Written Answers of 3 June 1998

DEFENCE

  Porton Down (Document)
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter dated 22 February 1941 from the Experimental Station, Porton near Salisbury reference numbers S.B. 3288/R.D. Arm 6 and Ptn/1552 (R.2840) SS/PB. [43928]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 3 June 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question requesting a copy of a letter from the former Experimental Station at Porton Down to be placed in the House of Commons library.
  Staff at DERA's Chemical and Biological Defence sector (CBD) have been unable to trace the document in which you are interested. The reference you gave of S B 3288/RD Arm 6 dated 22 Feb 1941 is not recognised by the archivist at Porton Down. The Ptn/1552 reference is recognised as being part of a file series dated from 1936 to 1941. The files in this series were forwarded to the Public Record Office in 1992.
  I am sorry to have been unhelpful on this occasion. If you can let me have any additional details about the letter I will be happy to make further enquiries.

  Abandoned Ordnance
  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the outcome of the major incident co-ordinating group meeting held at the chemical and biological defence division of DERA at Porton Down on 1 May, in relation to unidentified buried ordnance at the defence nuclear, biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner; who attended that meeting; and when the next meeting will be held. [43924]

  Mr. Spellar
  This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA). I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

  Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Robert Key, dated 3 June 1998:
  I have been asked to reply to your question asking for details of the outcome of the major incident co-ordinating group meeting which took place at the Chemical and Biological Defence (CBD) Sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA), Porton Down on 1 May. In particular, you asked for information in relation to the discussion on the unidentified buried ordnance at the nuclear, biological and chemical centre at Winterbourne Gunner.
  Firstly, I should explain that Headquarters Land Command, not CBD/DERA, is responsible for the Defence Nuclear Biological Chemical Centre (DNBCC) at Winterbourne Gunner. That said, CBD/DERA would expect to be involved in an advisory and support capacity in any plan to clear the land. The meeting on 1 May was a
  208
  routine meeting, the venue for which was provided by CBD/DERA. It was chaired by Wiltshire's Assistant Chief Constable and the minutes were taken by the County Emergency Planning Officer, Emergency Planning Unit, Wiltshire. He should be able to provide you with a record of the meeting and let you know the arrangements for future meetings.
  I am sorry that I am unable to be more helpful on this occasion.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when(a) Wiltshire Constabulary, (b) Wiltshire Fire Brigade and (c) the County Emergency Planning Officer for Wiltshire were consulted as part of Operation Abbott concerning expended and unexpended mortar bombs and shells; and what assessment he has made of how many contained mustard gas and phosgene. [43926]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Wiltshire Constabulary and the County Emergency Planning Officer (CEPO) for Wiltshire County Council, also acting on behalf of Wiltshire Fire Service, were advised in July last year of the possible need for an Army clearance operation in Winterbourne Gunner, to be called Operation Abbott. However, further consultation was postponed pending a detailed survey of the land in question, and subsequent discussion in my Department of the need for a clearance operation. The Wiltshire Fire Service and the CEPO, also acting on behalf of Wiltshire Constabulary, were then invited to a meeting on 18 May this year, to discuss my Department's current position regarding the clearance.

  My Department has made no assessment of how much ordnance expended at Winterbourne Gunner contained phosgene; however, on the evidence of ordnance that has emerged at Winterbourne Gunner in the past, we estimate that some 15% of ordnance fired there might have contained either chemical agents or harmless chemical simulants.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what abandoned ordnance was found at Home Farm, West Cottingworth, York, at RAF Escrick, at RAF Clifton, York and at Clifton Moor and Royde Mills, Huddersfield; if the ground has now been cleared; and at what cost. [43927]

  Mr. Spellar
  RAF Escrick, situated on Home Farm land at West Cottingworth, was cleared in 1995 in an exercise known as Operation Capsicum Jar. This clearance operation removed six live 61b ground bombs, 2 inert 61b ground bombs and some 4,600 flame floats. Costs of the clearance are not held centrally, and could now be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but we know 728 man-days were spent on the task. Assuming average pay rates this would equate to a rough order of manpower costs of some £30,000. There would have been further costs for plant hired during the clearance operation, but these are not available.

  We are unable to find any reference to clearance exercises at RAF Clifton.

  We believe that Royde Mills was an ICI establishment, which was sold to the local authority in 1991.

  Mr. Key
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the chemical and biological defence division of DERA was first asked to prepare a plan for the clearance of ordnance and other metal objects from fields adjacent to the Defence Nuclear Biological and Chemical Centre
  209
  at Winterbourne Gunner; what was their estimate of the cost; and what were the reasons he decided not to proceed. [43925]

  Mr. Spellar
  The Chemical and Biological Defence, CBD, sector of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, DERA, has not been asked to prepare a plan for such a clearance. It has provided expert advice to Headquarters Land Command, which has the responsibility for preparing such a plan in this instance, and we would also expect CBD/DERA to provide technical advice and support in the disposal of any chemical weapons materials were a clearance operation to be mounted. No decision has been taken to mount or not to mount a clearance operation at this site.

  Hunting
  Jackie Ballard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to issue licences for cub hunting on his Department's land; and what restrictions will be placed on these licences. [43862]

  Mr. Spellar
  Foxhunting with hounds takes place on the Defence Estate under licence and is conducted in accordance with the rules of the Master of Foxhounds Association and the additional restriction that the practices of digging out and holding up are not permitted.

ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT AND THE REGIONS

  Birmingham Northern Relief Road
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what are the projected costs to the public purse of works associated with the construction of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road. [43285]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  Under the concession agreement with Midland Expressway Limited (MEL) the costs and risks of constructing the Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR) and its link roads are for MEL. There are, of course, certain non-works costs involved in promoting a private finance scheme that fall to the Government.

  Works associated with the BNRR include reconstruction of the existing M42 near Water Orton to enable its use by BNRR traffic. Under the agreement the major part of the costs of this work is to be met by MEL, but the Department is to contribute a share currently estimated at £20m. This provision reflects the fact that not all traffic on that section will use the BNRR.

  Further costs to the public purse could result from any changes imposed by the Department to the specifications included in the Concession Agreement, for example changes reflecting revised engineering standards. Where imposed changes involve extra costs to the Concessionaire the Department must meet the costs involved. At present the costs of identified changes seem unlikely to exceed £1.5m.

  Motorists
  Mr. Evans
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many motorists there were on British roads in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995, (iii) 1996 and (iv) 1997. [43482]
  210
  Ms Glenda Jackson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Information on the number of 'active' driving licence holders (the nearest equivalent available data) is normally derived from the National Travel Survey; however, annual estimates cannot be made from this source. It is estimated that there were an average of 30.1 million full car licence holders for the years 1994–96.

  Yearly estimates of licensed vehicle stock in Great Britain are available on an annual basis and are detailed.

  At end of year

  All vehicles

  Of which motorcars

  1994

  25,231.3

  21,199.2

  1995

  25,369.4

  21,394.2

  1996

  26,301.9

  22,237.5

  1997

  26,973.8

  22,831.7

  Piracy
  Mrs. Ray Michie
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what steps he is taking to enlist the support of(a) the United Nations and (b) the European Union for measures to protect British seafarers against piracy; and if he will make a statement; [44028]

  (2) when he expects to complete the revision of and re-issue the Piracy and Armed Robbery Merchant Shipping Notice (No. 1517); and if he will make a statement. [44027]

  Ms Glenda Jackson
  I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 8 April 1998,Official Report, column 285, and reiterate that the best and most sensible way to combat piracy and armed robbery at sea is through concerted international action through the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). The IMO is the United Nations special agency for dealing with maritime issues. We coordinate with EU partners on issues at IMO, including piracy; the European Union has observer status at IMO which enables it to keep abreast of discussions on the subject.

  In addition to playing an active role at the IMO as one UN Forum, the UK intends to raise its concerns about piracy and armed robbery at sea at the UN General Assembly this Autumn. At UNGA we coordinate with EU partners on maritime subjects. We expect therefore to raise piracy in a coordinated manner, through an EU joint statement.

  The UK voiced its support for action at the IMO Maritime Safety Committee meeting in London last month supporting, in particular, the planned missions and seminars for key piracy areas. The UK has already made a financial contribution to help fund these initiatives and hopes that they are successful.

  The revised piracy and armed robbery advice is now contained in a Marine Guidance Note (MGN 75) which will be distributed towards the end of June. Copies are being made available to the Chamber of Shipping and NUMAST, the mariner's union, for onward transmission to their members and it will, for the first time, be available on the internet.
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  Transport White Paper
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the basis of Mr. Mike Craven's involvement in the drafting of the Transport White Paper. [43692]

  Mr. Prescott
  I have taken advice on the content and drafting of the Transport White Paper from a variety of sources including officials here and in other Government Departments, my Panel of Advisers on the White Paper, environmental and transport user groups, academics, the public consultants, advisory groups and special and other advisers. Mr. Craven is one such source of advice. The White Paper is being drafted in the normal way by my Department.

  Fossil Fuel Emissions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what progress his Department has made in implementing its long-term strategy for the reduction of fossil fuel emissions in terms of(a) encouraging greater energy efficiency, (b) encouraging the use of renewable energy and (c) introducing an integrated transport policy. [43301]

  Angela Eagle
  We are aiming to consult this summer on the policy options for delivering our climate change targets. This will largely focus on delivering our legally binding commitment from Kyoto, but will also consider how we might move towards our separate 20 per cent. domestic aim. The consultation paper will build on the outcomes of other reviews, including those on Integrated Transport Policy, Energy Policy, and Utility Regulation. We will then develop a balanced climate change programme under which all sectors of the economy will play their part.

  Carbon Monoxide Emissions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate he has made of the main contributors, in percentage terms, to total carbon monoxide emissions in the United Kingdom. [43302]

  Angela Eagle
  The latest figures available for United Kingdom carbon monoxide emissions are for 1996. Road transport account for 71 per cent. of such emissions, other transport for 17 per cent., industry for 7 per cent., power stations for 4 per cent., and 1 per cent. from waste treatment and disposal.

  Carbon Dioxide Emissions
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the role of the reduction of speed limits as a method of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. [43304]

  Angela Eagle
  We intend to publish this month our Integrated Transport White Paper which will address the whole issue of traffic management and set out our transport policy to help deliver many environmental, economic and social objectives.
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  The Government are aware that the way speed limits are set and enforced can affect emissions of greenhouse gases and local air pollutants. It is a complex relationship which merits further consideration.

  This summer we will launch an open and wide ranging consultation exercise on the sort of measures needed to meet our legally binding Kyoto target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and move towards our domestic aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 20 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

  South Gloucestershire (Electoral Review)
  Mr. Webb
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he expects to conclude the periodic electoral review of South Gloucestershire; and if the 1999 unitary election will be conducted on the basis of the new boundaries. [43748]

  Mr. Raynsford
  We are currently considering the representations which we have received on the Commission's recommendations, and intend to announce our preliminary response to the recommendations shortly. Our present intention is for the new arrangements to be established in time for the 1999 elections.

LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT

  Magistrates Courts
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those urban communities of greater than 30,000 population which are more than 60 minutes travel by public transport from the nearest magistrates' court administered by the magistrates' court committee of that county. [43025]

  Mr. Hoon
  The information requested is not collected centrally and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

  In accordance with section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997, decisions on the provision of magistrates' courts are for the relevant magistrates' courts committee to determine, after consultation with its local paying authority.

  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what will be the annual running cost of adopting the PFI proposal of Derbyshire Magistrates' Court Committee relative to maintaining the status quo; and how this cost is to be funded. [43027]

  Mr. Hoon
  Current property related running costs amount to c£637,000. No firm figures are currently available for the future cost of the PFI scheme as bids have not yet been invited but, based upon a Public Sector Comparator, the maximum estimate of the running cost element of the annual PFI charge will be c£720,000. Running costs will be paid from the Magistrates' Court Committee's revenue budget which is funded by 80 per cent. direct grant from the Lord Chancellor's Department and a 20 per cent. contribution from the local authority. The capital element of the annual PFI charge will be supported by PFI Credits which will entitle the paying authorities to additional revenue support grant.
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  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what factors may be taken into account by sponsoring authorities when they consider proposals from county magistrates' court committees for reorganisation of courts. [43026]

  Mr. Hoon
  Section 56 of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 provides that magistrates' courts committees must consult their paying authority and gives the paying authority sole right of appeal against a magistrates' courts committee's proposals.

  There are no restrictions on the factors taken into account by a paying authority when considering whether to appeal against a magistrates' courts committee's determination.

  Deaf Jurors
  Mr. Levitt
  To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 12 May 1998,Official Report, columns 69–70, on deaf jurors, for what reasons palantypists are not available for deaf jury members; and if his Department will permit deaf people carrying out jury service to be allowed a palantypist where this is their preferred means of communication support. [42909]

  Mr. Hoon
  The Crown Court must comply with the Court of Appeal decision that no one, other than a member of the jury, can sit with the jury when they are considering a case. This would make it impossible for a palantypist, or any other person supporting a deaf jury member, to assist during this part of the proceedings.

PRIME MINISTER

  Mr. Stephen Kock
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what information was provided to Foreign Office officials by civil servants as to the nature and occasions on which representatives or organisations funded by Government met Mr. Stephen Kock; [38546]

  (2) what sums of money were paid (a) by Her Majesty's Government and (b) by those acting on its behalf in salary and expenses to Mr. Stephen Kock between 1985 and 1992. [38552]

  The Prime Minister
  I refer my hon. Friend to paragraphs F3.19 and F3.27 in Volume III of the Report of Sir Richard Scott's Inquiry into the Export of Defence Equipment and Dual-Use Goods to Iraq.

  Homelessness
  Mr. Jim Cunningham
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of the Social Exclusion Unit on rates of homelessness in Coventry; [41212]

  (2) what plans the Social Exclusion Unit has to reduce homelessness in the West Midlands Region. [43015]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answers 11 May and 1 June 1998]: The Social Exclusion Unit have been looking into the problem of rough sleeping as one of its first three priorities. I will announce the Government's decisions shortly. Any policy changes proposed will have
  214
  clear targets and evaluation plans. Policy on wider homelessness issues remain with my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister.

  Housing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Prime Minister what research the Government have(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on links between poor housing and (i) educational under-achievement, (ii) ill-health and (iii) crime; and what priority will be given in future spending programmes to tackling housing disrepair and housing shortages. [43198]

  The Prime Minister
  The Government are examining links between poor housing and a wide range of issues, including health, crime and education.

  Current research for the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) by Bristol University is looking at the effects of poor housing in early life on factors such as poor health and educational attainment later on; Imperial College, London is undertaking a project sponsored by DETR and the Department of Health (DH) examining the links between winter mortality levels and poor housing; a joint DETR/DH research programme is studying the effects of air pollution and damp in the home.

  Research is also evaluating area based programmes designed to tackle high unemployment, high levels of crime and fear of crime, poor housing, poor environmental quality, poor educational achievement and poor health.

  The Comprehensive Spending Review was set up to ensure that Government spending is in line with current priorities. It is considering the need to spend on maintaining the existing housing stock and on the provision of new homes.

  Older People
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Prime Minister (1) what cross-department fora have been established since 1 May 1997 concerning older people; what are their terms of reference; which departments are represented; and to whom they report; [43696]

  (2) what plans he has to establish Cabinet level co-ordination of Government policy for older people. [43697]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answers 1 June 1998]: Many Government departments are involved in work which affects older people. This work is being taken forward within existing Government machinery, including ad-hoc inter-departmental groups of officials.

  Ministerial colleagues and I are taking a close interest in these issues. We recognise that it is important that central Government work together in a co-ordinated way to improve the quality of life for all older people and are considering the best way to achieve this.

  We recognise that this co-ordination also needs to happen at a local level. On 5 June, we will be formally launching the Better Government for Older People programme. The programme will establish 28 pilots centred on local authorities but involving scores of other local partners to improve public services for older people by better meeting their needs, listening to their views, and encouraging and recognising their contribution.
  215

  Duty Free
  Mr. Gale
  To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 20 May 1998,Official Report, column 315, relating to the abolition of duty free, on what factors he based his statement that there was evidence that other countries were prepared to support reversing the position on duty free trade. [43591]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: In my oral answer of 20 May I said that there is no evidence that other countries are prepared to support reversing the position on the abolition of infra-EU duty free sales. I made this statement on the basis of the previous day's discussions at the ECOFIN Council meeting.

  No. 10 Website
  Mr. Oaten
  To ask the Prime Minister if the Government consulted non-Governmental organisations representing visually-impaired people prior to the design of the No. 10 Downing Street Website. [43553]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Since the launch of the No. 10 website on 16 April, we have been in contact with non-governmental experts in the field of site design for people with disabilities, including the visually impaired. We are currently considering options for making the site more accessible for these people.

  Anti-poverty Strategy
  Mr. Pendry
  To ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that under his presidency the EU adopts the anti-poverty strategy targets set for 2005 and 2015 by the Development Assistance Committee. [43576]

  The Prime Minister
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: Yes. One of our top development priorities during the UK Presidency is to increase the EU's commitment to implementing the International Poverty Eradication Strategy, of which targets form an important part, and ensuring poverty eradication is at the heart of European development programmes.

  My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development organised a high level seminar on 17 March for the Development Ministers from Member States, and representatives from the Commission and the European Parliament to discuss how to put the International Poverty Eradication Strategy into practice.

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Prime Minister how many of the G8 representatives have adopted the five provisions of the Mauritius Mandate. [43841]

  The Prime Minister
  Agreement was reached at both the G8 foreign and finance ministers meeting on 9 May and at the Birmingham Summit itself on issues raised in the Mauritius Mandate. Both meetings agreed to the speedy and determined implementation of debt relief to more countries under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and encouraged all eligible countries to have begun the process of securing debt relief by the year 2000. The meetings also urged all countries that had not already done so to forgive aid-related bilateral debt or to take comparable action for reforming poor countries, and 216
  to use export credits to countries eligible for debt relief under the HIPC initiative only for productive expenditure. These agreements follow directly from proposals originally made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Mauritius Mandate.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Prime Minister what steps have been taken by his Ministers since 1 May 1997 to relieve the debt burden of the poorer Third World countries. [44015]

  The Prime Minister
  Since this Government came to office, they have taken an international lead in tackling the problem of debt relief for the world's most heavily indebted countries. In September my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer launched his Mauritius Mandate, which set out many proposals aimed at the speedy and determined implementation of debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Many of my right hon. Friend's proposals were endorsed by the G8 at the recent Summit in Birmingham, at which debt was a major issue.

  Following another British initiative, launched by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the G8 foreign and finance ministers meeting on 9 May, agreement was also reached in Birmingham on the need to consider ways for debt relief mechanisms to be used to release more resources for essential rehabilitation in poor countries that have recently emerged from conflict, particularly where those countries have arrears to the International Financial Institutions.

  Amongst other actions that the British Government have undertaken on debt relief, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer held a seminar on the issue which church leaders and charity directors at Downing Street; the Government took an international lead in helping to solve the problems of financing debt relief for Mozambique by announcing that they would donate a further $10 million to Mozambique above the debt relief already provided through the Paris Club and other mechanisms; and the Department for International Development announced that they will cancel up to a further £132 million of old aid loans to poor Commonwealth countries committed to structural reform.

  The Government remain committed to the HIPC initiative, and will continue to strive to meet the targets for debt relief set out in the Mauritius Mandate.

NORTHERN IRELAND

  RUC
  Mr. Maginnis
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans she has to establish a commission to examine the future structure of and operational matters pertaining to the RUC; and if she will make a statement. [37381]

  Marjorie Mowlam
  The Government have appointed a Chairman and seven Members to the independent Commission on Policing for Northern Ireland, which is one of the elements in the Belfast Agreement (Command 3883).
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  The Chairman is the right hon. Chris Patten, the former Governor of Hong Kong and Minister in the Northern Ireland Office. In addition, the seven Members each contributes different expertise, effectively under four headings. There are two representatives with policing expertise. One representative of either side of the community in Northern Ireland, but bringing with them a great deal more than this. Two leading academics and a senior, and significant business figure.

  The names are Sir John Smith, former Deputy Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, who also has previous experience as one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary. Kathleen O'Toole, having begun her career in the Boston police, is now Secretary for Public Safety in Massachusetts and has vast experience in the law enforcement field. There is no questioning her knowledge of policing, and she has already worked with the RUC, for example on training.

  Peter Smith, a QC who has over 20 years' experience at the Bar, is widely regarded as one of the most acute legal practitioners here, and Dr. Maurice Hayes has his wide experience as a former senior civil servant and subsequently Ombudsman. He produced a well received review of the police complaints system in 1997 and has made contributions to policing issues over many years.

  Professor Clifford Shearing, who is the Director of the Centre of Criminology at the University of Toronto, has agreed to bring his academic expertise to bear. He has extensive knowledge of policing, having examined the subject in his native South Africa, Australia and Canada. Another expert in this area is Dr. Gerald Lynch, President of John Jay College, New York which has been judged to be the best criminal justice institute in the USA. He has done a great deal of work on policing worldwide, including developing a course on police and community relations for the United States Department of Justice.

  The seventh member is Lucy Woods, the very able Chief Executive of British Telecom in Northern Ireland, whose experience of management in a large organisation, delivering a service to a demanding public, will be very valuable.

  The entire membership is of the highest standing. Individually and collectively they have a considerable amount of expertise and ability to offer the Commission.

  The functions of the Commission are set out clearly in the terms of reference contained in the Good Friday Agreement. It will convene shortly to take this work forward. It will be expected to consult widely and to report by Summer 1999. The Government will publish the report, and consult on the recommendations, as set out in the Agreement.

  School Transport
  Mr. Wallace
  To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list(a) the average number of school children in Northern Ireland travelling by school transport each day and (b) the number of (i) fatalities and
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  (ii) injuries of school children involved in road accidents associated with school transport in each of the last five years. [42420]

  Mr. Worthington
  [holding answer 21 May 1998]: The average number of children in schools in Northern Ireland in receipt of assistance with home to school transport over the period 1992–93 to 1996–97 was 103,414.

  The number of road accident casualties in Northern Ireland who were school pupils going to or from school by bus or coach for each of the last five years is shown.

  School child casualties (aged 4–16) travelling to or from school by bus or coach in Northern Ireland

  School year (September—June)

  Fatalities

  Injured

  1992–93

  1

  32

  1993–94

  0

  10

  1994–95

  0

  62

  1995–96

  0

  67

  1996–97

  0

  158

CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT

  Sportsmatch
  Mr. Hoyle
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has provided to Sportsmatch in each year of its operation. [43575]

  Mr. Banks
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Sportsmatch scheme in England, which has been successful in attracting over £16.6 million in commercial sponsorship to grass roots sport since its inception, has received the following funding from my Department:

  £ million1

  1992–93

  0.9

  1993–94

  3.0

  1994–95

  3.3

  1995–96

  3.7

  1996–97

  3.2

  1997–98

  3.2

  1998–99

  3.2

  1 Sportsmatch was launched in November 1992

  Millennium Bank Holiday
  Judy Mallaber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans there are for an additional bank holiday to mark the Millennium. [44557]

  Mr. Chris Smith
  I am pleased to announce that the year 2000 will be heralded by a one-off additional Bank Holiday throughout the United Kingdom on Friday, 31 December 1999. A recent consultation exercise conducted by the Government has confirmed that this decision commands overwhelming support among the many organisations which responded, and I know that large numbers of people will welcome this opportunity to prepare for the festivities on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day 2000.
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HOME DEPARTMENT

  Youth Justice
  Mr. Rapson
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government have identified areas to pilot the new youth justice measures and the procedural changes to reduce delays in youth and adult cases contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill[Lords]. [44417]

  Mr. Michael
  We have identified nine areas in which, in principle, we would like to pilot the new youth justice measures contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill. These measures are the final warning scheme; the reparation order; action plan order; child safety order and parenting order; and youth offending teams.

  Four areas have been identified to pilot all of these measures. This will demonstrate how the new powers operate together and how the youth offending team structure can best deliver the associated intervention work. The four areas are the London Boroughs of Hammersmith and Fulham, Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster (jointly); Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight (jointly); Wolverhampton; and Sheffield.

  Five areas have been identified to pilot the child safety order and parenting order, together with youth offending teams. This will ensure that we have sufficient information to evaluate the operation of these two orders. The five areas are the London Borough of Lewisham; Luton and Bedfordshire (jointly); Devon; St. Helens; and Sunderland.

  We will be undertaking further detailed work in these nine areas with a view to establishing the pilot projects from October 1998. The pilots will operate for a period of 18 months. They will help develop good practice and allow us to assess the costs and savings which nation-wide implementation will involve. The pilots will inform decisions over the timing of full implementation of these measures.

  We are also considering how we might best support other areas, including those others which expressed interest in taking part in the pilots, in planning and developing their arrangements for youth offending teams and the other youth justice measures.

  In addition, six areas have been identified to pilot procedural changes recommended by the Review of Delay in the Criminal Justice System, some of which are contained in the Crime and Disorder Bill. These are expected to reduce delays in youth and adult cases. The pilots are being organised under the auspices of the Trials Issues Group and they will also be used to inform the setting of statutory time limits in due course for both youth and adult cases. The six areas are Tyneside; Croydon; Blackburn and Burnley; Northamptonshire; North Staffordshire; and North Wales. Two of these areas—Blackburn and Northamptonshire—will also operate the final warning scheme and youth offending teams, since these arrangements will have an effect on speed through the system and procedures in young offender cases.
  220
  Sir Iain Glidewell's Review of the Crown Prosecution Service supports the changes which are to be piloted, and proposes some further changes which he recommends should be incorporated in the pilots. The Government will be considering how best to take this forward.

  These pilots reflect the Government's determination to test innovative and effective ways of delivering services and programmes across Government Departments and agencies. Experience from these pilots and other area-based initiatives will help to ensure new measures are implemented effectively at local level.

  Firearms
  Mr. William Ross
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date his Department held consultative meetings on the Review of the Firearms Forms and Rules with (i) the British Medical Association and other professional medical representative bodies, (ii) the National Farmers Union (England and Wales), (iii) the National Farmers Union (Scotland), (iv) the Country Landowners Association (England and Wales), (v) the Country Landowners Association (Scotland), (vi) firearms clubs and associations, (vii) the British Deer Society, and the Deer Commission for Scotland, and (viii) the British Sports Association for the Disabled; when he plans to conclude the review of Firearms Forms and Rules; when he plans to implement the proposed new Forms and Rules; for what reasons the Home Office Note of the main issues raised at the meeting on 19 February to discuss the forms, was not sent to all consultees when requesting further written submissions; and when he intends to meet consultees to discuss these matters. [44101]

  Mr. Michael
  The arrangements made for meeting representatives of shooting organisations to discuss the proposed new Firearms Rules and forms are as set out in my answer to the hon. Member of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 241. The new Rules and forms are planned to come into effect on 1 September 1998. The minutes of the working group meeting held on 19 February 1998 were intended solely as a record for those attending but were reflected in the draft forms subsequently sent out for comment. No further meetings are planned.

  Joint Enterprise Killings
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings in non-UK jurisdictions. [44055]

  Mr. Michael
  When the Law Commission drew up their proposals contained in their consultation paper (No. 131) entitled "Assisting and Encouraging Crime" in September 1993, they looked at how the law in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States of America deals with those who participate in a common criminal enterprise. An account of the law in each of these jurisdictions is set out in an Appendix to their consultation paper.

  The Law Commission expect to produce a report in due course and I understand that they will bear in mind the experience of these other jurisdictions. Once the report is received, the Government will consider whether the law in this area needs to be changed.
  221
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings. [44057]

  Mr. Michael
  The doctrine of joint enterprise is under consideration by the Law Commission who discussed the issues as part of their consultation paper (No. 131) entitled "Assisting and Encouraging Crime", issued in September 1993. Although completion of the project has been delayed to take into account the implications of the House of Lords decision in Rv. Powell and another and R v. English, I understand that a report will be available in due course and that it will reflect the responses to the consultation paper and the development of the law, including any subsequent decisions and problems that have emerged. The Government will then consider whether the law in this area should be revised.

  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the law relating to killings described as joint enterprise killings. [44056]

  Mr. Michael
  Some 41 letters were received about the death of Sarah Adams, whose parents were convicted of cruelty, together with one other representation about joint enterprise, in the past six months. The Department does not keep records which would enable use to identify this topic with certainty: it may arise in the context of crimes other than murder, or on an appeal; such representations may be recorded in a way that does not identify a link to the doctrine of joint enterprise.

  Asylum Seekers
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were being detained on 28 February who had sought asylum at some stage, broken down by(a) length of detention and (b) immigration status. [44039]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  The available information, relating to 27 February 1998, is given in the table:

  Number of people recorded as being detained1,2 on 27 February 1998 who had sought asylum at some stage, by length of detention3 and immigration status

  Length

  Port

  Illegal entrants

  Subject to deportation action

  Total

  0–1 Month1

  69

  169

  4

  242

  1–2 Months

  46

  86

  1

  133

  2–6 Months

  148

  127

  11

  286

  6–12 Months

  21

  34

  15

  70

  12 Months+

  8

  6

  7

  21

  Total

  292

  422

  38

  752

  1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in Schedule 2 or 3 of the Immigration Act 1971

  2 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution

  3 In some cases the date a person enters detention may be understated due to the method of recording.

  222
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 26 March 1998,Official Report, column 232, if he will list the criteria on the basis of which asylum seekers detained under the Immigration Acts are classified as Category A status. [44041]

  Mr. Mike O'Brien
  Under an agreement with the Prison Service, a number of places are made available for immigration detainees in Prison Service establishments other than Haslar and Rochester. These prisons may also contain Category A accommodation as well as accommodation of other categories.

  Prison staff are required to identify those prisoners charged with certain serious offences which are listed in section 36 of Part C of the Prison Service Manual on Security. A copy of the Manual is available in the Library. The cases of those prisoners charged with such offences which meet any one or more of a list of specified criteria, also set out in the Security Manual, are reported to Prison Service Headquarters where it is decided whether the inmate should be placed in Category A.

  In the interests of public protection, the guidance and criteria set out in the Security Manual are also applied to administrative detainees, which includes persons detained under the Immigration Act 1971, who are believed to have been involved in the commission of serious offences abroad. The overriding consideration must be the safety of the public and the lack of potential dangerousness presented by the individual prisoner.

  Child Deaths
  Mr. Burstow
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases involving the death of a child there have been since 1993 where neither parent or carer has been charged with either murder or manslaughter because both parents or carers have denied responsibility, but no third party involvement is suspected. [44058]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not available.

  The police are not required to specify the reason why any person suspected of homicide is not charged for statistical purposes. Moreover, they have to supply details of a person initially suspected of a homicide only when that person is arrested or charged with the offence or if a suspect subsequently commits suicide.

  The table shows all currently recorded homicides of children (aged under 16) where no conviction had been recorded as at 1 August 1997. All suspects who committed suicide were parents.

  All offences currently recorded as homicide where the victim was aged under 16 and no conviction had been recorded as at 1 August 1997

  Number of offences

  Of which, suspect committed suicide

  1993

  9

  4

  1994

  23

  13

  1995

  26

  15

  1996

  33

  14

  223

  Prisoners
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total prison population expressed as a percentage of total prison capacity. [44010]

  Ms Quin
  The total prison population of England and Wales expressed as a percentage of the total prison capacity (operational capacity) was 95.8 per cent. for Friday, 29 May 1998.

  Road Policing
  Mr. Kidney
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was total spending on road policing by(a) police forces in England and Wales and (b) each individual police force in the latest year for which figures are available; what such spending was as a proportion of the total spending on policing in each case; and what guidance his Department gives to police authorities on the proportion of overall spending which should be allocated to road policing. [43995]

  Mr. Michael
  The information requested is not collected centrally. The allocation of resources to particular functions and the deployment of officers are operational matters for individual chief constables. We have issued no guidance to police authorities on the allocation of resources to road policing.

  Road traffic offences and other crimes do not necessarily occur separately. A large part of traffic officers' time is spent dealing with ordinary crime or carrying out ordinary police duties. Conversely, officers on general beat duties are able to take prompt action against breaches of road traffic law.

  Alcohol (Young Persons)
  Mr. Gareth Thomas
  To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken to ensure the enforcement of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997. [44038]

  Mr. Michael
  Responsibility for the enforcement of the Confiscation of Alcohol (Young Persons) Act 1997 is an operational matter for chief officers of police. Guidance on the Act, which came into force on 1 August last year, has been issued to all chief officers. The Act is intended to allow the police to deal with situations where drinking by young people causes a nuisance to others or may lead to other bad behaviour. The guidance makes it clear that it was not Parliament's intention that the new powers should be used where young peoples' drinking is not perceived to be a problem. A copy of the guidance (Home Office Circular 38/1997) is in the Library.

TREASURY

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list by Department the capital expenditure under the private finance initiative in(a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98, and estimates for 1998–99 (i) in real terms and (ii) in cash. [43920]
  224
  Mr. Darling
  The information required in cash terms for 1996–97 was given in an answer to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 10 December 1997,Official Report, columns 572–73. The information for subsequent years is contained in Table B15 at Annex B to the Financial Statement and Budget Report (HM Treasury, March 1998). The information required for the calculation of real terms figures is contained in Table B1.

  Taxation
  Mr. Malcolm Bruce
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 5 May 1998,Official Report, columns 331–34, if he will make it his policy to continue to publish the updated series for the tax burden until a new methodolgy for updating the tax burden can be introduced; by what date he expects to introduce improved statistics for the tax burden; and if he will make a statement. [42148]

  Mr. Lilley
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what action officials in his Department are taking to make information on the burden of indirect taxes on household types more meaningful and reliable; [43986]

  (2) when he expects to publish more meaningful and reliable information on the burden of indirect taxes on household types; [43979]

  (3) on what date he first instructed officials in his Department to consider ways in which information on the burden of indirect tax on household types could be made more meaningful and reliable. [43984]

  Dawn Primarolo
  [holding answers 18 May and 1 June 1998]: I have nothing to add to my answer of 5 May 1998, Official Report, columns 331–34, to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce).

  Transsexuals
  Dr. Lynne Jones
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what way he proposes to amend the Births and Deaths Registration Act 1953 following the out-of-court settlement with Alan Veale; and if he will review the Act to consider whether other amendments should be made to enable transsexuals to have their birth certificates amended. [44299]

  Mrs. Liddell
  In order to correct an error or fact or substance in a birth or death register the Birth and Deaths Registration Act 1953 requires two statutory declarations to be made. The declarations must set out the nature of the error and the true facts of the case. I propose to amend the legislation to allow a Court Order to be accepted in place of one of the statutory declarations. The same provisions apply to the correction of the sex of an individual where it was wrongly recorded at birth.

  Local Government Finance
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for the total level of the local government financial settlement for 1999–2000. [43353]

  Mr. Darling
  Future plans for public spending, including provisions for local authorities, will be set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review, to be completed in the summer.
  225

  Heavily Indebted Poor Countries
  Mr. Reed
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to write off the remaining debts owed by heavily indebted poor countries to the United Kingdom Government. [43469]

  Mrs. Liddell
  The Government remain fully committed to the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, and continue to press for full debt relief to all eligible countries that are committed to economic and structural reforms, for example through the Chancellor's Mauritius Mandate and at the recent G8 Summit in Birmingham.

  Methadone Deaths
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of deaths in(a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland from methadone in each of the last four years; and if he will make a statement. [44011]

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

  Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated June 1998:
  As Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question on the total number of deaths in (a) England, (b) Wales and (c) Scotland from Methadone for each of the last four years.
  The data requested are shown in the table below.

  Deaths involving methadone in England, Wales and Scotland 1994–1997

  1994

  1995

  1996

  1997'

  England

  246

  273

  328

  286

  Wales

  8

  18

  16

  13

  Scotland

  55

  58

  101

  87

  Total

  309

  349

  445

  386

  1 1997 data are provisional

  Notes:

  Data for England and Wales represent the number of deaths occurring in each year

  Data for Scotland represent the number of deaths registered in each year, and were supplied by the General Register Office for Scotland

  The deaths included correspond to those with an underlying cause of death of drug dependence, nondependent abuse of drugs, accidental poisoning, suicidal poisoning or poisoning undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted and where methadone was mentioned on the death certificate.

  The figures include deaths attributed to methadone in combination with other drugs. In some cases, therefore, the death may not be directly or solely due to methadone.

  Economic and Finance Council
  Mr. Timms
  To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Council meeting of the Economic and Finance Ministers of the European Union held on 19 May. [43749]

  Mr. Gordon Brown
  I chaired the Economic and Finance Council—ECOFIN—of the European Union in Brussels on 19 May. The Economic Secretary represented the UK.
  226
  The Council began with a presentation by Commissioner Liikanen of the Commission's Preliminary Draft Budget for 1999. The Council stressed the need for continued budgetary rigour.

  On Agenda 2000, the Council held a wide-ranging discussion on the economic and financial issues arising from the proposals published by the Commission on 18 March concerning future financing and the reform of the Community's main spending policies (the Common Agricultural Policy and the Structural and Cohesion Funds). The next ECOFIN will return to these issues, and consider ECOFIN's input to the Cardiff European Council.

  Commissioner Liikanen gave a progress report on the Sound and Efficient Management (SEM 2000) initiative. The Council agreed conclusions on the report.

  Commissioner Gradin presented the annual report on the fight against fraud and the future work programme. The Council adopted conclusions on the documents, including a call for the convention on the Protection of the Communities' Financial interests to be ratified as soon as possible.

  The Council unanimously supported conclusions endorsing the report of the High Level Group on alcohol and tobacco fraud, and welcoming the Commission's Communication.

  The Council approved the Commission's Recommendation on Greece's excessive deficit.

  Commissioner de Silguy presented the Commission's recommendations for this year's Broad Economic Guidelines. These will be discussed at the next ECOFIN.

  The Presidency's proposals on the procedure for surveillance of progress on economic reform were agreed. These include the presentation by Member States and the Commission of short annual progress reports on product and capital markets, which will complement the procedure already established on labour markets.

  There was a first discussion of National Employment Action Plans, substituted by all Member States. Employment will again be discussed at the next ECOFIN, which will contribute to the preparation of the Cardiff European Council.

  Under Any Other Business, Irish Finance Minister McCreevy presented a study on the impact on Ireland of the abolition of the duty free regime on 30 June 1999. The Commission agreed to produce a working document clarifying the existing instruments available to member States for addressing the adverse consequences of abolition. The decision to abolish duty free was taken in 1991 and there was no unanimous view to reopen this issue.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

  BMARC
  Mr. Campbell-Savours
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if commissions were paid by BMARC to companies owned by or connected to Her Majesty's Government. [38898]
  227
  Mrs. Beckett
  Not to my knowledge. Any legitimate commissions for services rendered paid by BMARC to companies owned by or connected to Her Majesty's Government would have been a matter solely for BMARC or its parent company and the provider of the service. Evidence of any improper commissions paid to companies owned by or connected to Her Majesty's Government should be passed to the relevant authorities.

  Export Licences (Indonesia)
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for licences for the export of(a) paramilitary, (b) security and (c) police equipment to Indonesia have been (i) granted, (ii) refused and (iii) revoked since 20 March; and what was the export licence category in each case. [42626]

  Mrs. Roche
  [holding answer 19 May 1998]: The Export Control Organisation's computer databases have been interrogated and the results are as follows. Between 7 March and 10 May 1998 inclusive, 8 Standard Individual Export Licences (SIELs) and 7 Open Individual Export Licences (OIELs) were issued to export to endusers or consignees in Indonesia goods subject to export control by being listed in Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order (the so-called "Military List"). In the same period no individual licences for such exports were revoked, and no applications for such licences were refused. This does not include Media OIELs, which are Open Individual Export Licences authorising the export to any destination of protective clothing, mainly for the protection of aid agency workers and journalists when working in areas of conflict.

  Individual licences issued between 7 March and 10 May 1998 covering the export to Indonesia of goods on the Military List

  Rating

  Number of SIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  Number of OIELs issued covering goods with this rating

  ML2

  2

  0

  ML3

  1

  0

  ML6

  1

  0

  ML9

  0

  1

  ML10

  0

  3

  ML11

  1

  3

  ML15

  1

  0

  PL5006

  2

  0

  This information should be considered in light of my answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Caroline Flint) on 30 October 1997, Official Report, columns 870–71.

  As I said in my answer to my hon. Friend of 8 April 1998, Official Report, columns 345–47, it is not possible to break down these data in the manner requested as the equipment covered by many entries in the Military List could be used by military, paramilitary or police end-users.

  Bulldog Trainer Aircraft
  Mr. Hancock
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what representations she has received concerning the award of the contract to replace the Bulldog trainer aircraft; [43023]
  228
  (2) what assessment she has made of the potential benefits to United Kingdom industry of the contract for the replacement of the MOD's Bulldog trainer aircraft. [43024]

  Mr. Battle
  The President has received a variety of representations, mainly pressing for the selection of the Slingsby Firefly as the replacement for the Bulldog trainer aircraft. These have contributed to the continuing assessment being made by the Department of the potential impact on the UK aerospace industry of this procurement, which is being discussed with the Ministry of Defence.

  Truck Refrigeration Systems
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to subject auxiliary engines for refrigeration systems on trucks to noise limits; what assessment she has made of emissions from these units; and if she will make a statement. [43488]

  Mr. Battle
  I have no plans to subject such units to noise limits. However, the European Commission has recently proposed a directive on noise emissions by equipment used outdoors [COM(1998)46 final] which includes the proposal to subject this type of equipment to noise labelling only. The directive has yet to be agreed by the Member States. An Explanatory Memorandum (6363/98) was submitted to both Houses on 26 March 1998.

  The Department has not undertaken an assessment of noise emissions from these units.

  Renewable Energy
  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will exempt renewables generated within the NFFO arrangement from the fossil fuel levy. [43736]

  Mr. Battle
  I have no plans to do so. Generators who generate electricity from renewable sources of energy under the non-fossil fuel obligation (NFFO) arrangements receive financial support through the scheme which makes the electricity they generate competitive with other leviable forms of generation. I see no need to give such generators further special treatment.

  Mr. Stunell
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has to provide incentives for(a) suppliers and (b) consumers to develop the renewable energy industry in the United Kingdom. [43668]

  Mr. Battle
  I expect to provide a further incentive to the development of the renewable energy industry in the United Kingdom when I make the fifth Order under the Non-Fossil Fuel Obligation (NFFO) later this year. The NFFO places an obligation on the Public Electricity Suppliers in England and Wales to obtain a specified amount of electricity from renewable sources, providing a protected market in which the industry can grow. Similar arrangements operate in Scotland and Norther Ireland.

  More widely, this Government propose to undertake a new and strong drive to develop renewable energy sources in line with its manifesto commitment. To this end, DTI Ministers are reviewing policy, including considerations of what would be necessary and practicable to achieve 10 per cent. of UK electricity needs from renewable sources by the year 2010 and how renewables can make

  229
  an effective contribution to meeting requirements for future greenhouse gas reduction commitments. The outcome of that review will be announced later this year.

  Money-lenders
  Kate Hoey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many money-lenders lost their licences in the last full year for which figures are available. [44037]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  During 1997 the Director-General of Fair Trading revoked 35 consumer credit licences.

  Information on individual cases is published each year in the Annual Report of the Director-General of Fair Trading, issues of which up to 1996 are in the Library. The Report for 1997 will be published shortly. Information is also published periodically in the OFT Journal "Fair Trading".

  Kate Hoey
  To ask the President of the Board of Trade what penalties are applied to unlicensed money-lenders. [44051]

  Mr. Nigel Griffiths
  A trader who offers credit facilities to consumers must be licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974. A trader who engages in a consumer credit business without obtaining the necessary licence from the Office of Fair Trading commits an offence punishable by a fine of up to £5,000, if he is prosecuted in a magistrates court, or by an unlimited fine or 2 years' imprisonment or both, if he is prosecuted in the Crown Court.

WALES

  Waiting Lists
  Mr. Denzil. Davies
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much of the estimated £25 million allocated to the NHS in Wales is to be spent on reducing waiting lists; and on what projects the balance will be spent. [43665]

  Mr. Win Griffiths
  £20 million will be spent on reducing waiting lists, £18 million of which has already been allocated to the NHS. £2 million has been held back for issues arising in-year.

  The balances is expected to be used mainly to fund costs arising from new variant CJD in blood products and to contribute to Welsh costs associated with the trust reconfiguration exercise and the production of a corporate strategy for NHS Wales.

  Further Education
  Mr. Rowlands
  To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average funding per student in further education in Wales; and what assessment he has made of this level relative to that applying in(a) England and (b) Scotland. [42684]

  Mr. Hain
  The average funding per student in further education in Wales in the financial year ending 31 March 1998 was £2,993, compared to £2,842 in England for the same period. No assessment of the level applying in Scotland has been made.
  230

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  Debt Reduction
  Dr. Palmer
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the steps to be taken in reducing the debt of poor countries, following the G8 meeting. [42496]

  Sir Sydney Chapman
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress she expects to be made in the reduction of debt among the poorest countries in the next 18 months. [42506]

  Clare Short
  At the G8 Summit in Birmingham on 15–17 May, we made useful progress in speeding up the implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC). The Communiqué set out the objective of getting all eligible countries, likely to be about 20 in number, into the process by 2000. This constitutes a significant step towards meeting the Government's Mauritius Mandate which aims for at least three quarters of eligible countries to have received debt relief within the next few years. And following a British initiative, the Summit also agreed on the need to look at ways of providing more and earlier debt relief, to help heavily indebted post-conflict countries. We will be pressing in all appropriate fora for the implementation of these targets.

  Mr. Wareing
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with the International Monetary Fund in respect of third world countries' indebtedness; and if she will make a statement. [42508]

  Clare Short
  Together with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I most recently discussed developing country debt with the Managing Director of the IMF in Washington in mid-April. Despite the progress that has been made in implementing the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, we agreed that more must be done, and that we should look at ways for speeding the process up.

  Dr. Starkey
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made on expanding the scope of international debt reduction programmes. [42521]

  Clare Short
  At last month's G8 Summit in Birmingham, leaders agreed to support the speedy and determined extension of debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries' (HIPC) debt Initiative. Following a British proposal, leaders also agreed on the need to look at ways for providing more and earlier debt relief to help post-conflict countries. We shall be pressing for this work to be taken forward urgently. As a first step, at the donors' meeting in Stockholm earlier this week, we announced a significant contribution to the multi-donor Debt Trust Fund for Rwanda.

  Mr. Ian Stewart
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what further actions her Department intends to take to reduce the debt burden of the world's poorest and most indebted countries. [42522]

  Clare Short
  We shall continue to press for the speedy and determined implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries debt Initiative, and for the urgent consideration of ways to provide earlier and more debt relief for post conflict countries. As a first step, at the
  231
  donors' meeting in Stockholm earlier this week, we announced a significant contribution to the multi-donor Debt Trust Fund for Rwanda.

  Niger
  Mr. Pickthall
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans she has to assist the Government of Niger in combating disease among children. [42504]

  Mr. Foulkes
  Although Niger does not have close links with Britain, we provide support through our commitments to multilateral institutions, particularly the EC, the UN and the World Bank which provide significant levels of assistance to Niger. The EC, the World Health Organisation and UNICEF all have health programmes in Niger.

  Iraq
  Mr. Dalyell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of British aid to Iraq since 1991 has been spent on administration costs; and if she has any conveniently available figures. [42509]

  Clare Short
  Published figures for UK humanitarian aid to Iraq do not include DFID administration costs, which come from a separate departmental budget and represent some 0.7 per cent. of this year's programme. NGOs and other agencies which we fund typically spend three to seven per cent. of project costs on headquarters administration.

  I am pleased to announce that my department has just approved a much needed £2 million project to improve water and sanitation in Baghdad-controlled Iraq. This is part of the £7 million aid package for the region which I announced on 12 March 1998, Official Report, column 297.

  Microfinance
  Mr. Goggins
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what action she is taking to support the use of microfinance in developing countries. [42510]

  Mr. Foulkes
  We believe that microfinance—savings and credit—can be a powerful tool to support the livelihoods of large numbers of poor people in developing countries. For the past ten years, the UK has provided increasing support to projects and institutions engaged in microfinance. Our current commitments to date and projects in the pipeline amount to about £60 million and we anticipate increasing resources in this field.

  Emergency Relief
  Dr. Julian Lewis
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of the United Kingdom aid programme was devoted to emergency relief operations, and disaster preparedness and prevention programmes in 1997–98; and what provision she has made for 1998–99. [42511]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development (DFID) expenditure figures for the financial year 1997/98 are not finalised. However, we estimate that the proportion of the bilateral aid programme provided to 232
  disaster relief, emergency food aid, short-term refugee relief and disaster preparedness will be around 8 per cent. of total bilateral expenditure.

  Full statistical information for 1997/98 will be published later in the year as the British Aid Statistics and I will place copies in both Houses. Adequate provision has been built into 1998/99 planning for both foreseeable relief needs and unforeseeable emergencies.

  Bilateral Aid
  Mr. Gerald Howarth
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the top five recipients of United Kingdom bilateral aid, and the amounts paid to them in the year 1997–98. [42512]

  Clare Short
  The Department for International Development expenditure figures for the financial year 1997/98 are not finalised but the top five recipients will be India, Bangladesh, Uganda, Tanzania and Montserrat.

  Full statistical information for 1997/98 will be published later in the year as the British Aid Statistics and copies will be placed in the library of both Houses.

  Rwanda
  Mr. McNulty
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department is taking to support conflict prevention and peacebuilding in Rwanda. [42513]

  Clare Short
  The focus of the UK support programme for Rwanda has moved away from emergency interventions towards longer term rehabilitation efforts. In close collaboration with the Government, we are implementing a £25 million rehabilitation package targeted on key Government priorities. But we need to do more.

  Donors and Government of Rwanda are meeting in Stockholm on 3 June under the chairmanship of the World Bank, to discuss Rwanda's long-term external financing needs and initiatives to address debt. My Department is attending the meeting and will be advocating the need for flexible long-term support underpinned by a deeper, more transparent policy dialogue with Government on issues related to Governance and human rights. We will announce a new 3 year financial commitment for Rwanda at the Stockholm meeting.

  Security Sector Reform
  Mr. Derek Twigg
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what actions her Department is taking to support security sector reform in developing countries. [42514]

  Clare Short
  Security sector reform is an important part of the work of my new Department. A security sector that is well tasked and managed can better serve the interests of all. But a military sector that is inappropriately tasked, badly managed and indisciplined can hinder development. We know from our surveys that for very poor people, decent law and order, and a safe and secure environment, are a top priority.
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  My Department has taken a number of important initiatives to address this problem. We are supporting an OECD initiative to incorporate greater transparency, civilian accountability and control of the security sector as part of development assistance.

  I have had discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence on these issues. I gave evidence to the Defence Select Committee and am due to give evidence shortly to the Development Committee on this and related subjects.

  Last month my Department sponsored a major seminar on security sector reform with the research group, Saferworld, that brought together a range of leading experts in this area. This seminar will lead to a substantial report later this year, setting out a range of practical ways in which the British government can support security sector reform in developing countries, both bilaterally and through the multilateral institutions.

  Religious Freedoms
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions she has had with heads of state of developing countries regarding the use of development assistance to support religious freedoms. [42515]

  Clare Short
  I frequently meet senior members of the governments of developing countries; my discussions with them cover issues related to the establishment of practical partnerships to work for the elimination of poverty.

  All our work places a strong emphasis on human rights. Freedom of worship is a fundamental freedom. Persecution of people for their religious belief is a breach of international human rights conventions. Our human rights work for crises focuses on the human rights of poor and disadvantaged people this includes those who may be discriminated against because of their religion.

  Sudan
  Mr. Hope
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps her Department has taken to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Sudan; and if she will make a statement. [42516]

  Clare Short
  In February, we pledged £4 million to the United Nations 1998 Consolidated Appeal for Sudan. On 6 May this was increased to £5.23 million. This has been given to UN agencies and international NGOs in Sudan with the current crisis in Bahr El Ghazal region a key focus. I approved a further £5 million on 15 May which will be used over the coming months to meet urgent humanitarian needs in this region and wherever else they arise in Sudan.

  The war is the direct cause of the current crises. The problem in providing humanitarian relief is not a lack of resources but lack of access. The Government of Sudan have approved increased flights and is willing to offer a ceasefire—which is the best solution to the problem of access. The SPLA has refused to consider a ceasefire. Without peace, humanitarian crises will recur.
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  Multilateral Agreement on Investment
  Mr. Dismore
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress on the multilateral agreement on investment and its impact on developing countries. [42517]

  Clare Short
  The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministers, meeting at the end of April, reaffirmed their commitment to a successful and timely conclusion of the negotiations on the Multilateral Agreement on Investment (MAI), and to seeking broad participation in it. The next meeting of the negotiating group will be in October 1998. Ministers also affirmed their commitment to pursuing an active dialogue with non-member countries, including on their development interests. The independent study on the development implications of the MAI commissioned by my Department earlier this year concluded that the MAI could have a positive developmental impact, if appropriate arrangements are made for developing countries to accede to the Agreement. The OECD Secretariat is now carrying out further analytical work on the MAI and development. Officials from my Department are in close touch with the OECD Secretariat, and will continue to contribute actively as this analytical work moves forward.

  Child Labour
  Mr. Rammell
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the ILO Conference on the international convention on child labour. [42518]

  Clare Short
  The committee on Child Labour will be meeting between 3 and 16 June. The Conference is likely to adopt the report of the committee on 18 June. I will place a copy of the report in the Library of the House.

  Jubilee 2000
  Mr. Mackinlay
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on progress made in relation to the Jubilee 2000 initiative. [42519]

  Clare Short
  Jubilee 2000 seeks the cancellation of the unpayable debt of developing countries by the year 2000. The campaign has been tremendously successful in raising public awareness of debt issues, helping to keep the international debate on debt alive. I was pleased to address some of their supporters who gathered in Birmingham at the time of the G8 Summit last month.

  The UK Government are pressing for speedy and flexible implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, which also seeks the early remission of such countries' unpayable debt. One element of the Mauritius Mandate, launched last year by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, aims to ensure that by the year 2000 all eligible countries have embarked on the process which will lead to debt relief under the Initiative. I therefore welcome the agreement by leaders at the G8 Summit to encourage all eligible countries to take the policy measures needed to bring them into the HIPC process by then. But it is important to bear in mind that debt relief is not provided for its own sake, it must be linked to poverty reduction.
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  Rain Forests
  Mr. Sawford
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is her Department's policy on the use of development assistance for the preservation of the rain forests; and if she will make a statement. [42520]

  Clare Short
  My Department's aim is the elimination of poverty through the promotion of sustainable development, which requires conservation of the environment. Our approach towards the conservation of rain forests and the problem of deforestation is to support work to improve management of forest resources in ways that lead to a range of benefits to poor communities as well as helping to secure the global environmental benefits that forests offer.

  In the past year, DFID has also supported a number of important new initiatives, for example:
  a grant of £3 million to the Guyana Sustainable Human Development Project, which will benefit forest-dependent communities encircling the Iwokrama Rain Forest.
  a grant of £2 million to the UNDP's Global Programme on Forests: Forest Management to Support Sustainable Livelihoods Project, which will promote public and private sector partnerships for sustainable forest management.
  a grant of £400,000 to the Forest Resource Accounting (FRA) 2000 project—FAO's global assessment of the status and condition of forest resources.

  DFID has played an active part in the development and implementation of the Action Programme on Forests endorsed by Heads of Government at the G8 Birmingham Summit and all other international forestry initiatives.

  Details of my Department's forestry activities are set out in our publication: forests MATTER and our DFID Forestry Sector Projects, both of which are in the Libraries of the House and are available on request from DFID's Environment Policy Department.

  Indonesia
  Mr. White
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on what aid is being given to Indonesia(a) by her Department and (b) by non-governmental organisations to alleviate the current economic crisis. [42523]

  Clare Short
  The most important step is implementation of political and economic reforms in Indonesia. This is critical if the reduction of poverty in recent years is not to be reversed and if benefits are to be more widely shared. The UK supports the IMF economic reform programme and is also contributing £5 million to the Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) Trust Fund which will underpin the efforts of Asian Governments, including Indonesia, to combat the social effects of the crisis and reform their financial sectors. We have provided £375,000 of assistance to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to help with nutrition, hygiene and medical needs for the people of Irian Jaya; and continue to monitor the food situation more widely.
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  We are also providing support to trade union education. We are currently exploring urgently any additional measures, through civil society, which might bring effective help to the most vulnerable people suffering the effects of the crisis.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Ian Bruce
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the current level of aid being provided to Sierra Leone by(a) the United Kingdom and (b) the EU. [42524]

  Clare Short
  Since the return of President Kabbah's democratically elected government, we have provided £1 million to re-establish core functions and services, £1 million for NGOs delivering humanitarian and development assistance, and £1 million to the ICRC to continue its humanitarian aid and protection work. The EC is providing 2 million ecu for seeds and tools and 200,000 ecu to help refugees in Guinea to return home.

  We are looking at what more we can do to strengthen governance and bring immediate relief to the people. We hope in the future to be able to assist in demobilising and re-integrating ex-combatants.

  European Union Development Council
  Mrs. Dean
  To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the outcome of the European Union Development Council meeting on 18 May. [44496]

  Clare Short
  The Council discussed the development co-operation aspects of the EU's draft negotiating mandate for the renegotiation of the Lomé Convention, which covers EC aid, trade and development relations with 71 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States and expires in the year 2000. The Council held a useful discussion, resolving most of the outstanding issues on the development aspects of the mandate. Trade aspects are still to be agreed but we are aiming to have the mandate adopted at the General Affairs Council in June.

  The Council agreed Conclusions on follow up to the 1993 Poverty Resolution and on follow up to the 1995 Gender Resolution. The Conclusions refer to experience in implementing the Resolutions and set out what more needs to be done to improve effectiveness in these key areas. Procedural Conclusions were also agreed on Microfinance, Indigenous Peoples, Evaluation, and Humanitarian Aid.

  Ministers also discussed Rwanda, Nigeria, the nuclear test in India, Cuba's request to become an observer in the negotiations on the future of ACP-EU relations, aid untying, the DAC Chairmanship, the successor to the current administrator of UNDP, and a proposal to set up an expert group on migration. They also agreed conclusions on the situation in Southern Sudan, noting with extreme concern the grave situation there and the plight of more than 350,000 people in Bahr el Ghazal. The Conclusions reflect the fact that the Council feels that the root of the problem there is the long-term conflict and commit the EU to continuing to provide flexible assistance, urging other donors to do the same.
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HEALTH

  Breast Screening
  Mr. Cummings
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to include women of 64 years of age in the breast screening programme; and if he will make a statement. [43116]

  Mr. Boateng
  The National Health Service breast screening programme invites all women aged 50–64 to be screened by mammography every three years. Breast screening for women aged 65 and over is available three-yearly on request, and this is widely publicised by the NHS breast screening programme and Age Concern.

  We are funding three pilot studies to evaluate the effectiveness of extending the breast screening programme to invite routinely women aged 65–69. These are due to end in 1999/2000. In view of the importance of this issue, we are now planning to ask the National Screening Committee, which advises Ministers on extensions to or modifications of existing screening programmes, to consider this matter in July. The Committee will assess the case for routinely inviting older women in the light of the evidence emerging from the pilot studies, and the workforce and other implications of extending the programme nationally.

  Midwives
  Mr. Alan Johnson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to encourage health authorities and trusts to implement the National Health Service Executive recommendation of a minimum F grade for midwives on the clinical grading scale. [43153]

  Mr. Milburn
  The National Health Service Executive recommended in 1995 (Executive Letter (95)77) that an "F' or "G" grade, or equivalent, would normally be appropriate for posts in which a midwife, regardless of the route to registration, has a defined caseload of women to whom she/he gives the full range of midwifery care. The Review Body for Nursing Staff, Midwives, Health Visitors and Professions Allied to Medicine recommended in January 1998 (paragraph 77) that"where midwives' roles have changed in line with the criteria given in EL(95)77, their pay and grading should reflect the fact. We therefore recommend that the Health Departments ensure implementation of the agreement EL(95)77 at Trust level."

  The Advance Letter promulgating the nurses' pay increase this year, to be distributed on 4 June, will draw this recommendation to the attention of employing authorities and ask them to act upon it.

  NHS Trusts (Health and Safety)
  Dr. Harris
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if National Health Service commissioners are required to stipulate health and safety performance standards in their contracts with NHS trusts. [43737]

  Mr. Milburn
  National Health Service commissioners are not required specifically to stipulate health and safety performance standards in their contracts with NHS trusts. Guidance issued by the NHS Executive (Health Service Guidelines (97)6) commends the inclusion of health and safety performance in the contracting process.
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  Tuberculosis
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to monitor(a) links between human TB and bovine TB and (b) the incidence of TB; and if he will make a statement. [43683]

  Ms Jowell
  There are established procedures for reporting, investigating and treating cases of tuberculosis, including the screening of contacts. Guidance on these matters is contained in the reports of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Tuberculosis, which were published in July 1996, copies of which are available in the Library, and in the publications of the British Thoracic Society and other specialist groups. Additionally, Veterinary Officers notify local authority environmental health officers when a restriction of movement order is imposed on a herd of cattle which has shown positive reactors, so that contact tracing can ensue.

  Cases due to M-bovis infection, the strain which infects badgers and cattle, are identified through culture of the infecting organism. Around 30 to 40 cases of human tuberculosis each year are confirmed to be due to M-bovis infection. These are mainly in older people who were exposed to bovine tuberculosis before sterilisation of milk and routine testing of herds for tuberculosis were introduced and are not thought to be due to recent transmission. However, as cases of bovine TB in cattle are increasing in the United Kingdom, this is something we are monitoring carefully.

  Tuberculosis is a notifiable disease. The incidence of cases is monitored nationally and by health authorities, and surveillance of laboratory confirmed cases is conducted on a routine basis by the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS). There were 5,913 notifications of tuberculosis reported in England and Wales in 1997 (provisional figure).

  The PHLS has taken steps to improve surveillance of tuberculosis, including resistant strains, and local initiatives by health authorities have been undertaken to improve completeness of notifications. In addition, the Department is funding the PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre to conduct a further 5-yearly survey of notifications of tuberculosis during 1998 to provide a more detailed picture of the disease in England and Wales.

  Hospital Closures (Cornwall and Scilly)
  Mr. Nicholls
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 May 1998,Official Report, column 265, what factors underlay the delays in considering proposals put forward by the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority. [43366]

  Mr. Milburn
  The proposals put forward by Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority remain under consideration by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The decision will reflect the best interests of the people of Cornwall and will be announced when all the relevant factors and information have been properly scrutinised.

  Emergency Contraception
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to ensure that women at risk of unwanted pregnancy use emergency contraception. [43453]
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  Ms Jowell
  The Health Education Authority ran a major public awareness campaign on emergency contraception in 1995 and 1996. The campaign was coordinated by the Contraceptive Education Service (CES), which is funded by the Department. CES continues to promote awareness of emergency contraception and made this its focus during Contraceptive Awareness Week in February. Earlier this year CES launched a new pack containing leaflets, posters and "credit cards" giving key information, plus guidance for professionals providing an emergency contraceptive service.

  User Groups
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines the NHS Executive has issued concerning procedures for health authority and NHS trust consultations with user groups. [43817]

  Mr. Milburn
  Health authorities are required to consult on proposals for substantial variations in service. Guidance on these consultations was set out in Executive Letter (90)185 and EL(96)17, copies of which are available in the Library.

  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the NHS Executive has issued on procedures for users to chair health authority and NHS trust user groups. [43818]

  Mr. Milburn
  None.

  Dental Services
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has held with dentists to encourage them to undertake work on the NHS. [43487]

  Mr. Milburn
  We are in regular contact with dentists and their representatives on a wide range of issues.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

  Western Sahara
  Mr. Lepper
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the Government have made of the current state of voter identification being undertaken by the United Nations Mission for a Referendum in Western Sahara; and what plans he has to provide a UK military contingent or other logistical support to MINURSO. [41773]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We are satisfied with progress made by MINURSO since the resumption of the Voter Identification Process in December 1997. The UN Secretary General reported on 13 April that 101,772 applicants have been identified, that fewer than 60,000 remain to be convoked, but the issue of the disputed tribes remains unresolved. We agree with the assessment of the UN Special Representative, Mr. Charles Dunbar, that delays mean it is possible that the Referendum will take place in 1999 rather than as originally scheduled on 7 December 1998.

  We have no current plans to contribute personnel or logistical support to MINURSO at the current time.
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  Indonesia
  Ann Clwyd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what mechanisms are in place to monitor the end use of British-made military equipment in Indonesia, separately identifying those relating to water cannon. [41545]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 11 May 1998]: No formal mechanisms exist at present for systematically monitoring the use that has been made of British defence equipment once it has been exported. Our Embassy in Jakarta does however report on the use of British-supplied defence equipment in the light of any information that they obtain.

  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review his policy on arms sales to Indonesia. [43485]

  Mr. Fatchett
  All applications for defence sales to Indonesia, and to other countries, are considered case by case against the new criteria we introduced last year. In accordance with the criteria, we keep the situation in recipient countries under review.

  Sierra Leone
  Mr. Howard
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the letters which his Department has received from Sandline's solicitors indicating in each case (i) the date, (ii) the date of the response, (iii) to whom it was sent and (iv) who replied to it. [41726]

  Mr. Robin Cook
  [holding answer 12 May 1998]: S. J. Berwin & Co, acting for Sandline International, wrote to me on 24 April. The Permanent Under-Secretary replied on 1 May. S. J. Berwin & Co also wrote to me on 8 May clarifying a reference in their letter of 24 April.

  S. J. Berwin & Co wrote to the Permanent Under-Secretary on 8 May to say that they were releasing their letter of 24 April to the press.

  I have also been sent a copy of a letter from S. J. Berwin & Co to the Chairman of Customs and Excise, and the Permanent Under-Secretary has been sent copies of letters to the editors of The Sunday Telegraph and The Observer.

  Arms Exports
  Mr. Coaker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards an agreed EU Code of Conduct on arms sales; and if he will make a statement. [43865]

  Mr. Fatchett
  On 25 May, the General Affairs Council reached agreement on the text of an EU Code of Conduct for Arms Exports, which will be formally adopted at a future meeting of the Council. The text is annexed to the Council Conclusions, a copy of which will be placed in the House Library.

  Agreement on the Code of Conduct is an important achievement, and fulfils the commitment given by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to my. hon. Friend the Member for East Ham (Mr. Timms) on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29. The detailed elaboration

  241
  of the eight EU Common Criteria agreed in 1991 and 1992 is a major step towards the establishment of high common standards for arms exports from all Member States. In addition the mechanism that requires Member States to circulate information on licence refusals and to consult before undercutting another Member State's denial is the first of its kind ever applied by a group of states to their conventional arms exports. It will help to ensure the criteria are applied in a consistent fashion and to produce a level playing field for British companies.

  Our efforts to promote responsibility and transparency in conventional arms transfers will not end with agreement on the Code of Conduct. We will continue to take steps in support of these principles at both national and international level. Member States will have the opportunity to review the operation of the Code itself after a year and agree any necessary improvements.

  I will make a further statement on the national implementation of the provisions of the Code following its formal adoption by the General Affairs Council.

  Colombia
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the recent trends in human rights violations in Colombia; and what representations he has made to the Colombian Government on this issue. [43948]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The recent upwards trend in violence in Colombia is of serious concern, as is the increasing number of attacks on human rights workers. We take every opportunity to express our concerns to the Colombian Government. Most recently, as EU Presidency, we made a demarche to the Colombian Government following the murders of two more human rights workers at the end of April. The new British Ambassador will take advantage of his introductory calls to raise again our human rights concerns with the Colombian Government.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on action being taken to implement the arrest warrants against Fidel and Carlos Castano Gil, in respect of the assassinations of two CINEP human rights workers on 19 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [43973]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We have received no representations with regard to the arrest warrants issued against Fidel and Carlos Castano Gil for their part in the murders of the CINEP human rights researchers. Britain, both as EU Presidency and bilaterally, has strongly urged the Colombian Government to pursue the arrest of these people with the utmost vigour.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the search of the Justice and Peace Office in Bogota on 13 May by the Colombian Army's Special Anti-Guerrilla Forces. [43946]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: We understand that the search of the offices of the human rights NGO, Justicia y Paz, was carried out under the supervision of the Colombian Fiscalia, the Prosecution Service. A local NGO has confirmed that the paperwork
  242
  for the search was in order and that the Fiscalia, a civilian body, stopped the search from progressing to eight other organisations named on the warrant. Officials at the British Embassy in Bogota are in close touch with a number of local NGOs about this issue.

  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures have been taken by the Colombian Government to implement the recommendations made in the report by the High Commissioner for Human Rights at the 54 Session of the UNCHR. [43947]

  Mr. Fatchett
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Colombian Government have taken a number of steps in pursuit of objectives outlined in the recommendations of the UNCHR 54th Session. These include measures to further the peace process, such as authorising a number of Departmental Governors to negotiate regional peace agreements with guerrillas. The armed forces Commander has sent written and verbal instructions to regional commanders to desist from any form of cooperation with paramilitary groups—another recommendation by the UNCHR. The 20th Intelligence Brigade, subject of numerous allegations of human rights violations, has also been disbanded. However, a number of other recommendations made by the High Commissioner for Human Rights are unlikely to be addressed until the new Colombian Government are installed in August. In the meantime, we shall continue to monitor the situation through our Embassy in Bogota and by other means.

  Nuclear Tests (South Asia)
  Mr. Corbyn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on actions taken to reduce nuclear testing in South Asia following the Indian nuclear test. [43945]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 1 June 1998, Official Report, columns 21–22, the UK nationally and through the G8, EU and UN Security Council has exerted and continues to exert strong diplomatic pressure on India to adhere to the CTBT and NPT without conditions, and enter into negotiations on a global treaty to end the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons. We have called upon Pakistan to do the same and made it clear that the best way to reduce tension in the region is to cease nuclear testing.

  In addition to issuing EU Presidency statements immediately following the first Indian and Pakistani tests, we recalled our High Commissioners in New Delhi and Islamabad for consultations, and summoned the Indian and Pakistani High Commissioners here. Heads of EU Troika missions made demarches in New Delhi and Islamabad on 12 and 13 May respectively. The UN Security Council issued Presidential statements on 14 and 29 May, strongly deploring the Indian and Pakistani actions. The G8 Heads of Government issued a statement on 18 May condemning the Indian tests. In the wake of the subsequent Pakistani tests we have invited G8 Foreign Ministers to meet in London on 12 June.

  The GAC issued a declaration on 25 May calling on India to take a number of arms control and non-proliferation measures. In addition, Member States of

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  the EU have agreed to work for deferral of consideration of International Financial Institution loans to India and to consider further measures should India not accede to the relevant non-proliferation agreements. The UK has additionally suspended certain high-level military visits and is reviewing contacts in the defence field.

  We expect comparable measures to be agreed for Pakistan, following their tests.

  Palestinian Authority
  Mr. Faber
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken during the United Kingdom presidency of the EU to increase the prosperity of the Palestinian people. [43833]

  Mr. Doug Henderson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The EU remains the single largest donor of aid to the Palestinian Authority, contributing 444 million mecu (about £290 million) in financial assistance to the Palestinian Authority in the period 1993–1998. The UK Presidency is working to ensure that this commitment is maintained in future. At the instigation of the UK, the EU has engaged Israel in a dialogue on ways to improve the Palestinian economy. The Minister of State co-chaired a plenary session of the dialogue during his visit to the region in January.

  Dependent Territories
  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the procedures whereby grant support to the Dependent Territories is administered. [43474]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We are establishing a new Overseas Territories Department within the FCO which will provide a single focus and a direct point of contact for all our Overseas Territories. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development also plans to establish an Overseas Territories Unit which will administer DFID assistance to Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos Islands and St. Helena. The Dependent Territories Regional Secretariat in Barbados will be closing later this year.

  Mr. Gordon Marsden
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on support for the Turks and Caicos Islands to assist them in dealing with large-scale unauthorised immigration from Haiti; and what response he has made. [43424]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  Following representations from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government, HMG contributed £200,000 towards a project managed by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to regularise the immigration status of Haitians living in the TCI and to assist with the orderly repatriation of illegal immigrants. Under this project, which ended in April 1998 having achieved its objectives, 2,654 illegal migrants have been returned to Haiti since January 1997 and 973 others have had their immigration validated. Those returned to Haiti have been assisted with relocation expenses, skills training and small business grants. The TCI Department of Immigration has received assistance with training and a computerised migrant management system.
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  Congo
  Dr. Tonge
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he is making to the United Nations regarding the withdrawal of the United Nations investigation team from the Democratic Republic of Congo. [43727]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The UK and our European Partners fully endorsed the UN Secretary General's decision to withdraw the Investigative Team, although we did so with regret. We believe a thorough and impartial investigation into human rights violations could make a valuable contribution to the process of reconciliation, leading to long term stability, security and economic development in the Great Lakes region and as a whole.

  The investigative team has continued its inquiries outside the Democratic Republic of Congo, and is currently drafting a report for the UN Secretary General. On the strength of the report and the Secretary General's recommendations, we will consider what further action might be appropriate.

  Ponsonby Rule
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell), of 13 February 1998,Official Report, column 406, on the Ponsonby rule, if he will provide the same information for those treaties laid before Parliament since 1 February. [43300]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: A total of 9 treaties subject to the Ponsonby Rule have been laid before Parliament since 1 February 1998. They are listed. The last day of the 21 day period is indicated on the list. These treaties have all been laid with an Explanatory Memorandum (EM) bringing to the attention of Parliament the main features of the treaty with which it is laid.
  Protocol to the agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the promotion and protection of investments.

  Publication reference—South Africa No. 1 (1998) Cm 3857

  EM No. 21

  Presented to Parliament—11 February 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—13 March 1998

  The European Charter of Local Self-Government

  Publication reference—Miscellaneous No. 1 (1998) Cm 3884

  EM No. 22

  Presented to Parliament—2 March 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—31 March 1998

  Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago concerning mutual assistance in relation to crime

  Publication reference—Trinidad and Tobago No. 1 (1998) Cm 3900

  EM No. 24

  Presented to Parliament—27 March 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—7 May 1998

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  Protocol to the agreement on cooperation and customs union between the European Economic Community and the Republic of San Marino consequent upon the accession of the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Finland and the Kingdom of Sweden to the European Union with Final Act

  Publication reference—European Communities No. 1 (1998) Cm 3899

  EM No. 23

  Presented to Parliament—3 April 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—14 May 1998

  Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Poland

  Publication reference—Miscellaneous No. 2 (1998) Cm 3929

  EM No. 25

  Presented to Parliament—7 April 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—18 May 1998

  Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Czech Republic

  Publication reference—Miscellaneous No. 3 (1998) Cm 3930

  EM No. 26

  Presented to Parliament—7 April 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—18 May 1998

  Protocol to the North Atlantic Treaty on the accession of the Republic of Hungary

  Publication reference—Miscellaneous No. 4 (1998) Cm 3931

  EM No. 27

  Presented to Parliament—7 April 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—18 May 1998

  Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium relating to the transmission of natural gas through a pipeline between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Kingdom of Belgium

  Publication reference—Belgium No. 1 (1998) Cm 3943

  EM No. 28

  Presented to Parliament—29 April 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—9 June 1998

  Agreement between the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of Japan for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy

  Publication reference—Japan No. 1 (1998) Cm 3948

  EM No. 29

  Presented to Parliament—8 May 1998

  Last date of 21 day period—18 June 1998.

  Iran
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the export of arms to Iran. [44492]

  Mr. Fatchett
  There has not been any change to current policy, as set out in the answer given by the Minister for State, my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Central (Mr. Lloyd), to my hon. Friend the Member for Rugby and Kenilworth (Mr. King) on 28 January 1998,Official Report, columns 273–74. We will not approve licences for any equipment where there is knowledge or reason to suspect that it would go to a military end-user to be used for military purposes.

  However, this department has recently approved the issue by the Department of Trade and Industry of a licence for the export of industrial gas turbine parts to Iran for civil end use. This particular industrial engine has been
  246
  developed from a military engine and is commonly used to drive pumps and electrical generators. The engine is not subject to export control when it is exported as a complete unit. However, when it is broken down into component form, a very small percentage of its parts are unchanged from their original form and, as military components, come within the scope of the UK' s arms embargo and are controlled under Part III of Schedule 1 to the Exports of Goods (Control) Order 1994. However, we are satisfied that Iran does not possess any aircraft powered by the original military engine, and that the risk of the components being diverted to use by the Iranian military is minimal. We have therefore approved the export.

  Hong Kong Elections
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment Her Majesty's Government have made of the Hong Kong legislative elections held on 24 May. [44493]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We welcome the fact that these elections have been held. The high turn-out demonstrates the determination of people in Hong Kong to play a full role in the democratic process. While we retain strong concerns about the framework for the elections, particularly the sharp reduction in the franchise for the functional constituencies, we believe that the conduct of the elections reflects well on the HKSAR Government and the independent Electoral Affairs Commission, which ensured strict adherence to the rules and fair treatment for all candidates.

  These elections are a step towards a legislature elected entirely through universal suffrage. We hope that the HKSAR Government will build on this achievement and work towards early realisation of this goal.

  Argentina
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new exceptions there have been to the arms embargo on Argentina. [44494]

  Mr. Tony Lloyd
  We have recently granted two exceptions to the embargo, one in respect of the sale of two hunting rifle barrels to a private individual in Argentina, another in respect of the sale of twenty deactivated weapons to an Argentine importer. These represent exceptions but not changes to the embargo.

  China
  Jane Griffiths
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions apply with respect to arms sales to China other than those general criteria announced on 28 July 1997. [44495]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The EU introduced a ban on arms sales to China on 26 June 1989, but the scope of that ban has, in the absence of agreement on a common interpretation, been left for national interpretation. The UK interprets this ban to include:lethal weapons such as machine guns, large calibre weapons, bombs, torpedoes, rockets and missiles; specially designed components of the above, and ammunition;

  247
  military aircraft and helicopters, vessels of war, armoured fighting vehicles and other such weapons platforms;
  any equipment which might be used for internal repression.

  All applications are considered case by case in the light of these criteria as the overall criteria governing defence exports announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 26–29.

  St. Helena
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to change the Governor of St. Helena. [44059]

  Mr. Fatchett
  We expect the next Governor of St. Helena to take up his or her appointment in 1999, when the present Governor's tour of duty is due to end.

  Ascension Island
  Dr. Marek
  To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what terms and conditions(a) the BBC and (b) the United States of America operate on Ascension. [44060]

  Mr. Fatchett
  The BBC, which runs a World Service relay station on Ascension, and other organisations on Ascension operate there on the basis that they meet the costs of the Administration and the cost of providing common services. They do this by means of an annual contribution to the common services budget prepared by Ascension Islands Services JV, the main supplier of common services. The BBC is the joint owner, with Cable and Wireless, of Ascension Island Services.

  The terms and conditions covering the presence of the United States of America on Ascension are set out in a series of bilateral Agreements and Exchanges of Notes, between Her Majesty's government and the Government of the United States of America. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.

AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD

  Bees
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much his Department plans to spend on research into the control of the varroa parasite in each of the next three years. [43398]

  Mr. Rooker
  Committed expenditure on research into the control of the varroa parasite over the next three years is as follows:

  1998–99: £215,109

  1999–2000: £240,118

  2000–01: £122,813.

  Requirements for further research will be considered as these projects near completion.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy are available to bee-keepers; and if he will make a statement; [43394]

  (2) how much money he received from the European Commission to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; [43400]
  248
  (3) what regulations cover the distribution of funds allocated by the European Commission to bee-keeping. [43402]

  Mr. Rooker
  Council Regulation 1221/97 to improve the production and marketing of honey provides for reimbursement of up to 50 per cent. of Member States' expenditure on certain measures including technical assistance to bee-keepers and control of varroa and related diseases. The main aim of the Regulation is to alleviate the burden on industry caused by varroa. Commission Regulation 2300/97 (as amended) lays down the detailed rules to implement 1221/97.

  The UK hopes to receive around 680,000 ecu (roughly £474,000) for 1997–98. This is the first year such funding has been available.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom will be spent on; [43401]

  (2) how much of the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom has been distributed to bee-keepers in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [43403]

  Mr. Rooker
  Funds requested from the European Commission will be used partly to finance the Governments' bee health programme. In particular, this will cover inspection and testing arrangements for varroa, training and advice on bee husbandry and research and development. No funds have yet been received.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations his Department has received concerning the funding allocated by the European Commission in 1997 to support bee-keeping in the United Kingdom; [43395]

  (2) what representations his Department has received concerning the use of public funds to research the varroa parasite. [43396]

  Mr. Rooker
  We have received a number of representations on these issues.

  Animal Welfare
  Mr. Chidgey
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is his policy to seek to ensure that EU member states can introduce restrictions on exports in order to protect the health and welfare of animals. [42985]

  Mr. Morley
  I see no scope at present for a new initiative on these lines. Such restrictions have already been tested in the courts.

  Chicken Imports
  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what controls exist on the importation of chickens which have been fed on meat and bone meal. [43218]

  Mr. Rooker
  The UK is the only EC country to have prohibited the feeding of mammalian meat and bone meal (MBM) to all farmed livestock, including poultry. MBM produced to EC rendering standards can still be fed to non-ruminants in other Member States. All poultry must be imported into the UK in compliance with detailed
  249
  animal health rules. These rules do not include any provisions directly relating to the feed given to the poultry in the country of origin.

  Mr. Baker
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum percentage of water allowed in chickens imported for sale. [43219]

  Mr. Rooker
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: For frozen whole chickens the standards laid down in the EC Poultrymeat Market Standards Regulations must be met by both domestic production and imports. These require that levels do not exceed the minium amounts technically unavoidable for water absorption during processing. These values are dependent upon the method of chilling and which of the two methods of analyses laid down in the Regulations are used. For the drip test method up to 1.5% of the weight of an air chilled chicken may be water; 3.3% for air spray chilling; and 5.1% for immersion chilling. For the chemical test, the weights are 0.1% air chilling; 2.0% for air spray chilling; and 4.5% for immersion chilling. If these limits are exceeded, the chicken must be labelled 'Water content exceeds EEC limit'.

  Following the recent adoption of an amendment to the Council Regulation on poultrymeat marketing, the Commission is starting work on detailed rules on chicken cuts. Meanwhile the provisions of the Food Labelling Regulations apply which require that added water exceeding 5% of the finished product should be declared in the ingredients list.

  Small Businesses
  Mr. Page
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the regulations that have been removed or amended to help small businesses since 1 May 1997. [42782]

  Mr. Morley
  Between 1 May 1997 and 30 April 1998 one Statutory Instrument, the Potatoes Originating in The Netherlands Regulations 1997, resulted in a lower cost than under the previous regulations and another Statutory Instrument, the Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997, in part led to reduced costs, while the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997, inter alia, simplified the legislative framework by removing 15 Statutory Instruments. These instruments were not targeted on businesses of a particular size but many affected are small ones. In addition, administrative changes to scheme forms and procedures were introduced to reduce the burden of paperwork on farmers.

  Gluten-free Food
  Mr. Paul Marsden
  To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to require that all gluten-free food products are so labelled. [43647]

  Mr. Rooker
  I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 21 May 1998,Official Report, columns 509–10. The Government have no plans to make "gluten free" a compulsory statement on the labels of gluten free food products.
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SOCIAL SECURITY

  Vaccine Damage
  Dr. Tony Wright
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of making an interim payment of £100,000 to all the vaccine-damaged children who received an original payment of £10,000. [43287]

  Mr. Denham
  The maximum total cost of making a payment of £100,000 to all recipients of the original £10,000 would be £79.5 million.

  Income Support
  Mr. Stinchcombe
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for income support have been refused by reference to the habitual residence test in the last 12 months broken down by(a) ethnic background and (b) nationality. [43282]

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

  Number of income support claimants who failed the habitual residence test between May 1997 and April 1998

  Categories

  Number

  European economic area nationals

  933

  United Kingdom nationals

  2,891

  Other nationals

  973

  Total

  4,797

  Household income
  Mr. Wigley
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of households with children in Wales have a household income below the United Kingdom average. [43596]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  It is estimated that in 1995/96, just over seven in ten households with children in Wales had a household income below the Great Britain average.

  Notes:

  1. A child is defined as an individual aged under 16 or an unmarried 16 to 18 year old on a course up to and including 'A' level standard.

  2. The FRS does not include data for Northern Ireland and so the reply uses Great Britain average income and not the UK average income.

  3. This figure relates to both the before and after housing costs measures, regardless of whether or not the self-employed are included.

  Source:

  The data are taken from Households Below Average Income (HBAI) based on the Family Resources Survey (FRS). The 1995/96 financial year is the latest period for which data are available.

  Widowers
  Mr. Todd
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Government will review the implications of the Human Rights Bill[Lords] for gender discrimination against widowers within the social security system; and if he will make a statement. [43847]
  251
  Mr. Denham
  I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Gorrie) on 23 June 1997,Official Report, column 415.

  Means-tested Benefits
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are currently dependent on means-tested benefits; and how many were in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1979–80, (c) 1981–82, (d) 1982–83, (e) 1986–87, (f) 1987–88, (g) 1991–92, (h) 1992–93, (i) 1996–97 and (j) 1997–98. [43919]

  Mr. Keith Bradley
  The information is not available in the format requested. Such data as are available are set out in the tables.

  Beneficiaries of means tested benefits

  Year

  Supplementary Benefit1

  Family Income Supplement1

  1978–79

  4,598,000

  313,000

  1979–80

  4,370,000

  n/a

  1981–82

  6,121,000

  382,000

  1982–83

  7,070,000

  526,000

  1986–87

  8,291,000

  723,000

  1987–88

  8,205,000

  794,000

  1 Family Credit replaced Family Income Supplement in April 1988. Income Support replaced Supplementary Benefit in April 1988

  Beneficiaries of one or more means tested benefit

  Year

  Beneficiaries in benefit units with one or more means-tested benefit

  1991–92

  13,650,000

  1992–93

  14,550,000

  1996–97

  15,070,000

  Notes:

  1. Means tested benefits are Income Support, Income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Family Credit, Disability Working Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

  2. Beneficiaries are defined as the claimant, their partner and any dependants.

  3. Figures for one or more means tested benefit are rounded to the nearest ten thousand. All other figures are rounded to the nearest thousand.

  4. Figures on one or more means-tested benefit are for May of each year and refer to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple. Family Income Supplement data is given as at December 1978 for 1978–79, and April of each year thereafter. Figures are not held for 1979–80. Supplementary Benefit figures are for November in 1978–79 and 1979–80, December for 1981–82 and 1982–83, February 1986 for 1986–87, and May 1987 for 1987–88.

  5. Overlap between benefits has been taken into account.

  6. Adult dependants are defined as the partner of the claimant.

  7. Family Income Supplement figures include estimates. Housing Benefit/Council Tax Benefit figures include estimates due to the data collection procedures in Scotland.

  8. Disability Working Allowance was introduced in April 1992.

  9. Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance replaced Income Support for the unemployed from October 1996.

  10. Council Tax Benefit replaced Community Charge Benefit in April 1993.

  11. Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit figures exclude cases where there is no entitlement because of non-dependant deductions.

  12. Council Tax Benefit cases do not include second adult rebate cases.

  13. Figures are not available on all means-tested benefits for 1997 therefore no figure is quoted for 1997–98.
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  14. Data on Housing Benefit and previous schemes providing financial assistance with domestic rent and rates cannot be broken down prior to 1988. Prior to 1983 financial assistance with rent and rates was provided under two separate schemes-Supplementary Benefit and the Local Authority rent rebate allowance schemes. Data on the Local Authority schemes are not available.

  15. Samples sizes:

  Supplementary Benefit: Supplementary pension cases 1 in 200;

  Supplementary Allowance cases 1 in 50;

  Income Support: 1 per cent. up to and including 1992, 5 per cent. thereafter;

  Family Income Supplement: 10 per cent.;

  Family Credit: 5 per cent.;

  Disability Working Allowance: 100 per cent.;

  Housing Benefit & Council Tax Benefit: 1 per cent.

  16. n/a denotes not available.

  Source:

  1. Supplementary Benefit Annual Statistical Inquiries, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1986 and 1987.

  2. Income Support Statistics Quarterly Inquiries, May 1991, May 1992 and May 1996.

  3. Family Credit Statistics Quarterly Inquiry, November 1997.

  4. Disability Working Allowance 100 per cent. count of claims.

  5. Housing Benefit Management Information Statistics, annual 1 per cent. sample inquiries without Income Support taken at the end of May in each year given. Social Security Statistics, 1978, 1981, 1982, 1987 and 1988.

  War Pensioners
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to the granting of compensation to war pensioners suffering from hearing difficulties since October 1996; and what plans she has for further changes. [43917]

  Mr. Denham
  There have been no changes to war pensions legislation on hearing loss since January 1993. The approach to the assessment of service related noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss for war pensions purposes has, however, been changed to bring it in line with the current scientific understanding of the subject. This change in approach took place in December 1996 and was based on the current understanding that the combination of sensorineural hearing losses due to noise and age are not more than additive. Claims were previously assessed on the basis that losses due to noise were more than additive, which resulted in assessments for service related noise-induced sensorineural hearing loss being increased with time to reflect the supposed interaction with age related hearing loss.

  The current understanding has been confirmed by independent experts who reviewed the scientific evidence at the request of my noble Friend, the Baroness Hollis of Heigham. The review team also recommended that the matter be reviewed again in a year. My noble Friend has therefore asked the medical policy adviser to review the position and report to her in February 1999.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes have been made to rent allowances for war pensioners since October 1996; and what plans she has for further changes. [43916]

  Mr. Denham
  No changes have been made to this allowance since October 1996 apart from the uprating in line with the annual increase in the retail price index from April 1997 and April 1998. There are no plans for any changes to this allowance.
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  Under the War Pensions Scheme, a rent allowance may be payable in respect of the death of a member of the armed forces to a widow, widower or unmarried dependant who lived as the spouse of the member.

  Housing Benefit
  Mr. Roy
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will publish for each Great Britain local authority, a breakdown, for each of the last five years, of housing benefit overpayment, in terms of(a) numbers, (b) amounts for each category of claimant and fraudulent errors and (c) (b) expressed as a percentage of (a). [41653]

  Mr. Field
  The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

  Incapacity Benefit
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the average time taken to deal with claims for incapacity benefit submitted by people in receipt of the jobseekers' allowance in Warrington, North constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. [43386]

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

  Letter from Peter Mathison to Helen Jones, dated 2 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what is the average time taken to deal with claims for Incapacity Benefit (IB) submitted by people in receipt of jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in the Warrington North constituency.
  Information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available relates to the average time taken to process all claims for IB. We are unable to identify claims made by customers transferring from JSA.
  The following table compares the national average in days for actual clearance times for IB claims with that for the Benefits Agency's North Cheshire District, which includes the Warrington North parliamentary constituency, during the three month period ending March 1998.

  North Cheshire

  National

  January 1998

  10.0

  12.9

  February 1998

  12.1

  10.1

  March 1998

  9.0

  10.1

  Average

  10.4

  11.0

  Prior to January 1998, Districts were not obliged to hold details of average actual clearance times and many Districts, including North Cheshire, did not record this information.
  I hope that this is helpful.

  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in Warrington, North in receipt of jobseeker's allowance have submitted claims for incapacity benefit over the past 12 months; and what percentage of those claims have been disallowed because the applicant had insufficient national insurance contributions. [43387]

  Mr. Denham
  The administration of Jobseeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
  254
  Letter from Peter Mathison to Helen Jones, dated 2 June 1998:
  The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people in Warrington North in receipt of Job Seekers' Allowance (JSA) have submitted claims for Incapacity Benefit (IB) over the past 12 months; and what percentage of those claims have been disallowed because the applicant had insufficient national insurance contributions.
  The information is not available in the form requested. Such information as is available is provided in the following tables. Please note that the areas covered by the Employment Services and Benefits Agency in Warrington are not co-terminus.

  Table One: Flows from the Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) claimant count to Incapacity Benefit (IB)

  September 96 to August 97

  Flow

  Great Britain

  254,500

  Warrington Employment Services

  760

  Notes:

  Flows from JSA to IB are defined as all claims where a claim for IB is made within 28 days of ending a spell of JSA. Claims are also counted as flows when spells of IB and JSA overlap by up to seven days. The Claimant Count data is taken from the joint unemployment and Vacancies On-line System (JUVOS) Cohort file IB Link, which is a database consisting of a 5% sample of computerised claims for unemployment related benefits based on the customers National Insurance number. This count excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  Table Two: IB claims allowed and disallowed (due to contribution conditions)

  September 96 to August 97

  Total Incapacity Benefit claims allowed (excluding Statutory Sick Pay cases)

  Total Incapacity Benefit claims disallowed at outset (excluding Statutory Sick Pay cases)

  Percentage of total claims disallowed due to insufficient National Insurance contribution (excluding Statutory Sick Pay cases)

  Great Britain

  418,920

  447,349

  52%

  Warrington Benefits Agency office

  3,573

  3,217

  47%

  Notes:

  Data source is the 100% scan of the Benefit Computer system and it therefore excludes a small number of clerically processed cases.

  I hope this is helpful.

  Pension Provision Group
  Mr. Pond
  To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when she will publish the report of the independent Pension Provision Group, chaired by Tom Ross. [44497]

  Ms Harman
  The Group's Report will be published tomorrow, Thursday 4 June. Copies will be placed in the library. A summary of the Report's findings will be issued to all hon. Members.

  The Pension Provision Group was set up last summer as part of the Government's wider Pensions Review, to provide an independent analysis of current and future patterns of pension provision. Their Report provides a clear and authoritative statement which will serve as an important background document for the pensions Green Paper which will be published later in the year.
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  I am grateful to all members of the Group for the time, commitment and expertise they provided and particularly to Tom Ross for his chairmanship.

EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT

  Information
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if his Department operates a monitoring exercise of persistent inquirers for information. [42633]

  Dr. Howells
  [holding answer 19 May 1998]: From April 1997 to March 1998 the DfEE's Public Inquiry Unit handled over 150,000 telephone inquiries and over 25,000 items of correspondence.

  The Department has no monitoring exercise of persistent inquiries for information. All requests for information are handled in line with the requirements of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information: second edition (1997) and the 6 Whitehall Standards. Procedures in place are outlined in `Departmental Openness', DfEE's guidance on the Code. The guidance is comprehensive and is available to all staff. Some parts of the Department may have established named individuals as a first point of contact for frequent callers to facilitate an effective and efficient service.

  New Deal (Young People)
  Mr. Keetch
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many people have had their benefits sanctioned under the New Deal for the Young Unemployed to date; what reasons have been given for the sanctioning; how many people his Department expects to sanction over the current financial year; and if he will make statement. [42569]

  Mr. Andrew Smith
  [holding answer 20 May 1998]: Since the start of New Deal, around 170 cases have been referred to Independent Adjudication and approximately 35 sanctions have been applied. Main reasons for sanctions are failure to attend adviser interviews and leaving options early. New Deal is a client driven initiative and there are no estimates or targets for sanctions.

  Rural Schools (Closures)
  Mr. Laurence Robertson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment by what mechanisms his Department is informed of proposed closures of rural schools; if local education authorities are required to inform him of proposals to close such schools; what criteria he will use to assess the viability of such schools; and if he will make a statement. [43486]

  Mr. Byers
  If a local education authority proposes to close a school, it must publish a statutory proposal and send a copy of the published proposal to the Secretary of State. In the case of proposals to close a rural school, we announced in February that it was our policy to give notice to the local education authority that the proposals 256
  would need to be decided by the Secretary of State. In assessing the viability of the school, we will take into account the advice of Ofsted in relation to the standard of education provided at the school, and consider other relevant factors, including the capacity of the school and the projected demand for places. We shall, of course, take account of all relevant factors in reaching a decision but the presumption will be against closure, and proposals will therefore be approved only when we are convinced that this is the best option.

  Grammar Schools (Admissions)
  Mr. Salter
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what arrangements will be made, under the School Standards and Framework Bill, for the conduct of parental ballots on the admission arrangements of grammar schools. [44431]

  Mr. Byers
  The Department has today issued draft regulations for consultation which detail how parents will be able to petition and ballot over the future of grammar schools' selective admission arrangements. We are issuing at the same time the associated draft order designating grammar schools. Copies of the draft regulations and order are being sent to all grammar schools, all local education authorities, and a number of representative national organisations, seeking comments by 31 July. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

  Student Loans
  Helen Jones
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the second competition to sell more of the student loan portfolio. [44432]

  Dr. Howells
  I have today announced the launch of a second competition to sell student loan debt. This is the continuation of a policy first announced in September 1996, and follows the successful completion of the first sale in March 1998 when NatWest Markets was the chosen bidder for a loan portfolio in the region of £1 billion.

  My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement of 10 July 1997, Official Report, columns 607–08, that we would continue the policy of student loan debt sales, underlining our commitment to developing a wide range of public-private partnerships which involve a transfer of risk to the private sector. This sale transfers to the private sector much of the risk of loans defaulting. It also helps us to meet our pledge to work within the spending plans already announced for the first two years of our term.

  We have appointed the merchant bank N. M. Rothschild and Sons and the commercial lawyers Lovell White Durrant as advisers to the sale. It makes sense to do so as they also acted as advisers to the first debt sale and have extensive knowledge and experience of these types of transactions. They will assist us in running a vigorous competition and help ensure the participation of some of the world's most prestigious financial institutions so that we obtain the most competitive bid possible.

  We aim to sell loans of a similar value or greater than in the first sale. All the loans sold will have been made

  257
  under the current scheme. None of the new income contingent loans available from the beginning of the 1998–99 academic year will be involved.

  Playgroups
  Mr. Dawson
  To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support he plans to make available to playgroups in the current financial year. [43422]
  258
  Ms Estelle Morris
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr. Hammond) on 12 May 1998, Official Report, column 86. In addition, pre-schools and playgroups have benefited from the extra £6 million for childcare places announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 6 May, and the Pre-School Learning Alliance will receive a grant of £1.6 million for training and other support for pre-schools.
  259

SCOTLAND

  Consultation Papers
  Mr. Gordon Prentice
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the consultation papers published since 1 May 1997 giving the date of publication, closing date for submissions and the number of respondents. [42253]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: The Scottish Office and Associated Departments have issued a total of 24 consultation papers since 1 Mary 1997, as summarised in the table.

  Number

  The Scottish Office

  Agriculture, Environment and Fisheries Department

  151

  Constitution Group

  1

  Department of Health

  6

  Development Department

  36

  Education and Industry Department

  17

  Finance Group

  1

  Home Department

  26

  Executive Agencies

  Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

  1

  Student Awards Agency for Scotland

  2

  A comprehensive list has been deposited in the House Library.

  Prestwick Airport
  Mr. David Marshall
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money from public funds has been allocated to Prestwick Airport since BAA sold it in 1992. [42853]

  Mr. McLeish
  [holding answer 19 May 1998]: The following amounts have been allocated to Prestwick Airport from public funds since 1992:

  Enterprise Ayrshire

  £974,000: environmental improvements to airport surrounds/car parks (includes money for works which were not of direct benefit to the operation of the airport itself);

  £426,000: contribution to link between railway station and airport; and

  £97,000: contribution to freight development activity including consultancy/market feasibility studies.

  Approval has also been given for funding of up to £1.5 million in relation to the development of airfreight facilities. No sum has yet been paid.

  Strathclyde Passenger Transport/Strathclyde Regional Council

  £500,000: contribution to railway station.

  European Regional Development Fund

  £367,033: contribution to railway station; and

  £63,260: contribution to airport approach radar.

  Regional Selective Assistance

  £240,000: contribution by October 1994 to acquisition and operation of Prestwick Airport.

  260

  Other assistance

  Other local authority assistance was provided in the form of loans/shares. These have all been repaid/redeemed for the same amount.

  Special Advisers
  Mr. Sayeed
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many special advisers, political advisers and other political appointees are working in his Department; and what was the position in the last full year of the last Government. [43331]

  Mr. Dewar
  There are currently three Special Advisers in my Department. In the last full year of the previous administration there were two.

  Smoking
  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of teenage(a) boys and (b) girls in Scotland was smoking tobacco (i) in 1988 and (ii) at the most recent date for which figures are available. [44021]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is detailed in the table. The most recent year for which figures are available is 1996.

  Percentage of teenage smokers in Scotland by sex: 1988 and 1996

  Percentage

  1988

  1996

  Boys

  Regular smokers

  10

  14

  Occasional smokers

  4

  8

  Girls

  Regular smokers

  14

  14

  Occasional smokers

  6

  9

  Source:

  Social Survey Division of the Office for National Statistics

  Mr. Flynn
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the estimated gross cost of anti-smoking campaigns in Scotland aimed at children and young people has been since 1988; and what assessment he has made of the impact of the campaigns on teenage(a) boys and (b) girls. [44020]

  Mr. Galbraith
  Since its inception in 1991, the main responsibility for mounting national anti-smoking campaigns has rested with the Health Education Board for Scotland (HEBS)—information on expenditure prior to that is not held centrally. Details of expenditure in this area since 1991–92 are set out in the table, which shows the total amount spent on all anti-smoking activities and the proportion attributable to the teenage population (many of the campaigns are not targeted at any specific age group).

  Expenditure by HEBS on anti-smoking campaigns aimed at teenagers since its inception

  £

  Year

  Total expenditure on smoking (actual)

  Expenditure attributable to teenage smoking

  1991–92

  431,020

  Not available

  1992–93

  2,254,513

  993,000

  261

  Expenditure by HEBS on anti-smoking campaigns aimed at teenagers since its inception

  £

  Year

  Total expenditure on smoking (actual)

  Expenditure attributable to teenage smoking

  1993–94

  1,469,816

  883,000

  1994–95

  790,424

  432,000

  1995–96

  851,616

  341,000

  1996–97

  702,077

  270,000

  1997–98

  743,504

  330,000

  1998–99

  1708,000

  236,000

  1 Intended

  Activities and outputs by HEBS are subject to extensive developmental research and are implemented only if the approaches in question have been proven to be effective. Activities are also the subject of post-implementation evaluation to confirm that the message has been communicated successfully. The relatively high response rate to the HEBs Smokeline by teenagers suggests that the messages are being received and responded to. There has been no gender-based assessment by HEBS of the impact of its campaigns on teenagers.

  European Structural Funds
  Mr. Sanders
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what the costs were in each year since 1990 of administering European Structural Fund programmes in Scotland. [43843]

  Mr. Macdonald
  The information is set out in the table.

  Expenditure £ million

  Financial year

  The Scottish Office1

  Programme Executives2

  Objective 3 Sector Managers3

  1990–91

  0.285

  nil

  nil

  1991–92

  40.409

  nil

  nil

  1992–93

  40.573

  0.134

  nil

  1993–94

  40.788

  0.233

  nil

  1994–95

  41.114

  0.541

  0.119

  1995–96

  1.045

  1.098

  0.486

  1996–97

  1.005

  1.449

  0.493

  1997–98

  0.965

  1.528

  0.328

  1 The Scottish Office: Implementing Authority responsibility and programme management for three 5b Programmes in Borders, North and West Grampian and Rural Stirling and Upland Tayside

  2 Programme Executives: Responsibility for implementation of Highlands and Islands Objective 1, Eastern and Western Scotland Objective 2, and Dumfries and Galloway Objective 5b Programmes

  3 Objective 3: Organisations contracted to undertake certain implementation activities for Objective 3 in Scotland (Scottish Enterprise; Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations; Further Education College Sector for Scotland; and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities)

  4 For these years the expenditure includes work carried out on general European issues. It is not possible to identify costs relating solely to Structural Funds activities.

  262

  Royal Deeside Partnership
  Mr. Jenkin
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many requests he has received to meet the Royal Deeside Partnership; and if he will make a statement. [43210]

  Mr. Wilson
  [holding answer 1 June 1998]: None.

  Education Expenditure
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was his Department's budget for primary and secondary education (i) in cash terms and (ii) in real terms in 1998–99 prices and (iii) as percentage of Scottish gross domestic product in each year since 1978–79; and how much was spent per(a) primary and (b) secondary pupil in Scotland in (1) cash terms and (2) real terms, in 1998–99 prices, in each of these years. [43391]

  Mr. Dewar
  [holding answer 2 June 1998]: Direct expenditure by The Scottish Office on the education of school pupils in public sector schools is limited to grants made available to Jordanhill School, a grant-aided school; and Dornoch Academy and St. Mary's Episcopal Primary School, which are both self-governing schools. The annual recurrent grant for these schools in financial year 1997–98 totalled £3.283 million.

  Details of actual expenditure per primary and secondary pupil in local authority schools in Scotland are given in the table. Financial year 1996–97 is the latest year for which information is currently available. The figures, which are derived from local authority financial returns, do not include the cost of home to school transport, school meals, education authority central administration costs and loan charges.

  Net current expenditure per pupil in Scotland

  £

  Outturn prices

  1998–99 prices

  Year

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  1978–79

  409

  698

  1,328

  2,267

  1979–80

  488

  811

  1,358

  2,256

  1980–81

  636

  1,021

  1,496

  2,401

  1981–82

  746

  1,165

  1,600

  2,498

  1982–83

  816

  1,266

  1,633

  2,534

  1983–84

  877

  1,366

  1,678

  2,613

  1984–85

  913

  1,466

  1,663

  2,670

  1985–86

  958

  1,562

  1,654

  2,697

  1986–87

  1,036

  1,764

  1,736

  2,957

  1987–88

  1,143

  1,996

  1,819

  3,176

  1988–89

  1,247

  2,263

  1,860

  3,375

  1989–90

  1,385

  2,496

  1,931

  3,480

  1990–91

  1,508

  2,683

  1,947

  3,463

  1991–92

  1,633

  2,834

  1,982

  3,439

  1992–93

  1,766

  2,914

  2,057

  3,393

  1993–94

  1,773

  2,846

  2,006

  3,221

  1994–95

  1,797

  2,874

  2,003

  3,204

  1995–96

  1,854

  2,942

  2,012

  3,192

  1996–971

  11,846

  12,937

  11.949

  13,101

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was(a) the standard spending assessment and (b) actual spending per pupil in (1) primary and (2) secondary education in (i) 1978–79, (ii) 1979–80, (iii) 1986–87, (iv) 1987–88, (v) 1996–97 and (vi) 1997–98 for Scotland as a whole and each local authority. [43900]
  263
  Mr. Dewar
  The term Standard Spending Assessment reflects arrangements in England. The equivalent in Scotland is the Grant Aided Expenditure Assessment. GAEs are available only from financial year 1986–87 but not all of the components of the Education GAE are in a form which identifies separately primary and secondary education. Information on each Scottish local authority's GAE assessment for all services, including all relevant Education sub-services, is published by The Scottish Office annually in "Grant-Aided Expenditure" (the Green Book).

  Table 1—net current expenditure per pupil

  £

  1978–79

  1979–80

  1986–87

  1987–88

  Region

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Primary

  Secondary

  Borders

  448

  601

  542

  726

  1,091

  1,601

  1,170

  1,777

  Central

  384

  676

  447

  776

  961

  1,644

  1,082

  1,894

  Dumfries and Galloway

  365

  682

  456

  798

  946

  1,712

  1,071

  1,971

  Fife

  412

  675

  486

  782

  1,017

  1,705

  1,136

  1,992

  Grampian

  407

  730

  508

  835

  1,021

  1,724

  1,101

  1,939

  Highland

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  1,029

  1,618

  1,169

  1,866

  Lothian

  421

  722

  507

  880

  1,030

  1,844

  1,109

  2,044

  Strathclyde

  413

  697

  487

  795

  1,059

  1,781

  1,163

  2,008

  Tayside

  374

  677

  450

  812

  981

  1,766

  1,100

  2,029

  Orkney

  565

  658

  731

  820

  1,249

  2,007

  1,565

  2,125

  Shetland

  407

  901

  543

  1,151

  1,391

  2,503

  1,551

  2,874

  Eilean Siar (Western Isles)

  486

  840

  570

  988

  1,079

  2,121

  1,402

  2,410

  Scotland

  409

  698

  488

  811

  1,036

  1,764

  1,143

  1,996

  Table 2—net current expenditure per pupil

  £

  1996–97 (provisional)

  Council

  Primary

  Secondary

  Aberdeen City

  1,805

  2,971

  Aberdeenshire

  1,857

  2,759

  Angus

  1,799

  2,835

  Argyll and Bute

  2,382

  3,003

  Clackmannanshire

  1,761

  2,932

  Dumfries and Galloway

  1,766

  2,905

  Dundee City

  1,793

  3,142

  East Ayrshire

  1,820

  2,747

  East Dunbartonshire

  1,659

  2,599

  East Lothian

  1,764

  2,923

  East Renfrewshire

  1,571

  2,611

  Edinburgh City

  1,774

  3,011

  Falkirk

  1,755

  2,751

  Fife

  1,754

  2,674

  Glasgow City

  2,007

  3,322

  Highland

  1,966

  3,135

  Inverclyde

  1,780

  2,844

  Midlothian

  1,882

  2,880

  Moray

  1,513

  2,799

  North Ayrshire

  1,750

  2,776

  North Lanarkshire

  1,836

  2,854

  Perth and Kinross

  1,750

  2,751

  Renfrewshire

  1,785

  2,909

  Scottish Borders

  1,896

  3,039

  South Ayrshire

  1,723

  2,780

  South Lanarkshire

  1,893

  2,863

  Stirling

  1,947

  2,987

  West Dunbartonshire

  1,912

  2,833

  West Lothian

  1,830

  2,945

  Orkney

  2,711

  3,778

  Shetland

  2,497

  5,777

  Eilean Siar (Western Isles)

  2,531

  4,553

  Scotland

  1,846

  2,937

  264
  Details of actual expenditure for the years requested (except for 1997–98 which is not yet available) are given in the tables. Table 1 reflects the former local authority structure in Scotland, and table 2 the unitary structure which came into effect in 1996–97. The figures, which are derived from local authority financial returns, do not include the cost of home to school transport, school meals, education authority central administration costs, and loan charges.

  NHS Trusts (Expenditure)
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of capital expenditure (i) in real terms, (ii) in cash terms and (iii) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland undertaken by National Health Service trusts in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95, (e) 1995–96, (f) 1996–97 and (g) 1997–98. [43905]

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

  Real terms £000

  Cash terms £000

  Percentage of total NHS expenditure

  1991–92

  0

  0

  0

  1992–93

  15,429

  13,596

  0.3

  1993–94

  85,611

  77,632

  1.9

  1994–95

  166,678

  153,420

  3.6

  1995–96

  223,358

  211,296

  4.8

  1996–97

  167,091

  162,698

  3.7

  1997–98

  123,948

  123,948

  3.1

  Executive Search Agencies
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has spent in(a) real and (b) cash terms on executive search agencies for appointments to non-departmental bodies in each year since 1991–92, broken down by non-departmental body. [43914]
  265
  Mr. Dewar
  The information is as follows:

  £

  Expenditure

  Body

  Cash terms

  Real terms

  1994–95

  Water Authorities

  38,590

  41,814

  1995–96

  Scottish Homes

  7,159

  7,548

  1996–97

  Crofters Commission

  6,462

  6,618

  Scottish Homes

  7,339

  7,516

  Royal Botanic Garden

  6,462

  6,618

  Macaulay Land Use Research Institute Scottish Crop Research Institute

  12,995

  13,309

  Caledonian MacBrayne

  6,462

  6,618

  1998–99

  Royal Botanic Garden

  7,352

  7,352

  There was no significant expenditure in the other years covered by the Question.

  Standard Grade Examinations
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many 16-year-olds gained five standard grades in each year since 1993. [43897]

  Mr. Dewar
  Information on presentations and awards at Standard Grade is held for school year cohorts and this does not always correspond with pupil age. The tables show how many pupils in S4 were presented for five or more Standard Grade examinations in each year since 1993 and how many S4 pupils gained five or more Standard Grade awards in each year since 1993 at levels 1–3.

  S4 Pupils presented for five or more Standard Grades

  1993: 54,897

  1994: 55,698

  1995: 60,483

  1996: 62,097

  1997: 60,871

  S4 Pupils who gained five or more Standard Grades at levels 1–3

  1993: 28,472

  1994: 30,665

  1995: 33,553

  1996: 34,884

  1997: 35,489.

  NHS Administration Costs
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total costs associated with administration in the NHS in Scotland (1) in real terms, (2) in cash terms and (3) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1979–80, (c) 1982–83, (d) 1983–84, (e) 1986–87, (f) 1987–88, (g) 1991–92, (h) 1992–93, (i) 1993–94, (j) 1994–95, (k) 1995–96, (l) 1996–97 and (m) 1997–98. [43906]
  266
  Mr. Galbraith
  The information requested is set out in the table.

  Year

  Real terms (£000)

  Cash terms (£000)

  Percentage of total NHS expenditure

  1978–79

  240,722

  78,266

  9.7

  1979–80

  182,601

  69,288

  7.3

  1982–83

  243,025

  128,191

  7.4

  1983–84

  238,283

  131,518

  7.1

  1986–87

  293,124

  184,639

  8.9

  1987–88

  287,049

  190,437

  8.4

  1991–92

  390,592

  339,839

  9.3

  1992–93

  390,469

  353,996

  9.1

  1993–94

  429,121

  400,344

  9.7

  1994–95

  493,781

  467,611

  10.8

  1995–96

  500,471

  486,964

  11.1

  1996–97

  490,077

  490,077

  11.2

  1997–98

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a

  n/a=not available

  The introduction of capital charges in 1991–92, to reflect the costs of using capital resources, is reflected in that and subsequent years' expenditure.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid (i) in real terms, (ii) in cash terms and (iii) as a percentage of total NHS expenditure in Scotland to NHS trust chairs and non-executive directors in each year since 1991–92. [43912]

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

  Year

  Real terms (£000)

  Cash terms (£000)

  Percentage of total NHS expenditure

  1992–93

  Chairman

  38

  36

  0.001

  Non executive directors

  77

  70

  0.002

  1993–94

  Chairman

  330

  308

  0.008

  Non executive directors

  799

  745

  0.018

  1994–95

  Chairman

  754

  714

  0.017

  Non executive directors

  1,778

  1,684

  0.039

  1995–96

  Chairman

  879

  855

  0.020

  Non executive directors

  2,047

  1,992

  0.045

  1996–97

  Chairman

  854

  854

  0.020

  Non executive directors

  1,982

  1,982

  0.045

  Departmental Publicity
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure in(a) real and (b) cash terms of his Department and its agencies on publicity for (1) 1996–97 and (2) 1997–98; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1998–99; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (i) advertising and (ii) press and public relations. [43931]
  267
  Mr. Dewar
  The details are:

  £ million

  Cash terms

  Real terms

  1996–97

  Advertising

  4.8

  5.0

  Press and public relations1

  1.8

  1.9

  Total

  6.6

  6.9

  1997–98

  Advertising

  3.7

  3.8

  Press and public relations1

  1.8

  1.9

  Total

  5.5

  5.7

  1 These figures are the running costs of The Scottish Office Information Directorate, the Press Office of Historic Scotland and the Communications Branch of the Scottish Prison Service

  Advertising budgets for 1998–99 have not been finalised. The total estimated running costs for The Scottish Office Information Directorate, Historic Scotland and the Scottish Prison Service for 1998–99 is £2m.

  Voucher redemption statistics for pilot year 1996–97

  Local authority

  No. of eligible children1 for whom application for vouchers was not received

  No. of eligible children attending LA centres5

  No. of eligible children attending private sector centres3

  No. of eligible children attending voluntary sector centres3

  No. of eligible children attending other centres4

  % share of voucher redemption within LA centres6

  % share of voucher redemption within private sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within voluntary sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within other centres

  Argyll & Bute

  +32(2)

  216

  48

  162

  0

  52

  11

  37

  0

  East Renfrewshire

  86

  650

  142

  207

  22

  64

  14

  20

  2

  Highland

  23

  319

  0

  121

  0

  73

  0

  27

  0

  North Ayrshire

  28

  986

  198

  504

  0

  58

  12

  30

  0

  Total

  105

  2,171

  388

  994

  22

  61

  11

  27

  1

  1 Eligible children were those born between 1 March 1993 and 28 February 1994 and those born between 1 September 1992 and 28 February 1993 whose entry to primary school had been deferred

  2 The estimated number of children was derived from an estimate (particularly in the part local authority areas of Argyll & Bute) by the pilot authorities—more applications were received from Argyll and Bute than estimated

  3 The split between the private and voluntary sectors is based on information provided by the centres about the sector to which they belong

  4 Other centres in the pilot areas were represented by one independent school

  5 Some children attended more than one centre in more than one sector

  6 The percentage share of redemption is based on the number of voucher parts redeemed by each sector

  Voucher redemption statistics for transitional year 1997–981

  Local authority

  No. of eligible children2 for whom application for vouchers was not received

  No. of children attending LA centres5

  No. of children attending private sector centres3

  No. of children attending voluntary sector centres3

  No. of children attending other centres4

  % share of voucher redemption within LA centres6

  % share of voucher redemption within private sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within voluntary sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within other centres

  Aberdeen City

  160

  2,001

  348

  50

  155

  80

  12

  2

  6

  Aberdeenshire

  151

  2,395

  696

  843

  54

  70

  14

  15

  1

  Angus

  65

  1,211

  95

  24

  0

  92

  7

  1

  0

  Argyll and Bute

  68

  539

  163

  340

  41

  55

  15

  25

  5

  Clackmannanshire

  17

  563

  50

  11

  0

  91

  7

  2

  0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  73

  1,692

  86

  85

  4

  94

  3

  3

  71

  Dundee City

  94

  1,528

  263

  14

  0

  85

  14

  71

  0

  East Ayrshire

  53

  1,296

  117

  113

  0

  87

  7

  6

  0

  East Dunbartonshire

  38

  664

  346

  221

  79

  54

  25

  14

  7

  East Lothian

  36

  1,109

  52

  19

  18

  94

  4

  1

  1

  East Renfrewshire

  26

  776

  148

  212

  20

  69

  12

  17

  2

  Edinburgh City

  242

  3,994

  652

  103

  367

  79

  12

  2

  7

  Falkirk

  36

  1,640

  61

  4

  0

  97

  3

  71

  0

  Fife

  168

  4,023

  91

  0

  29

  97

  2

  0

  71

  Glasgow City

  587

  5,811

  740

  245

  244

  84

  10

  3

  3

  Highland

  138

  1,943

  373

  563

  0

  74

  10

  16

  0

  Inverclyde

  42

  729

  165

  153

  20

  72

  12

  14

  2

  Midlothian

  36

  952

  41

  25

  0

  94

  4

  2

  0

  268

  Nursery Education
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many four-year olds were in(a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) local authority pre-school provision in each (i) pilot area of the nursery voucher scheme and (ii) local authority area in each year since 1995–96; [43892]

  (2) how many (a) parents and (b) eligible children in each (i) pilot nursery area of the nursery voucher scheme and (ii) local authority area have not taken up the entitlement to apply for a voucher in each year since 1995–96; [43893]

  (3) what proportion of nursery vouchers have been redeemed in (a) the public, (b) the private and (c) the voluntary sector in each year since 1995–96. [43894]

  Mr. Dewar
  Pre-school education vouchers were piloted in the school year 1996–97 and are operating on a simplified basis across Scotland for school year 1997–98 only. The voucher information requested is set out in the tables. Information on nursery places in 1995–96 is given in the answer to questions 43895 and 43898.
  269

  Voucher redemption statistics for transitional year 1997–981

  Local authority

  No. of eligible children2 for whom application for vouchers was not received

  No. of children attending LA centres5

  No. of children attending private sector centres3

  No. of children attending voluntary sector centres3

  No. of children attending other centres4

  % share of voucher redemption within LA centres6

  % share of voucher redemption within private sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within voluntary sector centres

  % share of voucher redemption within other centres

  Moray

  63

  749

  89

  218

  47

  70

  8

  18

  4

  North Ayrshire

  52

  1,014

  432

  272

  0

  61

  21

  15

  0

  North Lanarkshire

  221

  2,830

  828

  250

  3

  75

  20

  5

  71

  Orkney Islands

  11

  235

  48

  41

  0

  82

  11

  7

  0

  Perth and Kinross

  71

  1,204

  285

  78

  54

  79

  15

  3

  3

  Renfrewshire

  67

  1,547

  288

  166

  2

  79

  13

  8

  71

  Scottish Borders

  45

  941

  132

  113

  3

  83

  9

  7

  71

  Shetland Islands

  16

  245

  0

  114

  0

  79

  0

  21

  0

  South Ayrshire

  52

  987

  145

  71

  31

  81

  11

  5

  3

  South Lanarkshire

  250

  2,032

  1,204

  671

  28

  58

  29

  13

  71

  Stirling

  28

  809

  108

  56

  47

  86

  8

  2

  4

  West Dumbartonshire

  47

  1,090

  65

  14

  0

  94

  5

  1

  0

  West Lothian

  56

  2,055

  117

  0

  0

  95

  5

  0

  0

  Western isles

  16

  24

  76

  200

  0

  10

  24

  66

  0

  Total

  3,025

  48,628

  8,304

  5,289

  1,246

  80

  12

  6

  2

  1 Information based on take up of vouchers for the spring term as at 1 May 1998

  2 Eligible children are those born between 1 March 1994 and 28 February 1995 and those born between 1 September 1993 and 28 February 1994 whose entry to primary school had been deferred

  3 The split between the private and voluntary sectors is based on information provided by the centres about the sector to which they belong

  4 Other centres include independent, grant aided special and self governing schools

  5 Some children attend more than one centre in more than one sector

  6 The percentage share of redemption is based on the number of voucher parts redeemed by each sector

  7 Less than

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery places have been made available to(a) three and (b) four-year olds in (i) public, (ii) private and (iii) voluntary sectors in each local authority area in each year since 1995–96. [43896]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The latest available information is for November 1996 and is set out in the table. Details are not available on the ages of children using the

  Nursery places by local authority and sector at November 1996

  Sector

  Local authority

  Local authority Termtime places

  Private Termtime places

  Voluntary Termtime places

  Other/not known Termtime places

  Total Termtime places

  Aberdeen, City

  0

  33

  0

  1,286

  1,319

  Aberdeenshire

  0

  495

  0

  15

  510

  Angus

  0

  386

  44

  0

  430

  Argyll and Bute

  18

  109

  68

  0

  195

  Clackmannanshire

  110

  112

  0

  0

  222

  Dumfries and Galloway

  0

  142

  42

  0

  184

  Dundee, City

  0

  590

  104

  0

  694

  East Ayrshire

  134

  200

  0

  0

  334

  East Dunbartonshire

  0

  259

  0

  0

  259

  East Lothian

  0

  206

  69

  0

  275

  East Renfrewshire

  529

  0

  0

  271

  800

  Edinburgh, City of

  0

  2,705

  131

  0

  2,836

  Eilean Siar

  0

  10

  10

  0

  20

  Falkirk

  276

  388

  0

  0

  664

  Fife

  0

  425

  0

  0

  425

  Glasgow, City of

  1,080

  2,185

  365

  13

  3,643

  Highland

  0

  452

  40

  0

  492

  Inverclyde

  224

  233

  0

  112

  569

  Midlothian

  0

  206

  0

  0

  206

  Moray

  0

  124

  0

  0

  124

  North Ayrshire

  290

  612

  96

  0

  998

  North Lanarkshire

  363

  838

  133

  0

  1,334

  Orkney Islands

  0

  38

  0

  0

  38

  Perth and Kinross

  0

  634

  0

  24

  658

  Renfrewshire

  603

  413

  48

  37

  1,101

  Scottish Borders

  0

  298

  44

  0

  342

  270
  places, but a survey in 1994 showed that, of all children attending Day Nurseries, Private Nursery Schools, Nursery Centres and Community Nurseries, around 32 per cent. were aged 3 and 28 per cent. aged 4. At that time the average number of children attending was about 45 per cent. higher than the number of places, as some children attended part-time.
  271

  Nursery places by local authority and sector at November 1996

  Sector

  Local authority

  Local authority Termtime places

  Private Termtime places

  Voluntary Termtime places

  Other/not known Termtime places

  Total Termtime places

  Shetland Islands

  0

  24

  0

  0

  24

  South Ayrshire

  63

  378

  0

  0

  441

  South Lanarkshire

  893

  805

  97

  0

  1,795

  Stirling

  588

  303

  0

  0

  891

  West Dunbartonshire

  269

  235

  0

  0

  504

  West Lothian

  0

  433

  49

  0

  482

  Scotland

  5,440

  14,271

  1,340

  1,758

  22,809

  Note:

  This table does not include places in Children and Family Centres and other centres where the focus of the work is normally the provision of special support to children and parents

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many(a) three and (b) four-year olds were in receipt of pre-school education in each year since 1995–96; and how many have registered in each year since August 1996, broken down by (i) type of provision and (ii) unitary authority; [43895]

  (2) how many (a) three and (b) four-year olds there were in nursery schools and classes in each education authority in each year since 1991–92; what estimates he has made of the numbers in (i) 1998–99 and (ii) 1999–2000; and what percentage each of these figures represent of all children in the authority area. [43898]

  Mr. Dewar
  The Government's target is to provide a place for every child in the pre-school year whose parents want one by this winter with staged targets for children

  Education authority and independent nursery schools and classes Total number of three and four year old pupils by EA1, 2

  1991–923

  1992–93

  1993–94

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  Scotland

  12,921

  20

  33,117

  50

  12,886

  20

  34,783

  53

  13,822

  21

  34,738

  54

  Aberdeen City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  653

  26

  1,832

  72

  644

  25

  1,826

  73

  Aberdeenshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  157

  5

  1,550

  49

  203

  7

  1,636

  53

  Angus

  —

  —

  —

  —

  108

  8

  559

  42

  79

  6

  626

  47

  Argyll & Bute

  —

  —

  —

  —

  83

  8

  108

  10

  83

  8

  146

  14

  Clackmannanshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  178

  29

  472

  73

  199

  31

  427

  71

  Dumfries & Galloway

  —

  —

  —

  —

  172

  10

  1,070

  59

  175

  10

  1,061

  60

  Dundee City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  720

  39

  1,382

  72

  744

  39

  1,431

  78

  East Ayrshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  517

  31

  1,128

  66

  493

  30

  1,104

  66

  East Dunbartonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  91

  6

  186

  13

  83

  6

  162

  11

  East Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  317

  29

  868

  79

  360

  32

  829

  74

  East Renfrewshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  165

  13

  469

  39

  199

  17

  447

  36

  Edinburgh, City of

  —

  —

  —

  —

  1,696

  34

  3,571

  71

  1,739

  34

  3,664

  74

  Eilean Siar4

  —

  —

  —

  —

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Falkirk

  —

  —

  —

  —

  323

  19

  1,170

  67

  366

  20

  1,216

  71

  Fife

  —

  —

  —

  —

  879

  20

  3,710

  81

  754

  17

  3,651

  81

  Glasgow City

  —

  —

  —

  —

  3,299

  42

  5,430

  68

  3,526

  45

  5,496

  71

  Highland

  —

  —

  —

  —

  129

  5

  762

  29

  114

  4

  720

  27

  Inverclyde

  —

  —

  —

  —

  191

  16

  467

  39

  239

  21

  443

  38

  Midlothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  244

  23

  721

  65

  360

  34

  755

  72

  Moray

  —

  —

  —

  —

  67

  6

  667

  60

  95

  8

  559

  49

  North Ayrshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  100

  6

  345

  18

  103

  6

  337

  19

  North Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  538

  13

  1,649

  38

  657

  15

  1,558

  37

  Orkney Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  49

  18

  143

  51

  37

  14

  172

  61

  Perth & Kinross

  —

  —

  —

  —

  235

  16

  577

  37

  248

  16

  673

  44

  Renfrewshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  374

  17

  1,122

  50

  373

  16

  994

  44

  Scottish Borders

  —

  —

  —

  —

  50

  4

  433

  35

  28

  2

  453

  37

  Shetland Islands

  —

  —

  —

  —

  94

  29

  161

  50

  84

  25

  180

  55

  South Ayrshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  105

  8

  506

  37

  152

  11

  463

  34

  South Lanarkshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  258

  7

  820

  21

  287

  7

  752

  19

  Stirling

  —

  —

  —

  —

  171

  18

  544

  56

  167

  17

  624

  65

  West Dunbartonshire

  —

  —

  —

  —

  419

  32

  932

  67

  523

  41

  927

  70

  West Lothian

  —

  —

  —

  —

  504

  25

  1,429

  69

  708

  35

  1,406

  68

  272
  in the ante-pre-school year thereafter. The information requested about the number of three and four year old children in nursery schools and classes in each local authority area since 1991–92 is set out in the table. Information on the pre-school year children who have received education from registered non-school providers since 1996–97 has been provided in response to questions 43892–94 which I have answered today. Projected participation rates for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 cannot be confirmed until authorities have finalised plans for the expansion of places through partnership with centres in the voluntary and private sectors. Preliminary returns from local authorities for 1998–99 however indicate that they expect to educate approaching 90% of grant eligible pre-school year children in their own registered centres. Information on the number of children who have registered for a place is not held centrally.
  273

  1994–95

  1995–96

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % Of all 4 year olds

  Scotland

  13,622

  20

  36,214

  56

  13,193

  20

  36,278

  54

  Aberdeen City

  539

  20

  1,873

  74

  580

  22

  1,826

  70

  Aberdeenshire

  155

  5

  1,667

  54

  144

  5

  1,763

  56

  Angus

  86

  6

  747

  55

  109

  8

  835

  59

  Argyll & Bute

  61

  6

  149

  14

  91

  9

  130

  12

  Clackmannanshire

  209

  32

  495

  79

  171

  25

  495

  76

  Dumfries & Galloway

  187

  10

  1,305

  72

  178

  10

  1,352

  74

  Dundee City

  795

  42

  1,392

  74

  721

  39

  1,426

  75

  East Ayrshire

  500

  29

  1,097

  67

  466

  28

  1,094

  65

  East Dunbartonshire

  133

  9

  173

  12

  115

  9

  195

  14

  East Lothian

  293

  24

  979

  86

  340

  28

  918

  75

  East Renfrewshire

  177

  15

  440

  37

  189

  16

  408

  35

  Edinburgh, City of

  1,711

  33

  3,711

  73

  1,727

  33

  3,642

  70

  Eilean Siar4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Falkirk

  342

  18

  1,292

  70

  344

  18

  1,324

  69

  Fife

  766

  17

  3,749

  83

  793

  18

  3,539

  79

  Glasgow City

  3,602

  44

  5,357

  69

  3,259

  40

  5,546

  68

  Highland

  125

  5

  779

  26

  130

  5

  705

  25

  Inverclyde

  206

  18

  471

  41

  183

  16

  445

  38

  Midlothian

  311

  28

  866

  82

  321

  31

  845

  76

  Moray

  91

  8

  642

  55

  53

  4

  687

  58

  North Ayrshire

  134

  7

  316

  18

  150

  8

  325

  17

  North Lanarkshire

  637

  14

  1,583

  37

  590

  14

  1,430

  32

  Orkney Islands

  45

  17

  178

  64

  41

  16

  160

  60

  Perth & Kinross

  278

  17

  845

  54

  279

  17

  915

  56

  Renfrewshire

  422

  18

  1,106

  47

  392

  16

  1,072

  44

  Scottish Borders

  31

  2

  450

  35

  39

  3

  530

  40

  Shetland Islands

  67

  19

  173

  50

  91

  26

  197

  55

  South Ayrshire

  112

  8

  465

  34

  152

  11

  483

  36

  South Lanarkshire

  478

  12

  773

  20

  355

  9

  848

  21

  Stirling

  157

  16

  629

  64

  212

  21

  661

  65

  West Dunbartonshire

  445

  34

  914

  72

  428

  33

  887

  69

  West Lothian

  527

  25

  1,598

  79

  550

  26

  1,595

  76

  1996–975

  1997–985

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  Scotland

  13,243

  21

  37,182

  57

  14,316

  23

  39,351

  62

  Aberdeen City

  553

  22

  1,948

  75

  628

  25

  1,822

  72

  Aberdeenshire

  147

  5

  1,991

  63

  273

  9

  2,084

  68

  Angus

  157

  11

  919

  65

  127

  10

  1,063

  77

  Argyll & Bute

  77

  8

  192

  19

  134

  14

  269

  27

  Clackmannanshire

  147

  22

  499

  73

  197

  31

  450

  69

  Dumfries & Galloway

  221

  12

  1,362

  75

  253

  15

  1,422

  79

  Dundee City

  757

  42

  1,424

  78

  691

  40

  1,312

  73

  East Ayrshire

  428

  27

  985

  60

  455

  30

  1,054

  67

  East Dunbartonshire

  92

  7

  168

  13

  344

  27

  615

  48

  East Lothian

  345

  30

  983

  81

  445

  40

  923

  80

  East Renfrewshire

  249

  22

  499

  43

  230

  21

  616

  54

  Edinburgh, City of

  1,540

  30

  3,676

  71

  1,627

  33

  3,506

  69

  Eilean Siar4

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  25

  8

  Falkirk

  266

  15

  1,246

  66

  201

  11

  1,364

  75

  Fife

  781

  18

  3,555

  81

  782

  19

  3,520

  81

  Glasgow City

  3,357

  44

  5,151

  64

  3,104

  41

  4,814

  63

  Highland

  124

  5

  917

  34

  268

  11

  1,515

  57

  Inverclyde

  188

  18

  405

  36

  225

  21

  433

  41

  Midlothian

  281

  28

  842

  80

  287

  29

  783

  78

  Moray

  68

  6

  671

  56

  89

  8

  683

  59

  North Ayrshire

  151

  8

  685

  37

  172

  10

  798

  45

  North Lanarkshire

  638

  15

  1,330

  31

  875

  21

  1,706

  41

  Orkney Islands

  49

  20

  212

  83

  38

  16

  214

  89

  Perth & Kinross

  356

  23

  1,058

  66

  348

  24

  1,067

  69

  Renfrewshire

  376

  16

  1,115

  47

  319

  15

  1,079

  47

  Scottish Borders

  36

  3

  535

  41

  127

  10

  794

  63

  Shetland Islands

  85

  25

  208

  58

  63

  19

  197

  58

  South Ayrshire

  190

  14

  756

  55

  200

  16

  831

  63

  274 275

  1996–975

  1997–985

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  3 year olds

  % of all 3 year olds

  4 year olds

  % of all 4 year olds

  South Lanarkshire

  339

  9

  846

  20

  523

  14

  1,250

  31

  Stirling

  225

  23

  680

  67

  311

  33

  683

  70

  West Dunbartonshire

  453

  36

  756

  59

  504

  41

  787

  63

  West Lothian

  567

  27

  1,568

  74

  476

  23

  1,672

  80

  1 Source—schools census

  2 Information collected in September with age as at 31 December. It is intended that the information will, in future, be collected on the basis of the ante pre-school and pre-school year

  3 New education authority breakdowns unavailable

  4 Formerly known as Western Isles

  5 Account should also be taken of the pre-school year children who were receiving pre-school education at registered non-school providers

  Bees
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money he received from the European Commission to support bee-keeping in Scotland in each of the last five years. [43399]

  Mr. Macdonald
  I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food today,Official Report, column 247.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department plans to spend on research into the control of the varroa parasite in each of the next three years. [43397]

  Mr. Macdonald
  Research and development on the control of varroasis is dealt with by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on a UK basis.

  Student Loans
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department has received in repaid student loans from SED grant-awarded students in each year since the inception of student loans in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms based on 1998–99 prices. [43901]

  Year

  Award holders (academic year) Awards

  Student awards Grant (actual) (financial year) £000

  Grant (1998–99 prices) (financial year) £000

  Number (academic year) loans

  Student loans Loan payments (actual) (financial year) £000

  (1998–99 prices) (financial year) £000

  1978–79

  53,150

  44,600

  145,224

  —

  —

  —

  1979–80

  53,600

  54,500

  152,053

  —

  —

  —

  1980–81

  54,925

  60,600

  142,894

  —

  —

  —

  1981–82

  56,986

  64,900

  139,537

  —

  —

  —

  1982–83

  57,465

  65,300

  131,059

  —

  —

  —

  1983–84

  58,460

  68,300

  131,004

  —

  —

  —

  1984–85

  58,196

  64,100

  117,067

  —

  —

  —

  1985–86

  58,555

  61,000

  105,617

  —

  —

  —

  1986–87

  58,220

  63,200

  106,221

  —

  —

  —

  1987–88

  59,041

  64,800

  103,404

  —

  —

  —

  1988–89

  61,531

  71,200

  106,492

  —

  —

  —

  1989–90

  65,872

  79,700

  111,422

  —

  —

  —

  1990–91

  70,742

  90,100

  116,630

  22,200

  8,134

  9,897

  1991–92

  80,535

  117,300

  142,728

  29,300

  13,861

  16,866

  1992–93

  89,618

  136,900

  159,863

  39,600

  22,182

  25,903

  1993–94

  99,181

  162,700

  184,626

  50,100

  34,787

  39,475

  276
  Mr. Dewar
  Receipts in respect of student loan repayments are aggregated on a UK-wide basis. The proportion representing repayments by Scottish domiciled students is set out in the table, on a financial year basis.

  Student Loan Repayments

  £000

  Financial Year

  Actual receipts

  Receipts at 1998–99 prices

  1991–92

  104

  127

  1992–93

  572

  665

  1993–94

  1,464

  1,661

  1995–96

  2,858

  3,195

  1996–97

  5,435

  5,912

  1997–98

  10,523

  11,120

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many mandatory student awards were paid by his Department in each academic year since 1978–79; how many student loans were paid in each year since their inception; and what is the total value of those awards and loans in(a) cash terms and (b) real terms based on 1998–99 prices. [43899]

  Mr. Dewar
  It is not possible to provide the information in precisely the form requested. Statistics on student awards and loans offered are held on the basis of academic years, but aggregate information on actual payments is available only in financial years. Subject to that, the information requested is set out in the following table:
  277

  Year

  Award holders (academic year) Awards

  Student awards Grant (actual) (financial year) £000

  Grant (1998–99 prices) (financial year) £000

  Number (academic year) loans

  Student loans Loan payments (actual) (financial year) £000

  (1998–99 prices) (financial year) £000

  1994–95

  105,621

  170,900

  191,052

  58,600

  55,231

  61,744

  1995–96

  107,263

  163,200

  177,519

  66,900

  81,268

  88,398

  1996–97

  110,587

  152,300

  160,948

  73,000

  93,302

  98,600

  Notes:

  1. Student loan payments are aggregated on a UK-wide basis with the Scottish share representing a pre-determined proportion.

  2. From academic year 1991–92 the award holder figures include the extension of the scheme to include full-time Higher National Certificate courses.

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the full loan per SED student in(a) 1998–99, (b) 1999–2000 and (c) 2000–2001, in (i) cash terms and (ii) real terms based on 1998–99 prices. [43903]

  Mr. Dewar
  The maximum rates at which student loans are payable are determined annually and are the same for all home students, regardless of their domicile within the United Kingdom. The rates for academic year 1998–99 are set out in the table, those for subsequent years have yet to be determined. There are two separate groups of rates-one for students who entered higher education in or before academic year 1997–98 or fall to be treated as having done so, and another for new entrants in academic year 1998–99.

  Student loan rates for 1998–99

  £

  Continuing students

  Full year students living:

  at home

  1,325

  elsewhere

  1,735

  elsewhere1

  2,145

  PFI projects approved by the Secretary of State for Scotland

  Procuring agency

  Project description

  Date approved

  The Scottish Office

  The Skye Bridge

  1992

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  Hospital Information Support System

  October 1995

  Falkirk College

  Stirling Further Education Centre

  July 1996

  Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust

  Integrated Healthcare Information System

  December 1996

  Yorkhill NHS Trust

  Hospital Information Support System

  December 1996

  The Scottish Office

  M6 DBFO

  December 1996

  Grampian Health Board

  Stonehaven Community Hospital

  January 1997

  West Lothian College

  Livingston Further Education Centre

  June 1997

  Dundee City Council

  Baldovie Waste to Energy Plant

  July 1997

  Scottish Prison Service

  Bowhouse Prison

  July 1997

  Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospitals NHS Trust

  Hairmyres Hospital

  August 1997

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust

  Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh

  August 1997

  Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust

  Cumnock Community Hospital

  August 1997

  Law Hospital NHS Trust

  Law Hospital

  September 1997

  Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.

  Inverness Airport

  February 1998

  Notes:

  1. All Health Board projects with a capital value above £500,000, NHS Trust Information Management and Technology projects over £1 million and NHS Trust non-IM&T projects with a capital value above £4 million require to be approved by the Management Executive for the NHS in Scotland on behalf of the Secretary of State. This list does not include those projects which are within Trust and Health Board delegated limits

  2. This list does not include water and sewerage projects which are not approved by the Secretary of State at project level
  278

  Student loan rates for 1998–99

  £

  Final year students living:

  at home

  970

  elsewhere

  1,265

  elsewhere1

  1,565

  New students

  Full year students living:

  at home

  2,325

  elsewhere

  2,735

  elsewhere1

  3,145

  Final year students living:

  at home

  1,970

  elsewhere

  2,265

  elsewhere1

  2,565

  1London

  Private Finance Initiative
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what private finance initiative schemes his Department has approved in each year since their inception; and on what date each of these schemes were approved. [43921]

  Mr. Dewar
  The information requested is set out in the table.
  279

  Legal Aid
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 20 firms earning most from(a) civil and (b) criminal legal aid in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98, the number of fee earners per firm and the fees per fee earner. [43909]

  Mr. Dewar
  The total earnings for the 20 solicitors' firms earning most from legal aid in 1996–97 is shown in the Scottish Legal Aid Board's Annual Report. The breakdown of these figures for 1996–97 and 1997–98 is not available in the form requested. However, the Scottish Legal Aid Board have provided figures on the basis of sums due to solicitors' firms in 1996–97. These vary from the total figures in the Annual Report which show sums actually paid and include Advice and Assistance. The figures are shown in the tables. The figures for 1997–98 are not yet available.

  The Scottish Legal Aid Board does not hold information on the number of fee earners in a firm. This may well be larger than the number of practitioners registered with the Board for legal aid purposes. The figure shown for average fee per practitioner in the table is simply the total of fees earned by the firm divided by the number of practitioners listed with the Board. It is not a measure of the fees earned per practitioner in that firm.

  Firm

  No of practitioners1 listed with board who undertook civil legal aid

  Fees2 payable £

  Average fees per practitioner£

  Civil

  Drummond Miller

  24

  827,017

  34,459

  Ross Harper and Murphy

  32

  561,122

  17,535

  Balfour and Manson

  15

  474,333

  31,622

  Brodies

  17

  465,323

  27,372

  Caesar and Howie

  22

  317,607

  14,437

  Blair and Bryden

  27

  308,911

  11,441

  Unwin Rasmusen

  7

  258,407

  36,915

  Robert Carty

  15

  195,212

  13,014

  Livingstone Brown

  6

  176,281

  29,380

  Trainor Alston

  13

  154,722

  11,902

  Mckay and Norwell

  8

  133,027

  16,628

  Lockharts

  5

  126,372

  25,274

  Aberdein Considine

  8

  113,268

  14,159

  George Mathers and Co.

  8

  98,917

  12,365

  Ness Gallagher and Co.

  9

  88,947

  9,883

  The McKinstry Company

  5

  86,620

  17,324

  Hughes Dowdall

  7

  81,357

  11,622

  Fleming and Reid

  2

  80,252

  40,126

  W. G. Boyle

  5

  76,836

  15,367

  A. C. Miller and Mackay

  5

  72,913

  14,583

  Criminal

  Ross Harper and Murphy

  36

  2,101,828

  58,384

  More and Co.

  17

  1,513,436

  89,026

  Bruce Short and Co.

  8

  1,008,064

  126,008

  Gilfedder and McInnes

  15

  945,915

  63,061

  Adams

  10

  941,813

  94,181

  Ian McCarry

  28

  928,725

  33,169

  Sinclairs

  7

  831,764

  118,823

  Gallen and Co.

  9

  781,429

  86,825

  Robert Kerr

  5

  740,857

  148,171

  J. C. Hughes and Co.

  8

  733,353

  91,669

  McAfee

  3

  723,479

  241,160

  George Mathers and Co.

  15

  687,944

  45,863

  Milligan Telford and Morrow

  6

  676,217

  112,703

  Grady and Co.

  3

  661,300

  220,433

  Turnbull McCarron

  2

  617,749

  308,875

  280

  Firm

  No of practitioners1listed with board who undertook civil legal aid

  Fees2 payable£

  Average fees per practitioner£

  McCourts

  11

  616,063

  56,006

  Blair and Bryden

  23

  596,633

  25,941

  Beltrami and Co.

  6

  591,594

  98,599

  Guarino and Kirk

  4

  579,119

  144,780

  Ness Gallagher and Co.

  10

  573,975

  57,398

  Notes:

  1Where a firm wishes a qualified solicitor to act as a "nominated solicitor" for the firm, that solicitor must have his details recorded in the Board's Practitioner System, and payments to be made to that solicitor for legal aid work done can then be directed to the firm. The "number of practitioners" therefore represents the number of solicitors in the firm recorded in the Board's practitioner system. The Board is aware that not all solicitors who perform legal aid work are recorded with it as practitioners

  2Including VAT and excluding outlays

  Medical Negligence
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many outstanding medical negligence claims there are currently in each health board area; for what amount; and if he will make a statement. [43918]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The number of outstanding medical negligence claims for each health board area is set out in the table:

  Health Boards

  Number of cases

  Argyll & Clyde

  125

  Ayrshire & Arran

  76

  Borders

  12

  Dumfries & Galloway

  34

  Fife

  72

  Forth Valley

  70

  Grampian

  77

  Greater Glasgow

  404

  Highland

  62

  Lanarkshire

  136

  Lothian

  212

  Orkney

  3

  Shetland

  6

  Tayside

  129

  Western Isles

  7

  State Hospital

  1

  Common Services Agency

  15

  Scottish Ambulance Service

  2

  Total

  1,443

  It is not possible to predict the actual amounts as the level of settlement is generally not known until an agreement between the parties has been reached. It is for individual health authorities to determine the annual provision for claims likely to be settled against them in any one year. Details of that provision will be provided in Trusts and Health Board annual accounts. The accounts for 1997–98 are currently in the process of being completed and have yet to be submitted to the Department.

  Prisoners
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average prison population of each Scottish
  281
  prison in (a) 1978–79, (b) 1979–80, (c) 1986–87,
  (d) 1987–88, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98; and what percentages of inmates were incarcerated for (i) violent and (ii) non-violent offences. [43910]

  Mr. McLeish
  Financial year information on prison population in the Scottish Prison Service estate is available only from 1983–84. Moreover, statistical information by offence was not collected historically in relation to the average daily prison population; details of main offence were previously recorded only in the reception information. However, an investigation of recent data suggests that an estimated 40–50% of sentenced prisoners have a main crime which would be defined as a 'violent' offence. For the purposes of this response 'violent' offences include, for example, homicide, serious assault, possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, threats and petty assault.

  The tables provide details of the available information.

  Table 1: Average daily prison population, Scotland,
  1986–87,1987–88,1996–97 and 1997–98

  Year

  Number

  1986–87

  5,566

  1987–88

  5,421

  1996–97

  5,992

  1997–98

  16,059

  1Provisional

  Table 2: Average daily prison population,in Scotland,penal establishment, 1986–87,1987–88,1996–97 and 1997–98 by establishment

  Establishment

  1986–87

  1987–88

  1996–97

  11997–98

  Aberdeen

  183

  178

  180

  201

  Barlinnie (incl. Unit)

  1,195

  1,036

  1,213

  1,208

  Castle Huntly

  103

  126

  105

  107

  Cornton Vale

  187

  177

  173

  166

  Dungavel

  136

  137

  93

  100

  Dumfries

  149

  130

  144

  147

  Edinburgh

  772

  638

  725

  728

  Friarton2

  64

  72

  71

  60

  Glenochil2

  506

  566

  563

  585

  Greenock

  192

  166

  250

  242

  Inverness

  105

  102

  126

  140

  Longriggend

  278

  259

  166

  151

  Low Moss

  351

  350

  357

  362

  Noranside

  73

  89

  127

  118

  Penninghame

  70

  69

  58

  60

  Perth

  575

  482

  452

  472

  Peterhead (incl. Unit)

  178

  141

  202

  221

  Polmont

  384

  415

  478

  473

  Shotts (incl. Unit)

  65

  286

  466

  471

  Shotts (National Induction Centre)

  —

  —

  43

  46

  Legalised police cells

  2

  1

  1

  1

  Total1

  5,566

  5,421

  5,992

  6,059

  1Figures for 1997–98 are provisional

  2Young offenders serving detention centre sentences are included in the figures for 1986–87 and 1987–88. Such sentences were abolished in Scotland on 1 November 1988

  3 Components may not add to totals due to rounding

  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women were committed to the Scottish prison system in(a) 1978–79, (b) 1979–80, (c) 1986–87,
  (d) 1987–88, (e) 1996–97 and (f) 1997–98; and what percentages were incarcerated for (i) violent and (ii) non-violent offences. [43911]
  282
  Mr. McLeish
  The information provided in the table relates to female direct sentenced receptions to the Scottish prison system by category of main crime. For the purposes of this response 'violent' offences include, for example, homicide, serious assault, possession of an offensive weapon, robbery, threats and petty assault.

  Direct sentenced female receptions to Scottish prison system, 1978–79,1979–80,1986–87,1987–88,1996–97 and 1997–98,by main crime category

  year

  Total number of direct sentenced female receptions

  Percentage violent

  Percentage non-violent

  1978–79

  350

  15

  85

  1979–80

  364

  13

  87

  1986–87

  522

  8

  92

  1987–88

  593

  7

  93

  1996–97

  603

  17

  83

  1997–98

  566

  16

  84

  Class Sizes
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many and what percentage of children were taught in classes of more than 31 pupils in(a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95, (e) 1995–96, (f) 1996–97 and (g) 1997–98; and if he will estimate how many will be taught in such classes in 1998–99. [43904]

  Mr. Dewar
  Statistics on class size in primary schools are collected biennially. The available information is given in the table. Schools have been allocated to their current Education Authority. Information on individual class sizes in secondary schools is not collected centrally. There are no estimates held centrally of class sizes for 1998–99.

  Education authority primary schools Number and percentage of pupils in primary mainstream classes with more than 31 pupils1

  Year

  Number of pupils in classes if more than 31 pupils

  Percentage of pupils in classes of more than 31 pupils

  1991–92

  44,617

  10.1

  1993–94

  47,203

  10.8

  1995–96

  51,204

  11.7

  1997–981

  58,141

  13.2

  I Includes a small number of classes with more than one teacher 2 Provisional

  Pupils
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list(a) the total number of pupils on school rolls and (b) the pupil-teacher ratio for (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in each local authority area in Scotland for each academic year from 1978–79 to 1997–98. [43902]

  Mr. Dewar
  The available information for years in which the data were collected is set out in the tables.
  283

  Education authority secondary schools Number of pupils and pupil/teacher ratios by education authority

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  1993

  1992

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/ teacher ratio

  Scotland

  314,223

  13.2

  315,912

  13.1

  316,253

  12.9

  314,779

  12.9

  311,176

  12.8

  302,986

  12.6

  Standard Code for Education Authority

  Aberdeen City

  11,138

  12.9

  11,074

  12.9

  11,071

  13.0

  11,038

  12.6

  10,844

  12.5

  10,578

  12.0

  Aberdeenshire

  15,114

  13.6

  15,231

  13.8

  15,341

  14.0

  15,148

  13.5

  15,031

  13.7

  14,650

  13.4

  Angus

  7,262

  12.8

  7,287

  13.0

  7,208

  12.8

  7,127

  12.6

  7,089

  12.8

  6,925

  13.0

  Argyll and Bute

  5,614

  12.6

  5,639

  12.4

  5,730

  12.6

  5,687

  12.5

  5,605

  12.3

  5,511

  12.3

  Clackmannanshire

  2,951

  13.4

  2,927

  13.4

  2,944

  13.3

  2,934

  13.3

  2,904

  13.1

  2,979

  12.6

  Dumfries and Galloway

  9,600

  12.1

  9,584

  12.7

  9,522

  11.9

  9,467

  12.2

  9,400

  12.3

  9,105

  12.0

  Dundee City

  8,983

  13.1

  8,978

  12.3

  8,842

  11.8

  8,811

  11.8

  8,649

  11.9

  8,457

  11.9

  East Ayrshire

  7,926

  13.5

  7,963

  13.5

  7,938

  13.0

  7,868

  13.3

  7,665

  13

  7,848

  12.6

  East Dunbartonshire

  8,664

  14.1

  8,754

  13.9

  8,794

  14.0

  8,756

  13.9

  8,585

  13.7

  8,442

  13.7

  East Lothian

  4,853

  13.5

  4,751

  13.4

  4,745

  13.1

  4,609

  13.2

  4,594

  13.0

  4,498

  13.1

  East Renfrewshire

  6,789

  14.0

  6,758

  14.1

  6,687

  13.9

  6,652

  14.0

  6,498

  13.8

  6,261

  13.7

  Edinburgh, City of

  18,714

  13.5

  18,706

  13.4

  18,350

  12.8

  18,209

  12.9

  18,031

  12.7

  17,528

  12.7

  Eilean Siar

  2,030

  9.3

  2,113

  9.5

  2,145

  9.5

  2,242

  9.8

  2,225

  9.6

  2,249

  9.9

  Falkirk

  8,619

  13.4

  8,667

  13.5

  8,701

  13.6

  8,736

  13.7

  8,635

  13.7

  8,409

  13.7

  Fife

  22,938

  13.4

  23,095

  13.4

  23,149

  13.4

  22,699

  13.4

  22,413

  13.5

  21,652

  13.3

  Glasgow City

  29,380

  13.5

  29,222

  12.4

  29,357

  12.3

  29,464

  12.1

  29,274

  12.0

  28,793

  11.7

  Highland

  14,743

  11.8

  14,960

  11.8

  15,253

  12.0

  15,154

  12.2

  14,916

  12.2

  14,446

  11.8

  Inverclyde

  5,906

  13.5

  5,948

  13.6

  6,018

  13.1

  6,032

  12.9

  6,045

  13.0

  5,956

  12.8

  Midlothian

  5,368

  13.2

  5,403

  13.6

  5,361

  13.3

  5,357

  13.3

  5,256

  13.2

  5,163

  12.7

  Moray

  5,700

  12.5

  5,664

  12.2

  5,659

  11.8

  5,635

  12.1

  5,511

  12.1

  5,382

  11.5

  North Ayrshire

  9,155

  13.6

  9,183

  13.4

  9,283

  13.4

  9,331

  13.2

  9,156

  13.3

  8,494

  13.0

  North Lanarkshire

  23,057

  13.5

  23,407

  13.4

  23,757

  13.3

  23,948

  13.2

  23,731

  13.2

  23,031

  13.3

  Orkney Islands

  1,425

  10.5

  1,440

  10.9

  1,459

  10.9

  1,439

  10.7

  1,448

  10.8

  1,412

  10.5

  Perth and Kinross

  7,507

  12.6

  7,627

  12.5

  7,497

  12.2

  7,405

  12.1

  7,248

  12.2

  6,998

  11.9

  Renfrewshire

  11,641

  13.9

  11,824

  13.7

  11,764

  13.3

  11,767

  13.2

  11,673

  13.4

  11,148

  13.0

  Scottish Borders

  6,494

  12.3

  6,454

  12.1

  6,436

  12.2

  6,296

  12.3

  6,182

  12.5

  5,989

  12.0

  Shetland Islands

  1,594

  7.6

  1,626

  8.1

  1,681

  8.5

  1,764

  8.6

  1,761

  9.0

  1,757

  9.2

  South Ayrshire

  7,875

  13.6

  7,994

  13.6

  7,983

  13.4

  7,829

  13.3

  7,801

  13.4

  7,513

  13.2

  South Lanarkshire

  20,705

  13.9

  21,200

  13.7

  21,310

  13.7

  21,149

  13.6

  20,931

  13.6

  20,205

  13.6

  Stirling

  5,598

  13.1

  5,623

  13.3

  5,688

  13.1

  5,615

  12.9

  5,673

  13.0

  5,629

  13.0

  West Dunbartonshire

  6,871

  14.4

  6,813

  13.9

  6,760

  13.3

  6,766

  13.0

  6,642

  12.8

  6,520

  12.9

  West Lothian

  10,009

  13.6

  9,997

  13.5

  9,920

  13.0

  9,845

  13.3

  9,760

  12.9

  9,458

  12.6

  1991

  1990

  1989

  1988

  1987

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  296,367

  12.4

  293,501

  12.2

  298,394

  12.4

  311,500

  12.7

  327,012

  13.0

  Standard Code for Education Authority

  Aberdeen City

  10,522

  12.6

  10,365

  12.6

  10,599

  12.4

  11,313

  12.6

  11,883

  12.8

  Aberdeenshire

  14,102

  13.5

  13,693

  13.3

  13,621

  13.4

  13,849

  13.5

  14,044

  13.5

  Angus

  6,865

  13.1

  6,780

  12.7

  6,839

  12.3

  7,164

  12.8

  7,481

  12.9

  Argyll and Bute

  5,487

  12.1

  5,379

  11.8

  5,530

  12.3

  5,778

  13.0

  5,974

  13.2

  Clackmannanshire

  3,017

  12.4

  2,969

  11.8

  3,073

  12.4

  3,261

  12.7

  3,496

  13.0

  Dumfries and Galloway

  8,922

  11.7

  8,889

  11.4

  9,015

  11.6

  9,345

  11.5

  9,802

  12.0

  Dundee City

  8,393

  11.7

  8,439

  11.5

  8,683

  11.2

  8,901

  11.4

  9,233

  11.4

  East Ayrshire

  7,826

  12.4

  7,945

  12.1

  8,191

  12.4

  8,742

  13.2

  9,298

  13.5

  East Dunbartonshire

  8,141

  13.4

  8,093

  13.4

  8,188

  13.6

  8,242

  14.2

  8,203

  14.3

  East Lothian

  4,303

  12.7

  4,275

  12.7

  4,454

  12.9

  4,672

  13.4

  4,816

  13.4

  East Renfrewshire

  5,990

  13.3

  5,825

  13.1

  5,765

  13.3

  5,848

  13.7

  5,931

  13.5

  Edinburgh, City of

  17,290

  12.5

  17,353

  12.1

  18,071

  12.3

  18,921

  12.7

  19,913

  12.8

  Eilean Siar

  2,303

  9.9

  2,298

  9.9

  2,335

  9.9

  2,397

  10.1

  2,476

  10.2

  Falkirk

  8,107

  13.6

  8,017

  13.5

  8,117

  13.6

  8,501

  13.7

  8,865

  13.7

  Fife

  21,247

  13.2

  21,035

  13.0

  21,026

  12.9

  21,727

  13.2

  22,454

  13.4

  Glasgow City

  28,401

  11.2

  28,368

  11.0

  29,016

  11.2

  31,194

  11.2

  34,313

  11.9

  Highland

  13,937

  11.7

  13,572

  11.9

  13,604

  12.0

  13,980

  11.2

  14,304

  12.6

  Inverclyde

  5,780

  12.3

  5,737

  12.3

  5,907

  12.4

  6,207

  12.7

  6,558

  13.1

  Midlothian

  5,080

  12.9

  5,004

  12.6

  5,228

  12.8

  5,508

  13.2

  5,775

  13.5

  Moray

  5,364

  11.8

  5,344

  11.6

  5,369

  11.6

  5,669

  12.3

  5,863

  12.9

  North Ayrshire

  8,221

  12.8

  8,163

  12.7

  8,388

  12.9

  8,870

  13.8

  9,257

  14.1

  North Lanarkshire

  22,608

  13.0

  22,385

  12.7

  22,849

  13.0

  24,155

  13.7

  25,673

  14.0

  Orkney Islands

  1,386

  10.6

  1,329

  10.1

  1,332

  10.3

  1,281

  10.2

  1,338

  11.1

  Perth and Kinross

  6,787

  11.8

  6,743

  11.4

  6,750

  11.5

  6,920

  11.3

  7,287

  11.7

  Renfrewshire

  10,855

  12.5

  10,743

  12.3

  10,963

  12.2

  11,347

  12.4

  12,301

  13.0

  Scottish Borders

  5,905

  12.2

  5,814

  11.8

  5,846

  11.8

  5,990

  12.1

  6,326

  12.6

  Shetland Islands

  1,651

  9.2

  1,635

  9.2

  1,623

  9.2

  1,643

  9.5

  1,663

  9.9

  284 285

  1991

  1990

  1989

  1988

  1987

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  South Ayrshire

  7,283

  13

  7,223

  12.8

  7,236

  13.2

  7,392

  13.6

  7,627

  13.6

  South Lanarkshire

  19,548

  13.3

  19,182

  13.1

  19,412

  13.3

  20,257

  13.9

  21,296

  14.2

  Stirling

  5,575

  12.9

  5,551

  12.9

  5,627

  13.1

  5,879

  13.4

  6,018

  13.4

  West Dunbartonshire

  6,053

  12.5

  5,977

  12.1

  6,129

  12.2

  6,516

  13.0

  6,861

  13.0

  West Lothian

  9,418

  12.2

  9,356

  12.0

  9,608

  12.2

  10,031

  12.4

  10,683

  12.8

  1986

  1985

  1984

  1983

  1982

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  344,369

  13.2

  360,645

  13.5

  376,071

  13.7

  390,368

  14.0

  399,075

  14.3

  Borders

  6,684

  13.3

  6,907

  13.3

  7,140

  14

  7,417

  14.0

  7,501

  14.4

  Central

  19,300

  13.8

  20,120

  13.8

  20,866

  14

  21,479

  14.3

  21,910

  14.3

  Dumfries/Galloway

  10,204

  12.9

  10,747

  13.1

  11,181

  13

  11,569

  13.4

  11,814

  14.0

  Fife

  23,606

  13.6

  24,371

  14.0

  25,208

  14

  26,194

  14.4

  26,665

  14.7

  Grampian

  33,247

  13.5

  34,216

  13.6

  34,635

  14

  35,366

  13.8

  34,866

  13.8

  Highland

  14,853

  12.7

  15,183

  12.9

  15,629

  13

  15,958

  13.6

  16,021

  13.7

  Lothian

  43,328

  13.0

  45,415

  13.4

  47,685

  14

  48,981

  13.8

  50,240

  13.7

  Strathclyde

  162,258

  13.5

  171,505

  13.7

  180,499

  14

  189,219

  14.3

  195,428

  14.7

  Tayside

  25,221

  12.5

  26,388

  12.9

  27,293

  13

  28,131

  13.5

  28,667

  13.8

  Orkney

  1,376

  11.7

  1,414

  11.7

  1,443

  12

  1,464

  12.0

  1,496

  12.5

  Shetland

  1,709

  10.0

  1,740

  10.5

  1,760

  11

  1,797

  11.5

  1,715

  11.5

  Western Isles

  2,583

  10.4

  2,639

  10.7

  2,732

  11

  2,793

  11.3

  2,752

  11.6

  1981

  1980

  1979

  1978

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  404,575

  14.4

  407,844

  14.4

  410,242

  14.4

  410,378

  14.6

  Borders

  7,423

  14.1

  7,411

  14.2

  7,351

  14.2

  7,203

  14.1

  Central

  22,209

  14.4

  22,283

  14.4

  22,236

  14.2

  21,955

  14.5

  Dumfries/Galloway

  11,838

  14.1

  11,611

  14.3

  11,403

  14.2

  11,234

  14.2

  Fife

  26,847

  14.9

  26,792

  14.7

  26,624

  14.7

  26,622

  14.6

  Grampian

  34,603

  13.8

  34,444

  13.4

  34,471

  13.4

  34,183

  13.6

  Highland

  16,119

  13.7

  16,128

  13.9

  16,113

  14.0

  15,981

  14.5

  Lothian

  51,515

  13.4

  52,316

  13.3

  52,720

  13.5

  52,949

  13.9

  Strathclyde

  198,957

  15.0

  201,712

  15.0

  203,995

  15.0

  204,974

  15.1

  Tayside

  29,064

  13.9

  29,248

  14.0

  29,666

  14.0

  29,720

  14.0

  Orkney

  1,521

  12.9

  1,541

  13.2

  1,496

  13.0

  1,506

  12.8

  Shetland

  1,702

  12.5

  1,631

  12.5

  1,618

  13.2

  1,547

  12.9

  Westerm Isles

  2,777

  12.2

  2,727

  12.4

  2,549

  12.1

  2,504

  12.3

  Education authority primary schools Number of pupils and pupil/teacher ratios by education authority

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  1993

  1992

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  440,089

  19.9

  441,215

  19.6

  440,112

  19.5

  437,964

  19.5

  438,345

  19.5

  438,914

  19.3

  Standard Code for Education Authority

  Aberdeen City

  15,921

  20.0

  16,069

  19.9

  15,892

  19.7

  15,688

  20.2

  15,729

  20.2

  15,598

  20.0

  Aberdeenshire

  21,526

  19.1

  21,500

  18.6

  21,444

  18.7

  21,382

  18.7

  21,218

  18.6

  21,191

  18.3

  Angus

  9,381

  19.1

  9,433

  19.0

  9,446

  18.5

  9,468

  18.7

  9,476

  19.7

  9,389

  20.1

  Argyll and Bute

  7,792

  17.5

  7,809

  17.3

  7,780

  17.3

  7,734

  17.5

  7,754

  17.4

  7,756

  16.7

  Clackmannanshire

  4,542

  21.0

  4,498

  21.2

  4,402

  21.0

  4,377

  20.6

  4,437

  20.1

  4,406

  20.2

  Dumfries and Galloway

  12,944

  19.1

  12,880

  18.9

  12,977

  18.8

  12,820

  18.6

  12,882

  18.6

  12,936

  18.6

  Dundee City

  12,360

  19.0

  12,573

  18.0

  12,697

  18.8

  12,824

  19.2

  12,794

  19.8

  12,962

  20.3

  East Ayrshire

  11,449

  21.3

  11,487

  21.0

  11,428

  20.8

  11,425

  20.6

  11,400

  20.5

  11,371

  20.0

  East Dunbartonshire

  10,653

  22.2

  10,505

  22.2

  10,374

  22.2

  10,271

  22.1

  10,168

  21.5

  10,184

  21.6

  East Lothian

  7,942

  19.9

  7,765

  20.6

  7,494

  20.0

  7,229

  19.9

  7,078

  20.4

  6,671

  19.6

  East Renfrewshire

  8,596

  22.4

  8,560

  22.3

  8,475

  22.4

  8,424

  23.1

  8,271

  22.3

  8,072

  22.4

  Edinburgh, City of

  30,590

  20.5

  30,642

  20.7

  30,288

  20.4

  29,479

  19.8

  29,148

  20.2

  28,510

  20.2

  286 287

  Education authority primary schools Number of pupils and pupil/teacher ratios by education authority

  1997

  1996

  1995

  1994

  1993

  1992

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Eilean Siar

  2,556

  13.0

  2,588

  13.0

  2,619

  13.3

  2,684

  13.4

  2,641

  14.2

  2,633

  13.8

  Falkirk

  12,334

  21.0

  12,287

  21.3

  12,219

  21.8

  12,078

  21.4

  12,219

  21.2

  12,306

  20.9

  Fife

  30,870

  19.0

  31,070

  19.1

  31,145

  19.0

  30,965

  19.3

  31,082

  19.3

  31,140

  19.3

  Glasgow City

  48,980

  20.1

  49,993

  19.2

  50,398

  19.0

  51,019

  18.8

  51,422

  18.8

  51,788

  18.6

  Highland

  19,149

  17.8

  19,194

  17.3

  19,111

  17.3

  19,001

  17.1

  19,152

  17.4

  19,369

  17.0

  Inverclyde

  7,826

  21.5

  7,945

  21.4

  8,004

  20.8

  8,071

  21.0

  8,038

  20.6

  8,130

  20.3

  Midlothian

  7,433

  19.7

  7,393

  19.9

  7,281

  19.8

  7,164

  19.7

  7,215

  19.4

  7,110

  19.4

  Moray

  8,078

  19.3

  8,036

  18.9

  7,970

  18.7

  7,936

  18.4

  7,848

  18.5

  7,777

  18.3

  North Ayrshire

  12,614

  21.2

  12,627

  21.1

  12,631

  21.0

  12,644

  20.8

  12,809

  20.6

  12,931

  20.0

  North Lanarkshire

  29,831

  20.3

  29,990

  20.2

  29,942

  20.2

  29,984

  20.3

  30,187

  20.4

  30,752

  20.0

  Orkney Islands

  1,846

  14.9

  1,848

  15.1

  1,879

  15.1

  1,841

  14.7

  1,821

  14.8

  1,832

  14.5

  Perth and Kinross

  10,776

  18.9

  10,668

  18.7

  10,554

  18.2

  10,554

  18.4

  10,414

  18.8

  10,307

  18.6

  Renfrewshire

  15,796

  22.1

  15,693

  22.0

  15,784

  21.7

  15,594

  21.9

  15,542

  21.6

  15,539

  21.4

  Scottish Borders

  8,969

  18.5

  8,963

  18.5

  8,838

  18.5

  8,610

  18.3

  8,613

  18.4

  8,551

  18.0

  Shetland Islands

  8,335

  12.7

  2,304

  12.6

  2,286

  12.8

  2,231

  12.7

  2,206

  12.4

  2,189

  12.3

  South Ayrshire

  9,490

  21.1

  9,530

  21.0

  9,611

  20.5

  90,598

  20.6

  9,562

  20.4

  9,711

  20.0

  South Lanarkshire

  26,846

  20.9

  26,922

  20.7

  27,026

  20.7

  27,057

  20.6

  27,236

  20.7

  27,487

  20.4

  Stirling

  6,851

  19.7

  6,697

  19.6

  6,613

  19.9

  6,599

  19.8

  6,537

  19.2

  6,616

  18.6

  West Dunbartonshire

  8,890

  20.9

  9,016

  20.3

  9,065

  20.5

  9,159

  20.2

  9,373

  20.1

  9,431

  20.2

  West Lothian

  14,923

  20.4

  14,730

  20.4

  14,439

  19.9

  14,134

  19.7

  14,073

  19.5

  14,069

  19.4

  1991

  1990

  1989

  1988

  1987

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  440,752

  19.5

  440,534

  19.5

  437,018

  19.7

  432,707

  20.3

  430,865

  20.4

  Standard Code for Education Authority

  Aberdeen City

  15,484

  20.0

  15,299

  20.2

  15,029

  19.9

  14,922

  20.0

  14,907

  20.2

  Aberdeenshire

  21,062

  18.4

  21,019

  18.8

  20,852

  18.6

  20,550

  18.6

  20,528

  18.8

  Angus

  9,353

  19.7

  9,288

  19.4

  9,075

  19.5

  9,108

  19.8

  9,023

  19.6

  Argyll and Bute

  8,116

  17.5

  8,280

  17.4

  8,233

  17.7

  8,201

  19.6

  8,224

  19.8

  Clackmannanshire

  4,374

  20.9

  4,379

  20.0

  4,379

  19.9

  4,276

  20.3

  4,304

  20.5

  Dumfries and Galloway

  12,772

  18.5

  12,848

  18.6

  12,733

  19.2

  12,405

  19.3

  12,302

  19.1

  Dundee City

  12,923

  20.4

  12,807

  20.4

  12,584

  20.4

  12,391

  20.4

  12,382

  20.2

  East Ayrshire

  11,365

  20.3

  11,225

  20.1

  11,196

  20.3

  11,043

  21.3

  10,976

  21.6

  East Dunbartonshire

  10,383

  21.7

  10,511

  22.0

  10,503

  21.9

  10,533

  23.1

  10,554

  23.1

  East Lothian

  6,814

  19.6

  6,802

  19.1

  6,682

  20.1

  6,468

  19.8

  6,477

  20.0

  East Renfrewshire

  8,096

  21.8

  7,973

  22.0

  7,918

  21.9

  7,779

  22.9

  7,484

  23.0

  Edinburgh, City of

  28,172

  20.3

  27,851

  19.9

  27,300

  20.2

  26,940

  20.3

  26,767

  20.3

  Eilean Siar

  2,648

  14.0

  2,756

  14.6

  2,799

  15.0

  2,796

  15.4

  2,928

  15.6

  Falkirk

  12,394

  21.2

  12,546

  21.1

  12,474

  20.9

  12,499

  20.9

  12,383

  21.0

  Fife

  31,188

  19.3

  31,208

  19.3

  30,908

  19.6

  30,555

  20.0

  30,554

  20.3

  Glasgow City

  51,901

  18.7

  51,440

  18.6

  50,723

  19.2

  50,219

  20.7

  49,673

  20.5

  Highland

  19,653

  17.4

  19,549

  17.6

  19,527

  18.2

  19,331

  18.6

  19,278

  18.5

  Inverclyde

  8,262

  20.2

  8,332

  20.1

  8,308

  20.3

  8,285

  21.7

  8,314

  21.8

  Midlothian

  7,154

  19.5

  7,204

  19.3

  7,247

  19.6

  7,214

  19.9

  7,262

  19.9

  Moray

  7,857

  18.7

  7,580

  18.7

  7,493

  19.1

  7,513

  18.8

  7,606

  19.0

  North Ayrshire

  13,150

  20.7

  13,220

  20.3

  13,213

  20.9

  13,013

  21.5

  12,974

  21.8

  North Lanarkshire

  31,482

  20.2

  31,909

  20.6

  31,936

  20.7

  31,742

  21.5

  31,727

  21.7

  Orkney Islands

  1,801

  14.1

  1,787

  14.4

  1,783

  15.4

  1,827

  16.3

  1,787

  15.9

  Perth and Kinross

  10,191

  18.5

  10,217

  18.5

  10,110

  18.1

  9,876

  18.8

  9,703

  18.6

  Renfrewshire

  15,628

  21.3

  15,588

  21.2

  15,451

  21.0

  15,389

  22.4

  15,331

  22.2

  Scottish Borders

  6,520

  18.2

  8,525

  18.1

  8,411

  18.1

  8,327

  18.1

  8,164

  18.6

  Shetland Islands

  2,244

  12.7

  2,230

  12.8

  2,257

  12.9

  2,338

  13.6

  2,370

  13.7

  South Ayrshire

  9,748

  20.4

  9,726

  20.0

  9,684

  20.5

  9,577

  21.6

  9,491

  21.5

  South Lanarkshire

  27,977

  20.4

  28,254

  20.4

  28,198

  20.9

  27,788

  21.8

  27,646

  22.0

  Stirling

  6,604

  18.8

  6,727

  19.3

  6,775

  19.3

  6,692

  19.7

  6,775

  19.6

  West Dunbartonshire

  9,506

  20.4

  9,415

  20.5

  9,265

  20.6

  9,144

  21.4

  9,114

  21.5

  West Lothian

  14,130

  19.7

  14,041

  19.3

  13,972

  19.5

  13,966

  19.6

  13,857

  19.7

  288 289

  1986

  1985

  1984

  1983

  1982

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  Pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  433,459

  20.4

  435,454

  20.4

  437,538

  20.4

  448,009

  20.3

  467,971

  20.4

  Borders

  8,213

  18.2

  8,246

  17.7

  8,219

  18.2

  8,353

  17.9

  8,686

  18.2

  Central

  23,754

  20.4

  24,158

  19.3

  24,287

  18.9

  24,897

  18.7

  25,850

  18.6

  Dumfries/Galloway

  12,321

  19.1

  12,313

  19.3

  12,285

  19.1

  12,480

  19.1

  12,799

  19.4

  Fife

  30,602

  20.2

  31,105

  20.2

  31,005

  20.1

  31,388

  19.9

  32,257

  20.4

  Grampian

  42,941

  19.4

  43,156

  19.3

  43,274

  19.4

  43,827

  18.8

  45,767

  19.0

  Highland

  19,394

  18.8

  19,290

  18.7

  19,168

  18.8

  19,460

  18.9

  19,822

  19.0

  Lothian

  54,386

  20.1

  54,964

  20.2

  55,745

  20.1

  58,327

  19.9

  61,461

  19.8

  Strathclyde

  203,337

  21.6

  203,521

  21.6

  204,311

  21.6

  208,934

  21.6

  219,231

  21.6

  Tayside

  31,298

  20.0

  31,335

  20.2

  31,871

  20.3

  32,757

  20.5

  34,278

  20.6

  Orkney

  1,826

  15.8

  1,825

  15.9

  1,866

  16.0

  1,910

  16.7

  1,910

  17.2

  Shetland

  2,387

  13.7

  2,386

  14.4

  2,388

  14.0

  2,478

  14.4

  2,564

  14.3

  Western Isles

  3,000

  16.8

  3,155

  17.3

  3,119

  16.7

  3,198

  16.2

  3,346

  16.4

  1981

  1980

  1979

  1978

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Total primary pupils

  pupil/teacher ratio

  Scotland

  492,645

  20.3

  518,492

  20.3

  545,161

  20.3

  569,124

  21.4

  Borders

  9,156

  18.2

  9,643

  18.4

  10,135

  18.3

  10,460

  19.1

  Central

  27,258

  19.1

  28,559

  19.5

  29,737

  19.7

  30,843

  20.0

  Dumfries/Galloway

  13,457

  19.2

  14,223

  19.1

  15,069

  19.2

  15,831

  20.2

  Fife

  33,733

  20.6

  35,103

  20.7

  36,766

  21.0

  37,715

  21.7

  Grampian

  47,128

  18.9

  48,352

  18.9

  49,831

  19.0

  50,852

  19.7

  Highland

  20,568

  19.1

  21,275

  19.1

  22,000

  19.1

  22,673

  19.7

  Lothian

  64,688

  18.6

  68,112

  18.5

  71,816

  18.9

  74,798

  19.7

  Strathclyde

  232,691

  21.6

  247,143

  21.6

  261,721

  21.4

  276,110

  22.9

  Tayside

  35,164

  20.6

  37,925

  20.8

  39,694

  20.3

  41,408

  21.1

  Orkney

  1,886

  16.9

  1,923

  17.2

  2,000

  17.3

  2,026

  18.0

  Shetland

  2,681

  15.0

  2,705

  15.7

  2,711

  16.8

  2,646

  17.3

  Western Isles

  3,435

  16.7

  3,529

  16.5

  3,681

  17.1

  3,762

  17.7

  Knee and Hip Replacements
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the current average waiting time for each Scottish health board for(a) knee and (b) hip joint replacement operations; and if he will list the five hospitals which have the longest waiting times. [43913]

  Mr. Galbraith
  The mean waiting time for knee and hip joint replacement operations at 31 March 1998 for each Health Board in Scotland is provided in Table 1. The five hospitals in Scotland with the longest mean waiting time for knee and hip joint replacement operations at 31 March 1998 is provided in Table 2.

  Table 1: Knee and hip joint replacement operations carried out by the NHS in Scotland

  Mean waiting times by area of residence at 31 March 19981

  Area of residence

  Knee replacement days

  Hip joint replacement days

  Argyll & Clyde

  189

  144

  Ayrshire & Arran

  108

  113

  Borders

  90

  86

  Dumfries & Galloway

  204

  137

  Fife

  131

  115

  Forth Valley

  237

  175

  Grampian

  94

  82

  Greater Glasgow

  217

  181

  Highland

  182

  182

  Lanarkshire

  125

  116

  Lothian

  145

  133

  290

  Table 1: Knee and hip joint replacement operations carried out by the NHS in Scotland

  Mean waiting times by area of residence at 31 March 19981

  Area of residence

  Knee replacement days

  Hip joint replacement days

  Orkney

  74

  55

  Shetland

  109

  92

  Tayside

  141

  123

  Western Isles

  75

  59

  Other/Not Known

  106

  96

  Scotland

  155

  131

  1 Provisional

  Source:

  ISD Scotland

  Table 2: Knee and hip joint replacement operations carried out by the NHS in Scotland aerations

  Hospitals with the longest mean waiting times at 31 March 19981

  Knee operations days

  Hip joint operations days

  Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow

  307

  253

  Stirling Royal Infirmary

  256

  193

  Royal Alexandra Hospital

  215

  186

  Falkirk & District Royal Infirmary

  215

  180

  Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary

  213

  168

  1 Provisional

  Source:

  ISD Scotland
  291

  Mortgage Repossession Orders Court
  Mrs. Ewing
  To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland how many mortgage repossession orders there were to each court district in each quarter since the first quarter of 1995 to the first quarter of 1998. [43930]

  Mr. Dewar
  Figures in relation to repossession of property by mortgage lenders have been collected by the courts since a revised system of collected Civil Judicial Statistics was instituted on 1 January 1994. The figures since the first quarter of 1995 to the first quarter of 1998 are shown in the tables. Not all lenders who are granted decree actually enforce them.

  Court

  1Q 1995

  2Q 1995

  3Q 1995

  4Q 1995

  Total

  Aberdeen

  5

  5

  24

  56

  90

  Airdrie

  23

  26

  29

  28

  106

  Alloa

  8

  9

  9

  11

  37

  Arbroath

  0

  3

  4

  0

  7

  Ayr

  37

  26

  26

  17

  106

  Banff

  1

  5

  5

  6

  17

  Campeltown

  1

  3

  2

  6

  12

  Cupar

  11

  7

  8

  6

  32

  Dingwall

  4

  4

  5

  13

  26

  Dornoch

  1

  1

  1

  1

  4

  Dumbarton

  36

  26

  36

  27

  125

  Dumfries

  16

  16

  10

  16

  58

  Dundee

  28

  14

  17

  35

  94

  Dunfermline

  24

  26

  40

  34

  124

  Dunoon

  5

  8

  1

  0

  14

  Duns

  2

  1

  5

  2

  10

  Edinburgh

  111

  73

  126

  109

  419

  Elgin

  7

  9

  5

  9

  30

  Falkirk

  30

  32

  25

  25

  112

  Forfar

  2

  1

  0

  5

  8

  Fort William

  4

  0

  0

  0

  4

  Glasgow

  155

  179

  179

  176

  689

  Greenock

  0

  1

  1

  6

  8

  Haddington

  13

  6

  27

  18

  64

  Hamilton

  45

  60

  64

  67

  236

  Inverness

  14

  17

  14

  17

  62

  Jedburgh

  5

  6

  7

  3

  21

  Kilmarnock

  44

  43

  50

  57

  194

  Kirkcaldy

  28

  45

  28

  31

  132

  Kirkcudbright

  1

  2

  5

  3

  11

  Kirkwall

  0

  1

  3

  0

  4

  Lanark

  9

  14

  10

  16

  49

  Lerwick

  1

  0

  2

  1

  4

  Linlithgow

  45

  43

  52

  40

  180

  Lochmaddy

  0

  2

  0

  0

  2

  Oban

  2

  2

  3

  1

  8

  Paisley

  22

  37

  65

  79

  203

  Peebles

  2

  2

  1

  4

  9

  Perth

  8

  24

  25

  19

  76

  Peterhead

  4

  11

  9

  11

  35

  Portree

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Rothesay

  0

  2

  0

  3

  5

  Selkirk

  2

  5

  6

  3

  16

  Stirling

  8

  11

  11

  9

  39

  Stonehaven

  9

  5

  8

  10

  32

  Stornoway

  0

  0

  0

  1

  1

  Stranraer

  3

  6

  7

  4

  20

  Tain

  2

  0

  3

  2

  7

  Wick

  0

  4

  6

  0

  10

  Grand Total

  778

  823

  966

  987

  3,554

  292

  Court

  1Q 1996

  2Q 1996

  3Q 1996

  4Q 1996

  Total

  Aberdeen

  54

  55

  47

  46

  202

  Airdrie

  36

  26

  38

  38

  138

  Alloa

  13

  5

  7

  6

  31

  Arbroath

  0

  0

  4

  10

  14

  Ayr

  27

  17

  25

  29

  98

  Banff

  5

  5

  4

  2

  16

  Campeltown

  1

  2

  1

  3

  7

  Cupar

  18

  12

  14

  8

  52

  Dingwall

  3

  10

  1

  0

  14

  Dornoch

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Dumbarton

  32

  33

  24

  16

  105

  Dumfries

  13

  23

  7

  11

  54

  Dundee

  33

  47

  42

  33

  165

  Dunfermline

  39

  31

  32

  30

  132

  Dunoon

  0

  0

  8

  5

  13

  Duns

  4

  5

  5

  2

  16

  Edinburgh

  136

  125

  139

  101

  501

  Elgin

  14

  17

  16

  11

  58

  Falkirk

  40

  27

  38

  37

  142

  Forfar

  8

  10

  5

  6

  29

  Fort William

  0

  2

  2

  2

  6

  Glasgow

  245

  215

  234

  178

  872

  Greenock

  16

  15

  14

  5

  50

  Haddington

  23

  24

  18

  17

  82

  Hamilton

  54

  81

  76

  42

  253

  Inverness

  21

  18

  15

  10

  64

  Jedburgh

  3

  9

  2

  7

  21

  Kilmarnock

  68

  60

  50

  38

  216

  Kirkcaldy

  42

  38

  36

  39

  155

  Kirkcudbright

  7

  5

  5

  2

  19

  Kirkwall

  6

  3

  4

  0

  13

  Lanark

  24

  10

  16

  8

  58

  Lerwick

  2

  0

  0

  1

  3

  Linlithgow

  72

  54

  39

  44

  209

  Lochmaddy

  1

  2

  1

  3

  7

  Oban

  8

  2

  2

  0

  12

  Paisley

  89

  46

  2

  39

  176

  Peebles

  3

  1

  4

  2

  10

  Perth

  34

  23

  29

  23

  109

  Peterhead

  17

  22

  15

  11

  65

  Portree

  3

  2

  1

  2

  8

  Rothesay

  0

  0

  0

  2

  2

  Selkirk

  3

  5

  5

  4

  17

  Stirling

  12

  10

  8

  4

  34

  Stonehaven

  15

  13

  9

  5

  42

  Stornoway

  9

  2

  1

  1

  13

  Stranraer

  2

  8

  5

  5

  20

  Tain

  4

  4

  4

  1

  13

  Wick

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Grand Total

  1,269

  1,125

  1,056

  889

  4,339

  Court

  1Q 1997

  2Q 1997

  3Q 1997

  4Q 1997

  Total

  Aberdeen

  62

  37

  39

  48

  186

  Airdrie

  49

  46

  47

  58

  200

  Alloa

  6

  11

  12

  7

  36

  Arbroath

  16

  11

  5

  5

  37

  Ayr

  36

  31

  40

  35

  142

  Banff

  5

  1

  6

  3

  15

  Campeltown

  1

  2

  1

  3

  7

  293

  Court

  1Q 1997

  2Q 1997

  3Q 1997

  4Q 1997

  Total

  Cupar

  10

  11

  13

  10

  44

  Dingwall

  5

  1

  9

  2

  17

  Dornoch

  0

  1

  0

  0

  1

  Dumbarton

  32

  32

  26

  16

  106

  Dumfries

  10

  6

  14

  12

  42

  Dundee

  38

  41

  43

  27

  149

  Dunfermline

  51

  32

  31

  43

  157

  Dunoon

  2

  5

  6

  5

  18

  Duns

  3

  2

  3

  3

  11

  Edinburgh

  112

  140

  155

  129

  536

  Elgin

  12

  6

  8

  9

  35

  Falkirk

  14

  27

  35

  42

  118

  Forfar

  5

  6

  3

  5

  19

  Fort William

  0

  0

  3

  1

  4

  Glasgow

  184

  252

  204

  229

  869

  Greenock

  9

  7

  8

  22

  46

  Haddington

  20

  16

  28

  24

  88

  Hamilton

  72

  52

  35

  12

  171

  Inverness

  10

  28

  14

  28

  80

  Jedburgh

  8

  0

  7

  7

  22

  Kilmarnock

  55

  20

  77

  69

  221

  Kirkcaldy

  47

  54

  35

  40

  176

  Kirkcudbright

  6

  3

  6

  1

  16

  Kirkwall

  2

  0

  1

  1

  4

  Lanark

  15

  15

  12

  10

  52

  Lerwick

  0

  0

  2

  0

  2

  Linlithgow

  32

  42

  32

  54

  160

  Lochmaddy

  1

  0

  0

  0

  1

  Oban

  5

  3

  2

  2

  12

  Paisley

  3

  49

  81

  65

  198

  Peebles

  2

  2

  1

  2

  7

  Perth

  23

  19

  25

  17

  84

  Peterhead

  13

  15

  12

  13

  53

  Portree

  0

  0

  1

  3

  4

  Rothesay

  2

  2

  1

  2

  7

  Selkirk

  5

  10

  5

  4

  24

  Stirling

  13

  14

  12

  8

  47

  Stonehaven

  10

  12

  13

  5

  40

  Stornoway

  0

  4

  0

  1

  5

  Stranraer

  6

  5

  7

  3

  21

  Tain

  0

  4

  8

  3

  15

  Wick

  0

  0

  0

  0

  0

  Grand Total

  1,012

  1,077

  1,128

  1,088

  4,305

  294

  Court

  1Q 1998

  Aberdeen

  56

  Airdrie

  50

  Alloa

  11

  Arbroath

  14

  Ayr

  31

  Banff

  2

  Campeltown

  4

  Cupar

  8

  Dingwall

  4

  Dornoch

  1

  Dumbarton

  53

  Dumfries

  10

  Dundee

  32

  Dunfermline

  45

  Dunoon

  8

  Duns

  4

  Edinburgh

  142

  Elgin

  9

  Falkirk

  26

  Forfar

  7

  Fort William

  1

  Glasgow

  208

  Greenock

  17

  Haddington

  17

  Hamilton

  10

  Inverness

  27

  Jedburgh

  4

  Kilmarnock

  66

  Kirkcaldy

  41

  Kirkcudbright

  0

  Kirkwall

  1

  Lanark

  12

  Lerwick

  4

  Linlithgow

  49

  Lochmaddy

  2

  Oban

  2

  Paisley

  101

  Peebles

  2

  Perth

  29

  Peterhead

  22

  Portree

  1

  Rothesay

  3

  Selkirk

  11

  Stirling

  13

  Stonehaven

  6

  Stornoway

  4

  Stranraer

  4

  Tain

  3

  Wick

  0

  Grand Total

  1,177

  Capital Gains Tax
  Capital Gains Tax
  Resuscitation Training Models: VAT
  Resuscitation Training Models: VAT
  Tenant and Landlord Service Charge Disputes
  Tenant and Landlord Service Charge Disputes
  Index of Local Deprivation
  Index of Local Deprivation
  Termite Infestation, Saunton, North Devon
  Termite Infestation, Saunton, North Devon
  Reservoirs Act 1975: Proposed Amendments
  Reservoirs Act 1975: Proposed Amendments
  Gibraltar: Airport Charges
  Gibraltar: Airport Charges
  Cycle Parking at Government Departments
  Cycle Parking at Government Departments
  Greater Manchester: New Deal for Communities
  Greater Manchester: New Deal for Communities
  Development in Conservation Areas
  Development in Conservation Areas
  Motorway Fencing
  Motorway Fencing
  Youth Justice Measures: Pilot Schemes
  Youth Justice Measures: Pilot Schemes
  Who Decides?: Consultation Response
  Who Decides?: Consultation Response
  Grammar School Admission: Ballot Arrangements
  Grammar School Admission: Ballot Arrangements
  EU Nationals: Medical Treatment in Other Member States
  EU Nationals: Medical Treatment in Other Member States
  HIV/AIDS: Advice to Government
  HIV/AIDS: Advice to Government
  Gamete and Embryo Import and Export: Licences
  Gamete and Embryo Import and Export: Licences
  Euthanasia and Cessation of Treatment
  Euthanasia and Cessation of Treatment
  Artificial Limb Provision
  Artificial Limb Provision
  Magilligan Prison: Detainees
  Magilligan Prison: Detainees
  Baton Round Development
  Baton Round Development
  Refugee Women in Europe: Report
  Refugee Women in Europe: Report
  Major General Pabawo Subianto
  Major General Pabawo Subianto
  Mr. Derek Jones
  Mr. Derek Jones
  Arms Exports to China
  Arms Exports to China
  Arms Exports to Iran
  Arms Exports to Iran
  Argentina: Arms Embargo
  Argentina: Arms Embargo
  Hong Kong Legislature: Elections
  Hong Kong Legislature: Elections