998:
  I have been asked by the Minister for Transport to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the M62.
  The results of recent roadside traffic surveys carried out by the Highways Agency in this area are still being assessed. However, we expect them to confirm that the provision of the new junction would reduce significantly weekend traffic on the A49 and on Cromwell Avenue in Warrington.

  Vulnerable Road Users
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what he is doing to educate all road users to be aware of vulnerable road users, in order to reduce two-wheeler, horse-riding and pedestrian casualties. [42334]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  The Highway Code contains advice for road users and aims to help prevent accidents by ensuring that all road users follow the same rules. The Code is being revised. We are considering how to highlight the need for motorists to be aware of vulnerable road users. In July there will be a 25 per cent. increase in the number of questions on driver awareness of all vulnerable road users in the driving theory test question bank. We also provide a wide range of publicity and information material for use by Road Safety Officers, police, schools and others to promote consideration for vulnerable road users. Examples include the Horse Sense for Motorists and the Drive Safe Cycle Safe leaflets.
  157

  Two-wheeled Vehicles
  Mr. McWalter
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if it is his policy that steps to restrain motor car use should not apply automatically to powered two wheelers. [42335]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 20 May 1998,Official Report, column 365.

  Deprivation
  Mr. Hanson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the updated Index of Local Deprivation will be published. [44135]

  Mr. Caborn
  I am today placing in the Library copies of a summary of the 1998 Index of Local Deprivation. The Index of Local Deprivation combines 12 up to date measures on different aspects of deprivation into a single indicator for all local authority districts in England. The Index will be used as background information for the development of regeneration policy and programmes. A further review of the Index will be commissioned later this year to take account of new data sources relevant to deprivation which will include income support statistics for areas smaller than local authority districts.

  Termites (North Devon)
  Mr. Harvey
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what action the Government are proposing to take to control and eradicate the infestation of termites at Saunton, North Devon; and if he will make a statement. [44136]

  Mr. Raynsford
  The Government are determined to do everything possible to contain and destroy the termite infestation at two properties in Saunton, North Devon. Our priority is to stop the infestation spreading and to destroy it at source.

  I can therefore announce that the Government will fully fund a 12 year eradication and control programme, costing some £190,000, which will start immediately the consent of the affected owners has been received.

  As my noble Friend Baroness Hayman indicated in Another Place on 28 April 1998, Official Report, House of Lords, columns 150–53, when the presence of this reinfestation became known the Government asked the Building Research Establishment (BRE) to explore, as a matter of urgency, the optimum means of eradicating the termites. The programme—which has been drawn up at my request by the Building Research Establishment together with experts from agencies including the Pest Management Unit of Imperial College (London), the Natural Resources Institute and CTBA-BIOTEC, France—will be based on close monitoring within 500 metres of the affected properties followed by baiting using an insect growth regulator which will prevent the developing insects from maturing.

  The Government have accepted these proposals as the best way forward, and the consortium led by the BRE has been asked to implement the eradication strategy forthwith. The proposal, based on the existing knowledge of the extent of the infestation, is to survey and monitor an area within a 500m radius of the known infestation, but to install a more intensive monitoring grid in the
  158
  grounds of the two affected properties and within a 200m radius of them. If surveys show that the activity extends beyond this area, it will be extended. Once activity is detected within the growth regulator hexaflumuron is proposed to be installed. Bait stations would also be installed at suitable locations within affected timbers in the infested properties. Monitoring will continue for up to ten years after activity has ceased in order to ensure that the treatment has indeed been effective. This work is dependent upon the co-operation of all property and land owners within this area, and officials in my Department are seeking their permissions as a matter of urgency.

  It should be stated that it is not possible to be certain of the outcome. The BRE report stresses that total eradication of a termite population is not normally considered feasible in other countries where the termite is endemic. However, since the population appears to be very restricted in this country, on the basis of the knowledge that this is a single infestation centred on two adjacent properties, we are assured by the experts that there is a high probability of success in eradicating the termite colony.

  As it is considered essential to do all possible to curtail this infestation before it spreads further, the Government have undertaken to fund the full cost of the eradication and monitoring work.

  Leaseholders (Service Charges)
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a further commencement order in respect of the Housing Act 1996, enabling disputes over the reasonableness of service charges between landlords and long leaseholders on which court proceedings began before 1 September 1997 to be transferred to leasehold valuation tribunals. [44137]

  Ms Armstrong
  Today my Department is publishing for consultation proposals which should be welcome to a number of those leaseholders who have not so far been able to take advantage of the improved arrangements for dealing with service charge disputes under the Housing Act 1996.

  Section 83 of that Act allows a residential tenant or landlord to go to the Leasehold Valuation Tribunal (LVT) rather than to a civil court when seeking a decision on whether or not service charges are reasonable. It also gives the court discretion to transfer to the LVT any question relating to the reasonableness of service charges which falls within the Tribunal's jurisdiction. This provision came into effect on 1 September 1997 but it has not so far been applied to cases where court proceedings had begun before that date. Representations have been made that this exclusion is unfair.

  Under the further Commencement Order proposed today, the court's discretion would also apply to cases where proceedings had begun before 1 September 1997. This would allow the courts to consider whether the interests of justice would best be served by transferring a service charge dispute in such a case to the LVT.

  Subject to consultation, the proposed further Commencement Order should bring these new measures into effect in August 1998. Tenants involved in

  159
  proceedings which started before 1 September 1997 may wish to take legal advice about the implications of these proposals.

  Reservoirs Act
  Mr. Davidson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to simplify the procedures in the Reservoirs Act 1975 for making appointments to panels of civil engineers and for enforcing the safety provisions of the Act. [44121]

  Angela Eagle
  I am today issuing a consultation paper, jointly with the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, setting out the Government's proposals to amend the Reservoirs Act 1975. These proposals involve the transfer of the Secretaries of States' responsibilities for making appointments to the President of the Institution of Civil Engineers and the transfer of local authorities' enforcement duties in England and Wales to the Environment Agency. I am satisfied that these measures will result in the procedures being made less burdensome both for candidates for appointment and for reservoir undertakers. The amendments would be made by an Order under section 1 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994. I have today placed a copy of the consultation paper in the Library of the House.

HOUSE OF COMMONS

  Sittings of the House
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the President of the Council on how many occasions since the House adopted the recommendations of the report of the Select Committee on the Sittings of the House business was concluded by 7 pm on Thursdays. [43286]

  Mrs. Ann Taylor
  The House has risen before 7 pm on Thursdays on three occasions since January 1995 and on a further 15 occasions the business under consideration at that time was the half-hour adjournment. My hon. Friend will be aware that the original Sittings of the House Report in 1991–92, known as the Jopling report, recommended that, on the Thursdays immediately preceding non-sitting Fridays, the House should complete its main business by 7.00 pm and rise after the adjournment at 7.30 pm. The Committee also said that 7.00 pm on the other Thursdays should be the normal time for completion of main business. On the 26 Thursdays before non-sitting Fridays since January 1995, the House rose before 8 pm on 11 occasions and before 9 pm on eight other evenings. On the 83 Thursdays preceding sitting Fridays since then, the House rose between 10 and 10.30 pm on 44 occasions, later than that on eight occasions and adjourned before 9 pm on 26 evenings.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  Post Office Users National Council
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the members of the Post Office Users National Council and their terms of office. [43327]
  160
  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The current members of the Post Office Users National Council, who are generally appointed for individual terms of 3 or 4 years, are:

  Member

  Appointment expiry date

  John Hackney (Chairman)

  30 September 1999

  Eric Diston

  31 December 1998

  Rodger Gooding

  31 December 1998

  Gary Hepburn

  31 December 1998

  David Morris

  31 December 1998

  Edward V idler

  31 December 1998

  Dennis Wilson

  31 December 1998

  Dr. Stephanie Stray

  31 December 1999

  Frederick Bell

  31 December 2000

  Keith Hitchings

  31 December 2000

  Andrew Robertson1

  30 September 1999

  Eifion Pritchard1

  30 September 2000

  Gerard Trainor1

  31 August 2000

  1 Sit on the National Council by virtue of their appointments as Chairmen of the Post Office Users Councils for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

  In the current round of appointments, I am seeking a more balanced representation in terms of gender and ethnic origin on all the Consumer Councils.

  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what the procedures are for nomination and appointment of members to the Post Office Users National Council. [43328]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The procedures for appointments to the consumer councils for which I am responsible have been drawn up since Lord Nolan published his report and are fully compliant with the Guidance of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. An advertisement for appointments to a number of consumer councils, including the Post Office Users National Council, appears in the press annually. At the time of advertising we also seek nominations from a number of sources including the Council Chairmen, the Public Appointments Unit and all consumer representative organisations and minority groups. Applications are considered by an interview panel, which includes an independent representative, and a short list of candidates is interviewed. Thereafter Ministers select appointees from among all those successful at interview on the basis of merit. This year I expect to be able to confirm the appointments to the Post Office Users National Council by October. I am seeking to ensure that this recruitment provides for better representation of gender and ethnic minorities.

  The procedures outlined above were drawn up by a Departmental Appointments Panel which has five independent members.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Page
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will list the regulations that have been removed or amended to help small businesses since 1 May 1997. [42777]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Between 1 May 1997 and 31 May 1998 my Department has laid 8 amending regulations which resulted in compliance cost savings to business. These are as follows:

  The Wireless Telegraphy (Network User Stations) (Exemption) Regulations 1997;

  The Gas Act 1986 (Exemption) Order 1997;

  161

  The Insurance Companies (Accounts and Statements) (Amendment) Regulations 1997:

  The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Sale and Purchase, Share Subscription and Franchise Agreements) Order 1997;

  The Restrictive Trade Practices (Non-Notifiable Agreements) (Turnover Threshold) Amendment Order 1997;

  The Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 1997;

  The Wireless Telegraphy (Licence Charges) (Amendment) Regulations 1998; and
  The Trade Marks (Amendment) Rules 1998.

  Regulations to reduce the burdens on business are not necessarily targeted on businesses of a particular size. The regulations listed are expected to reduce burdens on business irrespective of size.

  EU Structural Funds
  Ms Atherton
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the United Kingdom population reside in areas in receipt of Objective 1 Funding. [43440]

  Mrs. Roche
  Of the United Kingdom's population, 6.0 per cent. reside in areas in receipt of Objective 1 Funding.

  Source:

  European Commission, Structural and Cohesion Fund 1994–99 Regulation and Commentary.

  Funeral Industry
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what further action is being taken to improve consumer protection in the funeral industry. [43476]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 15 May that he is to instigate an inquiry into the 'at need' funeral industry. I very much welcome this initiative. I share his concern about any allegations of malpractice and aggressive selling techniques in the funerals industry and call upon the industry to raise standards of consumer service.

  I am also urgently considering measures to ensure that consumers who purchase their funerals in advance are properly protected. My Department is in regular contact with interested parties.

  Business Link North West London
  Mr. Gardiner
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her answer of 14 May 1998,Official Report, column 193, on Business Link, London North West, (1) on what basis the committed and actual partner contributions figures include in kind contributions; [43992]

  (2) if she will provide a detailed breakdown of the forecast figure of £160,000 partnership income for the financial year 1998–99. [43993]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: For the financial year 1997–98 Business Link North West London received £150,000 as a partnership contribution. Of this sum £25,000 was allocated to the salary of a North West London TEC contracts manager who had the specific duty of servicing the Business Link.
  162
  For the financial year 1998–99 the forecast contribution will flow from savings produced as a result of the merger. At this stage it is not possible to provide a detailed breakdown.

  Fireworks
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how retailers are to dispose of their stocks if the Fireworks Bill is enacted. [43669]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  The Fireworks Bill is a Private Member's Bill which, if enacted, would provide the capability to deal with issues which cannot be addressed under the presently available powers. However, the fact of the Bill reaching the statute book would not of itself result in any new controls on fireworks being introduced. A key element in the Bill is a provision which would allow for the introduction of a training regime for the organisers of firework displays.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes have been made to import controls on fireworks since November 1996; and what plans she has for further changes. [43389]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  There have been no changes to import controls on fireworks since November 1996.

  The Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997, which I made in September 1997, introduced a number of firework safety measures including banning bangers, flash bangers, fireworks with erratic flight, aerial shells, maroons and other large fireworks from sale to the public. The Regulations also place limits on the size of certain fireworks—such as Roman Candles—which can be sold to the public. These restrictions apply both to imported fireworks and to those manufactured in the United Kingdom.

  I am currently discussing with the firework industry the "traceability" of imported fireworks to improve the interception of dangerous ones.

  Plutonium
  Dr. Moonie
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will publish the figures for the United Kingdom's stock of civil plutonium as at 31 December 1997. [44282]

  Mr. Battle
  I have today placed in the Library of the House figures for the United Kingdom under the new format showing national holdings of civil plutonium as at 31 December 1997. These figures are published as part of the UK's renewed commitment to improve transparency and openness in its management of our national holding of civil plutonium. This follows the same format as that announced on 2 December 1997 for holdings as at 31 December 1996. In accordance with the requirements of the 'Guidelines for the Management of Plutonium', I have today sent a copy of the figures to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, who will be circulating it to Member States in due course.

  EC Telecommunications Council
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Telecommunications Council on 19 May. [44281]
  163
  Mrs. Roche
  I chaired the Telecommunications Council held in Brussels on 19 May.

  Substantial progress was made towards agreement on two decisions: on the further development of mobile and wireless communications in Europe (universal mobile telecommunications system); and on a multi-annual programme to promote safe use of the internet. Both decisions will be finalised once the European Parliament has given its first reading.

  Following a presentation of the report from the ad hoc Working Group on electronic commerce, which examined the Commission Communication on Globalisation and the Information Society, the Council adopted conclusions on this subject. The Commission gave oral presentations of a draft Directive on a European framework for electronic signatures, and a Communication on the radio frequency requirements for Community policies in the context of the World Radiocommunications Conference 1999. The

  Film title

  Lottery award

  Budget

  Release date

  Number of screens

  Total box office to date (£)

  Glastonbury The Movie Limited

  36,061

  125,000

  Released 12.6.96

  Opened on 3; played up to 75

  £

  True Blue

  1,000,000

  3,500,000

  Released 15.11.96

  108 screens

  152,042

  Crimetime

  302,421

  3,817,755

  Released 29.11.96

  23 screens

  13,127

  A Midsummer Nights Dream

  750,000

  2,300,000

  Released 29.11.96

  6 screens

  25,859

  Frantz Fanon

  84,000

  320,000

  Released 27.6.97

  1 screen, ICA

  2,180

  The Slab Boys

  520,000

  2,500,000

  Released 29.8.97

  8 screens

  15,911

  Gallivant

  170,000

  334,366

  Released 19.9.97

  3 screens

  21,000

  Photographing Fairies

  890,000

  3,620,000

  Released 19.9.97

  60 screens

  81,609

  Shooting Fish

  980,000

  2,135,000

  Released 17.10.97

  206 screens

  4,023,915

  Wilde

  1,500,000

  6,000,000

  Released 17.10.97

  53 screens

  1,746,912

  The Tango Lesson

  690,000

  2,700,000

  Released 28.11.97

  60 screens

  207,120

  Keep the Aspidistra Flying

  1,000,000

  2,750,000

  Released 28.11.97

  9 screens

  105,163

  The Woodlanders

  1,400,000

  4,300,000

  Released 6.2.98

  18 screens

  177,442

  Downtime

  768,898

  1,956,495

  Released 13.2.98

  42 screens

  28,135

  Bent

  561,000

  2,154,183

  Released 6.3.98

  3 screens

  27,962

  My Son the Fanatic

  750,000

  2,134,800

  Released 1.5.98

  16 screens

  60,084

  Amy Foster

  2,000,000

  10,500,000

  Released 8.5.98

  39 screens

  20,371

  Love and Death on Long Island

  750,000

  2,300,874

  To be released 3.7.98

  The Land Girls

  1,500,000

  5,800,000

  To be released 28.8.98

  Love is the Devil

  364,551

  1,119,364

  To be released 9.98

  The Governess

  907,075

  2,803,000

  To be released 10.98

  The Revengers Comedies

  950,000

  4,000,000

  Release date tbc

  Among Giants

  665,000

  2,479,000

  Release date tbc

  Divorcing Jack

  800,000

  3,350,000

  To be released autumn 98

  Metroland

  865,000

  2,953,347

  Release date tbc

  A Kind of Hush

  750,000

  2,215,287

  Release date tbc

  Food of Love

  800,000

  2,100,000

  UK Distributor tbc

  Peggy Sue

  500,000

  1,130,000

  UK Distributor tbc

  Sixth Happiness

  469,727

  976,081

  UK Distributor tbc

  Nana

  160,000

  320,000

  UK Distributor tbc

  Get Real

  800,000

  1,808,000

  UK Distributor tbc

  Cable Television
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will ensure that future cable television licensing agreements require the provision of high quality local programming by franchise operators and that that provision be monitored by the ITC. [43109]

  Mr. Fisher
  The award and regulation of cable television licences is, by statute, a matter for the
  164
  Commission also provided an oral update on discussions with the US on the subject of internet domain name governance.

  The Commission and I briefed the Council on progress in tackling the Millennium Bug. In particular, I reported to the Council on the conference hosted by the UK on 8 May this year, in London.

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Film Industry
  Mr. Whittingdale
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list those films which have received lottery funding indicating(a) how much lottery money each received, (b) their total budgets, (c) their release dates, (d) the number of screens on which they opened and (e) their takings to date. [41802]

  Mr. Tom Clarke
  [holding answer 13 May 1998]: The table shows the information available as provided by the Arts Council of England.

  Independent Television Commission (ITC). The terms of the Broadcasting Act 1990 require that licences awarded by the ITC under that Act contain no positive requirements for specific programming categories or quality. The ITC will however continue to monitor conditions relating to local programming in cable licences issued by the Cable Authority under the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, for which the Commission is now responsible.
  165

  Libraries
  Ms Beverley Hughes
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what public money is being provided to help libraries take advantage of new technology. [41985]

  Mr. Fisher
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]The Government published their plans for the development of an IT Public Libraries Network on 16 April. £70 million of Lottery funding will be made available from the New Opportunities Fund for the development of new digital resources and the provision of ICT training of public library staff, together with £6 million to support the development of infrastructure.

  EU Culture Council
  Mr. Caplin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what was the outcome of the Culture Council on 28 May. [44192]

  Mr. Fisher
  EU Ministers of Culture met on 28 May 1998 in Brussels. Ministers agreed a common position regarding the proposed European Parliament and Council decision establishing a Community action for "The European City of Culture" event for the years 2005 to 2019. Ministers also agreed the cities to be offered the title "European City of Culture" and "European Cultural Month" for the years 2001 to 2004.

  The European Commission presented its proposal for a new culture framework programme. Ministers held an exchange of views on the Commission's proposal.

  The Presidency provided the Council with information about an informal meeting between the Cultural Affairs Committee and representatives of the Council- of Europe which took place on 16 April and focused on the impact of new technologies upon culture.

  The Commission provided the Council with a progress report on its study on cross border fixed book prices in the European Union.

  Ministers also held an exchange of views on culture and employment.

  Ministers agreed a draft recommendation concerning the protection of minors and human dignity in audiovisual and information services.

  The Presidency gave a report on the European Audiovisual Conference, "Challenges and Opportunities of the Digital Age", which was held in Birmingham on 6–8 April. The Council adopted Council conclusions on the outcome of the Conference.

  Ministers discussed a proposal to establish a European Film Award and the Commission agreed to undertake a study. Under any other business, access to archives in the European Union, the importance of music and music sector, and Weimar's plans as City of Culture 1999 were mentioned.
  166

WALES

  Breast Cancer
  Ms Lawrence
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when up-to-date figures will be available on the incidence of breast cancer among women by unitary authority area and by age. [43473]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The Welsh Cancer Intelligence and Surveillance Unit is dealing with the registration backlog at the rate of one year's data every four months.

  This means incidence data for the current calendar year (1998) should be available by February 2000. For 1999 and subsequent years, data will be available in the following September.

  Football Trust
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to assist the work of the Football Trust in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [44053]

  Mr. Ron Davies
  I have no such plans but discussions are ongoing between the Sports Council for Wales, the Football Association of Wales and the Football Trust on how they might make the best use of their joint resources to develop football in Wales.

  NHS Trusts
  Mr. Edwards
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the year end financial position of each NHS trust in Wales. [44193]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  The table shows the unaudited end year financial position of NHS trusts in Wales. Twenty one of the 29 trusts improved on their projected year end position provided in their December quarter returns. The efforts made by the trusts are appreciated.

  £000

  Trust

  Unaudited year end position

  December quarter projected figures

  Bridgend and District

  25

  0

  Cardiff Community

  315

  259

  Carmarthen

  -1,557

  -1,659

  Ceredigion

  -918

  -1,100

  Clwydian Community

  179

  187

  East Glamorgan

  168

  92

  Glan Y Mor

  13

  0

  Glan Clwyd

  167

  127

  Glan Hafren

  330

  330

  Gwent Community

  66

  66

  Gwynedd Community

  63

  97

  Gwynedd Hospitals

  198

  -92

  Llandough Hospital

  -1,346

  -1,822

  Llanelli/Dinefwr

  -646

  -800

  Mid Glamorgan Ambulance

  69

  49

  Morriston

  -1,667

  -2,691

  Nevill Hall and District

  18

  -82

  North Glamorgan

  54

  -308

  North Wales Ambulance

  4

  56

  Pembrokeshire and Derwen

  -2,039

  -2,097

  Powys

  -900

  -1,278

  Rhondda

  132

  116

  SEWAT

  58

  0

  Swansea

  49

  60

  University Dental Hospital

  7

  -92

  University Hospital of Wales

  -1,462

  -4,574

  Velindre

  23

  87

  West Wales Ambulance

  0

  0

  Wrexham Maelor

  -87

  -737

  Total

  -8.684

  -15,806

  167

HOME DEPARTMENT

  Immigration
  Ms Moran
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to conclude his review of immigration cases where domestic violence is involved; and if he will make a statement. [43200]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The review is nearing its conclusion and I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

  Reginald Kray
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often Reginald Kray has been found in possession of alcohol in the last 12 months; and what is its source. [42139]

  Ms Quin
  While Mr. Kray has not been found in possession of alcohol during the last 12 months, reports prepared for his most recent Parole Board review in March of this year referred to admission by him that he continued to drink illicit alcohol.

  Sentencing
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to ensure uniformity of sentences for similar offences in different areas; and if he will make a statement. [43610]

  Mr. Michael
  Provisions in the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords] place a statutory duty on the Court of Appeal to consider producing sentencing guidelines. The Bill also establishes a new sentencing advisory panel which will offer advice to the Court of Appeal. Taken together, we are confident that these measures will help to ensure greater consistency in sentencing.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Gerrard
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions he has issued to the Immigration Service regarding arrangements for asylum seekers to be represented at interviews held at ports. [43464]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Current and longstanding instructions to the Immigration Service about representation at interviews of passengers at ports have not altered significantly in recent times.

  All passenger interviews, including those of asylum seekers, are conducted under Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. It is not a mandatory requirement for a representative to be present at any interview. However, at the discretion of the immigration officer, representatives are usually admitted to interviews once their bona fides have been established and provided that no unreasonable delay is involved.

  On arrival in the United Kingdom, all port asylum seekers are given written information about access to legal advice including details of the Refugee Legal Centre and The Immigration Advisory Service.
  168

  Prison Site, Morecambe
  Miss Geraldine Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the proposed temporary prison at Middleton Sands, Morecambe will close. [43663]

  Ms Quin
  A condition of the planning clearance is that the period between the opening and closing of the prison should not exceed three years; and the prison should close prior to 31 December 2001.

  UK Visa Applications (Turkish Cypriots)
  Mr. John D. Taylor
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he received a request from the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North (Mr. Henderson), to reply to a query regarding visas for Turkish Cypriots entering the United Kingdom; when he received a letter on the same subject dated 4 February from the right hon. Member for Strangford; and if he will make a statement. [44030]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  I have received a number of representations on this issue, including a letter from the right hon. Member for Strangford (Mr. Taylor) received on 30 April, and will write to the hon. and right hon. Members concerned as soon as possible.

  Easter Sunday Trading
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to prevent indoor retail outlets trading on Easter Sunday. [44031]

  Mr. George Howarth
  Under the Sunday Trading Act 1994, only those shops with a relevant floor area of more than 280 square metres are prohibited from trading on Easter Sunday. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing the Act's provisions. Contravening the shop opening hours provisions can attract a fine of conviction of up to £50,000.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Travel Expenses
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total value in real terms of(a) staff car mileage claims paid and (b) staff rail fares paid in each year since 1989–90; and what was the total amount of staff car mileage for which reimbursement was made and the percentage change in each year since 1989–90. [42551]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The information required to answer this question is not readily available and to obtain it would involve disproportionate cost.

  Thailand
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been given to the Thailand Government to prevent cross-border incursions by the Burmese military. [43470]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received no request from the Thai authorities for assistance to prevent incursions from Burma. As EU Presidency, we have condemned recent incursions and highlighted their impact on refugees along
  169
  the Thai-Burma border. Our Embassies in Rangoon and Bangkok have raised our concerns with their host governments at a high level.

  Most recently, I raised the issue of Burmese refugees in Thailand with General Chettla Thanajaro, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army, in Bangkok on 29 May.

HEALTH

  Winter Pressures
  Mrs. Heal
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the extra funding provided to the NHS for coping with winter pressures was spent on projects involving joint working with social services. [42190]

  22. Mr. Sutcliffe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the extra funding provided to the NHS for coping with winter pressures was spent on projects involving joint working with social services. [42198]

  Mr. Boateng
  Of the £159 million allocated to health authorities in England, over one fifth (some £35 million) was transferred to social services departments for projects where the need was specifically for social care. Details of the precise spend on other projects which involved joint working with social services is not available centrally. However, we made it clear that all projects funded by the additional resources should be developed in consultation with local social services departments.

  NHS Quality Standards
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve mechanisms within the NHS for the introduction of more demanding quality standards. [42191]

  Mr. Milburn
  Our White Paper "The New NHS", published last December, set out a range of proposals for driving and supporting quality improvement in the National Health Service. We shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper which sets out some of our key proposals in more detail.

  Infertility Treatment (Workington)
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on his review of the case of Mrs. X of Workington, whose name has been supplied to him. [42192]

  Ms Jowell
  I understand that this case is about a woman who has not been able to obtain in-vitro fertilisation treatment in Cumbria as she is not eligible under the North Cumbria Health Authority's criteria for infertility treatment. Like most National Health Service treatments, infertility treatment is funded through the general funding of health authorities, and decisions about the allocation of resources and about who should be eligible for treatment are the responsibility of individual authorities. We are determined to address concerns that the NHS should provide equality of access to services throughout the country and are currently considering what further advice the NHS should be given on infertility service provision.
  170

  Health Action Zones
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money he is making available to support the development of health action zones. [42193]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are making £5.3 million in 1998/99 and £30 million from 1999/2000 available to support the first wave of Health Action Zones.

  Health Authorities (West Yorkshire)
  Mr. Bill O'Brien
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the reorganisation of health authorities and community trusts in West Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement. [42194]

  Mr. Milburn
  We have received no proposals to reorganise health authorities or community trusts in West Yorkshire.

  Health Information (Men over 40)
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to provide improved health information to men over 40 years of age. [42195]

  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to provide improved information on health to men over 40 years of age. [42208]

  Ms Jowell
  I refer my hon. Friends to my oral reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Heywood and Middleton (Mr. Dobbin) today,Official Report, column 161.

  Elderly Patients
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action his Department is taking to ensure patients aged over 75 years are not discharged without adequate social services available for their care. [42196]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Department is undertaking a number of relevant activities. Guidance on hospital discharge is under review. Social services inspectors are about to publish a report on local authorities' hospital discharge arrangements. The Department is working with health and social services authorities to develop assessment and care management, including written care plans for all patients on discharge from hospital, rehabilitation and recuperation services and joint investment plans.

  Grimsby Hospital
  Shona McIsaac
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to improve mechanisms within the NHS for the introduction of more demanding quality standards at Grimsby hospital. [42197]

  Mr. Milburn
  Our White Paper "The New NHS", published last December, set out a range of proposals for driving and supporting quality improvement in the National Health Service. We shall shortly be publishing a consultation paper which sets out some of our key proposals in more detail. The proposals for hospitals will apply to all hospital trusts and therefore to Grimsby hospital.
  171

  Treatments (Clinical Effectiveness)
  Mr. Russell Brown
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans the Government have to enforce NHS guidance on the clinical effectiveness of treatments. [42200]

  Mr. Milburn
  In the White Paper "The New NHS" we announced the end of the internal market in the National Health Service. The new National Institute for Clinical Excellence will set the standards of care that must be equally available to all. For the first time, the Government will require managers throughout the NHS to give as much attention to the effectiveness of treatments as to efficiency and cost. We will develop and publish National Service Frameworks which will make it clear what patients can expect from the NHS, and we will use the Service Frameworks to drive up quality through our management of NHS performance.

  NHS Hospitals
  Lorna Fitzsimons
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new NHS hospitals have been announced since 1 May 1997. [42201]

  Mr. Milburn
  Thirty hospital schemes have been given the go ahead since 1 May 1997. Twenty-five of these were under the Private Finance Initiative and five publicly funded.

  Cancer Treatment
  Mr. Wilkinson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will encourage cancer treatment in hospitals with specialist cancer research facilities. [42202]

  Mr. Boateng
  The Calman/Hine report on cancer services recognises the importance of high quality research and recommends that this is carried out throughout the cancer care network—in cancer units, cancer centres; primary care and within the voluntary sector. This means that the necessary population is available for research; there is close liaison between the service and the research; and the results leading to improved care can be disseminated quickly.

  Prescriptions
  Maria Eagle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure consistency between health authorities in respect of the prescription of certain drugs. [42203]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will work with the professions to produce National Service Frameworks and clinical guidelines which will be relevant to all health authorities. We will challenge and address variations in the provision of clinically and cost effective treatments not based on the health needs and wishes of local people.

  Heart Disease
  Mrs. Anne Campbell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking to reduce the incidence of heart disease. [42204]

  Ms Jowell
  Coronary heart disease is one of the biggest killers in this country. It accounts for some 120,000 deaths a year including premature deaths. Its incidence shows marked social class inequality. For example, men of 172
  working age in the bottom social classes are more than 50 per cent. more likely to die of coronary heart disease than men in the overall population.

  The Government are undertaking a variety of initiatives to tackle the risk factors for coronary heart disease. These include the forthcoming White Paper on tobacco control, a major campaign, called "Active for Life" to publicise the significant health benefits of moderately intense physical activity, a review, last year, of effective interventions in the prevention and treatment of obesity, and a directory of weight management services available across the National Health Service in England. We also launched a rolling programme of National Service Frameworks including the development of a framework for the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease, which will set national standards; put in place strategies to support implementation; and establish performance measures against which progress in reducing preventable death, tackling inequalities, and ensuring consistency of treatment, will be measured. The emerging findings from this work are expected in the autumn, and will be published and disseminated.

  Mental Health
  Mr. Truswell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he will ensure community and mental health services in Leeds receive an adequate share of the Government's extra investment in the NHS. [42205]

  Mr. Boateng
  I am pleased to say that Leeds Health Authority will receive a general allocation of £339.93 million in 1998/99, which is a total cash increase of £15.89 million over 1997/98.

  Mr. Nicholas Winterton
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the provision of long-stay beds for the mentally ill in(a) the North West Region, (b) the county of Cheshire and (c) East Cheshire NHS Trust. [42187]

  Mr. Boateng
  North West Region has resettled almost all long stay residents from the large institutions which provided treatment and care for people with mental health problems. There are still some final moves from some of the sites yet to be achieved. The whole of this was subject to a report submitted to the Independent Reference Group in 1997.

  At Winwick Hospital, the local mental health services are still in the process of moving to newly developed areas on the Winwick site and also to a purpose built mental health unit at Halton General Hospital, Runcorn. These moves have been notified to the health authority concerned and will be monitored closely by the North West Regional Office of the National Health Service Executive.

  In East Cheshire NHS Trust, patients previously at Parkside Hospital (the largest institution of its type in South Cheshire) have been reprovided for in a range of community based facilities, mostly within their home areas.

  Small Pharmacies
  Mr. St. Aubyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has to support the role of small pharmacies in delivering health care. [42206]
  173
  Mr. Milburn
  All pharmacies which provide National Health Service services receive a fair and appropriate level of remuneration for the work they carry out. We have in place special arrangements—the Essential Small Pharmacies Scheme—to guarantee a minimum NHS income for certain smaller pharmacies which might not otherwise be viable. We plan to continue both these forms of support.

  Health Inequalities
  Mr. Paul Clark
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research he has commissioned into health inequalities. [42207]

  Ms Jowell
  We recently announced eight research projects at a cost of £1.7 million on inequalities in health. This round of commissioning has focused on important areas to do with children and young people as well as health service mechanisms. All the projects are geared to answering the question: what actions on the part of health and other services can be effectively taken to reduce inequalities in health? In addition the Independent Inquiry into Inequalities in Health is reviewing existing research on this issue. Further research will be commissioned in the light of the Inquiry's report.

  National Service Frameworks
  Helen Jackson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he has taken to introduce national service frameworks in the NHS. [42209]

  Mr. Milburn
  The annual programme of national service frameworks was launched on 16 April 1998. The initial programme of work will take forward the existing frameworks for cancer and paediatric intensive care, and will begin to develop new national service frameworks for mental health and coronary heart disease.

  Each national service framework will be developed with the assistance of an expert reference group which will bring together health professionals, service users and carers, health service managers, partner agencies, and other advocates. The reference groups for mental health and coronary heart disease will be established during the next few weeks, and will begin work in the early summer.

  Emerging findings will be published in the autumn and the frameworks in spring 1999. The National Health Service, working with partner agencies, will be expected to begin to plan for implementation from April 1999.

  Primary Care Groups
  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made in respect of primary care groups. [42210]

  Mr. Milburn
  A great deal of work has been done since publication of the White Paper "The New NHS: Modem—Dependable" to establish Primary Care Groups. We are on course to have Primary Care Groups in place and operational by April 1999.

  Local discussions are now well under way to agree Primary Care Group configurations by July this year. We have also been consulting various interested bodies nationally on implementation issues. We have made £22 million available to help get Primary Care Groups off
  174
  the ground. This £22 million will be deliberately targeted to areas with higher numbers of non-fundholding general practitioners in recognition of the fact that they do not have the resources of the fundholder management allowances to draw on. It takes account of the fact that primary care management resources—including GP computing cash—has been unevenly distributed in the past. This is a first step to restoring equity across practices. It will be for local doctors and nurses to decide with their health authority how this money is best spent. This additional support will help family doctors and community nurses get their local Primary Care Group right so that patients get the maximum benefit from the new arrangements.

  Palliative Care
  Mr. Flight
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Government funding for hospices. [42211]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is the duty of health authorities to arrange the provision of specialist palliative care services (including hospice care) commensurate with the assessed health needs of their populations, in the same way as for other health services. Since 1994/5, funding for this purpose has been built into health authorities' general allocations.

  Health Service Commissioner
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase confidence among parents in the role of the Health Service Commissioner with respect to the NHS complaints procedure. [42212]

  Mr. Milburn
  As an Officer of Parliament the Health Service Commissioner is independent of the Government and it is not for Ministers to intervene in the way he operates. However, we have every confidence that the Commissioner carries out his role in an entirely appropriate manner.

  Care (Young People)
  Ms Christine Russell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to involve young people in care in consultations on the provision of that care. [42213]

  Mr. Boateng
  Children Act Regulations prescribe that local authorities shall seek and take account of the views of a child before conducting any review of his case.

  Guidance on children's services planning highlights the importance of local authorities seeking children's views and giving due weight to them alongside those of parents and carers.

  A care leaver is one of the members of the Ministerial Task Force on children's safeguards, and the Department will be providing funding for the establishment of a new national organisation for young people in care and for care leavers.
  175

  Children's Rights
  Mr. Gorrie
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to appoint(a) a United Kingdom children's rights commissioner and (b) an English children's rights commissioner. [24346]

  Mr. Boateng
  We have no plans to establish an office of Children's Rights Commissioner. During 1998 the Government will be preparing the Second United Kingdom Report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in accordance with the requirements of Article 44 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, 1989. We will take into account possible advantages of such an Office and note progress in other countries where such an Office has been established.

  Occupational Health
  Laura Moffatt
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical and nursing staff have worked in occupational health in the National Health Service for the last five years for which figures are available; and what were the grades of those employees. [42460]

  Mr. Milburn
  The available information is given in the tables. The introduction of a new method of classifying staff from 1995 means that nursing staff working in occupational health can no longer be separately identified.

  Hospital and community health services (HCHS) nursing staff working in occupational health in England as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  1990

  1991

  1992

  1993

  1994

  Total

  630

  610

  590

  600

  640

  Note:

  Figures are rounded to the nearest ten

  Source:

  Department of Health Non-Medical Workforce census

  NHS hospital medical staff occupational medicine staff by grade in England as at 30 September each year

  Whole-time equivalents

  Grade

  1992

  1993

  1994

  1995

  1996

  All staff

  70

  70

  90

  100

  90

  Consultant

  30

  30

  40

  50

  50

  Staff grade

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Associate specialist

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  Senior registrar

  10

  10

  10

  10

  10

  Registrar

  10

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Senior house officer

  —

  —

  0

  0

  —

  House officer

  —

  —

  —

  —

  —

  Hospital practitioner

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Clinical assistant

  20

  20

  30

  30

  20

  Other staff

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Notes:

  Previous to 1996 occupational medicine was called occupational health

  The figure for senior registrars in 1996 includes specialist registrars Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 whole-time equivalents Totals may not equal the sum of component parts due to rounding 0 = 5 or less and greater than zero

  — = zero

  Source:

  Department of Health Medical and Dental Workforce Census.
  176
  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to ensure that the guidance, Occupational Health Services for NHS staff 94(51), is being implemented in each NHS trust. [43598]

  Mr. Milburn
  Occupational Health Services for National Health Service Staff 94(51) has been superseded by the Management of Health, Safety and Welfare issues for NHS Staff 98(64). This guidance, issued on 18 May 1998 to all chief executives and human resource directors in health authorities and NHS trusts, covers all aspects of health and safety and occupational health.

  The NHS Executive is currently working on a new human resources strategy for the NHS. Taking forward occupational health provision will be a priority area for action requiring demonstrable year on year progress.

  Dr. Stoate
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are being taken to make occupational health services available to staff working in primary care. [43601]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive is working with representatives of interested parties to examine ways of extending occupational health provision to staff working in primary care, in the light of changes currently taking place in primary care provision.

  Glaucoma
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations his Department has received in the last year on the extension of glaucoma testing as part of the NHS standard sight test; and if he will make a statement; [42368]

  (2) what estimates he has made of (a) the number and (b) the proportion of opticians who carry out the full three stage test for glaucoma in the course of NHS sight tests; what plans he has to extend the provision of all three tests to all patients receiving NHS sight tests; and if he will make a statement. [42366]

  Mr. Milburn
  Information from the College of Optometrists, which regularly reviews current practice among its members, suggests that, in testing patients over 40 and other patients predisposed to glaucoma, virtually all optometrists examine the optic disc and measure intra-ocular pressures, and over half routinely undertake a visual field assessment. These data are not broken down between private and National Health Service sight tests, but we would expect optometrists to adopt common practices for both groups of patients.

  We have not received representations on this subject.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what evaluation he has made of(a) the increased cost of ensuring that every NHS periodic sight test includes all three glaucoma detection tests and (b) the additional number of early-stage glaucoma cases that would be detected with universal three test procedures; and if he will make a statement. [42367]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are aware of research which suggests that the accuracy of referrals could be improved from 60 to 80 per cent. by the combined use of the 3 tests on patients at risk of glaucoma. There is a single fee for undertaking National Health Service sight tests which is set through negotiations between the Department and representatives of optometrists and ophthalmic medical
  177
  practitioners. Clinical developments are among the factors taken into account, but it is not possible to isolate their impact.

  Spinal Injuries
  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with spinal cord injury have not received specialist treatment at a spinal injuries unit in each of the last three years; [42653]

  (2) how many people with acute spinal cord injury are awaiting admittance to a spinal injuries unit; [42649]

  (3) how many people diagnosed with spinal cord injury died before reaching a spinal injuries unit, in each year since 1990–91. [42652]

  Mr. Milburn
  The information requested is not collected centrally.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what studies have been undertaken or commissioned by his Department on(a) the quality of life and (b) the long term cost of care of people with spinal cord injury who (i) received treatment and (ii) did not receive treatment at a spinal injuries unit; [42650]

  (2) what research his Department (a) has commissioned and (b) proposes into (i) the incidence and (ii) the prevalence of spinal cord injury. [42648]

  Mr. Milburn
  The Department's policy research programme and the central National Health Service research and development programmes are not currently supporting any research into spinal cord injuries. However, many NHS trusts support programmes of research and development, some of which are considerable. The NHS supports clinical trials in spinal injuries which are conducted within its facilities. A comprehensive database for the projects funded under these programmes is currently under development.

  Mr. Woodward
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people with spinal cord injury are currently being treated in(a) spinal injuries units and (b) non-specialist hospitals. [42651]

  Mr. Milburn
  We do not collect the information in the form requested. However, information for in-patient treatment, for the latest year available, 1995–96, is shown in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library, and is based on finished consultant episodes, which represent the number of episodes of care under individual consultants.

  NHS Drugs (Prices)
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms exist to assess, monitor and regulate price increases in drugs used by the NHS. [43030]

  Mr. Milburn
  The prices of branded medicines sold to the National Health Service are regulated through the pharmaceutical price regulation scheme (PPRS), which is a voluntary agreement between the health departments and the pharmaceutical industry. The scheme sets for each major company a profit cap (with various cost allowances), based on return of capital employed, within which the company is allowed to establish the price of new medicines it proposes to sell to the NHS. Increases 178
  in the price of medicines have to be agreed by the Department. Small companies (sales below £20 million per annum to the NHS) are not required to supply such detailed information as a matter of routine, but remain subject to the price restraint provisions of the scheme.

  Generic products are not included in the PPRS. We do not control their prices which are determined by competitive market forces.

  Slow Sodium Tablets
  Mrs. Ellman
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increase in the price of slow sodium tablets per 100 to the NHS between March and May 1998 in actual and percentage terms. [43032]

  Mr. Milburn
  The list price to the National Health Service of this product increased during this period from 55p to £6.05 per 100, an increase of 1,000 per cent. Officials wrote to HK Pharma specifically on this issue on 28 April. So far they have not replied.

  Commission for Health Improvement
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the Commission for Health Improvement; [43156]

  (2) what remit the National Institute for Clinical Excellence and the Commission for Health Improvement will have to encourage the spread of good practice in wheelchair services; [43157]

  (3) when he will announce detailed plans for user representation on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. [43155]

  Mr. Milburn
  We will be consulting shortly on our detailed proposals for the Commission for Health Improvement and the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

  Midwives
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the number of midwife vacancies in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust; [43150]

  (2) if he will list the number of midwives employed in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust; [43152]

  (3) if he will list the number of whole-time equivalent midwifery posts in the NHS by health authority and NHS trust.[43154]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive does not collect information on the number of vacancies or posts (counted as the sum of staff in post and vacancies) in the hospital and community health services. For the information that is available on midwife vacancies and posts in the NHS, I refer my hon. Friend to the reports of the Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Information on the number of midwives employed in English health authorities and NHS trusts is given in a table, copies of which have been placed in the Library.
  179

  PFI (Loughborough)
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made towards the completion of the private finance initiative project to replace Loughborough's general hospital. [43185]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive is expecting to receive a revised full business case (FBC) from Fosse Health NHS Trust for the scheme to replace Loughborough's general hospital under the private finance initiative scheme in June 1998. The FBC will then be considered for approval.

  Patients (Dietary Needs)
  Mr. Cohen
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that those patients who need assistance in feeding themselves obtain it; and if he will make a statement. [43459]

  Mr. Milburn
  It is the responsibility of clinical staff in hospitals to identify the needs of individual patients, including identifying people who need help with eating and drinking, for whatever reason, and the Department has issued guidance on meeting the dietary needs of people in hospital.

  The Department commissioned further work by the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to look at the whole issue of meeting the dietary needs of people in hospitals. We issued this work, "Eating Matters", in November 1997 and it was sent to all National Health Service trusts.

  We are strongly committed to improving the health and social care services provided to older people. In response to the recent "Dignity on the Ward" campaign by The Observer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has commissioned HAS 2000 to examine the care which acute hospitals provide for older people. HAS 2000 are expected to look at the problem nationwide, and are examining eight hospitals in greater detail. They will report directly to my right hon. Friend, who plans to publish their report. The study is being undertaken between January and June 1998.

  Total number of juniors

  North Thames Complying1 with New Deal

  Per cent.

  Total number of juniors

  South Thames Complying1 with New Deal

  Per cent.

  September 1991

  5,101

  3,086

  60

  3,372

  2,481

  74

  February 1992

  5,051

  3,078

  61

  3,358

  2,310

  69

  August 1992

  5,144

  3,757

  73

  3,562

  2,638

  74

  March 1993

  5,147

  4,294

  83

  3,481

  2,705

  78

  September 1993

  5,321

  4,667

  88

  3,606

  3,037

  84

  March 1994

  5,482

  4,115

  75

  3,639

  2,324

  64

  September 1994

  5,388

  4,132

  77

  3,821

  3,135

  82

  December 1994

  5,478

  4,760

  87

  3,652

  3,114

  85

  September 1995

  5,587

  3,813

  68

  3,858

  2,699

  70

  March 1996

  5,558

  4,091

  74

  4,039

  3,124

  77

  September 1996

  5,648

  4,378

  78

  3,976

  3,188

  80

  March 1997

  5,734

  4,816

  84

  4,280

  3,567

  83

  September 1997

  5,754

  4,906

  86

  4,190

  3,606

  86

  March 1998

  5,756

  4,856

  86

  4,360

  3,936

  90

  1 These figures represent hours' targets prevailing during the period; after December 1994 returns were altered to emphasise compliance with actual hours of work rather than contracted hours of duty

  1991–1994 (non-compliance with contracted duty hours on-call greater than 72)

  1995–98(non-compliance with actual hours of work on-call greater than 56)

  180

  Emergency Contraception
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of United States pilot projects allowing pharmacists to prescribe emergency contraception within protocols agreed with local doctors. [43456]

  Mr. Milburn
  No such assessment has yet been made. The review of prescribing, supply and administration of medicines is considering whether and in what circumstances health professionals other than doctors and dentists should be able to prescribe. We await its report later this year and will then consider our response.

  Drugs Treatment
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 19 May 1998,Official Report, column 352, what percentage of the total number of drug users of (a) cannabis, (b) ecstasy and (c) heroin he estimates are in contact with drug treatment services. [43890]

  Ms Jowell
  Because of the covert and illegal nature of drug taking it is impossible to measure the number of people who take drugs in the general population and therefore to estimate the percentage who attend drug treatment services.

  Hospital Doctors (Working Hours)
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the average hours worked each week by hospital doctors in(a) the North Thames Region and (b) the South Thames Region in (i) the last year for which figures are available and (ii) each of the previous 10 years. [43688]

  Mr. Milburn
  Figures are not collected on average hours worked each week by hospital doctors. However, the New Deal on junior doctors' hours, begun in June 1991, requires each trust to monitor the hours of work of doctors in training against agreed limits over a series of target dates and to report compliance via regional task forces.

  Figures for on-call posts since 1991 for the two regions in question are in the table.
  181

  Secure Beds (London)
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local government secure beds are available in London for females under 18 years of age. [43641]

  Mr. Boateng
  All secure units are approved to accommodate boys and girls. There are currently 40 approved places within London with an additional 10 places coming on stream at Stamford House later this summer.

  NHS Staff (Assaults)
  Mr. Matins
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many assaults on staff in NHS(a) London and (b) South East hospitals have resulted in serious injury or death of members of staff in the last 10 years. [43449]

  Mr. Milburn
  There is currently no central collection or collation of data on violence in the National Health Service. There is a requirement for statutory reporting to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985. This requirement relates to serious injury cases arising from activities on hospital premises, for example: deaths, specified fractures (for example skull or leg), loss of sight, injury requiring hospital in-patient treatment for more than 24 hours, or injury leading to absence from work for more than three days. In addition to this NHS trusts and health authorities collect information locally.

  GPs (Terms of Service)
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the duty presently imposed on general practitioners by Paragraph 43 of the NHS Terms of Service will also be imposed on general practitioners who are part of a primary care group; if he will ensure that general practitioners in a primary care group are protected from litigation by patients for refusal to supply a drug solely on the grounds of cost; and if he will make a statement. [43365]

  Mr. Milburn
  General practitioners will continue to be expected to prescribe medicines to meet the clinical needs of their patients. Patients will continue to be guaranteed the medicines they need.

  Chlamydia
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to introduce a screening programme for chlamydia infection. [42199]

  Ms Jowell
  In line with expert advice we have received we have decided to set up pilot studies to evaluate the use of opportunistic screening for chlamydial infection. Portsmouth and Wirral have been identified as possible pilot sites and work is in hand to establish the detailed arrangements. These will start later this year and this experience will be evaluated to shape the course of future action.
  182

DEFENCE

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what tactical and operational advice was given by Sandline officers from HMS Cornwall to Sandline staff. [42141]

  Mr. George Robertson
  There were no Sandline officers based on HMS Cornwall, and no tactical or operational advice was given by HMS Cornwall to Sandline personnel.

  Mr. Robathan
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish all dispatches from HMS Cornwall while on station off West Africa in the last year. [42408]

  Mr. George Robertson
  A large number of communications were sent from HMS Cornwall covering a very wide range of subjects including operational, administrative and personnel matters. I am not, therefore, prepared to release this material and am withholding it under exemptions 1, 2 and 12 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Any relevant material will, of course, however, be made available to the independent investigation by Sir Thomas Legg KCB QC.

  Depleted Uranium
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the use and threat of depleted uranium. [43054]

  Mr. Spellar
  A detailed review of the environmental impact of depleted uranium on the Kirkcudbright and Eskmeals ranges was undertaken by an independent environmental consultant (W. S. Atkins) in 1995. This review concluded that the radiation doses and associated risks from exposure to both the public and the environment were extremely low.

  Additionally, a review being conducted within MOD of current developments and trends in munitions may have future clinical implications for the treatment of injured servicemen or women. The medical issues arising from the use of depleted uranium based ammunition against our own forces form part of the review. MOD is not conducting any experimental work on the short or long term effects of depleted uranium on humans, animals or the environment.

  Studies are also being carried out by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency to establish the rate of corrosion of depleted uranium in the marine environment.

  Research and development work has been carried out on two tank munitions programmes which use depleted uranium, CHARM 1 and CHARM 3. These anti-tank rounds were developed under commercial contracts at the following locations: Royal Ordance facilities at Birtley and Featherstone, AWE Aldermaston; the former AWE Cardiff, and MOD ranges at Eskmeals and Kirkcudbright.

  I am withholding information on any other MOD research programmes involving depleted uranium under exemption 1 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
  183

  Helicopter Accident, Mull of Kintyre
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the new evidence he received on 19 May about the crash of Chinook helicopter ZD576 on the Mull of Kintyre; and if he will make a statement. [43177]

  Dr. Reid
  The information provided is currently being analysed and 1 will write to the hon. Member when the work is completed. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO

  Millennium Dome
  Mr. Brady
  To ask the Minister without Portfolio when he expects to announce the cost of admission to the Millennium Dome. [43592]

  Mr. Mandelson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) will announce the cost of admission to the Dome in due course, taking into account the needs of the travel trade and the Company's aim to put tickets on sale to the public in the summer of 1999.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  Consultants
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is her estimate of the expenditure of her(a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies on external consultants in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97, (iii) 1997–98 to date and (iv) 1997–98 full year; and if she will also estimate the cost savings resulting from the employment of such consultants for each of the above years. [26605]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 5 February 1998]: The information for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments is as follows:

  £000

  Expenditure

  Year

  (a)

  (b)

  (c)1

  1995–96

  10,284

  3,202

  1,221

  1996–97

  7,355

  3,291

  1,228

  1997–98

  5,979

  4,353

  1,235

  1 Information on NDPBs from the Department of Education is not readily available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  As consultants are, in many instances, engaged to contribute particular skills to an element of a much larger process, or where the necessary expertise is not available in-house, it is not possible to quantify savings resulting from the employment of such consultants, but in each instance consultants were engaged on the basis of best value for money.

  Public Bodies
  Mr. Burns
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will publish(a) the number of places on each
  184
  of her Department's non-departmental public bodies, (b) the number of places that are currently unfilled on each non-departmental public body, (c) the total number of members that have resigned since 1 May 1997, (d) the total number that have retired since 1 May 1997, (e) the total number that have not had their contracts renewed since 1 May 1997, (f) the total number that have remained in place since 1 May 1997 and (g) the total number that have been appointed since 1 May 1997. [35282]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  [holding answer 19 March 1998]: The information requested has been placed in the Library of the House.

  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the average salary of(a) male and (b) female members of boards of non-departmental public bodies responsible to her Department; [42808]

  (2) what is the average attendance fee of (a) male and (b) female members of boards of non-departmental public bodies responsible to her Department. [42809]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The majority of board members of non-departmental public bodies give their time and services voluntarily and receive no payment other than normal travel and subsistence expenses. Where members do receive remuneration, this can vary between an annual salary, an honorarium or an attendance fee (which itself can be a daily rate or a half-daily rate, or calculated on a per meeting or per case basis). Individuals' remuneration therefore is not directly comparable. Full details of all payments to board members of non-departmental bodies, by gender, are given in the Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies". Copies of "Public Bodies 1997" are available in the Libraries of the House.

  Public Appointments
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when her Department's action plan for increasing the number of women holding public appointments will be published; and if she will place a copy in the Library. [42810]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  Northern Ireland's action plan will be published shortly. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

  Sites of Special Scientific Interest
  Mr. Randall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many sites of special scientific interest there were in Northern Ireland on 1 March; and what was their total area in hectares. [42440]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  In Northern Ireland, these sites are known as areas of special scientific interest. On 1 March 1998, there were 139 of them, covering 79,529 hectares.

  Ethnic Communities
  Mr. Vaz
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps she will take to ensure that the proposed new Equality Commission, addresses the concerns of the(a) South Asian and (b) Chinese communities in Northern Ireland. [42350]

  Mr. Worthington
  The White Paper 'Partnership for Equality' invited comments by 12 June on a proposal for the establishment of a new Equality Commission to
  185
  take over the functions now exercised by the Fair Employment Commission for Northern Ireland, the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland, the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the Disability Council for Northern Ireland. The existing obligations of the Commission for Racial Equality for Northern Ireland and the other equality bodies to combat discrimination and promote equality of opportunity within their respective fields would be fully maintained in the new Commission. Furthermore, the White Paper has proposed that an Equality Commission would have a significant new role in assisting the public sector to fulfil a statutory obligation to provide equality of opportunity and good relations between people of different racial groups.

  Agriculture
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost to her Department of administering grants to agriculture in the last year; and how many(a) full-time and (b) part-time staff were involved. [42436]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The information could be provided in the form requested only at disproportionate cost. However, information about the Department's activities, including details of the running costs associated with each of its principal spending programmes for the year ending March 1998, is contained within the 1998 Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities (Cm 3916), copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

  Voluntary Sports Clubs
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost in 1997–98 of mandatory rate relief for voluntary sports clubs in Northern Ireland. [42910]

  Mr. Paul Murphy
  The amount of the rate relief granted in 1997–98 in respect of premises occupied by clubs, societies or other organisation engaged in certain specified recreations is estimated to have been a little over £1.3 million.

SOCIAL SECURITY

  Child Support Agency
  Dr. Iddon
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many full-time equivalent vacancies the Child Support Agency had on 14 May; [42766]

  (2) how many staff are currently employed on casual contracts by the Child Support Agency; [42767]

  (3) how many employees resigned from working for the Child Support Agency in (a) 1997, (b) 1996, (c) 1995 and (d) 1994; and how many employees were appointed by the Child Support Agency in each of those years. [42765]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to my hon. Friend.
  186
  Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Dr. Brian Iddon, dated 1 June 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about staffing in the Child Support Agency.
  I cannot provide precisely the information that you have requested, but have provided as much as possible from the most recent information available.
  The number of whole time equivalent vacancies that the Agency had at 1 April 1998 (the difference between staff in post and planned staff numbers) was 183.
  At the end of April 1998, the Child Support Agency employed 320 staff on casual appointments.
  Information on resignations and appointments are shown in the attached table.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Child Support Agency—number of employees resigning and the number of new appointments

  Year

  Resignations1

  Appointments1

  1994–95

  606

  not available

  1995–96

  449

  not available

  1996–97

  500

  1,557

  1997–98

  764

  1,427

  1 Figures show available information for permanent and fixed term staff

  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many absent parents have child support maintenance arrears, excluding Category A interim maintenance assessments of(a) £1 to £999, (b) £1,000 to £1,999, (c) £2,000 to £2,999, (d) £3,000 to £3,999, (e) £4,000 to £4,999, (f) £5,000 to £5,999, (g) £6,000 to £6,999, (h) £7,000 to £7,999, (i) £8,000 to £8,999, (j) £9,000 to £9,999, (k) £10,000 to £10,999, (1) £11,000 to £11,999, (m) £12,000 to £12,999, (n) £13,000 to £13,999, (o) £14,000 to £14,999, (p) £15,000 to £15,999, (q) £16,000 to £16,999, (r) £17,000 to £17,999, (s) £18,000 to £18,999, (t) £19,000 to £19,999 and (u) £20,000 or more; and what is the total amount of arrears outstanding. [43577]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  All children are entitled to the financial and emotional support of both their parents wherever they live. It is not right that so many non-resident parents should seek to avoid paying the maintenance which their children are due. An extra £15 million is being invested in the Child Support Agency this year and next, specifically aimed at increasing the amounts of maintenance which are paid.

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

  Letter from Faith Boardman to Mr. Steve Webb, dated 1 June 1998:
  I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about child support maintenance arrears.
  The numbers of child support maintenance accounts with arrears in the band-widths you have requested are shown in the attached table.
  The total amount of child support maintenance outstanding including regular maintenance and arrears but excluding Category A interim maintenance assessment arrears at 20 May 1998 was £726,407,399 relating to a total of 301,507 cases.
  Over the last year the Agency has moved away from imposing punitive Category A interim maintenance assessments and has concentrated on completing full maintenance assessments. This has led to an increase in the total full maintenance assessment debt,

  187
  but this puts the Agency in a better, more realistic position to increase the flow of maintenance to parents with care. This is demonstrated by the increase in the amount of maintenance collected and arranged during 1997–98 to approximately £547 million compared with approximately £400 million during 1996–97.
  To further increase the flow of maintenance and to help non-resident parents pay the arrears that they owe, wherever possible the Agency makes every effort to re-schedule debts; re-scheduled debts are those where the Agency has negotiated a closely monitored agreement with the non-resident parent to pay arrears by instalments. The amount of debt re-scheduled (included in the above) at 20 May 1998 was £340,207,244. This amount related to 204,098 cases and equates to 47% of the debt and 68% of the cases.
  I hope this is helpful.

  Child Support Agency full maintenance debt—£1 or greater at 20 May 1998

  Bands (£)

  Number of cases

  1 to 999

  155,790

  1,000 to 1,999

  42,814

  2,000 to 2,999

  23,592

  3,000 to 3,999

  15,245

  4,000 to 4,999

  10,461

  5,000 to 5,999

  7,432

  6,000 to 6,999

  5,673

  7,000 to 7,999

  4,252

  8,000 to 8,999

  3,341

  9,000 to 9,999

  2,521

  10,000 to 10,999

  1,912

  11,000 to 11,999

  1,639

  12,000 to 12,999

  1,205

  13,000 to 13,999

  888

  14,000 to 14,999

  724

  15.000 to 15,999

  531

  16,000 to 16,999

  403

  17,000 to 17,999

  305

  18,000 to 18,999

  206

  19,000 to 19,999

  158

  20,000 or more

  781

  Flood Victims (Northampton)
  Ms Keeble
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what grants or loans are available to pensioners in Northampton who were victims of the recent floods; [42385]

  (2) what is the (i) average and (ii) range of time it has taken to process (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans from date of receipt of application by the Benefits Agency to receipt of funds by the applicant; [42383]

  National Social Fund (SF) clearance targets 1997/98 and Benefits Agency's (BA's) achievement Table 1

  Clearance targets

  BA achievements in relation to the targets

  BA's average clearance time

  Community Care Grants (CCGs)

  65% cleared in 7 days

  86% cleared in 7 days

  5 working days

  95% cleared in 20 days

  99% cleared in 20 days

  Budgeting Loans (BLs)

  65% cleared in 6 days

  82% cleared in 6 days

  5 working days

  95% cleared in 20 days

  99% cleared in 20 days

  Crisis Loans (CLs)

  On the day the need arises'

  98%

  1 working day

  1 We aim to clear applications that are specifically for CLs on the day the application is received. All applications to the SF are considered for CCGs and BLs initially. At the point when the SF Officer knows that such an award is inappropriate a CL is considered. Whilst the majority of CL applications are made in person, a proportion of postal applications are received. Therefore, for the purpose of measuring performance, the target is considered to have been met if 95% of CL applications are considered on the day on which they were received

  Note:

  The information has been provided by the BA's Benefit Support SF Accounting Team, is provisional and maybe subject to change
  188
  (3) how many flood victims in Northampton have received (a) community care grants, (b) budgeting loans and (c) crisis loans; and what is the average value of each category of grant or loan. [42382]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Ms Sally Keeble, dated 1 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent parliamentary questions about the Social Fund (SF) loans and grants available to the victims of the recent floods in Northampton.
  Over the Easter weekend, the Benefits Agency (BA)'s Northampton office was open to personal callers and for telephone enquiries. The Business Manager appeared on BBC Radio Northampton to publicise the additional opening hours and to give advice to the public. Social Services and the Police were also advised of the additional opening. All applications for immediate help on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 April were awarded. On Tuesday 14 April a flood helpline was made available to the public, giving them direct access to staff able to answer their enquiries. This telephone number was advertised in the local press and on local radio. District staff also attended public meetings, held on 14, 15 and 16 April, to offer advice and assistance.
  In common with all client groups, pensioners who were affected by the floods in Northampton were eligible to apply to the SF for Community Care Grants (CCGs) if they were receiving Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA(IB)), Budgeting Loans (BLs) if they have been in receipt of IS or JSA (IB) for 26 weeks or more and Crisis Loans (CLs) which might be payable irrespective of whether the applicant was in receipt of benefit.
  The BA measures the time taken to process applications to the SF by a series of targets which monitor the time from the date of receipt of the application to the date of the decision, not the date the applicant receives the funds. Information on the time taken to process CCGs, BLs and CLs is contained in the enclosed Table 1.
  Information relating to the range of time taken to process CCGs, BLs and CLs is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Information relating to the number and average value of grants and loans received by flood victims in Northampton is not available in the format requested. The BA collates statistics by BA Districts. These Districts do not correspond to constituency boundaries or specific geographical areas.
  The BA does not routinely collate the reasons for SF applications. However, because of the nature of this emergency, the Northamptonshire District has maintained certain details of applications received from flood victims. Such information as is available is contained in Table 2 attached.
  I hope that this is helpful.
  189

  Social Fund applications from victims of the floods during April 1998 administered by the Benefits Agency's (BA's) Northamptonshire District1 Table 2

  Total number of applications

  Number of successful applications

  Average value of award (£)

  Community Care Grants

  8

  4

  573.50

  Budgeting Loans

  41

  36

  567.37

  Crisis Loans

  25

  25

  46.39

  1 BA's Northamptonshire District includes Corby, Daventry and Kettering Caller Offices, Northampton and Wellingborough. The information is provisional and may be subject to change

  Benefits Advisers
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many Benefits Agency offices or their equivalent had one or more benefits advisers on the premises(a) in 1979 and (b) currently. [43388]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  Although the Benefits Agency does not formally employ "benefits advisers", I can confirm that staff in every office of the Agency are able to provide advice about benefit entitlements and related matters, or to obtain such advice. Similarly, in 1979, every local benefits office in the Department of Health and Social Security employed staff who were able to provide or obtain such advice.

  Benefit Recipients
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people of working age without disabilities received benefit payments and at what total cost in (i) 1980, (ii) 1990 and (iii) the latest date for which figures are available. [43949]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table.

  Numbers of benefit recipients

  000

  Benefit

  19801

  19902

  For date see note3

  Maternity Allowance4

  119

  13

  12

  Widow's Benefit

  452

  312

  248

  Family Credit

  n/a

  324

  766

  Housing Benefit5,6,7

  n/a

  1,585

  2,201

  Council Tax Benefit/Community charge benefit5,6,7

  n/a

  82,360

  92,169

  Supplementary Benefit or Income Support5

  1,212

  2,347

  1,605

  Jobseeker's Allowance Income-based5

  n/a

  n/a

  1,173

  Jobseeker's Allowance Contribution-based only5

  n/a

  n/a

  176

  1 Maternity Allowance and Income Benefit is at November 1979.

  2 Maternity Allowance as at March, Widow's Benefit as at September, Family Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as at May.

  3Maternity Allowance as at May 1997, Widow's Benefit as at September 1997, Family Credit as at November 1997, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as at May 1996, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance figures are at August 1997.

  190
  4 Maternity Allowance was abolished from April 1987. Statutory Maternity Pay was introduced from 6 April 1987.

  5 Information refers to benefit units or claimants where there is no disability premium in payment.

  6 Information does not include second adult rebate cases.

  7 Community Charge Benefit at May 1990.

  8 Council Tax Benefit at May 1996.

  9These figures do not take into account benefit overlap.

  10 A detailed breakdown of each benefit by working age could be provided for some benefits and years but this would be at a disproportionate cost.

  11 Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Source:

  1. Maternity Allowance figures for 1980 and 1990 are from a 1 per cent. sample of claimants and for May 1997 from a 5 per cent. sample.

  2. Widow's Benefit is from a 10 per cent. sample in 1980, 1990 and a 5 per cent. sample in September 1997.

  3. Family Credit for 1990 is a 1 per cent. sample and for 1997 a 5 per cent. sample.

  4. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, August 1997.

  5. Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, August 1997.

  6.Annual Statistical Inquiry, 1980 and 1990.

  7. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiry with and without Income Support.

  Information on costs

  £

  Benefit expenditure

  1980–811

  3,944

  1990–911

  12,710

  1996–971

  21,677

  1 Excludes expenditure on Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, Non-contributory Invalidity Pension (in 1980–81), Severe Disablement Benefit (in 1990–91), Industrial Disablement Benefit and Housing Benefit and Income Support where a Disability Premium is paid.

  2 Excludes expenditure on Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Benefit, Industrial Disablement Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Housing Benefit and Income Support where a Disability Premium is paid.

  Notes:

  1. The figures do not include all expenditure to people of working age and also includes some expenditure for people not of working age.

  2. The figures in the table are consistent with Table 4 of the Departmental Report 1998 (Cm 3913) which provides a general guide to benefit expenditure of people of working age, people over working age and people under working age.

  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people of working age received disability benefit payments and at what cost in(a) 1980, (b) 1990 and (c) the latest date for which figures are available. [43950]

  Mr. Denham
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the tables.

  Numbers of benefit recipients1

  000

  Benefit

  19802

  19903

  1997–984

  Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

  127

  116

  171

  Attendance Allowance

  82

  192

  n/a

  Mobility Allowance

  144

  388

  n/a

  Disability Living Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  1,163

  Disability Working Allowance

  n/a

  n/a

  14

  Sickness Benefit/Invalidity Benefit or Incapacity Benefit

  945

  1,106

  1,560

  191

  Numbers of benefit recipients1

  000

  Benefit

  19802

  19903

  1997–984

  Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension (NCIP) and Housewives' NCIP or Severe Disablement Allowance

  158

  247

  329

  War Disablement Pension

  163

  56

  71

  Supplementary Benefit or Income Support with Disability Premiums5

  5199

  5330

  841

  Income-Based Jobseeker's Allowance with Disability Premiums5

  n/a

  n/a

  17

  Housing Benefit with Disability Premiums5,6

  n/a

  289

  665

  Council Tax Benefit with Disability Premiums5,6

  n/a

  440

  727

  Notes:

  1 These figures do not take into account any benefit overlap

  22 Attendance Allowance as at March, Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, NCIP, Housewives' NCIP and Severe Disablement Allowance as at May, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit as at September, and Mobility Allowance and War Disablement Pension as at December. Supplementary Benefit figures are from the Annual Statistical Inquiry 1980

  3 Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, Incapacity Benefit, NCIP, Housewives' NCIP and Severe Disablement Allowance as at March, and Mobility Allowance and War Disablement Pension as at December. Income Support figures are from the Annual Statistical Inquiry 1990, and Housing Benefit figures as at May 1990

  4 Disability Living Allowance as at February 1997, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit as at April 1997, Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, NCIP, Housewives' NCIP and Severe Disablement Allowance as at May 1997, War Disablement Pension as at February 1998, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance figures as at August 1997 and Disability Working Allowance figure as at October 1997, Housing Benefit and Council Tax figures as at May 1996

  5 The 1980 figures show number of claimants receiving Supplementary Benefit on grounds of incapacity. The 1990 figures show number of claimants receiving Income Support (i) who also receive NI sickness, injury, disablement or widows industrial injury benefit or invalidity pension or allowance and (ii) who are sick or disabled, under pension age and incapable of work, and not in receipt of NI benefit

  6 Claims for Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance may be in respect of a single person or a couple.

  7 There is an overlap between Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit as a high percentage of claimants receive both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. Figures do not include second adult rebate cases

  8Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.

  Sources:

  1. Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is based on a 10 per cent. sample. Attendance Allowance, Mobility Allowance, and War Disablement Pension on a 100 per cent. count. Sickness Benefit/Invalidity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance for
  192
  1980 and 1990 are taken from a 1 per cent. sample. The Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disablement Allowance figures for 1997, the War Disablement Pension figures for 1998 and the Disability Living Allowance figure are based on a 5 per cent. sample

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, August 1997 (5 per cent. sample)

  3. Jobseeker's Allowance Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, August 1997 (5 per cent. sample)

  4. Disability Working Allowance Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, October 1997 (100 per cent. count of claims)

  5. Income Support Annual Statistical Inquiry, 1980 and 1990 (1 per cent. sample)

  6. Housing Benefit Management Information System, annual 1 per cent. sample) inquiry with and without Income Support, taken at the end of May 1990 and May 1996.

  Expenditure on disability benefits

  Year

  £million

  1980–1981

  2,740

  1990–1991

  7,388

  1996–1997

  18,906

  Notes:

  1. Total of expenditure on Sickness Benefit, Invalidity Benefit, Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension, Industrial Disablement Benefit and Housing Benefit and Income Support where a Disability Premium is paid. Severe Disablement Benefit replaced Non-Contributory Invalidity Pension in 1984

  2. Sickness Benefit and Invalidity Benefit were replaced by a single Incapacity Benefit in April 1995. Disability Living Allowance and Disability Working Allowance introduced in 1992

  3. The figures do not include all expenditure to people of working age—for example, War Pensions paid to disabled people. Table 4 of the Departmental Report attributes expenditure for a particular benefit to the group where the majority of expenditure arises—in the case of War Pensions this applies to people over working age. The figures also include some expenditure for people not of working age. The figures for Disability Living Allowance include payments made in respect of children under age 16 and to people over age 60

  4. The figures in this table are consistent with Table 4 of the Departmental Report 1998 (Cm 3913) which provides a general guide to benefit expenditure of people of working age, people over working age and people under working age

  5. A detailed breakdown of each benefit by working age could be provided for some benefits and years but this would be at disproportionate cost.

  Departmental Reviews
  Mr. Duncan Smith
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many reviews have been initiated by his Department since 1 May 1997; how many of these have reported; and what the cost of these reviews has been to date. [44002]

  Mr. Denham
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for West Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 12 May 1998,Official Report, columns 101–02.
  193

TREASURY

  Environmental Appraisals
  Mr. Matthew Taylor
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many environmental appraisals were produced by the European Commission to accompany proposals presented to ECOFIN at its meeting on 16 February. [42664]

  Dawn Primarolo
  No formal Commission proposals were put to ECOFIN on 16 February.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the scope and nature of his responsibilities in relation to the review of European structural funds in respect of Wales, indicating the timetable for action by his Department. [42469]

  Mrs. Liddell
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 21 May 1998,Official Report, columns 543–44, by my hon. Friend the Minister for Small Firms, Trade and Industry. The Treasury has an interest in the proposals for reform of the Structural and Cohesion Funds in view of the implications for the EC Budget and the UK contribution to it.

  Economic and Monetary Union
  Dr. Cable
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assistance the Government are offering to the financial services sector in respect of software problems originating from the formation of EMU. [43140]

  Mrs. Liddell
  This is primarily a matter for the industry. However, the Euro Preparations Unit in HM Treasury provides general information and advice on business preparations for the introduction of the euro on 1 January 1999 and will shortly be publishing a factsheet on the IT aspects of this.

  Investment Ombudsman
  Mr. Bob Russell
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the appointment of an Investment Ombudsman to consider complaints relating to the handling of investments by banks and other financial institutions. [43311]

  Mrs. Liddell
  Complaints relating to banks and other financial institutions authorised to do investment business under the Financial Services Act 1986 are currently dealt with by the PIA Ombudsman Bureau, the SFA Complaints Bureau and Arbitration Service, the Investment Ombudsman (for firms supervised by IMRO) and the FSA Direct Regulation Unit and Independent Investigator. The Government have announced plans to introduce a single Financial Services Ombudsman scheme as part of the planned legislation to reform the financial services regulatory structure. A number of representations 194
  have been received on these proposals, including in response to the Financial Services Authority's consultation on this issue.

  Motorists (Petrol)
  Ms Rosie Winterton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average annual excise duty paid by a motorist using(a) leaded and (b) unleaded petrol in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99. [43189]

  Dawn Primarolo
  The average annual excise duty paid by a motorist is estimated to be:

  £

  1997–98

  1998–99

  (a) Leaded petrol

  715

  805

  (b) Unleaded petrol

  635

  720

  These figures do not include vehicle excise duty which is currently £150 per car. The estimate is based on Department of Transport data for total car mileage, number of cars and fuel consumption. It also assumes that there will be no further rise in road fuel excise duty before the end of the financial year.

  Duty Free
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy towards recent actions by the Government of the Republic of Ireland in respect of the abolition of duty free sales. [43163]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Government have always said they would not oppose a Commission study into the impact of the abolition of intra-EU duty free sales should there be a consensus amongst member states in favour of such a study. This matter was discussed at the ECOFIN Council meeting on 19 May 1998 but there was no consensus in favour of such a study.

  Income Tax
  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the total number of individuals paying any part of their income tax at the lower rate of income tax in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; [43985]

  (2) if he will estimate the total number of individuals paying any part of their income tax at the higher rate of income tax in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; [43983]

  (3) if he will estimate the total number of income tax payers in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99; [43981]

  (4) if he will estimate the total number of individuals paying any part of their income tax at the basic rate of income tax in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [43982]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]The latest estimates are given in the table. They are based on the 1995–96 Survey of Personal Incomes and are provisional.
  195

  Number of taxpayers (thousands) paying some income tax at:

  Lower rate

  Basic rate

  Higher rate

  1996–97

  25,900

  18,600

  2,100

  1997–98

  26,100

  18,700

  2,300

  1998–99

  26,200

  18,700

  2,300

  All taxpayers pay at least some of their income tax at the lower rate of tax.

  Capital Gains Tax
  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the number of individuals affected by the proposed abolition of retirement relief. [43618]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]It is estimated that there are about 10,000 people with CGT retirement relief each year.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library the results of the consultation exercise on changes to capital gains tax before consideration of the relevant clauses in the committee stage of the Finance (No.2) Bill. [43295]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The results of the consultation exercise on capital gains tax were set out as an Annexe to the Budget day Press Release on capital gains tax reform (press release Inland Revenue 16). This press release is available in the House of Commons Library.

  Mr. Loughton
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated saving to the Treasury from the proposed abolition of bed and breakfasting in respect of Capital Gains Tax; and how many savers he estimates currently take advantage of this facility. [43613]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Capital Gains Tax yield from the provisions to counter bed and breakfasting of shares may be of the order of £50 million in the long term, but the short term yield is likely to be low and to grow slowly. The number of people undertaking such transactions is highly uncertain but could be of the order of 100,000.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the regulations that have been removed or amended to help small businesses since 1 May 1997. [42787]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Government have concentrated on a number of measures to help small businesses although no specific regulations have been removed or amended, a number of measures such as cuts in the small companies' rate of corporation tax and enhanced first year capital allowances. Future changes, such as the transfer of the Contributions Agency to the Inland Revenue from April next year, will also help to ease the burden on smaller businesses. No specific regulations have been removed or amended.

  Inflation
  Mr. Willetts
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he will take to ensure that 196
  the delivery of the Government's inflation target is subject to the Government's objectives for employment and growth. [43970]

  Mrs. Liddell
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Government have put in place monetary and fiscal frameworks designed to achieve economic stability. The Government set, and take responsibility for, the objectives of monetary policy through the inflation target. It is the job of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to set interest rates to achieve the Government's inflation target.

SCOTLAND

  Prisoners (Television)
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to allow prisoners to have televisions in their cells; and if he will make a statement. [44219]

  Mr. McLeish
  Except in a very limited number of cases for educational purposes, prisoners in Scotland have not been allowed to have televisions in their cells.

  However, having taken into account the support for wider availability of in-cell television evinced by a number of studies—and most recently by the review by the Social Work Services and Prisons Inspectorates of community disposals and the use of custody for women offenders in Scotland—I have decided that in-cell television should be made available on a limited pilot basis as a suicide prevention measure at Comton Vale women's prison.

  The first sets will become available this Autumn. Eligible prisoners will pay a charge of around £1.00 per week to cover the cost of the sets, out of a weekly wage of around £6.00 per week, from which prisoners have to buy all of the items they are allowed but which are not provided by the prison authorities, including 'phone cards, additional toiletries, tobacco and sweets. They will have access to terrestrial channels only, during "lock-up" hours.

  Our expectation is that in-cell television will assist greatly in the normalisation of the prison environment at Cornton Vale, and reduce instances of self-harm among the more damaged members of its population. We shall monitor its use in the pilot study to ensure that it has no detrimental effect on prisoners' participation in the regime of the establishment.

  Consideration is also being given as to when this provision might be extended as an opportunity for a relatively small number of more responsible prisoners at the top end of the prison regime in Scotland, who would earn the privilege of access to in-cell TV through responsible behaviour. Out of a prison population of more than 6,000, such an extension would result in some 500 prisoners qualifying over time.

  Road Traffic Convictions
  Ms Roseanna Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions there have been
  197
  under section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for each year of its operation; if he will list the sentence imposed in each case; and if he will indicate those offences which relate to incidents involving fatalities. [43605]

  Persons with a charge proved where the main offence is an offence under section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, Scotland 1988–96

  Year of disposal

  Number of persons given a custodial sentence

  Number of persons given a community service order

  Number of persons fined

  Number of persons given probation

  Number of persons admonished

  Total

  19881

  11

  3

  8

  —

  —

  22

  19891

  14

  5

  4

  —

  —

  23

  19902

  14

  8

  1

  —

  —

  23

  1991

  11

  9

  8

  —

  —

  28

  1992

  14

  2

  4

  —

  —

  20

  1993

  17

  3

  4

  —

  1

  25

  1994

  8

  4

  3

  1

  —

  16

  1995

  12

  4

  2

  2

  —

  20

  1996

  13

  4

  1

  1

  —

  19

  1 Persons with a charge proved under section 1(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1972. Section 1(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1972 was replaced by section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as later amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991)

  2 Includes one person with a charge proved in 1990 who was proceeded against under section 1(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1972

  NHS Budget
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was his Department's budget for the NHS (i) in cash terms, (ii) in real terms in 1998–99 prices and (iii) as a percentage of Scottish gross domestic product in each

  Year

  Cash expenditure1 £ million

  Expenditure at 1998–99 prices1 £ million

  Percentage of Scottish GDP 2

  Per capita expenditure (cash) 2 £

  Per capita expenditure (real)2 £

  1978–79 outturn

  870

  2,833

  6.8

  167

  543

  1979–80 outturn

  1,036

  2,890

  7.1

  199

  555

  1980–81 outturn

  1,307

  3,082

  7.8

  252

  593

  1981–82 outturn

  1,492

  3,208

  8.1

  288

  619

  1982–83 outturn

  1,614

  3,239

  8.1

  312

  627

  1983–84 outturn

  1,720

  3,299

  7.9

  334

  640

  1984–85 outturn

  1,845

  3,370

  8.1

  359

  655

  1985–86 outturn

  1,954

  3,383

  7.7

  380

  659

  1986–87 outturn

  2,071

  3,481

  7.6

  404

  679

  1987–88 outturn

  2,248

  3,587

  7.5

  440

  702

  1988–89 outturn

  2,501

  3,741

  7.6

  491

  734

  1989–90 outturn

  2,721

  3,804

  7.5

  534

  746

  1990–91 outturn

  2,972

  3,847

  7.4

  582

  754

  1991–92 outturn

  3,343

  4,067

  7.9

  655

  796

  1992–93 outturn

  3,668

  4,284

  8.2

  718

  838

  1993–94 outturn

  3,777

  4,285

  8.1

  738

  837

  1994–95 outturn

  3,948

  4,414

  7.9

  769

  860

  1995–96 outturn

  4,092

  4,452

  7.8

  797

  867

  1996–97 outturn

  4,240

  4,480

  37.8

  827

  874

  1997–98 estimated outturn

  4,394

  4,521

  n/a

  858

  883

  1998–99 plans

  4,626

  4,626

  n/a

  898

  898

  1Expenditure covers the period 1 April to 31 March

  2Gross Domestic Product for Scotland and population figures are available only for the calendar year i.e. 1 January to 31 December

  3Provisional

  n/a = not applicable

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Periodicals
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many magazine articles relating to agriculture he has written in the last four months; and if he will list them. [43001]
  198
  Mr. McLeish
  The available information is set out in the table. Section 1 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 refers to the offence of causing death by dangerous or reckless driving. Therefore a fatality was involved in each of the cases in the table.

  year since 1978–79; and how much was spent per head of population on the NHS in Scotland in (a) cash terms and (b) real terms, in 1998–99 prices in each of these years. [43390]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: In the past four months, I have contributed by-lined articles to: the Parliamentary Review, on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU; the Parliamentary Monitor, on the Government's proposals to establish a Food Standards Agency; the Newcastle Journal, on the Informal Council of EU Agriculture Ministers held in the North East on 10–12 May 1998.
  199

  Correspondence
  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many letters sent to him before 31 January from hon. Members have not been answered to date; and if he will make a statement. [43006]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: The Department has 34 overdue letters from hon. Members, prior to 31 January, awaiting a substantive reply. These letters raise particularly complex issues requiring detailed inquiries before replying. All overdue letters are sent holding replies and interim replies where possible.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the most common factor underlying delays in his responses to letters from hon. Members of more than four months. [43007]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: While every effort is made to ensure that all letters are dealt with within the target set by the Department, there are occasions when replies may be delayed owing to factors not necessarily within the Department's control.

  Mr. Cran
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his target period for replying to letters from hon. Members; and what is the percentage of occasions when the target is met. [43003]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: The Department aims to reply to letters from hon. Members and Peers within 15 working days. MAFF received over 8,500 such letters in the 12 month period ending April 1998 and 70 per cent. of these received a reply within this target.

  Whaling
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the recent meeting of the International Whaling Commission; and if he will make a statement. [44283]

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make a statement on the progress of the consultative forum on whaling in respect of making permanent the existing moratorium on commercial whaling; [43429]

  (2) if he will make a statement on the Irish proposals on commercial whaling. [43430]

  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the proposal of the Commissioner for Ireland to end the 12 year moratorium on commercial whaling; and what representations he has made on this subject. [43052]

  Mr. Morley
  The International Whaling Commission's 50th annual meeting was held in Oman from 16 to 20 May. The United Kingdom delegation was composed of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, assisted by officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions and by representatives of environmental organisations.

  At this meeting our delegation emphasised that the UK remains strongly opposed to all whaling, other than some limited subsistence whaling by indigenous people. We
  200
  made it clear that we would like to see all other forms of whaling, including so-called 'scientific' whaling, brought to an end and a permanent, comprehensive international ban on whaling introduced.

  It is with these objectives in mind that we are participating in consideration of ideas put forward by Ireland at the IWC's last annual meeting in Monaco last October. These ideas are intended to provide the basis for a compromise solution acceptable both to those countries opposed to, and to those countries in favour of, whaling. There was only limited further discussion of the Irish proposals in Oman. The UK delegation made it clear once again that while we were prepared to discuss these proposals, and all other possible ways of improving the conservation of whales, we continued to have serious reservations about some aspects of them, in particular those concerning coastal whaling. We and a number of other countries also stressed that further progress on them was unlikely unless the two whaling countries, Norway and Japan, indicated a readiness to end pelagic, and in particular so-called 'scientific', whaling and to accept a ban on international trade in whalemeat: this they declined to do. Nevertheless, the Irish Commissioner, who is the current chairman of the IWC, said that the proposals would remain on the table and that he would continue to try to advance them.

  Throughout the meeting the UK delegation stressed our strong support for the current moratorium on commercial whaling. We opposed a request by Japan for a quota of 50 minke whales, which I am pleased to say was again defeated, and we supported resolutions criticising Norway and Japan's continued whaling activities; although these do not conflict with the letter of the IWC's rules we and many others believe that they are contrary to their spirit and undermine the credibility of the IWC and of the moratorium.

  In recent years the UK has been arguing that environmental pollution and climate change may pose significant long term threats to whales and other cetaceans, and urging the IWC to devote more effort towards assessing these threats. At this meeting two significant resolutions were adopted. The first confirms that environmental issues are central to the IWC and directs the IWC's scientific committee to continue its work on the development of long term research programmes on the effects of pollution and climate change on cetaceans. The second deals with the financing of these programmes: it records an agreement in principle to find the necessary funds, drawing if need be on the IWC' s financial reserves, and to consider establishing a dedicated Environment Research Fund. I very much welcome the increased emphasis that the IWC is now placing on this important area.

  The UK delegation again expressed our concern about the cruelty involved in killing whales. It was agreed that a workshop comprising scientific and veterinary experts would meet next year, immediately before the next annual meeting, to consider ways of improving the humaneness of whale killing methods. The UK will be playing a full role in the workshop.

  Small cetaceans continue to be threatened by human activities in many parts of the world. We took the lead in putting forward a resolution which drew attention to the number of beluga whales killed in subsistence hunts in

  201
  West Greenland and to doubts among scientists that the current level of exploitation may not be sustainable. The IWC Scientific Committee will be examining this issue at its meeting next year. We also drew attention to the numbers of Dall's porpoise killed in directed takes in Japan.

  Other important issues were discussed at this meeting. We and a number of other delegations expressed concern at evidence presented to the IWC's Scientific Committee suggesting that illicit trade in whalemeat may be taking place, and a resolution was adopted reaffirming the need for close co-operation between the IWC and CITES on trade issues and calling on all IWC members to respect previous resolutions on illegal trade in whalemeat. There was a positive debate on whalewatching. The UK highlighted the continuing expansion of this popular tourist activity and underlined the importance of the IWC's role in preparing guidelines and overseeing development in this area. Finally, Japan's proposal to amend the IWC' s rules of procedure to allow secret voting on policy issues was heavily defeated.

  Overall, I believe that this was a successful meeting for the UK. We achieved the majority of our objectives: in particular the moratorium on commercial whaling has not been weakened and there was further recognition of the increasing importance to the IWC of environmental issues. 1 will now be working with the environmental organisations and Government departments represented on the Consultative Forum on Whaling to formulate our objectives for the IWC's next annual meeting, which will take place in Grenada in June 1999.

  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quotas of minke whales were granted to Norway and Japan over the past five years. [43431]

  Mr. Morley
  None. Under the terms of the current International Whaling Commission moratorium, commercial catch limits have been set at zero. Norway's commercial whaling is carried out under objection to the moratorium and its quota is self-awarded. Japan issues special permits to take minke whales in both the Southern Ocean and the North Pacific as part of its scientific research programme.

  Driftnets
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what reasons he is opposing an EU ban on driftnets. [43220]

  Mr. Morley
  The Government are actively seeking agreement to an EU ban on those drift nets which result in unacceptable by-catches of dolphins.

  Set-aside
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the agronomic and environmental implications of set-aside under the arable area payment scheme; and if he will make a statement. [44284]

  Mr. Morley
  In 1995 MAFF commissioned a three year agronomic and environmental evaluation of set-aside in England from a consortium including the Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, the British Trust for Ornithology and 202
  ADAS and this has now been completed. The evaluation concluded that for most farmers the agronomic costs of set-aside are small, with if anything a yield benefit to crops following set-aside and few increases in pest, weed or disease problems.

  Many farmers have observed positive environmental effects from set-aside and studies indicated that set-aside has benefited some species of farmland birds whose numbers have been in decline in recent years. Field studies showed that set-aside was an important habitat for these birds providing breeding sites and valuable food resources. The Government will consider how voluntary set-aside and the agri-environment schemes can be used to help to retain these benefits if the rate of compulsory set-aside is reduced as a result of EU Commission CAP reform proposals.

  I am placing copies of the full report of the evaluation in the Library of the House.

  EU Agriculture Council
  Mr. Lock
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 25 and 26 May; and if he will make a statement. [44285]

  Dr. John Cunningham
  I chaired a meeting of the European Union Agriculture Council in Brussels on 25 and 26 May. My noble Friend Lord Donoughue, the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for the farming and food industry, represented the United Kingdom, and my noble Friend Lord Sewel, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, was also present.

  The principal business of the Council was to assess progress in negotiations on the Commission's proposals for CAP reform made in the framework of Agenda 2000. Those negotiations were launched at a special meeting of the Council which I chaired on 31 March 1998, and have continued at an intensive pace at expert level since then. In the Council, EU Ministers recognised the excellent start which had been made to this work, and discussed draft conclusions which I circulated as Presidency summarising the work to date, identifying the principal issues central to the on-going negotiation, and committing the Council to continuing its intensive work on the Agenda 2000 proposals from now on.

  I am pleased to say that the Council was able to give unanimous approval to those conclusions, which will now be submitted to Foreign Ministers for inclusion in the report to Heads of Government meeting in Cardiff on 15–16 June. The Agriculture Council will then continue its discussions of Agenda 2000 at its July meeting.

  The Council also debated the Commission's proposal on reform of the EU olive oil regime, and noted the principal questions remaining to be resolved on that proposal. I undertook to continue work on the proposal in the hope of finding a basis of agreement at the Council in June.

  The Council had a presentation from the Commission of its proposals for a decision on an EU/Canada veterinary agreement. The Council also reached agreement by qualified majority on a regulation setting out detailed

  203
  rules for genetically modified soya and maize intended for sale to the final consumer; Italy, Sweden and Denmark voted against.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Training and Enterprise Councils
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to complete the review of the future role and funding of TECs; and what plans he has to publish the findings. [42673]

  Dr. Howells
  The review will lead to the publication of new Strategic Guidance to TECs in the Autumn. Any resulting changes to the way the Government fund and contract with TECs will also be reflected in TEC contracts for 1999–2000.

  Regional Development Agencies
  Mr. Healey
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) from what source the development fund he plans for use by regional development agencies to analyse and tackle regional skills shortages in their area will be provided; [42674]

  (2) how much he plans to allocate to the development fund for use by regional development agencies to analyse regional skills shortages and to design and implement solutions; [42675]

  (3) when the development fund for use by regional development agencies to tackle skills shortages in their areas will be made available; and whether the shadow RDAs will be able to make use of it. [42676]

  Dr. Howells
  The Development Fund for Regional Development Agencies along with all Government funded programmes is currently being reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his Budget statement of 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–112, that an announcement about the Review would take place in the summer. The Development Fund for RDAs will be available from 1 April 1999.

  Higher Education Students
  Mr. Ainger
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what changes he plans in eligibility for access and hardship funds for higher education students in 1998–99; [42369]

  (2) what is the planned increase in budget for access funds and hardship funds for higher education students in 1998–99. [42370]

  Dr. Howells
  From the beginning of the 1998–99 academic year the amount available for the higher education Access Funds will be doubled to £44 million in England and eligibility will be extended to part-time students.

  In addition, a new £250 Hardship Loan will be available to students eligible for student loans who are in financial difficulties. This will cost £5 million in England and Wales in the current financial year.
  204

  Women Scientists
  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what percentage of PhDs in science subjects were awarded to women in each of the last five years; [42915]

  (2) what percentage of (a) MScs and (b) BScs were awarded to women in each of the last five years. [42916]

  Dr. Howells
  The information covering the five years up to 1996–97, the latest year for which it is available, is given in the table:

  Science1 degrees awarded in UK higher education institutions 1992–93 to 1996–972 by level of degree: percentage awarded to women

  Level

  1992–93

  1993–94

  1994–95

  1995–96

  1996–97

  Doctorate

  26

  27

  28

  31

  31

  Masters

  30

  31

  32

  34

  35

  First Degree

  34

  35

  38

  39

  41

  1 Science subjects are: Medicine and Dentistry, Subjects Allied to Medicine, Biological Sciences, Veterinary Science, Agriculture and Related Subjects, Physical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Architecture, Building and Planning. Combined degrees are not included

  2 Because of a change in data collection arrangements in 1994–95, the figures before and from that date may not be directly comparable

  Dr. Gibson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many women currently hold professorships in the sciences. [42917]

  Dr. Howells
  In the 1995–96 academic year, the latest year for which figures are available, there were 280 professors in science subjects who were female, in higher education establishments in the UK. This figure covers those employed within the Professor grade in institutions. There may be others who carry the title of Professor but are employed in other grade structures and so are not included in this figure.

  Tuition Fees
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment who is liable to pay the tuition fees if the relationship between the student and parent breaks down during the education tenure. [43035]

  Dr. Howells
  On admission to a higher education institution, a student is personally liable for the fees charged and liability will continue irrespective of the student's personal circumstances. Where the student holds a mandatory award from an LEA and is eligible for assistance with fees because he or she is from a lower-income family, the LEA will assess and make a contribution from public funds. We have asked higher education institutions to be sensitive in collecting the private contribution in the early months of the degree course having regard to individual circumstances as necessary.

  Education Development Plans
  Dr. Kumar
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what guidelines his Department has issued to local education authorities on the content of education development plans. [43036]
  205
  Mr. Byers
  On 18 February the Department for Education and Employment issued for consultation draft Guidance on Education Development Plans. The deadline for responses was 8 May and officials are currently analysing the responses received. Final guidance in the light of those responses will be issued in due course.

  Further Education
  Mr. Willis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to replace discretionary grants as a means of support for students wishing to take up courses of study at further education colleges; and if he will make a statement. [43367]

  Dr. Howells
  The Government are committed to replacing LEA discretionary awards with a better targeted system of support for students at Further Education Colleges. We are continuing to consult on this matter and, as part of this process, we will be publishing the report of the Further Education Student Support Advisory Group later this month.

  New Deal (Unemployed Adults)
  Mr. Stephen Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for local New Deal partnerships to organise and deliver the New Deal to those unemployed adults covered by the pilot initiatives due to commence in November. [44286]
  206
  Mr. Andrew Smith
  The Government wish, through the use of high quality and innovative provision, to build on the experience gained from the New Deal for 18–24 year olds in taking forward the pilots for unemployed adults aged 25 and over, which were announced by the Chancellor in the Budget, 17 March 1998,Official Report, columns 1097–112, and which are due to begin in November.

  In the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough and Whitby (Mr. Quinn) on 14 May 1998, Official Report, columns 181–82, I announced an invitation to existing private sector led New Deal partnerships to bid for the delivery of ten of the pilots. I am now inviting by means of a letter distributed this week through Employment Service Regional Directors, each of the remaining New Deal partnerships to bid for the delivery of one of the rest of the pilots. The bids will be assessed in terms of both quality and innovation and their provision of a robust basis for evaluation. For this reason we will not be inviting bids from areas which overlap with any of the prototype Employment Zones established in February. We will also need to consider carefully the case for pilots in areas where in-work benefits Earnings Top Up schemes are operating.

  We aim to announce the successful bidders, which will number around 20, by September.

  Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland
  Association of Chief Police Officers for Scotland
  Grampian Police: Inspection Report
  Grampian Police: Inspection Report
  Dunblane Inquiry: Chief Constable's Report
  Dunblane Inquiry: Chief Constable's Report
  Prisoners: Incentives and Privileges
  Prisoners: Incentives and Privileges
  "Public Authority": Definition
  "Public Authority": Definition
  Police Officers and Surrendered Firearms
  Police Officers and Surrendered Firearms
  Firearms Forms and Rules: Review
  Firearms Forms and Rules: Review
  Firearms Licensing: Good Practice
  Firearms Licensing: Good Practice
  General Election Voting Percentages
  General Election Voting Percentages
  Firearms Law Revision
  Firearms Law Revision
  Anglo-Israeli Military Co-operation
  Anglo-Israeli Military Co-operation
  Miners' Health Claims: Financial Provision
  Miners' Health Claims: Financial Provision