Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 26 June 1997

Home Department

Driving Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action the Government are taking to ensure that non-British nationals committing driving offences in this country will be brought to justice in Britain. [4635]

Any person, whether or not a British national, who commits an offence of any kind in the United Kingdom and leaves the jurisdiction before being dealt with may be summonsed to return for trial. The summons may be served on the person out of the jurisdiction, though by virtue of section 2(3) of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990, failure to appear in response to the summons is not punishable under United Kingdom law. In the case of a serious offence, it may be possible to seek the person's extradition to stand trial in the United Kingdom.

Immigration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedures to be followed in respect of those primary purpose cases before tribunals withdrawn following the guidance given to the Chief Adjudicator on 6 May; and if he will indicate when guidance will be given on the case of Mrs. Sewarra (case number TH/4170/96. [5494]

Following the abolition of the primary purpose rule, Home Office officials are reviewing all outstanding appeals where primary purpose was one of the grounds for refusal to decide whether there is sufficient evidence to contest the appeal on any of the other grounds quoted in the refusal letter. If the refusal was based solely on primary purpose or if there is insufficient evidence to contest the other grounds, the entry clearance officer will be instructed to issue entry clearance and invite the appellant to withdraw the appeal. In all other cases, the appeal will be contested. Officials are keeping the Independent Appellate Authority, which is solely responsible for listing appeals, informed as this review proceeds. The review of some 1,500 outstanding appeals will be completed as soon as possible. I have written to the hon. Member on the case he raises.

Perjury

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what is the longest term of imprisonment imposed by the courts on an individual found guilty of perjury since 1979; [5501](2) how many persons have been prosecuted and found guilty of perjury in each year since 1979. [5502]

The longest term of imprisonment imposed at the Crown Court since 1979 for an offence of perjury is five years (given in 1987 and 1989).Prosecution and conviction data are shown in the table:

Number of persons prosecuted at magistrates' courts and convicted¹ at all courts for offences of perjury²,1979–1995
England and Wales
Year	Prosecuted	Convicted¹
1979	149	135
1980	158	174
1981	146	145
1982	148	131
1983	147	139
1984	161	186
1985	166	162
1986	124	124
1987	183	167
1988	220	203
1989	226	195
1990	176	160
1991	217	166
1992	212	164
1993	198	150
1994	198	144
1995	232	193
¹ Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.
² An offence under the Perjury Act 1911 and Criminal Justice Act 1925, Sec. 36, Criminal Justice Act 1967 Sec. 89, Mines and Quarries (Tips) Act 1969 Sec.12(2) (in part), Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 Sec. 106, Mental Health Act 1983 Sec. 126(4), County Courts Act 1984 Sec. 133, and Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Sec. 75.

Surrey Police Force

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of policemen trained by the Surrey Police Force remain with the Surrey Police Force after five years' service; and what is the corresponding figure for the rest of England and Wales. [5457]

The information is not available. However, if the hon. member would like to write to me setting out his concerns in detail, I will reply as fully as I can.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has for publishing further guidance notes. [5117]

In accordance with paragraph 21 of the criminal injuries compensation scheme, which came into effect on 1 April 1996, the Authority published at that time its guide to the operation of the scheme as a whole. It has supplemented that by issuing more specialised guidance on the assessment of loss of earnings and special expenses, compensation in fatal cases, the procedures applicable in cases of child abuse and the administration of awards to minors. The Authority has no immediate plans for further guidance, but is always ready to consider requests for such guidance.

Pornography

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he next intends to meet the Internet Service Providers Association to discuss the issues of pornography on electronic networks. [4735]

I intend to meet the Chief Executive of Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) shortly. The IWF is an independent industry body set up on 23 September 1996 with the support of the two major Internet Service Providers Trade Associations (the Internet Service Providers Association and the London Internet Exchange (LINX)) to tackle the problems of illegal material (particularly child pornography) on the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment his Department has made of the extent to which child pornography is being placed on the Internet by persons in the United Kingdom. [4736]

We are concerned about the presence of child pornography on the Internet and the relative ease of access to such material. With the Metropolitan Police and other interested parties, we are examining ways of controlling access to such material. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) was set up last year to tackle the problems of illegal material (particularly child pornography) on the Internet and established a hotline on 3 December so that users could report the present of child pornography in a newsgroup. Since then, 1WF, have received 94 reports, covering 1,008 separate items relating to child pornography, of which 9, covering 71 items, refer to material apparently placed on the Internet by persons within the United Kingdom.

Bookmakers Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to reconstitute the Bookmakers Committee. [6135]

After careful consideration, we have decided to implement the proposals for reconstituting the Bookmakers Committee previously consulted on.I have today made regulations under section 26 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963 which will come into force on 24 July.We consider that the new make-up of the Committee strikes a reasonable balance between the different bookmaking interests.The Committee will continue to consist of 12 members. The main change is to give representation to a new body, the British Betting Office Association, which will be invited to appoint two members to the Committee.The Betting Office Licensees Association (which previously appointed five members) is to appoint six members of the Committee, as a consequence of its merger with the National Sporting League (which previously appointed one member).The National Association of Bookmakers is to appoint three members of the Committee (previously five): and the Scottish Starting Price (SP) Bookmakers Association will continue to appoint one member.We will keep the position under review.

Fire Safety (Hmos)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires occurred in houses in multiple occupation in the years 1990 to 1996; and how many (a) deaths and (b) injuries resulted from these fires. [4732]

The available information on dwellings for 1990 to 1995 is given in the tables, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The data for 1994 and 1995 do not reliably identify houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) from other types of dwelling. A more detailed analysis of fires in multiple occupied dwellings in the United Kingdom was published in pages 30–33 of "Fire Statistics, United Kingdom, 1993", a copy of which is in the Library. The enforcement of fire safety precautions in HMOs is a policy responsibility of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. His Department is currently funding a research study looking in depth at the incidence and causes of fire death in HMOs. It is hoped to publish the report later this year.

Fires^1,2 and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1995
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non fatal casualties
England and Wales	19,992	152	4,289
England	19,203	147	4,087
England: Non-Met counties	7,515	60	1,716
Avon	402	0	49
Bedfordshire	145	2	29
Berkshire	214	2	37
Buckinghamshire	224	0	12
Cambridgeshire	114	2	31
Cheshire	272	2	67
Cleveland	202	0	60
Cornwall	61	3	11
Cumbria	129	0	16
Derbyshire	122	2	59
Devon	381	1	95
Dorset	187	5	29
Durham	83	1	16
East Sussex	475	5	107
Essex	269	3	61
Gloucestershire	108	1	32
Hampshire	418	1	94
Hereford and Worcester	128	1	22
Hertfordshire	199	2	36
Humberside	264	4	70
Isle of Wight	44	0	10
Kent	327	2	94
Lancashire	721	6	165
Leicestershire	159	2	30
Lincolnshire	56	1	17
Norfolk	164	0	34
North Yorkshire	99	1	24
Northamptonshire	137	3	38
Northumberland	25	0	5
Nottinghamshire	269	1	86
Oxfordshire	142	0	41
Shropshire	67	0	23
Somerset	69	1	15
Staffordshire	189	1	49
Suffolk	165	4	29
Surrey	149	1	44
Warwickshire	93	0	11
West Sussex	174	0	39
Wiltshire	69	0	29

Fires^1,2 and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1995
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England: Met counties	11,688	87	2,371
Greater Manchester	1,474	10	477
Merseyside	917	4	337
South Yorkshire	520	3	53
Tyne and Wear	773	2	201
West Midlands	2,145	9	287
West Yorkshire	913	7	225
Greater London	4,946	52	791
Wales	790	5	202
Clwyd	96	1	52
Dyfed	95	0	13
Gwent	89	0	25
Gwynedd	49	0	10
Mid Glamorgan	117	1	35
Powys	18	0	3
South Glamorgan	193	2	43
West Glamorgan	132	1	21
¹ Including additional late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994). Figures are rounded and the components do not necessarily sum to the independently rounded totals.
² Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fires^1,2 and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1994
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England and Wales	19,836	123	4,052
England	19,107	121	3,863
England: Non-Met counties	7,404	42	1,631
Avon	452	2	63
Bedfordshire	124	1	40
Berkshire	158	0	46
Buckinghamshire	259	1	14
Cambridgeshire	127	0	26
Cheshire	225	1	35
Cleveland	191	0	25
Cornwall	56	0	16
Cumbria	166	2	29
Derbyshire	157	1	57
Devon	388	0	86
Dorset	161	1	44
Durham	65	0	17
East Sussex	468	2	88
Essex	288	0	77
Gloucestershire	80	1	27
Hampshire	379	4	116
Hereford and Worcester	145	0	27
Hertfordshire	194	3	37
Humberside	316	3	48
Isle of Wight	50	0	4
Kent	328	4	74
Lancashire	594	1	126
Leicestershire	158	0	35
Lincolnshire	84	1	14
Norfolk	180	0	47
North Yorkshire	101	2	35
Northamptonshire	123	2	29
Northumberland	57	0	9
Nottinghamshire	311	2	60
Oxfordshire	130	2	50
Shropshire	104	1	18
Somerset	39	1	6

Fires^1,2 and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1994
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
Staffordshire	227	0	38
Suffolk	129	0	26
Surrey	211	4	50
Warwickshire	61	0	31
West Sussex	95	0	44
Wiltshire	21	0	17
England: Met counties	11,703	79	2,232
Greater Manchester	1,426	13	416
Merseyside	855	5	279
South Yorkshire	605	2	92
Tyne and Wear	767	5	177
West Midlands	2,279	10	329
West Yorkshire	988	2	178
Greater London	4,783	42	761
Wales	728	2	189
Clwyd	96	0	37
Dyfed	101	0	12
Gwent	88	0	23
Gwynedd	72	0	15
Mid Glamorgan	100	1	24
Powys	14	0	3
South Glamorgan	119	1	53
West Glamorgan	137	0	22
¹ Including additional late call and heat and smoke damage incidents (not recorded prior to 1994). Figures are rounded and the components do not necessarily sum to the independently rounded totals.
² Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fires^1,2 and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1993
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England and Wales	20,194	118	3,821
England	19,496	113	3,649
England: Non-Met counties	7,121	45	1,396
Avon	371	3	72
Bedfordshire	127	2	14
Berkshire	152	2	23
Buckinghamshire	197	1	11
Cambridgeshire	109	1	37
Cheshire	255	1	44
Cleveland	171	3	36
Cornwall	68	0	15
Cumbria	157	1	15
Derbyshire	139	0	43
Devon	332	1	82
Dorset	144	1	27
Durham	97	0	26
East Sussex	361	2	63
Essex	250	2	60
Gloucestershire	103	0	15
Hampshire	310	2	58
Hereford and Worcester	115	0	27
Hertfordshire	189	0	29
Humberside	287	0	55
Isle of Wight	49	1	4
Kent	336	2	53
Lancashire	587	4	126
Leicestershire	196	2	41
Lincolnshire	81	0	26
Norfolk	171	1	39

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1993
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
North Yorkshire	136	0	23
Northamptonshire	121	0	25
Northumberland	62	2	11
Nottinghamshire	303	0	58
Oxfordshire	106	1	8
Shropshire	58	0	5
Somerset	74	3	10
Staffordshire	218	1	65
Suffolk	161	0	18
Surrey	179	2	69
Warwickshire	98	1	I1
West Sussex	164	3	40
Wiltshire	87	0	12
England: Met counties	12,375	68	2,253
Greater Manchester	1,664	7	510
Merseyside	944	2	272
South Yorkshire	607	3	85
Tyne and Wear	731	6	161
West Midlands	2,425	8	266
West Yorkshire	802	6	188
Greater London	5,202	36	771
Wales	698	5	172
Clwyd	76	0	12
Dyfed	58	2	25
Gwent	98	0	23
Gwynedd	70	0	18
Mid Glamorgan	116	2	30
Powys	8	0	1
South Glamorgan	154	1	30
West Glamorgan	118	0	33
¹ Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1992
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England and Wales	19,407	175	3,860
England	18,746	169	3,708
England: Non-Met counties	6,813	58	1,495
Avon	361	1	50
Bedfordshire	125	4	17
Berkshire	163	2	39
Buckinghamshire	118	0	19
Cambridgeshire	94	1	16
Cheshire	200	1	34
Cleveland	174	2	41
Cornwall	80	2	17
Cumbria	161	0	22
Derbyshire	131	3	36
Devon	324	0	73
Dorset	175	3	52
Durham	73	1	12
East Sussex	419	7	111
Essex	276	3	78
Gloucestershire	109	0	32
Hampshire	341	2	72
Hereford and Worcester	131	0	19
Hertfordshire	181	1	18
Humberside	293	2	69
Isle of Wight	48	0	12
Kent	339	2	80
Lancashire	540	3	137

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1992
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
Leicestershire	166	2	27
Lincolnshire	68	1	27
Norfolk	119	2	27
North Yorkshire	133	1	27
Northamptonshire	122	1	21
Northumberland	42	1	6
Nottinghamshire	276	3	60
Oxfordshire	115	1	34
Shropshire	65	0	10
Somerset	67	1	18
Staffordshire	178	1	51
Suffolk	147	0	16
Surrey	156	0	42
Warwickshire	92	1	14
West Sussex	139	0	37
Wiltshire	72	3	22
England: Met counties	11,933	111	2,213
Greater Manchester	1,675	12	454
Merseyside	863	8	245
South Yorkshire	565	3	78
Tyne and Wear	718	5	170
West Midlands	2,301	13	289
West Yorkshire	729	4	146
Greater London	5,082	66	831
Wales	661	6	152
Clwyd	85	1	35
Dyfed	66	1	19
Gwent	92	0	16
Gwynedd	57	1	9
Mid Glamorgan	96	0	17
Powys	13	0	1
South Glamorgan	162	2	35
West Glamorgan	90	1	20
¹ Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1991
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England and Wales	18,687	142	3,731
England	18,054	133	3,566
England: Non-Met counties	6,438	35	1,320
Avon	379	3	74
Bedfordshire	125	1	21
Berkshire	137	1	48
Buckinghamshire	149	1	21
Cambridgeshire	111	1	38
Cheshire	226	1	38
Cleveland	140	0	26
Cornwall	66	1	19
Cumbria	109	1	17
Derbyshire	127	0	32
Devon	313	0	53
Dorset	159	0	36
Durham	77	0	17
East Sussex	351	6	60
Essex	257	2	71
Gloucestershire	127	0	18
Hampshire	308	0	57
Hereford and Worcester	130	1	30
Hertfordshire	161	2	20
Humberside	306	1	63

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1991
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
Isle of Wight	48	0	6
Kent	320	1	54
Lancashire	473	3	84
Leicestershire	145	1	20
Lincolnshire	55	0	16
Norfolk	125	0	34
North Yorkshire	121	0	18
Northamptonshire	116	0	27
Northumberland	39	0	9
Nottinghamshire	305	3	65
Oxfordshire	100	0	25
Shropshire	70	2	4
Somerset	45	0	2
Staffordshire	179	0	67
Suffolk	121	0	11
Surrey	149	1	56
Warwickshire	90	0	32
West Sussex	110	2	20
Wiltshire	69	0	11
England: Met counties	11,616	98	2,246
Greater Manchester	1,798	14	505
Merseyside	882	4	260
South Yorkshire	446	3	75
Tyne and Wear	672	4	170
West Midlands	1,944	18	237
West Yorkshire	737	4	174
Greater London	5,137	51	825
Wales	633	9	165
Clwyd	93	1	25
Dyfed	47	0	11
Gwent	77	2	17
Gwynedd	59	0	12
Mid Glamorgan	103	2	37
Powys	10	0	0
South Glamorgan	176	4	50
West Glamorgan	68	0	13
¹Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1990
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
England and Wales	18,288	165	3,472
England	17,735	162	3,341
England: Non-Met counties	5,981	68	1,251
Avon	295	3	43
Bedfordshire	101	1	21
Berkshire	157	2	11
Buckinghamshire	108	3	23
Cambridgeshire	83	1	10
Cheshire	228	2	38
Cleveland	128	1	32
Cornwall	68	0	18
Cumbria	89	2	15
Derbyshire	105	1	30
Devon	292	3	85
Dorset	139	3	33
Durham	59	0	15
East Sussex	313	9	71
Essex	269	4	73
Gloucestershire	105	0	22
Hampshire	319	3	44

Fires¹ and casualties in multiple occupancy dwellings by brigade area, UK 1990
	Multiple occupancy dwellings
	Fires	Fatalities	Non-fatal casualties
Hereford and Worcester	127	0	19
Hertfordshire	181	1	46
Humberside	293	4	65
Isle of Wight	44	0	1
Kent	272	4	42
Lancashire	437	4	96
Leicestershire	151	1	29
Lincolnshire	47	0	13
Norfolk	113	2	37
North Yorkshire	123	2	23
Northamptonshire	122	0	28
Northumberland	40	0	8
Nottinghamshire	285	1	46
Oxfordshire	130	0	28
Shropshire	49	0	8
Somerset	47	0	7
Staffordshire	129	1	32
Suffolk	98	0	16
Surrey	156	4	50
Warwickshire	89	2	20
West Sussex	143	4	32
Wiltshire	47	0	21
England: Met counties	11,754	94	2,090
Greater Manchester	1,746	12	428
Merseyside	703	5	215
South Yorkshire	410	1	70
Tyne and Wear	767	4	187
West Midlands	2,056	9	240
West Yorkshire	717	9	159
Greater London	5,355	54	791
Wales	553	3	131
Clwyd	68	0	28
Dyfed	41	0	6
Gwent	74	1	20
Gwynedd	69	0	5
Mid Glamorgan	88	1	15
Powys	15	0	7
South Glamorgan	141	1	42
West Glamorgan	57	0	8
¹Excluding fires confined to chimneys.

Fire Services Act 1947

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to modify the Fire Services Act 1947; and if he will make a statement. [5143]

I emphasised the importance that the Government attach to seeking improvements in fire safety in the reply which I gave to the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) on 23 June, Official Report, column 360. We are also considering generally whether there is a need to update and amend existing fire service legislation.

Paul Malone

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will re-examine the case of Paul Malone; if he will make a statement on the reasons for the retirement of three police officers referred to by the Police Complaints Authority in their report; and when the Cheshire Police Constabulary were first aware of the acts referred to in the Police Complaints Authority report relating to this case. [3512]

Any re-examination of a case in which it is alleged that there has been a miscarriage of justice is now a matter for the Criminal Cases Review Commission, whose powers to refer cases to the Court of Appeal are set out in the Criminal Appeal Act (1995).I understand that the three police officers concerned retired between June and September 1995. One officer retired on ill health grounds, the other two took normal retirement after completing 30 years' service. The matters referred to in the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) statement came to light in an investigation supervised by the PCA which was completed in August 1994.I will draw my hon. Friend's Question to the attention of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, and will pass the information provided to the Commission for their consideration.

Fines (Motorists)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what revenue was obtained

Total amounts ordered to be paid in fines for motoring offences and numbers of fixed penalties issued
England and Wales 1986 to 1995
	Total amount ordered to be paid in fines for:		Number of fixed notices issued for:
	Speeding offences	Other motoring offences	Speeding offences		Other motoring ofences
	£ million	£ million	Endorsable	Non-endorsable	Endorsable	Non-endorsable
1986	13.2	78.7	69,639	—	35,663	4,953,335
1987	9.3	74.7	284,204	64	113,502	5,416,035
1988	10.4	79.0	340,943	822	133,887	5,699,448
1989	12.6	89.3	410,477	984	140,561	5,719,568
1990	13.5	91.9	446,993	1,387	133,765	5,716,082
1991	13.2	91.6	446,246	2,927	122,138	5,104,478
1992	12.8	90.4	456,730	3,394	104,980	4,511,922
1993	12.5	111.2	394,637	121	95,457	3,675,437
1994	11.6	118.1	472,470	—	110,446	2,991,320
1995	12.5	122.4	530,172	—	120,681	2,573,821

Figures for 1996 are not yet available.

Test Purchasing (Decriminalisation)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to decriminalise test purchasing by under-age children on behalf of the police. [4886]

I have been asked to reply.The Ministerial Group on Alcopops will be considering the role of test purchases in helping to enforce the law preventing the sale of certain goods to young people.

Number of prosecutions under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, 1982–1995
England and Wales
Police Force area	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1991	1993	1994	1995
Avon and Somerset	1	—	1	1	5	—	1	2	—	2	2	7	2	—
Bedfordshire	—	1	3	3	3	—	2	3	1	—	—	—	1	2
Cambridgeshire	1	1	1	3	2	1	3	1	5	2	2	1	1	—
Cheshire	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	4	—	—	1	—	1
Cleveland	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4	4	4	2	1
Cumbria	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	3	—	—	3	2	3
Derbyshire	5	6	7	1	5	7	5	1	1	1	1	1	—	2

by the Treasury from fines for (a) speeding offences and (b) other traffic offences in each of the last 10 years. [5159]

The information requested is not available.However, information available to me suggests that the amounts shown in the following table were ordered to be paid in fines in England and Wales for speeding offences and other motoring offences during the years 1986 to 1995. (Not all fines will have been paid).As the majority of motoring offences are currently dealt with by way of fixed penalty notices, figures of the number of notices are also included in the table. From 1 October 1986, the penalty for a non-endorsable offence was set at £12 and that for an endorsable offence at £24. These penalties were raised to £16 and £32 respectively on 1 April 1990. From 1 April 1992, the penalties were again raised to £40 for an endorsable offence and for illegal parking on a red route, £30 for illegal parking in London other than on a red route and £20 for other non-endorsable offences.Penalty charge notices issued by Local Authorities from 1994 are excluded, as the revenue is not passed to the Treasury.

Wildlife And Countryside Act (Offences)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been for offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, for each police force area for each year since its implementation. [4624]

[holding answer 24 June 1997]: The information on these offences, which involve offences against wild, captive and protected animals, birds and plants, is given in the table:

Number of prosecutions under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, 1982–1995
England and Wales
Police Force area	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Devon and Cornwall	1	—	1	2	—	1	—	—	1	3	—	1	1	4
Dorset	—	1	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	1	—	1
Durham	9	8	5	12	8	3	4	4	4	9	2	—	2	—
Essex	—	3	—	8	1	1	1	2	5	3	10	4	2	—
Gloucestershire	1	—	1	—	—	—	4	—	10	1	1	3	—	1
Greater Manchester	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3	4	9	1	1	—
Hampshire	—	2	4	4	1	2	2	3	5	5	1	6	2	2
Hertfordshire	—	2	3	2	2	1	—	1	3	—	3	—	—	2
Humberside	6	3	2	4	—	5	5	2	1	—	1	1	1	3
Kent	—	1	—	—	5	—	1	1	1	4	2	5	—	1
Lancashire	—	—	1	—	—	—	—	—	5	6	1	8	1	7
Leicestershire	4	3	2	2	2	2	6	2	1	4	2	1	4	—
Lincolnshire	5	2	1	5	4	5	4	—	1	1	—	4	2	—
Merseyside	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	1	4	4	8	6	3
Metropolitan Police¹	27	33	41	32	25	17	36	30	34	6	12	22	46	40
Norfolk	—	—	1	4	—	1	4	5	7	3	3	2	4	2
Northamptonshire	3	1	4	—	4	2	1	4	1	1	—	1	1	—
Northumbria	11	2	10	48	3	7	1	2	9	8	6	2	8	8
North Yorkshire	6	4	2	5	1	1	1	10	3	3	2	7	3	2
Nottinghamshire	3	8	5	5	4	3	2	3	4	4	—	7	4	3
South Yorkshire	7	2	9	3	1	2	1	6	4	4	1	4	3	1
Staffordshire	11	6	13	9	13	11	3	9	3	6	2	6	3	16
Suffolk	—	—	—	2	—	—	—	—	6	2	—	2	—	1
Surrey	1	—	1	2	1	—	—	—	2	1	3	2	—	—
Sussex	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	3	—	2	6	2
Thames Valley	2	1	2	2	2	—	3	1	3	—	3	2	2	3
Warwickshire	5	9	6	14	14	7	11	2	—	1	2	—	1	1
West Mercia	8	5	3	11	1	3	5	7	2	5	3	4	4	6
West Midlands	9	6	18	6	5	5	6	3	10	5	5	—	—	6
West Yorkshire	4	5	3	5	4	4	—	6	—	—	4	2	1	1
Wiltshire	2	2	2	1	2	1	1	2	—	2	—	—	5	2
Dyfed Powys	2	4	5	12	6	3	6	1	3	2	2	—	—	1
Gwent	10	9	11	8	11	10	5	8	1	1	2	3	4	—
North Wales	2	10	6	7	16	3	5	9	4	7	1	5	4	2
South Wales	2	1	5	5	4	—	5	8	6	4	5	2	1	7
England and Wales	148	141	183	228	155	109	134	139	159	121	105	135	130	137
¹Includes City of London. From 1990 onwards prosecutions for offences committed under Section 13 of the Act (protection of wild plants) are not included as they are not identifiable from other summary offences.

House Of Commons

Eu Legislation

To ask the President of the Council what percentage of Bills introduced into Parliament in (a) 1976, (b) 1986 and (c) 1996 had the European Union as their legislative source; and if she will take steps to introduce a physical distinction in the publication of such Bills in the future. [4466]

Very few Bills are introduced with the primary purpose of implementing European Community legislation, although on occasions Bills will include clauses the purpose of which is to implement European Community obligations. Detailed information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. I have no plans to introduce a physical distinction in the publication of such Bills.

President Of The Council

Privy Council (Membership)

To ask the President of the Council what powers she has to trigger the procedure for removing a person from membership of the Privy Council; and if she will make a statement. [5584]

The enforced removal of a Privy Counsellor from membership of the Council, which has not occurred since 1921, would be a matter for The Sovereign, acting on the advice of Ministers.

Attorney-General

Perjury

To ask the Attorney-General what are the procedures for bringing an action for perjury against a named individual. [5503]

The question of prosecution of any individual for perjury cannot be considered until there has been a criminal investigation. It is the function of the police to investigate alleged crime and the proper course for an hon. Member having evidence showing the commission of an offence would be to place that evidence in the hands of the police.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Signals Intelligence Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each member of each military alliance of which the United Kingdom is part whether signals intelligence staff are (a) civilians, (b) expected to be in membership of an independent national trade union and (c) able to take part in a national strike unrelated to their direct conditions of employment; and in each case whether there has been such a strike in the past 20 years. [3453]

Most of our NATO partners employ civilians in their signals intelligence staff. In the majority of cases these civilians have the right voluntarily to join a national trade union and some have a legal right to take strike action. None, so far as we are aware, has ever taken strike action in the last twenty years.It is our policy not to comment on the details of the signals intelligence arrangements of other countries.

British Council And World Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to increase his Department's resources dedicated to (a) the British Council and (b) the World Service. [5278]

We are examining how we deploy all our resources, including those dedicated to the British Council and the BBC World Service, as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review. We shall submit the Review's findings to the Cabinet's Committee.

Departmental Advisers

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Special Advisers in his Department, the minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5364]

David Clark and Andrew Hood are currently employed as Special Advisers in my Department. They are employed under terms and conditions based on the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Libraries of the House.David Clark is advising me on European Affairs and Security Policy.Andrew Hood is advising me on policy related to Africa, Middle East, the Americas, Asia, international trade policy, human rights, the global environment, the arms trade and the Commonwealth.Both work in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the Model Contract.There were two Special Advisers in this Department in the year up to 1 May 1997.

Treasury

Taxpayers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total income tax yield was paid by (a) the bottom 10 per cent. of taxpayers, (b) the median 10 per cent. of taxpayers and (c) the top 10 per cent. of tax payers, in the last year for which figures are available. [3351]

Estimates for 1997–98 are given in the following table:

Group of taxpayers per cent.	Percentage of total income tax
Bottom 10	¹—
45–55	6
Top 10	46
¹Less than 0.5 per cent.

Capital Gains Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated revenues from Capital Gains Tax in 1995–96; and how much of this is derived from gains realised on investments of less than 12 months' duration. [3703]

Receipts from capital gains tax were £796 million in 1995–96. It is not yet possible to estimate the proportion due to disposals of assets held for less than 12 months.

Income Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue of income tax in the top five percentiles of incomes in (i) 1978–79 and (ii) 1996–97. [3445]

Based on the estimated distribution of total incomes for taxpayers, the total income tax liability for the top five percentiles was £4.9 billion in 1978–79 and £25.1 billion in 1996–97.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of all adults in employment or self-employment pay (a) no income tax, (b) income tax at 20 per cent. only, (c) income tax at 20 per cent. and 23 per cent. only and (d) income tax at 40 per cent. [3354]

Estimates for 1997–98 are given in the table. The figures include all those with any employment or self-employment income.

Marginal rate of tax	Percentage of total
No tax liability	15
Lower rate	20
Basic rate	57
Higher rate	8
Total	100

The estimates are based on information from the 1994–95 Survey of Personal Incomes and population estimates from the Government Actuary' s Department and are therefore provisional.

Corporation Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was in each of the last five financial years the amount of corporation tax paid as a proportion of companies' pre-tax profits. [3375]

United Kingdom taxes on company income as a percentage of trading income before dividends calculated from calendar year national accounting aggregates are as follows:

1992: 16.4
1993: 14.1
1994: 13.7
1995: 17.1
1996: 18.7

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has met representatives of pension funds and charities to discuss the impact of changes in advance corporation tax. [3744]

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the rate of advance corporation tax on dividends. [3330]

The rate of advance corporation tax on dividends for the financial year 1997 is 20/80, as set out in the last Finance Act.

Mail Order

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the Inland Revenue's implementation of the VAT required for mail order trades; and if he will make a statement. [3551]

Members of the Mail Order Traders' Association (MOTA) and others have made representations to ministers about changes to VAT retail schemes announced in the last Budget by the previous Government and described in Customs and Excise Budget Notice 46/96 and in Press Notice 2 dated 26 November 1996.MOTA members recently met senior Customs officials for further discussions. As a result, Customs announced in their Business Brief 10/97 a concession which reduces the cash flow impact on affected retailers.

Tax Policy

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the statement made in paragraph 6.73 in the Financial Statement and Budget report 1997–98 remains the objective upon which tax policy is base. [3374]

The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the Government's tax objectives at the time of the Budget on 2 July 1997.

Companies (Self-Assessment)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the timing of the commencement of self-assessment for companies. [3626]

For companies liable to corporation tax, the commencement of self-assessment is to be set by an appointed day, by Treasury Order. It has already been announced that the appointed day will not be before early 1999.

Value Added Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the criteria his Department applies in respect of the operation of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, section 33. [4617]

[holding answer 20 June 1997]: The chief criteria which apply to the operation of section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 are that VAT should not fall as a burden on local taxation, and that local authorities should not bear tax on activities they are specifically required by statute to undertake.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to review the decision to refuse the Scottish Environment Protection Agency an exemption in terms of the Value Added Tax Act 1994, section 33; and if he will make a statement. [4618]

[holding answer 20 June 1997]: SEPA has no power to precept on local taxation, and therefore does not meet one of the main criteria for bodies relieved by section 33 of the Act. The VAT position of SEPA and similar bodies is taken into account when setting levels of public expenditure in Scotland.

Tax Co-Ordination

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to encourage the co-ordination of tax assessment and tax collection; and if he will make a statement. [3441]

The Inland Revenue has now completed 4 years of its 10 year programme to restructure its local office network. The programme ends the distinction between separate "assessment" and "collection" offices by merging them to create new-style offices.

Securities And Investments Board (Annual Report)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the annual report of the Securities and Investments Board to be published. [5943]

A copy of the Board's report, made in accordance with Section 117 of the Financial Services Act 1986, was laid before Parliament today. The report covers the period from 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997. Copies are now available in the Library.

Income Tax (Pensioners)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proportion of pensioners over 65 pay (a) no income tax, (b) income tax at 20 per cent. only, (c) income tax at 20 per cent. and 23 per cent. only and (d) income tax at 40 per cent; [3352](2) what proportion of all adults excluding those in full-time education pay

(a) no income tax, (b) income tax at 20 per cent. only, (c) income tax at 20 per cent. and 23 per cent. only and (d) income tax at 40 per cent.; [3350]

(3) what proportion of non-pensioner adults excluding those in full-time education pay (a) no income tax, (b) income tax at 20 per cent. only, (c) income tax at 20 per cent. and 23 per cent. only and (d) income tax at 40 per cent. [3353]

Available information for 1997–98 is given in the table. Non-pensioner adults excludes those aged 65 or over and those aged under 16. It is not possible to identify taxpayers in full-time education.

	Percentage of total
Marginal rate of income tax	Non-pensioner adults (age 16 to 64)	Pensioner adults (age 65 or over)	All adults (aged 16 or over)
Not liable to income tax	37	67	43
Lower rate	15	19	16
Basic rate	42	13	36
Higher rate	6	1	5
Total	100	100	100

The estimates are based on information from the 1994–95 Survey of Personal Incomes and population estimates from the Government Actuary's Department and are therefore provisional.

Labour Force Survey

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce a monthly version of the Labour Force Survey. [5375]

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

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 26 June 1997:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the introduction of a monthly version of the Labour Force Survey (LFS).

I am responsible for deciding the form, coverage and timing of release of statistics issued by ONS, taking into account the views of customers. ONS consulted customers on the future presentation of labour market statistics; the consultation exercise was launched through an article in the Labour Market Trends published on 8 May. These proposals included the possibility of producing a monthly report from the LFS. Comments on the proposals should have been sent to ONS by 14 June.

The proposals set out for consultation reflect the House of Commons Employment Select Committee recommendation that more prominence should be given to the measure of unemployment which is based on the internationally agreed ILO definition.

ONS will publicly make available a response commanding wide support. The Government is committed to ensuring the widest possible acceptance of these statistics.

Labour Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change the method of calculation for the official unemployment figures. [4106]

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

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Bob Blizzard, dated 26 June 1997:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to your recent question on what plans there are to change the method of calculating the official unemployment figures.

I am responsible for deciding the form, coverage and timing of release of statistics issued by ONS, taking into account the views of customers. ONS is presently consulting customers on the future presentation of labour market statistics; the consultation exercise was launched through an article in the Labour Market Trends published on 8 May. Comments on the proposals should be sent to ONS by 14 June.

The proposals set out for consultation reflect the House of Commons Employment Select Committee recommendation that more prominence should be given to the measure of unemployment which is based on the internationally agreed ILO definition.

Environment, Transport And The Regions

Water Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received regarding water charges for single people living alone; and if he will make a statement. [5092]

My Department has received a number of representations about discounts on water charges for single occupiers. This issue will be considered as part of the review of the water charging system which the Government announced at the recent Water Summit.

House Building

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many housing units were (a) built and (b) renovated in the year 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 by (i) local authorities, (ii) housing associations and (iii) local housing companies. [5065]

The latest available annual estimates of both house building and renovation activity by local authorities and housing associations in England are shown in the table below. Figures for housing association renovations for the March quarter of 1997 are not yet available.There are no local housing companies registered with the Housing Corporation and so there is no information yet on their building activity.

England	1996 Number of dwellings
House building (completions)
Local authorities	530
Housing associations	26,210
Renovations (work completed)
Local authorities¹	329,500
Housing associations²	12,200
¹Conversions plus improvements.
²Figures exclude hostels and shared accommodation.

Paper And Sewage Sludge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions he has had with (a) the Environment Agency, (b) local government, (c) the Agricultural Development Advisory Service and (d) others regarding procedures for the disposal of (i) paper sludge and (ii) sewage sludge to land spraying; what changes he proposes to make in this respect; and if he will make a statement. [5090]

The previous Government set out its proposals relating to the disposal of paper sludge and sewage sludge in its response to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution's Nineteenth Report on the Sustainable Use of Soil (C0428, January 1997). On paper sludge, the Water Research Centre and the Agricultural Development Advisory Service were commissioned to develop further the criteria that determine in what circumstances the spreading on land of those wastes exempted from waste management licensing will benefit agriculture or result in ecological improvement. The results of the study are currently being assessed by the Environment Agency which is expected to report in the near future. On sewage sludge, this Department, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Department of Health and the water industry have commissioned a review of the current controls on the use of sewage sludge as set out in The Sludge (Use in Agriculture) Regulations 1989 (as amended) and the associated Code of Practice. The review is expected to be published later in the year. Any proposals to amend the current controls will be subject to consultation.

Social Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what studies he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated regarding the relationship between the level of capital investment in social housing and the level of the housing benefit budget. [5294]

The Department has not commissioned any external studies to examine the relationship between levels of capital investment in social housing and the level of housing benefit.However, it has constructed computer models for analysing the impact on public expenditure of different levels of local authority rents and social housing grant rates. These take account of impacts on housing benefit.These models and related analysis will be reviewed and updated as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 11 June,

Official Report, column 1143.

Green Belt

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on his policy in respect of extension of green belt land. [5266]

The Government's green belt policy is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG)2. There are at present no plans to revise this guidance. The boundaries of the green belt are for local planning authorities to establish through their development plans.

Electricity Pylons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has for new planning controls on electricity pylons in rural areas. [5268]

Control over the erection of electricity pylons is exercised under section 37 of the Electricity Act 1989. The Government has no plans to revise the current regime, where all but the most minor overhead electricity line developments need consent from my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade. Such applications are subject to appropriate environmental assessment regulations, and account is taken of relevant policy guidance, including Planning Policy Guidance note (PPG)7 "The Countryside—Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development".

Bird Habitat (Pennine Moors)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what research has been conducted recently on the impact of agriculture and urban development on bird habitats of the West Pennine Moors. [5383]

I am not aware of any specific research on this subject which has been carried out in this area. However, a practical project run by the Standing Conference of South Pennine Authorities, due to be completed in March 1998, is aimed at developing a broad, integrated strategy for the sustainable use of the South Pennine Moors. That part of the project which relates to important bird habitats is part-funded by the European LIFE/Nature programme. Today I am announcing the clasification of the South Pennine Moors as a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive.

National Parks

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has (a) to create new national parks and (b) to extend existing national parks. [5264]

The designation of new national parks in England is the responsibility of the Countryside Commission, subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State. Ministers will meet shortly with the Commission to discuss the potential for new national parks. I understand there are no plans at present to alter the boundaries of existing national parks.

Area Cost Adjustment

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he has to review the Area Cost Adjustment element of the revenue support grant formula. [5379]

The work of the Review of the Area Cost Adjustment during 1996 provided an examination of the issues, though not one which the Local Authority Associations wanted implemented for 1997–98 SSAs. The Department has recently commissioned research to examine some of the concerns of local government about the Review's proposals. It will report in July and we shall discuss with local government both the findings and the way forward on the Area Cost Adjustment.

Energy Efficiency

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what actions he is proposing to take with respect to the proportion of dwellings which are not physically capable of being made energy efficient at reasonable cost. [5152]

Housing authorities and other owners are responsible for determining the best course of action in respect of least energy efficient housing. This requires balanced judgements to be made about energy efficiency improvements having regard to costs and other physical and social factors. The English House Condition Survey indicated that for most dwellings, including many of those not capable of being brought up to current building regulation standards, improvement to a more moderate level of energy efficiency is likely to be the most cost effective course. Under my Department's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme guidance is given to housing professionals, housing authorities and others on cost effective energy efficiency measures that can be undertaken in a variety of housing situations.

Students (Council Tax)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if his proposed review of the Council tax system will include the liability of students in full-time higher education who share houses with non-students. [5496]

The previous Government announced plans to amend the council tax liability rules to exclude students from joint and several liability for council tax. This remains the new Governments intention and we will make the necessary amendments as soon as we have an opportunity to amend primary legislation.

Homelessness Legislation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what response he has received to the proposals for changing the homelessness legislation contained in the consultation paper that he issued on 23 May; and if he will make a statement. [5941]

There have been about 200 responses to the consultation paper, the overwhelming majority of which unreservedly welcomed our proposals. I am today laying draft regulations that would add households owed a main homelessness duty to the groups of people to whom local authorities are required to give reasonable preference in their housing allocation schemes.This is the first step in our plans to rebuild a proper safety net for families and vulnerable individuals who lose their homes through no fault of their own. It means that, in allocating housing, local authorities will be taking into account the experience of homelessness alongside other indicators of housing and social need.While it is for each local authority to balance the priority for different groups of housing applicants, this measure gives authorities the potential for moving households accepted as homeless into permanent accommodation more quickly.

Eu Environment Council

To ask the Secretary of States for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 19 and 20 June. [6134]

I represented the United Kingdom at the Environment Council which took place in Luxembourg on 19 and 20 June.The Council reached a common position on two major directives which will reduce air pollution from vehicles. These two directives form part of the so-called "Auto-oil programme" and will set new fuel and car standards for 2000 and prospectively for 2005. The Council also reached political agreement on a directive to tackle the problems caused by the emission of volatile organic compounds from industrial and commercial processes. This directive aims to reduce emission levels by 50 per cent. and was agreed unanimously. It will now go forward for a common position once the opinion of the European Parliament has been given.The Council further developed the Community's negotiating position for the preparatory meetings for the Third Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Kyoto, Japan, in December this year. Following the decision at the March Environment Council on a target for 2010, the Council agreed that the EU should propose that developed countries should reduce emissions of the main greenhouse gases to at least 7.5 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2005. The Council also supported my call for action by the Commission to investigate and bring forward proposals for tackling the potential problems caused by self-chilling cans.The Council also agreed that at 9th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol in Montreal in September the European Community should propose that consumption of methyl bromide in developed countries should be reduced to 50 per cent. of 1991 levels by 2001 and phased out in 2005, with exemptions for critical uses. The present phase out date under the Protocol is 2010.In the debate about the Strategy prepared by the Commission to reduce the problems of acid rain in the Community I made it clear the UK strongly supported action on this though more work was needed to clarify the benefits and costs—a view shared by the majority who spoke. I also supported the designation of the Baltic and North seas as areas where the emissions of Sulphur Dioxide by ships should be controlled; I also called for this control to be extended to the west of Britain. The Council expressed general support for the proposal for the Water Framework Directive, although greater definition of the objectives to be achieved remains a common priority for the further discussions to be held under the forthcoming Luxembourg Presidency.Conclusions were also agreed on several issues relating to the EU position for the United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) in New York. The Council also agreed resolutions on the drafting, implementation and enforcement of Community Environmental Law and on Environmental Agreements. The Presidency concluded that there was insufficient support by Member States for the proposal by the Commission for a Framework Agreement on Humane Trapping Standards (leghold traps) and therefore handed the dossier over to the Luxembourg Presidency.

New Building Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what guidance his Department currently offers to (a) local authorities and (b) the Housing Corporation to ensure that they take into full account the environmental impact of new building projects; [4515](2) what guidance his Department currently offers to local 0authorities and other public transport authorities to ensure that they take into full account the environmental impact of new building projects; [4518](3) what guidance his Department currently offers to local police and fire authorities to ensure that they take into full account the environmental impact of new building projects. [4519]

[holding answer 19 June 1997]: My Department has issued guidance to developers and local authorities on the requirement for formal environmental assessment for certain new building projects which are likely to have significant effect on the environment. Guidance has also been issued to developers regarding the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings, more environmentally sensitive construction methods and, through the Building Research Establishment, a range of other topics concerned with minimising the environmental impact of new buildings.

Test Purchasing (Under-Age Children)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to decriminalise the test purchasing by under-age children on behalf of local authority trading standards departments. [4883]

I have been asked to reply.The Ministerial Group on Alcopops will be considering the role of test purchases in helping to enforce the law preventing the sale of certain goods to young people.

Air Carriers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has made to the United States Government to ensure that British air carriers have the right to purchase a higher share of a US carrier than is currently permitted. [4633]

None. I would expect the issue of investment limits to be part of any UK/US air services negotiations when resumed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what measures he will take to ensure that there is equal access to American routes for British air carriers in the event of a merger between American Airlines and British Airways. [4634]

The Government is considering its approach to the resumption of aviation negotiations with the US in the light of the proposed alliance between British Airways and American Airlines. I would expect access by UK air carriers to routes both within and beyond the US to be part of any such negotiations.

Heathrow And Gatwick Airports

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proposals he is considering for relaxation of night restrictions at Heathrow and Gatwick in connection with the use of displaced thresholds. [5399]

The use of displaced thresholds has no bearing on the night restrictions, which will continue unchanged until October 1998. Proposals for the next night restrictions regime will be put to public consultation in due course.

Road Accidents (Fire Engines)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many accidents involving fire engines there were in Avon and Somerset; how many of these resulted in fatalities; and how many fatalities occurred in each year from 1991 to 1995. [5166]

Fire engines are not identified explicitly on the STATS 19 form completed by the police for road injury accidents. However, through the vehicle registration mark, which is recorded, it is possible to trace the vehicle type of about 80 per cent. of motor vehicles involved in such accidents. From this information, the number of accidents involving fire engines and their consequent fatalities in Avon and Somerset from 1991 to 1995, are shown in the following table.

Accidents involving fire engines in Avon and Somerset, by severity: 1991–95
Accidents
Severity	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Fatal	0	0	0	0	0
Serious	0	1	0	0	0
Slight	3	3	3	0	1
All	3	4	3	0	1

Casualties¹ in accidents involving fire engines in Avon and Somerset, by severity: 1991–95
Casualties
Severity	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Fatal	0	0	0	0	0
Serious	0	1	0	0	0
Slight	13	4	6	0	2
All	13	5	6	0	2
¹Casualties from the fire engine and any other road user involved.

Casualties¹ in all road traffic accidents in Avon and Somerset, by severity: 1991–95
Casualties
Severity	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Fatal	163	127	86	98	129
Serious	1,021	925	860	780	837
Slight	4,829	4,670	4,786	5,081	5,591
All	6,013	5,722	5,732	5,959	6,557
¹All road user casualties in reported accidents.

M40 (Road Improvements)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the timetable for the proposed improvements of the A43/M40/B430. [5292]

The A43/M40/B430 improvement scheme is part of the South Midlands Network project which was included in tranche 2 of the DBFO projects announced by the previous administration last year.Tenders were invited on 4 March but tenderers have been advised to suspend work in view of the announcement of our intention to carry out a strategic review of the Trunk Roads. Some projects, including this one, will be the subject of an accelerated review which is expected to be completed in July. You will appreciate that I cannot say what the outcome will be for this scheme.

Scotland

Drugs

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amount (a) spent and (b) allocated

Number of persons proceeded against for possession of drugs by type of drugs offence and police force
Police force	All drugs¹	Cocaine	Heroin	LSD	MDMA	Methadone	Amphetamines	Cannabis	Other
Number of persons proceeded against in all courts (1994)
Central	316	0	2	13	3	0	35	284	7
Dumfries and Galloway	183	0	3	10	1	0	29	146	14
Fife	176	0	0	1	0	0	18	167	3
Grampian	679	1	19	25	21	2	103	583	17
Lothian and Borders	809	4	2	43	31	4	153	648	60
Northern	199	0	2	2	2	0	24	182	2
Strathclyde	2,076	13	91	69	37	7	262	1,703	96
Tayside	366	0	0	13	12	2	53	325	24
Scotland	4,804	18	119	176	107	15	677	4,038	223
Persons proceeded against in solemn courts (1994)
Central	23	0	1	4	1	0	5	20	0
Dumfries and Galloway	5	0	0	2	0	0	1	4	2
Fife	7	0	0	0	0	0	4	7	0
Grampian	26	0	4	6	4	0	5	17	2
Lothian and Borders	40	4	0	11	5	1	15	22	11
Northern	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Strathclyde	133	4	19	12	7	2	27	79	10
Tayside	17	0	0	3	3	0	8	14	2
Scotland	253	8	24	38	20	3	65	165	27
Persons proceeded against in all courts (1995)
Central	163	1	2	6	2	0	15	146	4
Dumfries and Galloway	156	0	4	2	1	0	22	139	6
Fife	262	0	4	4	10	0	36	237	2
Grampian	808	8	34	20	34	2	136	674	45
Lothian and Borders	149	0	0	3	5	0	6	140	3
Northern	126	0	0	2	1	0	12	113	2
Strathclyde	2,389	11	155	47	87	11	326	1,913	87
Tayside	264	0	5	2	11	2	42	226	12
Scotland	4,317	20	204	86	151	15	595	3,588	161
Persons proceeded against in solemn courts (1995)
Central	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Dumfries and Galloway	7	0	0	0	0	0	1	7	1
Fife	6	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	0
Grampian	17	1	2	1	3	0	7	12	2
Lothian and Borders	6	0	0	0	4	0	0	4	0

by his Department on tackling problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) improving international co-operation to reduce supplies from abroad, (ii) increasing the effectiveness of police and Customs enforcement, (iii) maintaining effective deterrents and tight domestic controls, (iv) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (v) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4783]

Information on total Government and individual departments' expenditure on tackling drug misuse is not recorded on an annual basis. The most recently published estimates were contained in the report of the Ministerial Drugs Task Force, "Drugs in Scotland: Meeting the Challenge". This showed that an estimated £42 million of public expenditure was spent on drug-related action in Scotland in 1992–93. Updating this figure to take account of inflation and major new initiatives suggests spend of over £50 million in 1996-97 in my right hon. Friend's areas of responsibility.To co-ordinate action against drugs, the Government will be appointing a "drugs czar", accountable to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet's coordinating committee on drug misuse, of which I am a member. These arrangements will run alongside action reflecting the particular circumstances of the position in Scotland.'

Number of persons proceeded against for possession of drugs by type of drugs offence and police force
Police force	All drugs¹	Cocaine	Heroin	LSD	MDMA	Methadone	Amphetamines	Cannabis	Other
Northern	3	0	0	1	0	0	3	1	0
Strathclyde	118	3	23	12	11	3	25	66	15
Tayside	15	0	4	1	3	2	3	12	3
Scotland	176	4	30	15	21	5	40	111	21

Source:

Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate.

Note:

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

Speed Limits (Schools)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to facilitate the introduction of 20 mph speed limits in the streets around schools. [5396]

Most schools are sited on local roads and it is therefore for individual councils, as the roads authorities responsible for road safety and traffic management, to consider in the first instance the designation of 20 mph speed limits on these roads. The Scottish Office welcomes applications for 20 mph zones and Councils were invited last year to examine the scope for introducing more such zones in their areas.Current criteria for 20 mph zones generally require the installation of engineering measures such as road humps. The Scottish Office Development Department is now considering the scope for a number of pilot projects which would relax these criteria with the aim of giving local authorities greater freedom to introduce 20 mph speed limits in residential areas and around schools.

Residential And Nursing Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the advantages of encouraging the development of a single type of home providing both residential and nursing care for elderly people. [5398]

We are considering the implications of promoting the development of single care homes.

Arts Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to review policy on the arts; and if he will make a statement. [5343]

The Government keeps its policies on the arts, like its other priorities under constant review.

Water Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in establishing a review of the Scottish water industry. [5872]

In my Parliamentary Answer of 6 June I set out the steps I would take to fill the vacancies on the Boards of the Water Authorities. I also announced that I had asked my officials to conduct a review of the further steps I might take to strengthen local democratic control. The review will consider a wide range of options for the water authorities. It will also consider any possible implications for the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers council.

My officials have now begun work on this review of the Scottish water industry. Through the review, they will seek a structure for the water industry that meets the Government's policy of returning the Water Authorities to local democratic control, while ensuring any solution is consistent with maintaining the essential continuity of water and sewerage services, facilitating investment, promoting efficiency, and complying, as appropriate, with the Nolan procedures for public appointments.

I have asked my officials to consult extensively with all interested parties. My officials will in particular keep the Water Authorities, the Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers Council and COSLA closely informed of progress during the review, and seek their views and advice at all appropriate points.

In addition, my officials will have regard to Government policy on the regulation of utilities, on financial accountability, and on public/private partnerships. They will take account of the need to meet statutory requirements and to secure customer service levels, and will consider international models for the structure of utility industries.

National Heritage

Millennium Celebrations

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the projects under consideration by his Department to commemorate the millennium. [5024]

The Millennium Commission, which I chair, funds projects designed to mark the year 2000 and the beginning of the third millennium. Already over £1 billion of lottery money has been committed to over 100 projects on over 2000 sites across the country. By 31 December 2000, the Commission expects to have allocated £1.7 billion for its programme across the country.This programme has three components:

The Capital Projects: £994 million has so far been allocated, on twelve landmark projects in the nine English regions and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as on smaller, more local projects. Landmark projects include setting up the University for the Highlands and Islands; the Eden project in Cornwall which will establish one of the world's largest glass houses for extraordinary plants; the International Centre for Life in Newcastle, introducing people to the science of genetics; the Lowry Centre at Salford's waterfront which will feature a centre for Virtual Reality; and the Millennium Point in Birmingham, which will be a centre for scientific and educational excellence.

The Millennium Awards: Over £200 million will be set aside to help tens of thousands of talented people fulfil personal goals which have a wider community benefit. These will include projects managed by the Prince's Trust, The Royal Society, Mind and CSV Scotland.

The Millennium Exhibition: this will be a place of excitement and of education, opening up a "window on the future", and it will be based at Greenwich. The Commission will provide up to £400 million net, with a further £50 million of cashflow support. The Exhibition site on the regenerated Greenwich peninsula will also become the hub of a technological and educational network providing a legacy for the whole nation.

There is a range of other activity being planned for the Millennium across the nation. My Department is responsible for a Millennium Co-ordinating Group, established as a forum for a wide variety of bodies with a part to play in events to mark the Millennium. I am attending the next meeting of this Group in the coming month, and will use that opportunity to develop the themes on which we want to focus. Out of this work will come proposals for national occasions, as well as arrangements for tracking and publicising the range of other events which will be organised by people around the country.

My Department is also recommending the calling of a one-off additional Bank Holiday to mark the Millennium, and will consult with relevant interest groups about a suitable date, which we hope will be 31 December 1999. Officials are also discussing with the Churches and representatives of other faiths the holding of a number of national services during the first weekend of the year 2000.

Today we are publishing new information about how the Exhibition will take shape. I am writing to all right hon. and hon. Members about this, with information about other Millennium projects, and have placed copies in the House Libraries.

Museums

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to publish the list of designated museums. [5127]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the list of designated museums and galleries on 24 June. He also announced an increase in the maximum number of museums and galleries in England that can be designated from 30 to 50. Further applications will be invited by the Museums and Galleries Commission in due course. The list of 26 designated museums and galleries is as follows:

Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum
Birmingham Museum Service
Bowes Museum
Brighton and Hove Art Gallery and Museums
Cambridge University
- —Fitzwilliam Museum
- —Cambridge University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology
- —Whipple Museum of the History of Science
Devizes Museum
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Horniman Museum
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust

Jewish Museum
Leeds Museums and Galleries
London University—Courtauld Institute Galleries
London Transport Museum
Manchester City Art Galleries
Manchester University

—Manchester Museum
—Whitworth Art Gallery

Mary Rose Trust
Museum of London
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu
National Tramway Museum, Crich
Oxford University

—Ashmolean Museum
—Museum of the History of Science
—Oxford University Museum of Natural History
—Pitt Rivers Museum

Reading University—Rural History Centre
Stoke on Trent Museums Service
Tyne and Wear Museums
Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere
York Museums Service.

Works Of Art

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will take steps to make available to art galleries in the regions works of art that are currently in storage in London galleries and museums. [5179]

The Government is determined to widen access to this country's cultural heritage and I commend all those institutions—not just London museums and galleries—that already lend articles in their collections, arrange touring exhibitions, and give advice and guidance. These excellent practices are nevertheless at the discretion of each institution's trustees. The Government wishes to encourage those national museums and galleries which it funds to establish closer and more supportive relationships with other museums: lending items to them is one way this can be done. But not all museums and galleries have large holdings in storage: the National Gallery's collection, for instance, is virtually all on public display.

Alcohol (Television Advertising)

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy towards the advertising of (a) alcohol and (b) alcopops on television. [5323]

All television advertising must comply with the Code of Advertising Standards and Practice issued by the Independent Television Commission. Under the code, advertising for alcoholic drinks must not be directed at people under 18 or use treatments likely to be of particular appeal to them. It must not feature persons who appear to be under 18, nor any personality who has a particular appeal to that age group. Alcohol advertising must not suggest that drinking is essential to social success or acceptance, or an essential attribute of masculinity.

The Ministerial group on Alcopops will consider all aspects of the sale and promotion of these products, including whether anything further needs to be done to regulate their advertising.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Queen's Counsel

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make his policy for applicants for silk who are turned down to be given reasons in writing for the decision. [4845]

Applicants for silk are advised in writing of the outcome of their application, and unsuccessful applicants are given some statistical information to indicate the intensity of the competition. Unsuccessful applicants are able to meet with senior officials of the Judicial Appointments Group who are able to provide feedback on the degree of support that the individual has received and the overall tenor of the views collected in the consultation process. The Lord Chancellor has no present intention to replace this with written reasons for his decision.

International Development

Debt (Poor Countries)

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what is the Government's policy towards the proposals by Jubilee 2000 that the unpayable debts owed by highly indebted poor countries be remitted by 31 December 2000; and what plans the Government have to encourage international support for these proposals. [5462]

The Government shares many of the objectives of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, including the fundamental one of the eradication of poverty in developing countries. We believe that debt relief should accompany a wider commitment by debtors to create the conditions necessary for sustainable economic growth and lasting poverty reduction. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and I are pushing for full and rapid implementation of the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative. We believe that much remains to be done and are pressing with urgency for the international community to provide further debt relief.

Prime Minister

Policy Reviews

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list (a) the departmental policy reviews established by the Government and (b) the names of those individuals other than civil servants and ministers assisting those reviews (i) as chairman and (ii) in other capacities. [4002]

To ask the Prime Minister how many policy reviews have been initiated since 2 May by his Government; and if he will list them by policy area. [5567]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Romsey (Mr. Colvin) on 16 June, Official Report, columns 27–28, which recorded the significant departmental policy reviews that we have announced.As at 20 June, additional reviews that we have announced are:

A review of civil justice and legal aid
A review of non departmental public bodies with a view to reducing their number
A review of private finance machinery
A review of the existing code of practice on access to government information
A review of the roads programme
A review of health services in London.

We have announced the appointment of the following chairmen and members of reviews who are not civil servants or ministers:

A review of civil justice and legal aid Chairman: Sir Peter Middleton

A review of the law relating to surrogacy Leader:
Margaret Brazier, Professor of Law Manchester University
Susan Golombok, Professor of Psychology at City University
Alastair Campbell, Professor of Ethics in Medicine at Bristol University

A review of evidence relating to silicone breast implants Chairman:
Professor R. D. Sturrock, Professor of Rheumatology, University Department of Medicine
Professor R. Batchelor, Professor of Immunology, Royal Post Graduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital (recently retired)
Professor Alan Silman, Professor of Epidemiology, Arthritis and Rheumatism Research Council
Mr. T. Milward, Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Leicester Royal Infirmary
Professor J. P. Sloane, Professor of Histopathology, University of Liverpool
Professor D. R. London, formerly Professor of Medicine, University of Birmingham

A review of breast cancer screening programme in Devon and the implications for the breast cancer screening programme as whole
Dr. M. Brindle, President of the Royal College of Radiologists
Mr. J. R. C. Sainsbury, Consultant Surgeon, Huddersfield Royal Infirmary
Mrs. G. Oliver, Cancer Nursing Specialist, Liverpool
Miss P. Cunningham, Chief Executive, Royal Marsden NHS Trust
Miss Polly Toynbee

A review of the Private Finance machinery
Malcolm Bates, Chairman of Pearl Assurance Plc and Premiere Furnell Plc

A review of film policy
Stewart Till, Co-Chairman, President of International, Poly Gram Filmed Entertainment
Charles Denton, Head of Advisory Panel on Film, Arts Council of England
Wilf Stevenson, Director, British Film Institute
Peter Broughan, Managing Director, Bronco Films
Danilka Battsek, Managing Director, Buena Vista International (UK)
Colin Leventhal, Director of Acquisition, Channel 4
Wendy Palmer, Chief Executive Officer, CiBY Sales
Richard Segal, Managing Director, Odeon Cinemas
Lynda Myles, Company Director, Prairie Pictures and Pandora Productions
Chris Auty, Managing Director, Record Picture Company
Ridley Scott, Director and Managing Director, Shepperton Studios
Dinah Caine, Director, Skillset
Duncan Kenworthy, Managing Director, Toledo Pictures

A review of health services in London Chairman:
Sir Leslie Turnberg, President of the Royal College of Physicians
Ms Francine Bates, Assistant Director, Carers National Association
Professor Ian Cameron, Provost and Vice-Chancellor of University of Wales, College of Medicine
Professor Brian Jarman, Professor of General Practice at Imperial College/St. Mary's
Ms Denise Platt, Head of Social Services, Local Government Association

Further non-civil service and non-ministerial chairmen and members of departmental policy reviews will be announced when appointments are made.

Cabinet Office (Cash Limits)

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office (Security and Intelligence Services) cash limit for 1997–98. [5471]

The cash limit for Class XVIII, Vote II will be decreased by £225,000 from £713,532,000 to £713,307,000. The transfer is necessary to cover support services from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office: other services vote, cash limit or running costs limit for 1997–98. [5549]

The cash limit for Cabinet Office: other services (Class XVIII, Vote 1) will be reduced by £67,000 from £36,220,000 to £36,153,000 and the running costs limit will be reduced by £67,000 from £42,870,000 to £42,803,000.This is to provide for the transfer of certain emergency planning functions from the Cabinet Office to the Home Office (Class VII, Vote I).

Interdepartmental Co-Ordination

To ask the Prime Minister (1) how Government policies affecting children will be co-ordinated across departments; and by whom; [5298](2) how Government policies affecting families will be co-ordinated across departments; and by whom. [5297]

Major policies issues affecting children and families are considered collectively in the relevant Cabinet Committees, notably the Ministerial Committee on Home and Social Affairs.

Amsterdam Summit

To ask the Prime Minister when he expects to place in the Library a copy of the treaty agreed at the European summit at Amsterdam. [5188]

The provisional version of the Treaty of Amsterdam, prepared by the Dutch Presidency of the European Union on the basis of discussions at the Amsterdam European Council, was placed in the Libraries of the House on Friday 20 June.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral statement of 18 June, Official Report, column 327, concerning the proposals for the exchange rate mechanism set out in Annex II to the Presidency Conclusions at Amsterdam if, by resolution of the European Council to which Her Majesty's Government are a party, the United Kingdom has agreed to enter the exchange rate mechanism described in that resolution, even if the United Kingdom does not enter the EMU on 1 January 1999 under the Protocol to the Third Stage of the treaty of Maastricht. [5069]

[holding answer 23 June 1997]: No, as I said in the House of Commons on 18 June, the hon. Member's interpretation of the Resolution is not correct. The new exchange rate mechanism will, like the existing mechanism, be established by an intergovernmental agreement, on a voluntary basis. The Resolution recognises this, stating explicitly that "participation in the exchange rate mechanism will be voluntary for member states outside the euro area." There is no Treaty obligation for Member States to put their currencies into an exchange rate mechanism.

Kenya

To ask the Prime Minister when he plans to visit Kenya. [4876]

I have no immediate plans to visit Kenya. However, I hope very much that the President of Kenya, His Excellency hon. Daniel arap Moi, will be able to come to Britain in October for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Roisin Mcaliskey

To ask the Prime Minister if he will ask (a) the United Kingdom authorities and (b) the German embassy to review the article on page 4 of Tribune, a copy of which has been sent to him, with particular reference to the evidential issues raised therein. [5010]

No. The German request for Roisin McAliskey's extradition is currently before the United Kingdom courts. It is for them to consider whether she should be committed to await a decision on surrender by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who retains discretion under the Extradition Act 1989 over the final decision on her return. Roisin McAliskey will have the opportunity to make representations to the Secretary of State against her return. As in all other extradition cases, it is for the courts of the requesting State to judge the evidence once an order for return has been made.

Ministerial Answers

To ask the Prime Minister if guidance on procedure for Ministers gives advice or instructions on acknowledging and appropriately dealing with answers that miss the point or make unjustified allegations. [3926]

The resolution on Ministerial accountability adopted by the House on 19 March 1997 says: "It is of paramount importance that Ministers give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity." I expect all members of the Government to act in accordance with the Resolution.

Task Forces And New Groups

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the membership of all the task forces and new groups that have been set up since 16 June; and who will be representing race and ethnic minority interests on those groups. [5374]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: We have set up the following task forces and new groups since 16 June:

Task Force on Youth Justice Chairman
Mr. Norman Warner, Senior Policy Adviser, Home Office
Mr. William Atkinson, Headmaster, Phoenix High School, Shepherds Bush
Mr. Jonathan Black, Magistrates Clerk, Hampshire
Ms. Catherine Bowker, Youth Court Prosecutor, Brighton
Mr. Tony Butler, Chief Constable, Gloucestershire
Mr. Paul Cavadino, Penal Affairs Consortium
Ms. Anne Fuller, Lay Magistrate, Inner London
Mr. Cedric Fullwood, Chief Probation Officer, Manchester
Mr. Ian Johnston, Assistant Commissioner, Metropolitan Police
Mr. David Norgrove, Marks and Spencer Plc
Ms. Denise Platt, Local Government Association
Ms. Teresa Reynolds, Victim Support
Ms. Joan Webster, Chief Superintendent, Gwent
Mr. Geoffrey Wicks, Stipendiary Magistrate, Inner London
Mr. Andrew Williamson, Director of Social Services
Mr. John Lyon, Home Office
Mr. Tom Luce, Department of Health
Ms Jenny Rowe, Lord Chancellor's Department.

Independent advisory panel to review London's health services Chairman
Sir Leslie Turnberg, President of the Royal College of Physicians
Francine Bates, Assistant Director, Carers National Association
Professor Ian Cameron, Provost and Vice-Chancellor of University of Wales, College of Medicine
Professor Brian Jarman, Professor of General Practice, Imperial College/St. Mary's
Ms Denise Platt, Head of Social Services, Local Government Association.

All public appointments are governed by the overriding principle of selection based on merit. Members of the task force and review groups have been selected in accordance with this principle and on the basis that their abilities, experience and qualities match the needs of the bodies in question. No individual has been appointed to represent a specific interest.

Minister Without Portfolio

To ask the Prime Minister how many (i) meetings and (ii) telephone conversations he has had since 2 May with the Minister without Portfolio. [5415]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: Several.

To ask the Prime Minister what responsibility the Minister without Portfolio has for (a) the Government's policy on freedom of information and (b) its policy towards the media. [5422]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: My hon. Friend contributes to collective consideration of issues relating to freedom of information, and is responsible for assisting me and other ministerial colleagues in implementing and presenting government policy.

To ask the Prime Minister what responsibility he has given to the Minister without Portfolio for the Government Information Service. [5423]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: My hon. Friend and other ministerial colleagues work closely with members of the Government Information Service on the presentation of Government policy.

To ask the Prime Minister which ministerial committees are attended by the Minister without Portfolio. [5425]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney (Mr. Rowlands) on 9 June, Official Report, columns 302–10.

Government Information Service

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the practice of spin-doctoring by Government press officers; and what instructions he has issued in respect of the use of this practice. [5427]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The work of the Government Information Service is governed by conventions published in its "Working Guide for Government Information Officers", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

Lockerbie

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received in relation to Lockerbie from (a) Dr. Jim Swire of the British relatives, (b) Peter Anderson of Simpson Marwick and Company, acting on behalf of Pan Am and (c) David Fieldhouse, former police surgeon of Bradford. [5071]

[holding answer 23 June 1997]: We have received representations from Dr. Swire and a number of other Lockerbie relatives, but none from Mr. Anderson and Dr. Fieldhouse.

Ministers And Special Advisers

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to extend the scope of the interests which have to be declared by Government Ministers and their special advisers. [5418]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: Ministers and their special advisers are already under a comprehensive duty to ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and any of their private interests.

Party Political Activities (Funding)

To ask the Prime Minister what safeguards exist to ensure that campaign activity and propaganda on behalf of a political party, and persons appointed for those purposes, are not paid for from public funds. [5419]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The rules on Ministerial conduct requires Ministers not to use public resources for party purposes. Civil servants are also under a duty under the terms of the Civil Service Code to ensure the proper, effective and efficient use of public money.

Trade And Industry

Low Pay

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on the setting up of the commission on low pay. [4089]

We are pressing ahead with the setting up of the Low Pay Commission. Professor George Bain was appointed on 2 June to chair the Commission and advertisements seeking suitable applicants for the Commissioners are appearing in the press this week. The Commission is expected to start work in the summer.

Mine Subsidence

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when she expects to receive the Coal Authority's second report on the administration of the coal mining subsidence damage repair and compensation scheme. [6057]

I have now received this report from the Coal Authority and have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses today.

Post Office (External Financing Limit)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the external financing limit for the Post Office for 1997–98. [6056]

The negative external financing limit (EFL) for the Post Office for 1997–98 has been reduced from —£330 million to —£313 million. This reflects the fact that the Post Office over-achieved its EFL for 1996–97 by £17 million, and in accordance with the existing arrangements an over-achievement of up to £30 million of one year's EFL can be matched by a corresponding reduction in the following year's figure.

Computers (Millennium Compliance)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will issue guidelines to trading standards departments giving advice on dealing with personal computers which are not millennium-compliant; and if she will make a statement. [5372]

The Century Date Change is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that issuing specific advice to trading standards departments is necessary.The DTI is already taking steps to ensure that businesses and the general public are aware of the problem which has been extensively covered in the media. DTI's Information Pack on the problem already sets out general advice and sources of help.It is for a well informed, individual purchaser to decide for himself what he needs in his own particular case. As for any other hardware or software supply issue, the details of conformability and performance are best covered in a discussion or specification and agreed by commercial negotiation. The law already provides a remedy for the purchaser of defective goods under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 and for services under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982, and I see no need for further measures.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has to issue a list of millennium-compliant personal computers; and if she will make a statement. [5370]

The Century Date Change problem is a particularly serious issue, but I do not believe that to issue a list of millennium-compliant Personal Computers is the right way forward.The IT supply industry are already well aware of the problem and many have declared the status of the products through both the media and their trade association, The Computing Services and Software Association, who maintain a "Directory of Organisations with Specialist Year 2000 Services and Products".

Key Escrow

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on key escrow. [5114]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Ottaway) on 18 June, Official Report, column 191.

Internet

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what use she plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5099]

The Department of Trade and Industry has maintained an Internet presence since 1995 to provide a wide range of information about its activities, services and key contact points. The Department also has an Open Government page on the Internet informing the public of their rights of access under the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information to information it holds. The Open Government page has a direct Email link to the DTI Open Government Enquiry Point. The Department is continually updating and expanding its Internet pages to make its activities and services more accessible to the public.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what discussions she has had with the Internet Service Providers Association to encourage self-certification by content providers. [5086]

My Department maintains frequent contact with the Internet Services Providers Association. The Department played a key role in the development and launch of a self-regulatory system for Internet content based on existing law, known as the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and continues to maintain contact with this organisation.As part of its remit to help ensure that the Internet can be a safe place to work, learn and play, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) has convened an advisory board comprising representatives of content providers, children's charities, regulators from other media, ISPs and civil liberties groups, to propose a UK-focused system for rating Internet content. This system should be available within the next few months, and will help Internet users determine the nature of their and their children's experience of the Internet. IWF is also engaged in work with partners from Europe, North America and Australia with a view to creating a world forum for Internet content rating.

Arms (Manufacture And Sales)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans she has for changes in the regulation of companies manufacturing and selling arms. [982]

[holding answer 22 May 1997]: On 21 May, Official Report, column 72, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced that we shall implement our manifesto commitment to ban the import, export, transfer and manufacture of anti-personnel mines. On 22 May, Official Report, column 135, my right hon. Friend also announced an urgent review of the detailed criteria used in considering licence applications for the export of conventional arms. We shall be considering how best to take forward our other export control commitments.

Nirex

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will place in the Library a copy of the Nirex Assessment report DSAT (96) N101 prepared by A. J. Baker and R.Cummings. [1788]

The Department has not seen the report and does not have a copy of it. We understand that it is one of a large number of Nirex internal working documents. Its availability is a matter for Nirex.

Research

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals she has for the funding of scientific and medical research. [1483]

The Government is committed to maintaining existing Departmental spending ceilings until March 1999, and priorities will continue to be reassessed within those ceilings. In the medium term, the overall level of funding of scientific and medical research will be reviewed as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary on 11 June, Official Report, columns 1143–44.

Gas Appliances

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of the adequacy of arrangements to enforce the current regulations on the safety of gas appliances. [5435]

Safety of gas appliances is regulated by the Gas Appliances (Safety) Regulations 1995, S.I. number 1995/1629, which are made under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Enforcement is the responsibility of weights and measures authorities in Great Britain and district councils in Northern Ireland. Local authorities determine from their own experience the effort required to effectively undertake their enforcement obligations. The powers that are in place are considered to be sufficient to enforce the current regulations, but we will of course keep them under review.

Seeboard

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment she has made of Seeboard's investment in its local distribution network and fault monitoring system with particular reference to the Sutton and Cheam area. [5389]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The Engineering Inspectorate of the DTI carries out an inspection of each Public Electricity Supplier once a year, which includes a review of developments and new equipment applications in relation to maintaining compliance with the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 as amended. An inspection of installations in the Sutton and Cheam area was conducted in 1992. I am not aware of any change in policy by Seeboard as to the means of satisfying its obligations to comply with the Electricity Supply Regulations 1988 as amended.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will seek a report from the chairman of Seeboard on the reasons for the interruptions of supply over the last six months in the Hurstcourt Road and Fairlands Avenue areas of the Sutton and Cheam parliamentary constituency. [5390]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: The Engineering Inspectorate of the DTI is aware of several unrelated failures in electricity supply this month in the Sutton and Cheam area, some of which have been due to damage to underground cables caused by other parties, and is investigating the circumstances with Seeboard. The local Office of Electricity Regulation is aware of recent events in the area.

Health

Human Cloning

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he will take to ensure that human cloning will not be allowed to occur in the United Kingdom either directly or through research material obtained from other countries. [4141]

We regard the deliberate cloning of human individuals as ethically unacceptable. Under United Kingdom law, cloning of individual humans cannot take place whatever the origin of the material and whatever technique is used.Research into some serious inherited illnesses in humans, such as some forms of encephalomyopathy, cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes, can take place using cloning techniques. However, where such research involves the use of human embryos it is strictly controlled under the terms of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 which would require a licence to be issued by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Corticosteroids

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received in respect of the adverse affects of corticosteroids; what plans he has to hold a public inquiry into their handling and use; and if he will make a statement. [4172]

Correspondence has been received from members of Group Action into Steroid Prescribing, a group of people who have suffered adverse effects associated with corticosteroid treatment.Corticosteroids have been fully evaluated for quality, efficacy and safety by the United Kingdom Licensing Authority. The product information including patient leaflets describes the effects of these medicines. It is for prescribing doctors to decide on the risks and benefits of treating individual patients according to their clinical judgment. Ensuring that patients are appropriately informed about the possible effects of drug treatment is a matter of concern and practice in this area is currently under consideration.

Rothbury Community Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the review of the private finance initiative in the NHS will entail delays in the design and tender process for the Rothbury community hospital. [4239]

The proposals for the redevelopment of hospital and community facilities in Rothbury are being considered in conjunction with a Private Finance Initiative scheme at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust involving the reorganisation of the trust's acute services. Under the review of PFI in the NHS all major acute hospital schemes currently testing for PFI will be prioritised. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 10 June 1997 at columns 427‱28. In future all major acute capital projects—whether funded under the PFI or using public capital—will be prioritised in accordance with health service needs. These prioritisation exercises will not apply to small-scale acute schemes such as the project at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust and non-acute schemes such as that for Rothbury currently testing for PFI. Proposals for improving the procurement process under PFI for all types of schemes will be put forward in the near future.

Dental Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health to which dental practices the £40,000 allocated to Berkshire Health Authority in 1996–97 to improve access to NHS dentistry was allocated, to what other purposes the money was allocated and what assessment he has made of the extent to which the disbursements met the criteria set out in the health authority's bid. [5073]

Berkshire Health Authority was awarded £40,000 as extra funding under the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund 1996–97. The funding is being used solely to meet the aims identified in the health authority's bid.The practices receiving these funds are all based in the health authority area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the North and Mid Hampshire Health Authority has allocated to dental practices the grant which it received from the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund; and how it has been distributed. [5255]

Yes. The funding is being used to meet the aims identified in the bid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the £40,000 allocated to Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority for dental practices has been distributed; and to what extent this distribution has reflected the criteria set out in the bid. [5489]

Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority was awarded £40,000 as extra funding under the National Health Service Dentistry Access Fund 1996–97. The bid from the health authority met the criteria which were set out in the directions sent to all health authorities.

Urban Food Growing Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will establish a review into the public health implications of community-led urban food growing projects in deprived areas; and if he will make a statement. [4888]

In 1996, the National Food Alliance (NFA) and the Sustainable Agriculture Food and Environment (SAFE) Alliance published a report, Growing Food in Cities, which aimed to promote the benefits of urban agriculture in the United Kingdom. The report argued that increasing urban agriculture would yield a range of benefits including community development, economic development, education, environmental improvement, health, leisure and sustainable neighbourhoods.The Government welcomes any initiatives such as local food growing projects which empower local communities and help them to address their own health needs. It recognises that in deprived urban areas in particular, food growing projects can make an important contribution to improving not only the food supply but also quality of life.The Department is currently funding the National Food Alliance and the Health Education Authority to produce a database of projects which aim to assist people on low incomes to eat more healthily. The database has already been launched nationally and will be fully operational later this year.

Yellow Card System

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's latest estimate of the proportion of adverse reactions reported under the yellow card system. [4922]

The proportion of all adverse reactions reported under the yellow card system is not known, as there is no means of knowing the total number of adverse drug reactions.

Smoking

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he proposes to take to discourage smoking (a) generally and (b) with particular reference to under 20-year-olds. [4987]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets to reduce the prevalence of smoking among 11 to 15-year-olds. [53181

The Government's strategy on smoking will be set out in detail in a White Paper later this year. This Paper will reflect the deliberations of the summit of national and international experts in the field of smoking reduction to be held on 14 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) of 10 June, Official Report, column 425, if he will make a statement on the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who smoke. [4986]

Smoking levels in this age group, particularly among young women, are a matter of serious concern. How best to influence the various age groups will be a topic for study at the summit of national and international experts in the field of smoking reduction to be held on 14 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to increase awareness among the public of the dangers of passive smoking. [5085]

Reports published in this country by the Independent Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health (1988) and the Royal College of Physicians (1992) and by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (1993) have set out the health risks associated with passive smoking.The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health has been asked by the Chief Medical Officer to review the latest evidence and its report is expected later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the costs to the national health service of the use of tobacco. [5172]

Treatment costs to the National Health Service are not available on a year by year basis. Based on 1990 figures, the Health Education Authority's report "The Smoking Epidemic—A Prescription for Change", estimated that the annual cost to the NHS of treating smoking related diseases is £610 million.

Erb's Palsy And Brachial Plexus Injuries

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the merits of recording incidents of (a) Erb's palsy and (b) brachial plexus injuries. [5009]

Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries are, fortunately, rare occurrences. Most babies with Erb's palsy recover spontaneously within a few months. We will continue to support initiatives by the professional organisations which aim to minimise the risk of Erb's palsy and brachial plexus injuries. Professionals providing maternity care should monitor the incidence of such cases. The Government believes local monitoring is the best approach and the collection of information centrally would not assist in preventing occurrences.

Internet

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5102]

The Department continues to update and expand its web site. The site already includes extensive information about the Department's work and publications as well as a wide range of guidance for business on regulation. Some key publications, such as the NHS Performance Guide, the Chief Medical Officer's quarterly updates, and "The Health of the Nation" briefing pack, appear in full.Development of the site is driven by the need of government to be more accessible and accountable, taking account of feedback from its users and of the principles set out in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Additions planned for coming months include the full text of departmental circulars (from 1 July), guidance on emergency planning, a wider range of official statistics, and the 1997 NHS Performance Guide. Statistics received from the Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency show that weekly page accesses to the Department's site have increased from just under 2,000 in June 1995 to over 12,000 in June 1997. Managers of over 250 other sites have set up links to that of the Department of Health. The Department will continue to improve the organisation of the site and its coverage.

Special Advisers

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the special advisers in his Department, the minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in his Department in the year up to 1 May. [5351]

The Department has currently appointed one paid special adviser, Mr. Joseph McCrea, who is responsible to me.

He is employed under terms and conditions based on the model contract for special advisers, copies of which have been placed in the Library. Mr. McCrea is advising me on all Departmental subjects in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the model contract.

There were two special advisers employed during the year up to 1 May 1997.

Wharfedale General Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will examine the time so far taken to draw up plans for the redevelopment of Wharfedale General Hospital; and if he will ensure that the process is completed within a reasonable time scale. [5279]

This is a matter for Leeds Health Authority and the United Leeds Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust in consultation with the National Health Service Executive which has asked the trust to submit a revised outline business case for consideration. This will give the opportunity for a fresh assessment of the choices for the proposed development.

Infertility

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what research his Department is funding into the causes of and treatment for infertility; and if he will make a statement; [5387](2) what research his Department is funding into the causes of treatment for infertility; and if she will make a statement. [5387]

The main agency through which the Government supports medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade. In 1995–96, the latest year for which figures are available, the Council spent some £2.4 million on research related to infertility and fertility in general in both males and females. Much of the research is carried out at the Council's Reproductive Biology Unit in Edinburgh.In addition, there is also research within the National Health Service Executive. The Trent Research Scheme, run by Trent Regional Office of the NHS Executive, is funding two relevant studies. These are:

Psychological outcome and adjustment to parenthood in couples conceiving through IVF treatment (1 February 1997 to 31 January 1999; £23,690);

The incidence of sex chromosome aneuploidy in spermatozoa from men with semen parameters necessitating intracytoplasmic sperm injection (1 March 1997 to 28 February 1998; £26,000).

Obesity

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he intends to achieve "The Health of the Nation" targets to reduce the percentage of men aged 16 to 64 years who are obese. [5319]

The Health Survey for England 1995 shows that the prevalence of obesity increased from 13 per cent. for men and 16 per cent. for women in 1993 to 15 per cent. and 18 per cent. respectively in 1995. Obesity is more common with increasing age up to 64 years in men and 74 years in women, and is more common in manual than non-manual social classes. Men in Social Class III (manual) and women in Social Class IV have the highest rates (17.6 per cent. and 24.1 per cent. respectively). Obesity is a long-term problem and needs a long-term strategy. We will continue to support the action on obesity and obesity-related illness which addresses:

(a) prevention of increasing fatness in the whole population

(b) the particular problems of high risk groups e.g. those already overweight

(c) treatment of those who are already obese.

Work initiated by the Nutrition Task Force and the Physical Activity Task Force is directed towards helping people to reduce the fat content of their diets and encourage physical activity.The role of physical activity in helping to maintain a healthy weight is well recognised. The "Active for Life" campaign, which is funded by the Department and run by the Health Education Authority, promotes the value of increased physical activity. The campaign targeted people aged 16 to 74 in its first year and will continue to run to 1999. As part of this campaign we are also looking at physical activity and young people. To this end, an expert conference was convened last week to establish a consensus on the optimum levels of physical activity for school aged children and young people.

Gp Fundholding

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total financial surpluses currently held by GP fundholders. [5174]

The total accumulated level of savings available to general practitioner fundholders as of April 1996 was £188 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if GP fundholding receives the same degree of audit scrutiny as other elements of the NHS and public sector services. [5281]

Like all other National Health Service bodies, general practitioner fundholders are under a statutory requirement to have their accounts audited annually by the Audit Commission. In addition, their accounts (as part of those of the local health authority) are open for scrutiny by the National Audit Office and by internal auditors of the local health authority. These are similar to the arrangements that apply elsewhere in the public sector.

Strategic Planning

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the current arrangements for strategic planning within the NHS. [5175]

The arrangements for strategic planning in the National Health Service will be reviewed in the context of work on replacing the internal market.

Nhs Trust Mergers

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals he has to review the possibilities of mergers between adjacent NHS trusts. [5176]

Any proposals to merge National Health Service trusts will be considered on their merits. Mergers must lead to improved services for patients.

Repetitive Strain Injury

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of repetitive strain injury were identified in England in (i) 1995 and (ii) 1996. [5303]

The Department of Health does not collect data on repetitive strain injuries (some of which are known as upper limb disorders). However, evidence from a survey on occupational ill health, carried out for the Health and Safety Executive as a supplement to the 1990 Labour Force Survey, suggests that in the year around 110,000 people in England and Wales believed that they had upper limb disorders caused by work. A new survey of work related illness was made in 1995–96 and the full results will be available early in 1998. Data are also available on some conditions which are prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Scheme. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

New Building Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department currently offers NHS trusts and health authorities to ensure that they take into full account the environmental impact of new building projects. [4517]

[holding answer 19 June 1997]: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the Minister for London and Construction, my hon. Friend the Member for Greenwich and Woolwich (Mr. Raynsford), gave him today.Policy on environmental issues is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, which produces guidance for local authorities to use when considering planning applications by NHS Trusts for new building projects. The Department of Health fully supports the Government's commitment to promoting policies to sustain the environment.NHS Estates, an Executive Agency of the Department of Health, has issued "A strategic guide to environmental policy for General Managers and Chief Executives" and Health Facilities Note 11 "Environmental management in healthcare", with the aim of advising NHS trusts how to produce sound policies to reduce environmental damage. The Agency has also published reports on energy saving measures in hospitals.

Northern Ireland

Health And Social Services Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholics and (b) Protestants are employed by (i) the Southern area health and social services board and (ii) the Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust. [4268]

The latest available information on numbers and religious composition of staff employed by the Southern Area Health and Social Services Board is contained in the Fair Employment Commission's Seventh Monitoring Report which was published in March 1997 and contains a summary of 1996 Monitoring Returns. That report indicated the position to be as follows:

	Number
Protestant	925
Roman Catholic	1,103
Non-determined	189
Total	2,217

There is no information available yet on the Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust which came into operation on 1 April 1996.

Drugs

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list the total amount (a) spent and (b) allocated by her Department on tackling problems relating to drugs in respect of (i) improving international co-operation to reduce supplies from abroad, (ii) increasing the effectiveness of police and Customs enforcement, (iii) maintaining effective deterrents and tight domestic controls, (iv) developing prevention publicity, education and community action and (v) improving treatment and rehabilitation, for (1) 1994, (2) 1995, (3) 1996 and (4) 1997. [4782]

Information on total Government expenditure on tackling drug misuse in Northern Ireland is not recorded on an annual basis. Estimated expenditure for the 1993–94 financial year for Northern Ireland was published in May 1995 White Paper "Tackling Drugs Together" as part of the UK expenditure figure of £526 million. Figures for the calendar years 1994 and 1995 are not available.The most recent available estimates for Northern Ireland were published on 18 March 1997 in the NI Affairs Committee Report: Illicit Drug Use in NI and refer to the 1995–96 financial year. They show that at least £7.17 million of expenditure in 1995–96 could be directly attributable to drug prevention and treatment programmes, public information campaigns and enforcement activities across the province. Similar costings were incurred for delivering these same services for 1996 and 1997.However, in 1996 and in addition to the £7.17 million, an extra £0.5 million was secured for each of the next three years to develop a NI Drugs Campaign, which will be used to fund a broad range of drugs services including a public information campaign, educational training and materials for schools, drug handbooks for drug professionals, and a drugs research strategy, and to create four drugs co-ordination teams.

Internet

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what use she plans to make of the Internet to make government more open. [5096]

Business Development Service (BDS) of the Department of Finance and Personnel provides an Internet publishing service for NI government information.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will use the BDS Web Publishing service to augment the significant base of information which already exists on the Northern Ireland Civil Service Web Server.

Under the Deregulation Initiative, more than 250 forms have been made available to the public for printing, completion and submission to NICS Departments and Agencies.

The NICS World Wide Web service holds over 12,000 pages of Government information on topics as diverse as updates in progress in the Northern Ireland Multi-Party talks to a database of commercial property valuations. Currently, the number of accesses per month to the NI Government Web Service exceeds 450,000.

BDS has recently established a secure connection that will facilitate Internet e-mail messaging to all NI public servants.

The Web information is accessible at: http://www.nics.gov.uk using any publicly available web browsing software.

Human Rights

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when she expects to receive the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights' review of fair employment and equality; and if she will make a statement. [4421]

[holding answer 24 July 1997]: The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (SACHR) published its report today, copies have been placed in the Library. I am grateful to SACHR for producing this report. I shall study the recommendations with the greatest of care.

Wales

Council House Repairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the average number of jobs created when a local authority modernises a council house; and if he will make a statement. [3151]

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.

Speech Therapy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what assessment he has made of the coordination between the local education authority and health authority of speech therapy services for schoolchildren in Flintshire; [4457](2) if he will consult parents, teachers and governors concerning the future of speech therapy services in schools; and if he will make a statement; [4455](3) what is his policy on speech therapy in schools; [4453](4) what plans he has to improve speech therapy services to schoolchildren. [4454]

Health authorities are primarily responsible for providing speech therapy services, including services to children. If a health authority cannot provide speech therapy for a child whose statement of special educational needs identifies a need, the local education authority has to ensure the provision is made in view of its duty to maintain statements. Health authorities are statutorily required to comply with requests from LEAs unless the request is unreasonable and subject to sufficient resources. Welsh Office guidance to LEAs and health authorities has drawn attention to this duty. Copies of the guidance has been placed in the Library of the House.The Welsh Office has introduced new measures to improve the recruitment of speech therapists. The Department has also introduced two new core indicators for health authorities which will help measure the service they provide for children with statements.Neither my right hon. Friend nor I have made an assessment of co-ordination in Flintshire. I understand that representatives from six North Wales LEAs met the North Wales Health Authority recently to discuss the future planning of speech therapy services in the area.We have no immediate plans to consult parents, teachers and governors. However, we shall be assessing the effectiveness of the initiatives over the coming months and reviewing the position more generally.

Smoke Detectors

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the local councils which (a) have and (b) have not installed smoke detectors in their housing stock. [4748]

Twenty-one local authorities in Wales have fitted, or are in the process of fitting, smoke detectors in all of their housing stock. Details are in the following table:

Installation of smoke detectors in local authority housing in Wales
Local authority	Smoke alarms in all stock	Type of alarm
Isle of Anglesey County Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
Bridgend County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
Caerphilly County Borough Council	Yes	Mains
City and County of Cardiff	Yes	Battery
Carmarthenshire County Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Ceredigion County Council	Yes	Battery
Conwy County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
Denbighshire County Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Flintshire County Council	Some (in accommodation for the elderly)	Mains
Gwynedd County Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains

Installation of smoke detectors in local authority housing in Wales
Local authority	Smoke alarms in all stock	Type of alarm
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
Monmouthshire County Council	Yes	Mains
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Newport County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
Pembrokeshire County Council	Installation in all properties will be completed in 1997–98	Mains
Powys County Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Rhondda, Cynon Taff County Borough Council	Yes	Battery
City and County of Swansea	Yes	Mix of battery and mains
Torfacn County Borough Council	Installation in all properties will be completed in 1998–99	Mains
Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council	Installation in all properties will be completed in 1998–99	Mains
Wrexham County Borough Council	Yes	Mix of battery and mains

Internet

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what use he plans to make of the Internet to make Government more open. [5097]

My Department has maintained an Internet Site on the CCTA server since 1995 which at present contains hospital performance information. A pilot site for the Welsh Office Industry and Training Department was set up in 1995 and this contains mainly Industry related information.My Department has recently completed a study of how it can make best use of the Internet to provide a wide range of information about its activities, services and regulatory guidance.My Department is now implementing, with the CCTA, a new on-line Internet Communication System. This will enable us to quickly expand our current Internet presence to make Welsh Office information more accessible through electronic communication.

Agri-Environment Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to announce new proposals on the agri-environment programme in Wales. [5301]

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement on proposals for the future of the agri-environment schemes in Wales at the Royal Welsh Show.

Conservation (Cardigan Bay)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his conservation objectives for the Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation. [4537]

The legislation requires the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) to advise other relevant authorities as to the conservation objectives for the site. The CCW is in the process of preparing this advice, and discussions on the subject are taking place with the other relevant authorities. The process must be completed as soon as possible after the site is formally agreed between the European Commission and the UK Government. The relevant Directive requires this agreement to take place by June 1998.

Popular Schools Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his future plans for the Popular Schools Initiative in Wales. [5497]

My right hon. Friend and I plan to honour commitments for the 23 projects successful under Phases 1 and 2 of the Popular Schools Initiative. There will, however, be no third phase.

University Hospital Of Wales

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning car parking charges at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff; and what consultations he has had with the chairman of the University Hospital of Wales Healthcare NHS Trust concerning these charges. [5500]

One. Charges for car parking are a matter for the UHW Healthcare NHS Trust. The charges for the new multi-storey car park under construction will be capped for three years, and any subsequent rises will have to be in line with local parking rates and inflation.

Defence

Hms Dreadnought

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information was provided by the manufacturers as to the maximum level of radiation workers could safely be exposed to when the Royal Navy took delivery of the nuclear reactor for HMS Dreadnought; and if such information is retained by the Royal Navy. [4788]

The Royal Navy took delivery of HMS Dreadnought containing the first UK Submarine nuclear reactor in 1963. While manufacturers are not responsible for advising my Department on the levels to which its radiation workers might be exposed, radiation surveys by Vickers (VSEL), the ship builder, established that the radiation levels on HMS Dreadnought were within the limits specified, based upon the recommendations of the International Commission for Radiological Protection in being at the time. This information is held by VSEL but was and is available to the Royal Navy.

Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the sponsors of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and (b) their individual contributions since 1992. [5013]

We are profoundly grateful to the sponsors of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme, British Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and Vickers, which have since 1992 each contributed £14,250, and to Sir Neil Thorne for the very considerable moral and financial support he has lent the scheme since its inception in 1989.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the AWE sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield to be licensed under the Nuclear Installations Act 1965. [6055]

I am pleased to announce that the Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations has granted a licence, effective from 1 July 1997, to the AWE management contractor Hunting-BRAE Ltd. to operate the AWE sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield. The two sites will thus be brought within the same regulatory regime as civil nuclear sites and will be regularly inspected by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate. This will provide independent assurance that nuclear-related activities at AWE are carried out safely and pose no threat to the workforce, the public or the environment.

Eurofighters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the statement by the Minister of State for Defence Procurement that the number of Eurofighters to be ordered will he included as an item for consideration bythe defence review represents Government policy. [5495]

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear on 16 June, Official Report, column 81, it is our intention to order Eurofighter according to the conditions and numbers previously announced. We are committed to the purchase of 232 Eurofighters. Eurofighter might be a cost effective replacement for the Harrier GR7, although no decision on this needs to be taken yet. Decisions taken during the Defence Review could affect this.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Eu Agriculture Council

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Luxembourg on 23 and 25 June; and if he will make a statement. [5942]

The Council reached agreement, Spain voting against, on a package of measures covering the CAP support prices and aids for the 1997–98 marketing year, the penalties to be applied when arable base areas are exceeded, and the rate of set-aside to apply to the 1998 crop.

On prices and aids, the agreement largely maintained the status quo, in advance of negotiations on reform of the major regimes, which are anticipated to start in the Autumn. However, monthly increments for cereals intervention and sugar storage refunds were cut by around 9 per cent. to reflect interest rate changes. The Council agreed to address the important question of over-compensation of arable farmers for past support price cuts in the context of the forthcoming discussions on reform of the arable regime.

In response to requests from me and several other Ministers, the Council agreed in principle that the set-aside rate for the 1998–99 marketing year should be maintained at 5 per cent. It invited the Commission to submit a proposal accordingly, as soon as possible. The proposal to amend the regulations concerning the arable penalties system was adopted with minor amendments—notably, to suspend the application of penalty set-aside for a further year—and requests from several Member States for measures which would have weakened or complicated the system were successfully resisted.

I argued for, and secured, a further commitment from the Commission to propose new measures to safeguard the welfare standards of breeding pigs without requiring them to be unloaded at staging points during journeys. This will help secure the high health status of these valuable animals when they are transported on long international journeys.

On BSE, I reported to the Council the measures I have recently announced to the House following SEAC's advice that the controls on specified bovine material should be extended to imports and that the UK should extend its controls on sheep and goat offal. In reply, Commissioner Fischler supported my call for a Community-wide solution to this problem and urged Member States to support the measures he has recently tabled on specified risk material.

The Council also unanimously endorsed an Italian application for approval of a state aid to agricultural co-operative members and adopted by qualified majority (Germany voting against) a Directive concerning maximum pesticide residue levels in food.

Pig Exports

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many pigs were exported for (a) breeding, (b) slaughter and (c) further fattening (i) during 1996 and (ii) to date in 1997; and if he will make a statement. [4867]

Information on the numbers of pigs escorted in 1996 and 1997 can be obtained in the form requested only at disproportionate cost. Official Overseas Trade Statistics show that approximately 340,000 pigs were exported from the United Kingdom in 1996 and approximately 34,450 were exported up to the end of March 1997. More recent figures are not yet available. These figures remain provisional and subject to amendment.

Exotic Animals

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the current regulations on the transportation of exotic animals; and if he will make a statement. [4607]

The welfare of animals during transport to, from, and within the EU is regulated by directive 91/628, as amended by directive 95/29. In Great Britain these provisions are implemented by the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997 which was made on 10 June 1997. These regulations were introduced after consultation with interested parties when the subject was reviewed.

Pesticides

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research or data his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the presence of pesticides currently banned in the United Kingdom as residues on imported food; and if he will make a statement. [5163]

The Working Party on Pesticide Residues analyses 3,000 to 4,000 samples annually of a wide range of imported and UK-produced commodities. Each sample is analysed for up to 100 different pesticides, including those which have been banned in the UK. This monitoring programme cost £2 million in 1996–97. In recent years, although residues of banned pesticides have occasionally been detected, none has exceeded internationally agreed safety levels.The full results of the Working Party's monitoring are published annually and the report for 1996 is expected to be published in September 1997.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy with regard to the release of brand names with the results of pesticide residue tests. [5164]

The Working Party on Pesticide Residues undertakes a large surveillance programme and publishes the results in an annual report with includes details of the countries of origin of samples where this can be determined. More generally, I am currently reviewing ways to improve reporting the results of all surveys including the release of brand names. I intend to make a further statement in the near future.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to ensure that chemicals used to spray crops do not damage the environment. [5190]

Only approved pesticides can be advertised, sold, supplied, stored or used. Applicants for approvals must show that their products pose no unacceptable risks to humans, animals or the environment before approval will be granted. The Registration Handbook outlines the comprehensive data which must be submitted in support of an application. These data are scrutinised by the independent experts of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides before a recommendation is made to Ministers in the five Government Departments responsible for pesticides.

All approved pesticide products are subject to routine review but may be reviewed at any time if any evidence emerges concerning their safety.

Rspca Freedom Foods

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the RSPCA freedom foods initiative. [5184]

This Government wholeheartedly welcomes any positive contribution to the maintenance and improvement of welfare standards for farm animals. Detailed requirements of schemes such as the RSPCA's Freedom Foods are a matter for the organisations concerned.

Farm Animals (Cruelty)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the number of prosecutions for cruelty to farm animals in each of the last five years; and if he will list the powers under which such prosecutions may be made. [5182]

The Reports of the Chief Veterinary Officer have recorded the following figures for prosecutions relating to the welfare of animals on farm in Great Britain in which the State Veterinary Service (SVS) has been involved:

1992: 120
1993: 111
1994: 112
1995: 127
1996: 105.

The figures are for prosecutions on which the State Veterinary Service has worked in liaison with the police, local authorities and other agencies.The figures for 1992–94 are for successful prosecutions; those for 1995 and 1996 are for prosecutions initiated.The relevant powers are contained in the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act 1912, and the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968.

Food Labelling

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the steps he is taking to ensure clearer labelling on food. [5202]

The Government believes that consumers have a right to receive information about the foods they buy and we are taking a number of steps to improve on that presently.On mechanically recovered meat, we recently succeeded in getting the rest of Europe to agree that this should be separately and specifically declared on the label. We have also sought comments from interested parties on the operation of the nutrition labelling rules and invited suggestions for improvements to take forward in Brussels. Finally, we have recently announced our intention to press in Europe for all food to be labelled if they contain genetically modified material.

New York Dressed Poultry

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the health hazards posed by the sale of New York Dressed poultry, and the evidence on which his list is based. [5313]

The Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food considered the risks posed by New York Dressed (NYD) poultry in its "Report on Poultry Meat" published in 1996. NYD birds are sold uneviscerated and with the head and feet attached. These birds present a particular hazard due to the risk of leakage of faeces and resulting contamination of the surface of the birds. If evisceration is carried out in the kitchen, there is also the risk of faeces or intestinal contents from ruptured intestines cross-contaminating other foods.

Prevention Of Damage By Pests Act

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the operation of the Prevention of Damage by Pests Act 1949. [5157]

The results of the 1993 National Rodent Survey did not provide evidence to suggest that a change in rodent control policies was needed. A further survey has been carried out, the results of which will be available later this year, and the situation will be reviewed in the light of the results of this survey.

Over 30 Months Scheme

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to alter the amount payable to farmers involved in the over 30 months cattle scheme to take account of fluctuation in the value of the green pound. [5341]

None. The sterling value of payments made for cattle slaughtered under the over 30 months scheme still represents a good return in comparison with the market price of clean beef in the UK and cull cow prices in some other member states.

Quarantine Kennels

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to publish the list of kennels that have agreed to comply with the code of practice on welfare standards. [5583]

Information on the quarantine premises that comply with the voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises will be included in the literature sent out to prospective importers

Segment	MAGP III Objective (GRT)	Position at end 1996 (GRT)	Percentage reduction in GRT to meet Objective	MAGP III Objective (kW)	Position at end 1996 (kW)	Percentage reduction Kw to meet Objective
Over 10 metre vessels
Pelagic gears	24,323	27,800	12.5	82,168	71,876	-14.3
Beam trawls	19,004	22,103	14.0	91,140	117,616	22.5
Demersal trawls and seine	59,470	64,534	7.8	316,399	332,337	4.8
Nephrops	18,725	11,176	-67.5	106,477	69,183	-53.9
Lines and nets	13,134	13,615	3.5	67,364	51,972	-29.6
Shellfish mobile	8,394	8,418	0.3	51,232	54,724	6.4

of pet dogs and cats after all the premises that have undertaken to comply with the code have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service. The majority of these inspections have been carried out.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review further the provision of care and welfare standards at quarantine kennels. [5582]

The voluntary code of practice for the welfare of dogs and cats in quarantine premises was published in March 1995. It will be kept under review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to commission a risk assessment and economic audit to determine the costs and benefits of quarantine and alternative systems [5579]

I shall consider whether a risk assessment and economic audit is appropriate as the review of the rabies quarantine regulations progresses.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many owners of quarantine kennels have (a) agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice on welfare standards, (b) indicated they will not comply and (c) not yet responded. [5580]

Seventy-three owners of quarantine premises have agreed to abide by the voluntary code of practice. Three have indicated that they do not wish to comply with the code at this stage and two have not yet responded to the invitation.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quarantine kennels which have agreed to abide by the code of practice on welfare standards have been inspected by the State Veterinary Service. [5581]

Sixty-three.

Multi-Annual Guidance Programme

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a report on progress on implementing the MAGP III fishing industry provisions; and if he will make a statement. [4916]

[holding answer 24 June 1997]: Fleet reduction targets under the third fisheries Multi-Annual Guidance Programme (MAGP III) relate to the period from 1 Janaury 1992 to 31 December 1996. The European Commission is still considering figures submitted by Member States in order to draw up a final assessment of what was achieved. The position as reported by the previous administration is set out in the table below.

Segment	MAGP III Objective (GRT)	Position at end 1996 (GRT)	Percentage reduction in GRT to meet Objective	MAGP III Objective (Kw)	Positiion end 1996 (Kw)	Percentage reduction in Kw to meet Objective
Shellfish fixed	5,264	5,331	1.3	35,895	43,999	18.4
Distant water	10,204	12,423	17.9	22,384	26,853	16.6
Non-active, non-TAC	0	0	—	0	0	—
Under 10 metre vessels	22,697	20,851	-8.9	286,154	286,367	0.1
Total	181,216	186,251	2.7	1,059,212	1,054,927	-0.4

A negative percentage figure represents the over-achievement of the Objective.

Education And Employment

Reading And Writing

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the number of children who left primary school in 1996 able to read and write to their chronological age. [4107]

Fifty-eight per cent. of pupils reached level 4 and above—the level expected for 11-year-olds—in English in the 1996 national curriculum tests.

Welfare-To-Work Task Force

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force[4108]

The role of the task force is first, to ensure that the design of the new deal takes full account of the requirements of employers and the wider community, second, to harness the energy and commitment of all sections of society, and particularly the business community, behind the new deal, and finally, to keep the Government informed of the way the proposals are working on the ground and advise on the resolution of any problems which arise.

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the members of the welfare-to-work task force. [4120]

We have appointed Sir Peter Davis to lead the new deal advisory task force. The Government are now working with him to ensure that membership of the task force consists of people representing employers and other interests who are vital to the success of our initiative. The list will be made public in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force. [4115]

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the remit of the welfare-to-work task force. [4117]

One of our most urgent priorities is to help unemployed people move from welfare to work. We intend to work in partnership with the business community and other key interests to offer unemployed people help in returning to sustained employment. The aim of the new deal advisory task force, which is headed by Sir Peter Davis, will be to ensure that employers and other key sectors are committed to the success of the initiative. The role of the task force is threefold:

(a) to ensure that the design of the new deal takes full account of the requirements of employers and the wider community;

(b) to harness the energy and commitment of all sections of society, and particularly the business community, behind the new deal;

(c) to keep the Government informed of the way the proposals are working on the ground, and advise on the resolution of any problems which arise.

Higher Education (Access)

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to improve access to higher education for young people from low-income families. [4109]

We are committed to widening opportunities for all individuals to fulfil their potential and we shall be considering very carefully what the National Committee of Inquiry into Higher Education has to say about improving the under-representation of lower socio-economic and certain other groups in higher education.

Key Stage 2

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to modify the assessment tests at key stage 2. [4110]

We are awaiting advice from the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on the shape of the 1998 assessments before making decisions.

School Standards

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on his main policy priorities for raising standards in schools. [4111]

Raising standards in schools is a central priority of this Government. That is why we have set up the Standards and Effectiveness Unit. We have also set clear new national targets for higher standards of literacy and numeracy by the time children leave primary school age 11.

Early-Years Development Plans

21

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the progress of local authorities in preparing interim early-years development plans. [4112]

Progress is very encouraging. A majority of local authorities have told us they intend to submit interim plans by the deadline of 1 July.

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if the early-years development plans will cover early-years education and child care. [4113]

Yes. We have made clear the need to integrate these services.

Nursery Voucher Scheme

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the arrangements for providing and funding nursery education for four-year-olds following the abolition of the nursery voucher scheme. [4118]

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has for the replacement of the nursery voucher scheme; and what are the financial implications of these plans. [4124]

The Government's plans were set out in my right hon. Friend's reply to a question from the hon. Member for Barking (Ms Hodge) on 22 May, Official Report, column 128 and in the Department's letter of 22 May to Chief Education Officers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.As early-years development plans take effect, nursery education places occupied by eligible four-year-olds will be funded through local education authorities from the resources previously available for vouchers.

Disability Discrimination Act

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when his Department's review of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be completed. [4119]

Our manifesto commits us to supporting "comprehensive, enforceable civil rights" for disabled people. We are consulting interested parties on the best way to achieve this and we shall develop proposals in the light of our discussions.An announcement about how we intend to proceed will be made after we have had an opportunity to consider the views put to us at these initial meetings.

University Of Industry

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement about the role of his Department in the plans for a university of industry. [4122]

The Department is taking the lead in developing the framework for a university for industry.We are taking urgent steps to bring together a range of interests from across and outside government to agree the way ahead on the university for industry's development. An announcement is expected very soon.

Cooking Skills

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will increase the priority accorded to cooking skills within the national curriculum; and if he will make a statement. [4123]

The Secretary of State has agreed not to make any changes to the national curriculum before the year 2000. The new Qualifications and Curriculum Authority will be offering advice on any changes that might be made and he will consider the issue of cooking skills alongside that advice.

Long-Term Unemployment

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to move long-term unemployed people from welfare into work. [4125]

Under our new deal for young unemployed people aged 18 to 24, we intend to offer opportunities to take jobs, and to gain relevant education, training and work experiencee. We also intend to offer employers an incentive of £75 per week to recruit people aged 25 or over unemployed for two years or more.The Employment Service will work in partnership with the business community, voluntary organisations and other bodies to ensure the initiative is effective.

Child Care

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has to promote the integration of early-years education and child care. [4121]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear the importance we attach to the development of a coherent programme for the education and care of young children that, along with after school provision, helps parents who want to work juggle work and family life. We regard the integration of education and childcare as central to this. Good quality child care should be based on learning and child development, and should form part of a wider family learning programme. To achieve this local authorities will establish early-years forums to draw up early-years development plans which will show how these and other services for families can be brought together. Young children's services providing education and child care support, early-years development plans, after school homework clubs funded by the midweek lottery and the work already being delivered by the out of school child care Initiative, and meeting the needs of children, parents and employers, will form key elements of our overall approach.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals he has to integrate early-years education with child care. [4431]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has made clear the importance we attach to the development of a coherent programme for the education and care of young children that, along with after school provision, helps parents who want to juggle work and family life. We regard the integration of education and child care as central to this.

Good quality child care should be based on learning and child development, and should form part of a wider family learning programme. To achieve this local authorities will establish early years forums to draw up early years development plans which will show how these and other services for families can be brought together. Young children's services providing education and child care support, early-years development plans, after school homework clubs funded by the midweek lottery and the work already being delivered by the out of school child care initiative, and meeting the needs of children, parents and employers, will form key elements of our overall approach.

International Labour Organisation Conference

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent International Labour Organisation conference. [4126]

This year's International Labour conference was a successful event in which the UK played a positive and constructive part. When I addressed the conference, I set out the Government's commitment to the promotion of basic labour standards and our support for the ILO Director-General's vision of universal respect for fundamental human rights in the workplace. There was unanimous approval of my announcement concerning the restoration of trade union rights at GCHQ.

Literacy Summer Schools

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many schools are participating in the pilot literacy summer schools. [4127]

I launched the initiative on 3 June with 29 schools and am delighted to say that this initiative has recently been expanded to a total of 50 schools.

Student Debts

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate he has made of the number of higher education students who will be unable formally to graduate in 1997 from higher education institutes because of debts owed to those institutes; and if he will make a statement. [4114]

None. The information requested is not available centrally.

New Deal

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he expects to announce details of his new deal for young people. [5186]

Details of the new deal for young people will be announced shortly.

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what support will be available for parents of four-year-olds currently using private or voluntary sector providers where their local education authority does not have an approved interim early years development plan. [5197]

[holding answer 24 June 1997]: Where a local education authority does not have an approved interim early-years development plan and parents currently using private or voluntary sector providers wish to continue doing so for the coming Autumn and Spring terms, then those parents will be entitled to certificates of eligibility. These certificates will cover fees up to £366 per term for up to five sessions of education per week each lasting at least two and a half hours.

Jobfinder's Grants

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many jobfinders' grants were paid in 1996–97; and at what cost. [5438]

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

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Christopher Pond, dated 26 June 1997:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many Jobfinder's Grants were paid in 1996–97; and at what cost. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

During 1996–97, 17,300 Grants were paid at a cost of £3.8 million.

I hope this is helpful.

Public Utilities

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how much (a) British Telecom, (b) the water and sewerage companies, (c) the regional electricity companies, (d) the electricity generators, (e) British Gas, (f) BAA and (g) Railtrack received in funding for training from the Further Education Funding Council budgets in (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [5577]

This information is not centrally available.

Construction Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans the Government have to review the role and function of the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board. [6136]

Against the background of the established practice of carrying out quinquennial policy and financial management reviews of non-departmental public bodies, my Department will conduct a thorough review of the Construction Industry Training Board and the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board during 1997–98.The first stage of the review will have the following terms of reference:

1. To review the functions of the Boards, and the likely need in the future of these functions.

2. To consider whether some or all of the functions can be better performed through other means.

3. To review the efficiency and effectiveness of the Boards in carrying out their functions.

4. To consider the powers, terms of reference, constitutional status, membership and activities of the Boards.

5. To report the outcomes of the reviews by late September 1997.

The study is now underway and I would welcome comments form interested parties. Comments, which may be made public unless respondents specifically request otherwise, should be sent by 30 July 1997 to:

Mike Beck
Department for Education and Employment
Industry Training Board Quinquennial Review Team
N207
Moorfoot
Sheffield
S I 4PQ.

Social Security

Poverty

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the methods by which Her Majesty's Government assesses the level of poverty existing in the United Kingdom. [867]

The policies of the previous administration led to poverty and social division in our society. The Government is committed to mounting a concerted attack against the worklessness which is causing social and economic inequality, and welfare dependency.Information on those with low incomes is available in the Government Statistical Service publication "Households Below Average Income". This annual report seeks to measure potential living standards derived from goods and services financed from disposable income. It provides a range of statistics monitoring the characteristics of people at various points in the income distribution, and describes how changes in income over time have affected particular groups. Complementary information is provided on possession of consumer durables and on household expenditure.Households Below Average Income was last published in November 1996, and a copy is in the Library.

Child Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proposals she has to implement a national child care strategy; and if she will make a statement. [3055]

I will be working closely with my colleague, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, whose Department has responsibility for developing and implementing a National Child Care Strategy. This Strategy will match provision to the requirements of the modern labour market and help parents, especially women, to balance family and working life. The availability of good quality and affordable child care not only benefits women, it has wide-ranging benefits for the whole community. Most important of all, it benefits children.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has already made clear the importance he attaches to the development of a coherent programme for the education and care of young children that, along with after school provision, helps parents who want to work. The integration of education and child care is central to this programme, ensuring that children as well as parents benefit from provision.

Local Exchange Trading Systems

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will review the role of LETS within areas of high unemployment. [4880]

The Government believes that work is the best form of welfare for people of working age. Our Welfare to Work objectives are to provide work incentives, to reduce poverty and welfare dependency and to strike a new balance between rights and responsibilities. A programme of monitoring and evaluation is under way to enable us to ensure that Jobseeker's Allowance contributes to achieving our objectives.In addition to this major evaluation exercise, we shall also keep the individual benefit rules, including the treatment of the Local Exchange Trading Systems (LETS), under active consideration as we develop our plans.

Social Fund (Appeals)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will reform the administration of the Social Fund to enhance the rights of appeal given to claimants. [5498]

The Social Fund is made up of two parts—the regulated and discretionary schemes. The regulated scheme is based on rules of entitlement. Payments are not cash limited and are subject to the appeal procedures relevant to all regulated Social Security benefits.Decisions on discretionary Social Fund payments are made from a cash-limited budget. These payments are subject to a special review procedure specifically designed to suit the cash limited and discretionary nature of the scheme. Applicants who are dissatisfied with the discretionary decision already have access to immediate redress locally, and a further right of review by the Independent Review Service if they are still dissatisfied.The Social Fund review process provides a comprehensive system of redress which is quick, fair and reasonable. It is well suited to a cash-limited discretionary scheme. We have no plans to integrate it into the Social Security appeals system.

Child Support Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what proportion of cases being dealt with by the CSA, the parent with care of the child is not receiving benefit, described under section 6 of the Child Support Act 1991 (a) in total, (b) by region and (c) by county. [4381]

We believe that all children are entitled to the support of both parents wherever they may live. Children should be supported by the taxpayer only when their parents are unable to do so. The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive, Mrs. Faith Boardman. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Mrs. Faith Boardman to Ms Sally Keeble, dated 25 June 1997:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the proportion of CSA cases where the parent/person with care is not in receipt of benefit as described under section 6 of the Child Support Act 1991.

At 28 February 1997, of the 579,180 live and assessed cases recorded on the Child Support Computer System, 11% of parents/persons with care were not in receipt of income support or other prescribed benefits. The table attached shows a breakdown by region, a breakdown by county is not available.

I hope this is helpful.

Parent/Person with care not in receipt of Income Support or other prescribed benefits
Live and assessed caseload—28 February 1997
	Number of cases	Not in receipt of IS/FamC/DWA
		Number	Per cent.
Great Britain	579,180	65,000	11
North	40,660	4,180	10
Scotland	45,620	4,080	9
Yorkshire and Humberside	54,200	4,700	9
North West	74,280	9,180	12
East Midlands	35,680	3,840	11
West Midlands	52,320	5,320	10
East Anglia	18,540	1,900	10
Wales	37,200	5,180	14
South East	135,060	16,700	12
South West	47,720	6,480	14

Regional totals do not sum to the Great Britain total as some postcode data are sufficient to allow a regional breakdown. We do not record the above statistics at levels lower than by region.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of claims for family credit. [3947]

The efficient administration of family credit is central to the Department's measures to help people move from welfare into work. We will streamline services to provide better, simpler and more efficient services to clients. The administration of family credit is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Heppell, dated 25 June 1997:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what action the Department is taking to reduce the backlog of claims for Family Credit (FC).

The workload forecast for 1997/98 is that 1.7 million FC claims will be received, which equates to an average of over 32,000 claims weekly. Additionally, renewal claims peak in April and October so it is not unusual for the FC Unit to have approximately 65,000 claims at various stages of assessment at any given date. FC Unit Managers prepare for such peak periods by implementing various short term measures, which include the redeployment of staff and the use of overtime.

These measures were used to ensure less than 46,000 claims were awaiting processing at the end of March. The FC Unit were therefore in a position to handle the higher number of claims expected in April. The total number of claims received in April was 174,686. The Unit's effective management of the workload ensured that the temporary backlog in April was reduced to less than 57,000 claims outstanding, as at 16 June.

The Benefits Agency aims to clear all claims accurately and on time. Details of the clearance targets for claims, the actual achievement to the end of 1996/97 and the achievement to the end of May 1997 are shown in the attached Annex.

I hope that this reply assures you of the efforts being made by staff and Management within the FC Unit to ensure that any claims awaiting a decision are kept to a minimum at all times.

Family credit targets
Percentage
Target	Secetary of State clearance 90 per cent. of Faster Claims in 5 days	Management primary clearance 60 per cent. of claims in 13 days	Management secondary clearance 95 per cent. of claims in 42 days
1996–97
achievement	91.9	76.3	98.9
1997–98
achievement to end of May	89.7	72.0	99.1

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

The Faster Claims target relates to newly employed and first time applicants, many of whom have been in receipt of income support or job seekers allowance.

The Management targets relate to all claims.

Benefits Agency Medical Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what is the average annual income of a medical practitioner employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services on (a) a full-time and (b) a part-time basis; and if he will make a statement; [4428](2) how many medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services have voluntarily resigned from their posts in each of the past three years; what assessment he has made of the reasons for such resignations; and if he will make a statement; [4429](3) how many medical practitioners currently employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services have worked on a sessional basis as members of disability appeals tribunals in

(a) Strathclyde, (b) Scotland and (c) England and Wales in each of the past three years; of those employed how many work wholly or mainly on disability living allowance claims; and if she will make a statement. [4430]

Modernising the Social Security system is a key priority of the Government. We will streamline services to provide better, simpler more efficient services to clients. I wish no discourtesy to the hon. Gentleman but the administration of the Benefits Agency Medical Services is a matter for Peter Mathison, its Chief Executive. I have asked him to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Norman A. Godman, dated 25 June 1997:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about medical practitioners employed by the Benefits Agency Medical Services (BAMS).

The average annual income for a medical practitioner in full time employment with BAMS is currently £42,159. For medical practitioners in part-time employment, the figure is £26,767.

The number of staff who have resigned during the past three years and the reason for their resignation is shown at Annex 1.

Annex 1: Number of BAMS medical practitioners who have resigned
1994–95		1995–96		1996–97
Reason	Number	Reason	Number	Reason	Number
In wrong job	0	In wrong job	5	In wrong job	5
III health	3	Unhappy with management	1	Looking after relatives	1
Other	0	Other	3	Other	5
Not known¹	1	Not known¹	4	Not known¹	13
Total	4	Total	13	Total	24

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

¹ Indicates doctors who have chosen not to give their specific reasons.

Annex 2: the number of medical practitioners currently employed by BAMS, who have also worked on a sessional basis as members of Disability Appeal Tribunals (DATS)
Location	1996–97
Strathclyde	Nil
Scotland	Nil
England and Wales	¹2

Figures are provisional and subject to change.

¹ These medical practitioners have not recently sat on DATs and neither works mainly on DLA claims.

Special Advisers

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the special advisers in her Department, the Minister to whom each is responsible, the subjects on which they advise and the number of advisers in her Department in the year up to 1 May. [5360]

The number of medical practitioners currently employed by BAMS, who have also worked on a sessional basis as members of Disability Appeal Tribunals (DATs), is not available for 1994/95 or 1995/96. Details for 1996/97 are shown at Annex 2.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Two special advisers, John McTernan and Liz Kendall, are employed in this Department under terms and conditions based on the model contract for special advisers, a copy of which is available in the Library. Both are responsible to me as Secretary of State for Social Security and they advise me on the full range of my ministerial duties in accordance with Schedule 1 (Part 1) of the Model Contract.One special adviser was employed in the Department in the year to 1 May.

Widowers' Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans she has to introduce widowers' benefits on the same basis as widows' benefits. [4812]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Gorrie) on 23 June, Official Report, column 413.

Volume 296: debated on Thursday 26 June 1997

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