Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 25 January 1993

Home Department

Burglary

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) burglaries of a dwelling, (b) burglaries other than of a dwelling and (c) burglaries in total were reported (i) in each police force area and (ii) in total for England and Wales in each calendar year since 1979, and in the 12 months ended June 1992.

The available information is for notifiable offences of burglary recorded by the police and is contained in the tables.

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1979
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	3,925	5,134	9,059
Bedfordshire	1,664	3,067	4,731
Cambridgeshire	1,698	2,484	4,182
Cheshire	2,752	3,927	6,679
Cleveland	4,007	3,895	7,902
Cumbria	1,273	2,528	3,801
Derbyshire	3,459	4,630	8,089
Devon and Cornwall	3,239	4,408	7,647
Dorset	1,952	2,046	3,998
Durham	2,155	3,862	6,017
Essex	3,538	6,758	10,296
Gloucestershire	1,151	1,858	3,009
Greater Manchester	19,162	19,962	39,124
Hampshire	6,105	6,413	12,518
Hertfordshire	1,789	2,814	4,603
Humberside	4,476	6,436	10,912
Kent	4,944	5,495	10,439
Lancashire	5,476	6,972	12,448
Leicestershire	2,158	3,543	5,701
Lincolnshire	1,211	2,070	3,281
City of London	51	1,088	1,139
Merseyside	16,699	14,484	31,183
Metropolitan Police District	68,661	48,340	117,001
Norfolk	1,249	3,057	4,306
Northamptonshire	1,798	2,653	4,451
Northumbria	12,285	14,729	27,014
North Yorkshire	2,181	2,593	4,774
Nottinghamshire	6,130	10,364	16,494
South Yorkshire	4,439	8,162	12,601
Staffordshire	2,755	5,250	8,005
Suffolk	857	1,991	2,848
Surrey	2,213	2,577	4,790
Sussex	4,658	4,596	9,254
Thames Valley	5,927	7,931	13,858
Warwickshire	876	1,951	2,827
West Mercia	1,947	3,986	5,933
West Midlands	16,953	22,910	39,863
West Yorkshire	14,905	17,240	32,145
Wiltshire	1,291	2,235	3,526
Dyfed-Powys	544	1,170	1,714
Gwent	1,196	2,123	3,319
North Wales	2,039	2,617	4,656
South Wales	6,984	10,916	17,900
TOTAL	252,772	291,265	544,037

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1980
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	5,199	6,285	11,484
Bedfordshire	2,168	3,436	5,604
Cambridgeshire	1,886	2,973	4,859
Cheshire	3,639	4,537	8,176
Cleveland	4,265	4,697	8,962
Cumbria	1,622	2,442	4,064
Derbyshire	3,902	5,185	9,087
Devon and Cornwall	3,662	5,188	8,850
Dorset	2,137	2,430	4,567
Durham	2,971	4,740	7,711
Essex	3,850	7,497	11,347
Gloucestershire	1,684	2,246	3,930
Greater Manchester	23,733	23,216	46,949
Hampshire	6,300	6,997	13,297
Hertfordshire	2,642	3,345	5,807
Humberside	5,537	7,173	12,710
Kent	4,805	5,624	10,429
Lancashire	5,597	7,131	12,728
Leicestershire	2,656	4,506	7,162
Lincolnshire	1,268	2,264	3,532
City of London	41	1,030	1,071
Merseyside	19,884	14,917	34,801
Metropolitan Police District	75,214	50,730	125,944
Norfolk	1,568	3,705	5,273
Northamptonshire	2,411	3,637	6,048
Northumbria	14,557	16,511	31,068
North Yorkshire	2,207	3,076	5,283
Nottinghamshire	6,629	11,532	18,161
South Yorkshire	5,777	9,864	15,641
Staffordshire	3,085	5,665	8,750
Suffolk	1,024	2,199	3,223
Surrey	2,412	2,672	5,084
Sussex	5,192	4,778	9,970
Thames Valley	6,611	8,616	15,227
Warwickshire	1,151	2,138	3,289
West Mercia	2,419	4,677	7,096
West Midlands	23,170	26,613	49,783
West Yorkshire	17,077	18,226	35,303
Wiltshire	1,548	2,232	3,780
Dyfed-Powys	602	1,227	1,829
Gwent	1,602	2,365	3,967
North Wales	2,833	3,274	6,107
South Wales	8,576	11,861	20,437
TOTAL	294,933	323,457	618,390

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1981
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	6,136	7,288	13,424
Bedfordshire	2,528	3,988	6,516
Cambridgeshire	2,343	3,395	5,738
Cheshire	4,637	5,234	9,871
Cleveland	4,985	5,468	10,453
Cumbria	1,782	2,905	4,687
Derbyshire	4,327	6,018	10,345
Devon and Cornwall	4,016	6,316	10,332
Dorset	2,446	2,691	5,137
Durham	3,134	5,069	8,203
Essex	4,503	7,621	12,124
Gloucestershire	1,969	2,886	4,855
Greater Manchester	32,238	25,943	58,181
Hampshire	7,960	8,554	16,514
Hertfordshire	2,486	3,844	6,330
Humberside	6,719	8,254	14,973
Kent	6,032	6,167	12,199
Lancashire	7,297	8,068	15,365
Leicestershire	3,269	5,130	8,399
Lincolnshire	1,430	2,997	4,427
City of London	31	1,058	1,089
Merseyside	23,269	18,421	41,690

Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Metropolitan Police District	86,549	58,270	144,819
Norfolk	2,242	4,795	7,037
Northamptonshire	2,558	3,686	6,244
Northumbria	16,581	18,084	34,665
North Yorkshire	3,135	3,548	6,683
Nottinghamshire	8,719	12,986	21,705
South Yorkshire	6,557	10,912	17,469
Staffordshire	3,565	6,305	9,870
Suffolk	1,332	2,567	3,899
Surrey	2,654	2,814	5,468
Sussex	6,108	5,385	11,493
Thames Valley	7,198	9,289	16,487
Warwickshire	1,730	2,813	4,543
West Mercia	3,433	6,005	9,438
West Midlands	27,703	29,655	57,358
West Yorkshire	19,371	20,588	39,959
Wiltshire	1,656	2,623	4,279
Dyfed-Powys	623	1,505	2,128
Gwent	1,696	2,521	4,217
North Wales	3,057	3,956	7,013
South Wales	9,688	13,067	22,755
TOTAL	349,692	368,689	718,381

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1982
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	6,734	7,304	14,038
Bedfordshire	2,583	3,940	6,523
Cambridgeshire	2,681	4,048	6,729
Cheshire	5,106	5,668	10,774
Cleveland	5,489	5,904	11,393
Cumbria	2,193	3,286	5,479
Derbyshire	4,648	6,235	10,883
Devon and Cornwall	4,747	6,932	11,679
Dorset	2,708	3,122	5,830
Durham	3,934	5,946	9,880
Essex	4,869	8,875	13,744
Gloucestershire	2,184	3,055	5,239
Greater Manchester	39,903	26,062	65,965
Hampshire	9,254	9,845	19,099
Hertfordshire	2,548	3,991	6,539
Humberside	6,823	9,768	16,591
Kent	7,773	7,176	14,949
Lancashire	9,087	10,088	19,175
Leicestershire	4,348	6,237	10,585
Lincolnshire	1,728	3,233	4,961
City of London	93	990	1,083
Merseyside	27,188	20,201	47,389
Metropolitan Police District	99,049	59,193	158,242
Norfolk	2,822	5,250	8,072
Northamptonshire	3,046	4,305	7,351
Northumbria	22,806	20,468	43,274
North Yorkshire	3,356	4,204	7,560
Nottinghamshire	7,793	11,096	18,889
South Yorkshire	7,744	11,831	19,575
Staffordshire	4,304	7,229	11,533
Suffolk	1,305	2,654	3,959
Surrey	3,118	3,219	6,337
Sussex	6,654	6,541	13,195
Thames Valley	8,445	10,301	18,746
Warwickshire	1,925	3,242	5,167
West Mercia	3,744	6,841	10,585
West Midlands	33,780	32,240	66,020
West Yorkshire	22,591	22,532	45,123
Wiltshire	1,790	2,797	4,587
Dyfed-Powys	662	1,545	2,207
Gwent	2,036	2,999	5,035
North Wales	3,391	4,004	7,395
South Wales	10,106	13,904	24,010
TOTAL	407,088	398,301	805,389

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1983
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	7,561	7,205	14,766
Bedfordshire	2,788	4,159	6,947
Cambridgeshire	2,592	3,691	6,283
Cheshire	5,338	6,086	11,424
Cleveland	5,804	5,537	11,341
Cumbria	2,326	3,364	5,690
Derbyshire	4,449	5,745	10,194
Devon and Cornwall	5,400	6,506	11,906
Dorset	2,762	2,627	5,389
Durham	4,685	5,483	10,168
Essex	5,261	8,733	13,994
Gloucestershire	2,246	2,911	5,157
Greater Manchester	47,385	25,063	72,448
Hampshire	8,996	9,458	18,454
Hertfordshire	2,463	3,040	5,503
Humberside	7,454	9,613	17,067
Kent	8,021	6,135	14,156
Lancashire	8,968	8,973	17,941
Leicestershire	4,490	5,465	9,955
Lincolnshire	2,007	3,218	5,225
City of London	65	1,095	1,160
Merseyside	31,454	17,635	49,089
Metropolitan Police District	98,927	53,268	152,195
Norfolk	3,131	4,878	8,009
Northamptonshire	3,092	4,098	7,190
Northumbria	22,148	21,968	44,116
North Yorkshire	3,439	4,038	7,477
Nottinghamshire	7,787	10,635	18,422
South Yorkshire	9,015	12,163	21,178
Staffordshire	5,177	7,624	12,801
Suffolk	1,601	2,992	4,593
Surrey	3,116	3,070	6,186
Sussex	7,795	6,060	13,855
Thames Valley	8,901	9,447	18,348
Warwickshire	2,297	3,220	5,517
West Mercia	4,076	5,897	9,973
West Midlands	37,266	30,401	67,667
West Yorkshire	22,533	19,445	41,978
Wiltshire	1,783	2,583	4,366
Dyfed-Powys	709	1,521	2,230
Gwent	1,990	2,858	4,848
North Wales	3,754	4,216	7,970
South Wales	10,987	14,178	25,165
TOTAL	432,039	376,302	808,341

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1984
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	8,282	8,463	16,745
Bedfordshire	3,706	4,256	7,962
Cambridgeshire	2,511	3,635	6,146
Cheshire	6,029	6,658	12,687
Cleveland	7,114	6,919	14,033
Cumbria	2,627	3,796	6,423
Derbyshire	4,399	6,013	10,412
Devon and Cornwall	5,723	7,504	13,227
Dorset	2,742	2,738	5,480
Durham	4,992	6,425	11,417
Essex	5,366	8,331	13,697
Gloucestershire	2,364	3,362	5,726
Greater Manchester	54,252	28,812	83,064
Hampshire	8,815	9,850	18,665
Hertfordshire	2,933	3,609	6,542
Humberside	6,747	10,624	17,371
Kent	8,973	6,714	15,687
Lancashire	9,822	9,384	19,206
Leicestershire	5,099	5,769	10,868
Lincolnshire	2,004	3,860	5,864
City of London	32	913	945

Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Merseyside	35,293	18,246	53,539
Metropolitan Police District	109,672	57,980	167,652
Norfolk	2,294	4,892	7,816
Northamptonshire	3,493	4,328	7,821
Northumbria	24,229	26,671	50,900
North Yorkshire	3,971	4,513	8,484
Nottinghamshire	7,611	11,227	18,838
South Yorkshire	10,476	14,794	25,270
Staffordshire	5,783	7,672	13,455
Suffolk	1,619	3,030	4,649
Surrey	3,374	3,248	6,622
Sussex	8,857	7,136	15,993
Thames Valley	9,362	11,444	20,806
Warwickshire	2,531	3,656	6,187
West Mercia	5,082	6,111	11,193
West Midlands	43,643	33,793	77,436
West Yorkshire	25,166	21,267	46,433
Wiltshire	1,950	3,232	5,182
Dyfed-Powys	848	1,819	2,667
Gwent	2,161	2,734	4,895
North Wales	3,415	5,198	8,613
South Wales	10,743	15,562	26,305
TOTAL	476,735	416,188	892,923

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1985
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	8,970	8,765	17,735
Bedfordshire	3,878	4,013	7,891
Cambridgeshire	2,326	3,666	5,992
Cheshire	6,147	6,291	12,438
Cleveland	6,734	6,348	13,082
Cumbria	2,869	3,702	6,571
Derbyshire	4,132	5,338	9,470
Devon and Cornwall	5,814	7,536	13,350
Dorset	2,847	2,733	5,580
Durham	4,723	5,862	10,585
Essex	5,067	8,474	13,541
Gloucestershire	2,903	3,850	6,753
Greater Manchester	51,958	28,572	80,530
Hampshire	8,820	9,744	18,564
Hertfordshire	2,888	3,063	5,951
Humberside	7,488	11,836	19,324
Kent	9,216	6,798	16,014
Lancashire	10,312	8,467	18,779
Leicestershire	4,558	5,476	10,034
Lincolnshire	2,399	3,915	6,314
City of London	35	935	970
Merseyside	35,669	18,800	54,469
Metropolitan Police District	97,242	56,855	154,097
Norfolk	3,209	5,081	8,290
Northamptonshire	3,562	4,029	7,591
Northumbria	24,630	26,546	51,176
North Yorkshire	4,697	4,350	9,047
Nottinghamshire	7,001	10,387	17,388
South Yorkshire	9,057	12,375	21,432
Staffordshire	5,516	7,737	13,253
Suffolk	2,069	3,382	5,451
Surrey	3,164	3,223	6,387
Sussex	8,720	7,105	15,825
Thames Valley	9,070	11,153	20,223
Warwickshire	2,608	3,533	6,141
West Mercia	4,428	5,644	10,072
West Midlands	39,889	33,158	73,047
West Yorkshire	25,733	20,036	45,769
Wiltshire	2,135	3,192	5,327
Dyfed-Powys	951	1,792	2,743
Gwent	1,973	2,914	4,887
North Wales	3,790	5,294	9,084
South Wales	9,993	15,537	25,530
TOTAL	459,190	407,507	866,697

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1986
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	10,912	9,831	20,743
Bedfordshire	4,382	4,349	8,731
Cambridgeshire	2,499	3,650	6,149
Cheshire	6,095	6,134	12,229
Cleveland	8,067	7,022	15,089
Cumbria	4,024	4,038	8,062
Derbyshire	4,375	5,540	9,915
Devon and Cornwall	6,521	8,668	15,189
Dorset	3,531	2,873	6,404
Durham	5,921	5,768	11,689
Essex	6,079	9,468	15,547
Gloucestershire	3,328	4,397	7,725
Greater Manchester	60,738	31,486	92,224
Hampshire	9,241	10,852	20,093
Hertfordshire	3,247	3,470	6,717
Humberside	8,925	14,009	22,934
Kent	8,166	6,610	14,776
Lancashire	11,957	8,855	20,812
Leicestershire	4,881	5,441	10,322
Lincolnshire	3,174	4,109	7,283
City of London	55	872	927
Merseyside	37,375	19,496	56,871
Metropolitan Police District	102,781	54,063	156,844
Norfolk	3,477	6,115	9,592
Northamptonshire	3,441	4,448	7,889
Northumbria	25,880	26,126	52,006
North Yorkshire	4,908	4,908	9,816
Nottinghamshire	7,792	9,596	17,388
South Yorkshire	11,125	12,446	23,571
Staffordshire	6,250	8,639	14,889
Suffolk	2,107	4,216	6,323
Surrey	3,489	3,474	6,963
Sussex	8,736	7,628	16,364
Thames Valley	10,776	12,435	23,211
Warwickshire	2,866	3,172	6,038
West Mercia	5,399	5,513	10,912
West Midlands	45,676	36,090	81,766
West Yorkshire	26,862	19,246	46,108
Wiltshire	2,734	3,502	6,236
Dyfed-Powys	1,036	2,100	3,136
Gwent	2,074	2,748	4,822
North Wales	4,689	5,513	10,202
South Wales	10,417	16,696	27,113
TOTAL	506,008	425,612	931,620

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1987
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	10,268	10,274	20,542
Bedfordshire	3,824	4,269	8,093
Cambridgeshire	2,730	3,566	6,296
Cheshire	6,710	6,336	13,046
Cleveland	9,019	7,191	16,210
Cumbria	3,496	3,696	7,192
Derbyshire	4,462	5,412	9,874
Devon and Cornwall	6,883	8,917	15,800
Dorset	3,826	2,881	6,707
Durham	5,322	5,598	10,920
Essex	5,736	9,424	15,160
Gloucestershire	3,769	5,106	8,875
Greater Manchester	54,323	30,094	84,417
Hampshire	8,903	10,785	19,688
Hertfordshire	3,105	3,408	6,513
Humberside	9,470	14,338	23,808
Kent	7,925	6,303	14,228
Lancashire	11,555	8,940	20,495
Leicestershire	5,524	5,715	11,239
Lincolnshire	2,966	4,318	7,284
City of London	63	991	1,054

Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Merseyside	34,087	17,880	51,967
Metropolitan Police District	97,763	52,123	149,886
Norfolk	3,707	6,211	9,918
Northamptonshire	3,460	3,841	7,301
Northumbria	25,186	25,258	50,444
North Yorkshire	4,811	4,929	9,740
Nottinghamshire	7,801	10,038	17,839
South Yorkshire	11,712	13,042	24,754
Staffordshire	6,520	8,395	14,915
Suffolk	2,119	3,723	5,842
Surrey	3,571	3,019	6,590
Sussex	8,059	7,383	15,442
Thames Valley	10,747	11,440	22,187
Warwickshire	2,586	3,395	5,981
West Mercia	4,784	5,406	10,190
West Midlands	39,224	33,838	73,062
West Yorkshire	26,355	20,322	46,677
Wiltshire	2,434	3,300	5,734
Dyfed-Powys	945	1,997	2,942
Gwent	2,195	2,609	4,804
North Wales	4,411	5,544	9,955
South Wales	10,645	15,848	26,493
TOTAL	483,001	417,103	900,104

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1988
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	9,050	9,124	18,174
Bedfordshire	3,890	3,962	7,852
Cambridgeshire	2,505	3,799	6,304
Cheshire	6,110	5,466	11,576
Cleveland	8,402	5,930	14,332
Cumbria	2,800	3,626	6,426
Derbyshire	3,768	4,982	8,750
Devon and Cornwall	6,640	8,564	15,204
Dorset	3,124	2,245	5,369
Durham	4,697	4,939	9,636
Essex	5,261	8,363	13,624
Gloucestershire	3,512	4,659	8,171
Greater Manchester	48,809	26,956	75,765
Hampshire	7,921	9,664	17,585
Hertfordshire	3,077	3,102	6,179
Humberside	7,439	13,733	21,172
Kent	7,705	5,870	13,575
Lancashire	9,890	8,492	18,382
Leicestershire	5,335	5,265	10,600
Lincolnshire	2,822	3,398	6,220
City of London	34	810	844
Merseyside	28,477	14,146	42,623
Metropolitan Police District	93,650	49,227	142,877
Norfolk	3,650	5,958	9,608
Northamptonshire	2,900	3,403	6,303
Northumbria	23,257	22,795	46,052
North Yorkshire	4,011	4,286	8,297
Nottinghamshire	7,519	8,570	16,089
South Yorkshire	10,213	11,518	21,731
Staffordshire	6,337	7,894	14,231
Suffolk	2,209	3,848	6,057
Surrey	3,703	3,222	6,925
Sussex	7,695	7,267	14,962
Thames Valley	9,720	9,629	19,349
Warwickshire	2,233	2,864	5,097
West Mercia	3,968	4,840	8,808
West Midlands	34,790	27,644	62,434
West Yorkshire	24,166	19,841	44,007
Wiltshire	2,293	2,930	5,223
Dyfed-Powys	897	2,317	3,214
Gwent	1,809	2,361	4,170
North Wales	4,080	4,757	8,837
South Wales	10,652	14,506	25,158
TOTAL	441,020	376,772	817,792

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1989
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	8,430	9,142	17,572
Bedfordshire	3,632	3,978	7,610
Cambridgeshire	2,925	3,776	6,701
Cheshire	5,351	5,150	10,501
Cleveland	8,634	5,761	14,395
Cumbria	2,770	3,690	6,460
Derbyshire	4,080	5,310	9,390
Devon and Cornwall	7,256	8,575	15,831
Dorset	3,525	2,444	5,969
Durham	4,345	5,385	9,730
Essex	6,152	9,076	15,228
Gloucestershire	3,288	4,927	8,215
Greater Manchester	45,138	28,300	73,438
Hampshire	9,280	10,298	19,578
Hertfordshire	3,233	3,127	6,360
Humberside	8,366	13,745	22,111
Kent	8,181	6,239	14,420
Lancashire	9,275	7,742	17,017
Leicestershire	5,626	5,926	11,552
Lincolnshire	2,959	3,849	6,808
City of London	39	872	911
Merseyside	23,833	13,038	36,871
Metropolitan Police District	97,608	51,293	148,901
Norfolk	4,064	6,391	10,455
Northamptonshire	2,859	3,533	6,392
Northumbria	24,955	24,630	49,585
North Yorkshire	3,831	4,240	8,071
Nottinghamshire	8,080	10,187	18,267
South Yorkshire	10,132	12,382	22,514
Staffordshire	5,430	7,976	13,406
Suffolk	2,185	3,837	6,022
Surrey	3,825	3,368	7,193
Sussex	8,191	7,847	16,038
Thames Valley	10,165	10,115	20,280
Warwickshire	2,158	3,314	5,472
West Mercia	4,032	5,534	9,566
West Midlands	31,124	26,999	58,123
West Yorkshire	24,207	20,456	44,663
Wiltshire	2,345	2,956	5,301
Dyfed-Powys	946	1,775	2,721
Gwent	1,586	2,252	3,838
North Wales	3,213	4,174	7,387
South Wales	10,466	14,601	25,067
TOTAL	437,720	388,210	825,930

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1990
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	12,072	14,316	26,388
Bedfordshire	5,559	5,250	10,809
Cambridgeshire	3,552	4,809	8,361
Cheshire	6,849	6,706	13,555
Cleveland	10,434	6,125	16,559
Cumbria	3,427	4,283	7,710
Derbyshire	4,886	7,641	12,527
Devon and Cornwall	10,340	11,418	21,758
Dorset	4,371	3,254	7,625
Durham	5,516	5,796	11,312
Essex	8,004	11,839	19,843
Gloucestershire	4,041	5,537	9,578
Greater Manchester	53,725	34,130	87,855
Hampshire	11,998	13,533	25,531
Hertfordshire	4,173	4,487	8,660
Humberside	10,937	16,424	27,361
Kent	11,146	8,530	19,676
Lancashire	11,709	9,926	21,635
Leicestershire	7,645	8,412	16,057
Lincolnshire	3,943	4,294	8,237
City of London	34	949	983

Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Merseyside	21,617	12,205	33,822
Metropolitan Police District	115,119	58,128	173,247
Norfolk	4,983	7,541	12,524
Northamptonshire	4,428	4,675	9,103
Northumbria	27,092	27,654	54,746
North Yorkshire	4,004	5,512	9,516
Nottinghamshire	10,385	13,816	24,201
South Yorkshire	12,126	14,981	27,107
Staffordshire	7,639	11,089	18,728
Suffolk	2,555	4,609	7,164
Surrey	5,171	4,687	9,858
Sussex	11,562	10,646	22,208
Thames Valley	15,191	11,939	27,130
Warwickshire	2,525	4,619	7,144
West Mercia	4,383	6,141	10,524
West Midlands	35,613	32,605	68,218
West Yorkshire	30,348	27,901	58,249
Wiltshire	2,770	3,417	6,187
Dyfed-Powys	1,177	2,242	3,419
Gwent	2,074	3,161	5,235
North Wales	3,247	5,095	8,342
South Wales	10,791	17,330	28,121
TOTAL	529,161	477,652	1,006,813

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1991
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	15,795	18,166	33,961
Bedfordshire	6,057	6,816	12,873
Cambridgeshire	4,828	7,069	11,897
Cheshire	8,317	8,220	16,537
Cleveland	10,190	7,088	17,278
Cumbria	4,426	6,400	10,826
Derbyshire	7,116	11,384	18,500
Devon and Cornwall	11,345	14,363	25,708
Dorset	4,862	4,425	9,287
Durham	6,464	7,101	13,565
Essex	9,807	15,173	24,980
Gloucestershire	5,387	7,214	12,601
Greater Manchester	59,605	38,110	97,715
Hampshire	14,062	17,941	32,003
Hertfordshire	4,935	5,955	10,890
Humberside	12,882	20,067	32,949
Kent	15,836	10,699	26,535
Lancashire	13,971	11,074	25,045
Leicestershire	11,513	10,013	21,526
Lincolnshire	4,251	4,740	8,991
City of London	73	997	1,070
Merseyside	21,473	12,136	33,609
Metropolitan Police District	126,861	64,621	191,482
Norfolk	6,023	9,313	15,336
Northamptonshire	5,742	6,406	12,148
Northumbria	31,413	34,688	66,101
North Yorkshire	4,975	7,363	12,338
Nottinghamshire	14,092	16,476	30,568
South Yorkshire	15,085	20,176	35,261
Staffordshire	9,846	13,677	23,523
Suffolk	2,859	4,779	7,638
Surrey	5,157	6,280	11,437
Sussex	13,427	13,047	26,474
Thames Valley	17,545	16,520	34,065
Warwickshire	3,228	7,062	10,290
West Mercia	6,208	8,387	14,595
West Midlands	41,624	42,460	84,084
West Yorkshire	41,857	36,769	78,626
Wiltshire	3,564	4,594	8,158
Dyfed-Powys	1,528	3,168	4,696
Gwent	3,227	4,250	7,477
North Wales	3,876	6,308	10,184
South Wales	13,614	23,023	36,637
TOTAL	624,946	594,518	1,219,464

Notifiable offences of burglary by police force area England and Wales 1992
Police force area	Burglary in a dwelling	Other burglary	Total burglary
Avon and Somerset	16,267	17,412	33,679
Bedfordshire	6,496	7,614	14,110
Cambridgeshire	5,409	7,716	13,125
Cheshire	8,991	10,010	19,001
Cleveland	12,334	7,423	19,757
Cumbria	4,745	6,818	11,563
Derbyshire	7,454	12,798	20,252
Devon and Cornwall	12,114	14,808	26,922
Dorset	5,136	4,495	9,631
Durham	6,660	6,802	13,462
Essex	10,158	16,252	26,410
Gloucestershire	6,266	8,166	14,432
Greater Manchester	61,582	39,138	100,720
Hampshire	14,270	18,693	32,963
Hertfordshire	5,174	6,374	11,548
Humberside	13,111	21,427	34,538
Kent	17,358	11,768	29,126
Lancashire	15,381	10,882	26,263
Leicestershire	11,920	10,342	22,262
Lincolnshire	4,988	5,162	10,150
City of London	57	943	1,000
Merseyside	21,831	11,911	33,742
Metropolitan Police District	130,095	64,243	194,338
Norfolk	6,018	10,207	16,225
Northamptonshire	5,600	6,801	12,401
Northumbria	32,515	35,870	68,385
North Yorkshire	5,738	8,066	13,804
Nottinghamshire	15,857	17,264	33,121
South Yorkshire	15,815	22,261	38,076
Staffordshire	11,067	14,251	25,318
Suffolk	3,344	5,059	8,403
Surrey	5,188	6,333	11,521
Sussex	13,869	13,471	27,340
Thames Valley	18,507	17,667	36,174
Warwickshire	4,023	7,933	11,956
West Mercia	7,265	8,837	16,102
West Midlands	46,434	45,960	92,394
West Yorkshire	47,444	37,664	85,108
Wiltshire	3,933	4,662	8,595
Dyfed-Powys	1,604	3,395	4,999
Gwent	3,836	4,310	8,146
North Wales	4,733	7,360	12,093
South Wales	13,601	23,953	37,554
TOTAL	664,188	622,521	1,286,709

Offences Against Businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was (a) the total number of offences against businesses committed in England and Wales in 1991 and (b) the total loss incurred by businesses as a result of those offences.

The information is not collected centrally.

Fines

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to ensure that all an individual's assets and income are taken into account by the court in assessing the level of unit fine under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

The Criminal Justice Act 1991 already requires magistrates courts to take the whole of an individual's income, including income from assets, into account in assessing an offender's weekly disposable income for the purpose of determining the value of a unit in accordance with the provisions of section 18 of the Act, as well as such other information relating to an offender's means as appears to the court to be relevant. A specific exception is made for child benefit.Under section 20 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991, a court may order a convicted person to provide the court with a statement of means. Failure to do so is an offence punishable by a fine of up to £1,000. Provision of false information or omission of any material fact is an offence punishable by a fine of up to £2,500.

Remand Prisoners (Escorts)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what circumstances police forces may charge health authorities or trusts to escort prisoners in custody on remand but who are, during their custody, in the care of health authorities or trusts; and if he will make a statement.

The escorting of such patients is the responsibility of the health authority or trust concerned. Existing guidance makes it clear that they are free to seek police assistance with escorting if the circumstances appear to require this. Section 15 of the Police Act 1964 gives police authorities power to make charges for services which go beyond normal policing activity. We are currently reviewing guidance on this subject.

Pools Coupons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has as to what proportion of pools clients prefer to use lucky numbers rather than skill in making their bets on pools coupons.

No estimate has been made of the proportion of football pools clients who employ "lucky" numbers when making their selection on pools coupons. The fact remains, however, that the law requires the pools to take the form of a forecasting competition, in which there is an opportunity for clients who wish to do so to exercise skill and judgment in making their forecasts.

Remand Prisons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average length of time that women have been held on remand in prisons in England and Wales since 1985.

The latest information is given in the table.

Average time spent in custody by female untried and convicted unsentenced prisoners in Prison Service establishments, 1985–91
Year	Average Number of Days in Custody
	Untried Prisoners^{1 3}	Convicted Unsentenced Prisoners^{2 3}
1985	41	26
1986	44	24
1987	45	25
1988	51	27
1989	44	32
1990	40	26
⁴1991	40	32
¹Time spent in Prison Service establishments before conviction.
²Time spent in Prison Service establishments after conviction.

³ Averages are subject to wide variation because of the small populations on which they are based.

⁴ Data for 1991 is provisional.

These figures are published annually in "Prison Statistics, England and Wales", chapter 2, table 2.1, of the volume for 1990, Cm 1800.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are currently being held on remand in prisons (a) in England and Wales and (b) in London.

The table shows how many unsentenced females were in prison service establishments on 19 January. Of these Holloway prison is the only establishment in London.

Establishment	Number
Holloway	200
Low Newton	13
New Hall	32
Pucklechurch	28
Risley	63
TOTAL	336

The numbers shown cover all females, both adults and young persons, remanded in custody by magistrates courts, committed for trial to the Crown court and convicted but not sentenced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of women held on remand in prisons in England and Wales since 1985 have been acquitted of the charges for which they were held in detention.

It is estimated that about 17 per cent. of females held in custody on remand since 1985 have subsequently been acquitted.

Police Custody

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been kept overnight in police custody following being charged, before being released on unopposed conditional magistrates bail the following day in each of the Welsh police authority areas in 1991–92.

This information is not held centrally and could be compiled by the individual police forces only at disproportionate cost.

New Age Travellers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish his proposals for dealing with the public order issues raised by the activities of new age travelers.

My right hon. and learned Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

Police Officers (Assaults)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to reduce the level of violent assaults against police officers.

The Home Office police scientific development branch undertakes a full programme of evaluation of new equipment and improvements to existing equipment. Recent work includes an examination of stab-resistant clothing. In order that their work might be better informed, my right hon. and learned Friend has commissioned an investigation into the circumstances in which police officers are assaulted.

Terrorism (Central London)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis indicating how many police officers have been withdrawn from service in the London borough of Greenwich in each of the last two years in order to increase the police presence in the central London area in response to the threat of terrorist activities.

It is not our practice to disclose details of resources devoted to combating terrorism.

Police Recruitment

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are being taken to ensure recruits into the police force are of the highest quality.

The responsibilty for making appointments to the police service lies solely with the chief officer of the police force concerned. All applicants are required to sit the police initial recruitment test, which was revised in 1991 and which is designed to test the precise abilities and attributes which are necessary for a successful career in the service.The accelerated promotion scheme for graduates, which offers places to young officers who are looking to rise rapidly to the higher ranks in the service, is also highly selective, with high standards.

Data Protection

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to make representations to the European Community to enable exemptions to be granted to charities from the provisions of the current European Community directive on processing of personal data.

The Government are seeking, in discussion with their European Community partners, to ensure that the directive makes proper allowance for the needs of charities and other data users, and does not go beyond the 1981 Council of Europe convention on data processing on which the Data Protection Act 1984 is based.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Fissile Material Stocks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the quantities of fissile material stocks held by (a) each of the other four acknowledged nuclear weapons states, (b) Israel and (c) India.

This information is not available.

Nazi Persecution

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many outstanding claims for compensation from victims of Nazi persecution are known to his Department.

No claim remains outstanding. There was a scheme between 1964–66, when a British tribunal disbursed £1 million to compensate victims of Nazi persecution held at concentration camps during the second world war. All cases were settled and the scheme closed in 1966. It is not now possible to reconsider cases nor to consider new claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the claims for compensation by Mr. Ted Roberts and Mr. Arthur Thomas, held by the Nazis at Drancy.

Between 1964 and 1966, a British tribunal disbursed £1 million in a scheme to compensate the victims of Nazi persecution held at concentration camps. The funds were fully disbursed and the scheme closed in 1966. Mr. Roberts's claim failed to meet the criteria and was turned down in 1964. Mr. Thomas made his claim known to the Department only recently. It is not now possible to admit new claims or to reconsider cases settled by the tribunal.

Plutonium

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the development of an international plutonium store to enhance non-proliferation.

We give careful consideration to any proposal which may contribute to international efforts to prevent proliferation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the nuclear proliferation implications of the planned stockpiling of military usable plutonium by Japan over the next decade.

Japan, as a non-nuclear weapon state party to the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, has undertaken a formal binding commitment not to develop nuclear weapons and has concluded a fullscope safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. We are satisfied that plutonium held by Japan will be covered by such safeguards, but we understand that it is Japan's intention to avoid the accumulation of stockpiles.

Government Communications Headquarters

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about security arrangements at the GCHQ base in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has taken to assure himself of the efficiency and effectiveness of the security arrangements at the GCHQ base in the Blackdown Hills, Somerset.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is satisfied that the security arrangements in place at the composite signals organisation station at Culmhead meet prescribed national standards for the protection of classified material.

Serbia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has of breaches of sanctions against Serbia by companies based in member states of the Community other than Greece.

The United Nations sanctions committee in New York has not confirmed any sanctions breach by a company based in a member state of the Community other than Greece.

Mr Mohd Iftikhar

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects a decision to be taken by the United Kingdom post in Islamabad on the entry clearance application by Mr. Mohd Iftikhar—ref. TH/20617/92—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

In the absence of any information about this case, I have asked the high commission in Islamabad for a full report. I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a substantive reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as soon as possible.

Kuwait

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice his Department is currently giving to United Kingdom subjects working and living in Kuwait; and if he will make a statement.

The current Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular travel advice for Kuwait is:

"In view of heightened tension in the area, British nationals visiting Kuwait should exercise caution. In particular they are strongly advised not to travel anywhere near the border with Iraq. It would be easy and very dangerous to cross inadvertently. Anyone who has to travel north of the Mutla Ridge should consult HM Consul, British Embasy, Kuwait City (Tel. 240 3334–6 or 240 3324–7) in advance.

British nationals travelling anywhere outside Kuwait City should take care, and let someone know where they are going. There are dangers from unexploded ordnance. Even where officially cleared, beaches and picnic spots should be avoided because of mines.

Visitors are advised to register with the Embassy on arrival."

Nuclear Test Ban

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the resumption of negotiations towards a comprehensive test ban treaty is now considered to be in the United Kingdom's security interests; and if he will make a statement.

We have long made plain our support for the ultimate goal of a comprehensive test ban, but we have also emphasised our belief that this can be approached only on a step-by-step basis. In particular, we have drawn attention to the problems of verification, and have been actively involved in discussing these issues in the conference on disarmament, in Geneva.

Iraq

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which United Nations Security Council resolutions specifically authorised each of the allied coalition military attacks on Iraq in the current year, pursuant to chapter VII of the United Nations charter.

The Security Council determined in its statements of 8 and 11 January that Iraq was in material breach of resolution 687 and its related resolutions, and warned Iraq that serious consequences would ensue from continued failure to comply with its obligations. Resolution 687 lays down the terms for the formal ceasefire between the coalition states and Iraq at the end of the hostilities mandated by the Security Council in resolution 678. These terms are binding in themselves but have also been specifically accepted by Iraq as a condition for the formal ceasefire to come into effect. In the light of Iraq's continued breaches of Security Council resolution 687 and thus of the ceasefire terms, and the repeated warnings given by the Security Council and members of the coalition, their forces were entitled to take necessary and proportionate action in order to ensure Iraqi compliance with those terms.The purpose of the no-fly zones in Northern and Southern Iraq is to monitor compliance by Iraq with United Nations Security Council resolution 688 in areas in which there are circumstances of extreme humanitarian need. Iraq has been warned frequently not to interfere with allied aircraft in the zones. Such aircraft have the inherent right of self-defence against Iraqi threats to their safety. Attacks against Iraqi missile systems and associated command and control centres were necessary and proportionate responses in self-defence to such threats.

Somalia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the talks between the different factions of southern Somalia; and if he will list (a) the positive decisions reached and (b) the issues that remain to be resolved.

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: We have received regular reports on the recent meeting of Somali factions in Addis Ababa. The factions have agreed in principle:

(i) on a cease fire;

(ii) to hold a National Reconciliation Conference, probably on 15 March in Addis Ababa;

(iii) on the establishment of an ad hoc committee to continue discussion, in particular over the participation and the agenda for reconciliation conference;

(iv) on the disarmament of heavy weapons;

(v) on the encampment of factional militias.

The agreement leaves key issues for discussion by an ad hoc committee. Conference attendance in particular is likely to be contentious. Implementation on the ground of the cease fire, disarmament and emcampment too will be a complex and difficult task.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the representatives who attended the meeting of Somali factions which ended on 13 January; and what assistance to the peace process was given by (a) the United Nations, (b) the United States of America, (c) the EC and (d) Britain.

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: The recent meeting of Somali factions in Addis Ababa was arranged by the United Nations. We, the EC, and the United States have consistently supported the United Nations peace initiative in Somalia. The following representatives of Somali factions attend the meeting.

1. Somali Africans Muki Organisation (SAMO) Mr. Mohamed Ramadan Arbow, Chairman

2. Somali Democratic Alliance (SDA) Mr. Mohamed Farah Abudllahi, Chairman

3. Somali Democratic Movement (SDM)¹ Mr. Abdi Muse Mayow, Chairman Colonel Mohamed Nur Aliyou, Chairman¹

4. Somali National Democratic Union (SNDU) Mr. Ali Ismael Abdi, Chairman

5. Somali National Front (SNF) General Omar Hagi Mohamed Hersi, Chairman

6. Somali National Union (SNU) Dr. Mohamed Ragis Mohamed, Chairman

7. Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM)¹ General Aden Abdillahi Noor, Chairman

8. Somali Patriotic Movement (SPM)¹ Colonel Ahmed Omar Jess, Chairman

9. Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF) General Mohamed Abshir Musse, Chairman

10. Southern Somali National Movement (SSNM) Colonel Abdi Warsame Isaaq, Chairman

11. United Somali Congress (USC)¹ General Mohamed Farah Aidid, Chairman

12. United Somali Congress (USC)¹ Mr. Mohamed Qanyare Afrah, Chairman

13. United Somali Front (USF) Mr. Abdurahman Dualeh Ali, Chairman

14. United Somali Party (USP) Mr. Mohamed Abdi Hashi, Chairman

¹ The USC, SPM and the SDM were divided into different factions owing different allegiances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made to include the traditional elders in Somalia in the March negotiations and in relief and reconstruction plans; and what plans he has to reduce the role of the warlords.

We have made it clear to the United Nations that the reconciliation process and the development of rehabilitation plans must involve all sections of Somali society, particularly the traditional elders. Implementation of Security Council resolution 794 has reduced the ability of the warloads to hinder aid deliveries.

Liberia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Security Council's special representative has yet reported back to the Council with his evaluation of the situation in Liberia under resolution 788; what further steps are being considered; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations Secretary-General's special envoy, Mr. Gordon-Somers, has reported informally to the Security Council on his visit to Liberia. He has now returned to Liberia. The Secretary-General is expected to deliver his report on Mr. Gordon-Somers's evaluation to the Security Council in the last week of January. We would not wish to anticipate that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to monitor developments of incursions of rebel forces from Liberia into Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

We have been monitoring Liberian rebel incursions into Seirra Leone through our high commission in Freetown. Our defence adviser in Accra visits Sierra Leone regularly.

Transport

Driving Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the proportion of those passing driving tests at the first time of taking in each of the last 10 years;(2) how many people successfully completing driving tests at the first time of taking in Wales in each of the last 10 years.

Information on first-time passes is not collated regularly. Surveys carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory from time to time provide information on first-time pass rates for Great Britain.

Aircraft (Air Circulation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidelines from the Civil Aviation Authority or his Department exist for the circulation rates of air in aircraft cabins necessary to safeguard the health of passengers and flight attendants; and if the CAA takes regular readings of circulation rates of aircraft in service;(2) if the Civil Aviation Authority or his Department will initiate a review with the joint aviation authorities into cabin air quality issues and their effects on the health of passengers, flight attendants and crew;(3) what assessment the Civil Aviation Authority has made of the dangers to the health of flight attendants and passengers of high levels of ozone in aircraft cabins encountered on some high altitude, high latitude flights; and what plans there are to introduce regulations to ensure ozone is kept within safe limits.

The Civil Aviation Authority and the joint aviation authorities—JAA—have no plans at present to review aircraft cabin air quality issues. The airworthiness requirements addressing fresh air supply in civil air transport aircraft cabins have remained unchanged for some years and the CAA does not believe there is sufficient evidence to suggest that a further review is necessary.The European—JAA—airworthiness regulations include requirements for minimum fresh air ventilation flows expressed in terms of fresh air quantity per minute per person. These minimum flows must be provided in the event of a failure in the air supply system; normal flow rates would be appreciably higher. The CAA does not consider it necessary to make regular checks of air flow rates in aircraft cabins.

The JAA have reviewed the need for changes to aircraft systems to limit ozone levels and have concluded that no additional design features are required.

Workers (Reduced Mobility)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when she next expects to discuss with other EC member states and the European Commission the proposed Council directive on minimum requirements to improve the mobility of and the safe transport to work of workers with reduced mobility; and if she will make a statement.

The directive is not currently under discussion. The agenda for Council meetings is a matter for the current presidency in consultation with the Commission.

Glasgow Airport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will sponsor a study of the environmental impact of aircraft noise in the urban area under the flight path of Glasgow airport; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that Glasgow airport has undertaken to operate a noise monitoring scheme agreed with the local district council. It also produces noise contours regularly and has a local consultative committee at which noise issues are discussed. In these circumstances, I do not see a need for a study by the Department.

Transport Policies (Land Use)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the research work recently undertaken by his Department on the interaction of land use and transport policies and needs.

The consultants' report will be published shortly.

Driver Sleepiness

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention in relation to driver sleepiness.

We have now considered the review of research on driver fatigue undertaken for the Department by the Medical Commission on Accident Prevention. As a result, we have commissioned the Transport Research Laboratory to manage a research programme into fatigue and driving which will involve Professor Home's department at Loughborough university.

Trunk Roads

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions, and for how much mileage in each case, county highways have been redesignated as trunk roads in each of the past 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

The information is not readily available in the form required.

Road Schemes, Oxford

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for a public inquiry into the north Oxfordshire tin hat scheme, the details of the Marston interchange and the A40 bypass north of Headington; and what consideration has been given to holding a joint inquiry into the schemes.

The Marston interchange is part of the A40 north of Oxford scheme. Draft orders for this scheme are expected to be published under the Highways Act 1980 later this year, followed by those for the A40 Headington bypass. The need for, and timing of, public inquiries into the schemes will be decided in the light of objections received following publication of the respective orders.

Rural Train Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with British Rail the extension of request stopping on rural lines as an alternative to the closure of smal rural stations.

I expect British Rail to have considered all realistic options before proposing closure of any station. I understand that any savings that might arise from making an unstaffed station a request stop are unlikely to be sufficient to influence materially its viability.

Search And Rescue

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the United Kingdom's international search and rescue commitments under (a) the Chicago convention on civil aviation 1947, (b) convention of the high seas 1958, (c) convention on safety of life at sea 1974, (d) the maritime search and rescue convention 1979 and (e) other relevant treaties or conventions to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: The United Kingdom's international search and rescue commitments under (a) international convention on civil aviation 1944—Chicago convention—are:

"Each contracting State undertakes to provide such measures of assistance to aircraft in distress in its territory as it may find practicable, and to permit, subject to control by its own authorities, the owners of the aircraft or authorities of the State in which the aircraft is registered to provide such measures of assistance as may be necessitated by the circumstances. Each contracting State, when undertaking search for missing aircraft, will collaborate in co-ordinated measures which may be recommended from time to time pursuant to this Convention."

(b) convention of the high seas 1958 are:

"Every coastal State shall promote the establishment and maintenance of an adequate and effective search and rescue service regarding safety on and over the sea and—where circumstances so require—by way of mutual regional arrangements co-operate with neighbouring States for this purpose."

(c) convention of safety of life at sea 1974 are:

"Each Contracting Government undertakes to ensure that any necessary arrangements are made for coast watching and for the rescue of persons in distress at sea round its coasts. These arrangements should include the establishment, operation and maintenance of such maritime safety facilities as are deemed practicable and necessary having regard to the density of the seagoing traffic and the navigational dangers and should, so far as possible, afford adequate means of locating and rescuing such persons."

(d) international convention on maritime search and rescue 1979 are:

"Parties shall ensure that necessary arrangements are made for the provision of adequate search and rescue services for persons in distress at sea round their coasts".

There are no other relevant search and rescue conventions and treaties to which the United Kingdom is a signatory.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the names of members and organisations they represent at the United Kingdom search and rescue committee and the district search and rescue and safety committee responsible for south-west Wales.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: A local coastal search and rescue committee responsible for south-west Wales has yet to be established. The district marine safety committee for Wales is split into subcommittees concerned with specific areas. Those present at the meeting of the sub-committee responsible for Whiteford Point to Cardigan Island including Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard were:

Mr. J. Leak—DOT (Chairman)
Mr. J. Frost—MHPA
Mr. J. Haines—Cory Towage Ltd.
Mr. G. Taylor—Llanelli District Council
Mr. D. Williams—Llanelli District Council
Mr. T. Bennett—Preseli District Council
Mr. R. Phillips—Carmarthen District Council
Mr. C. Morgan—Saundersfoot Harbour Commissioners
Mr. F. V. Mountney—South Pembrokeshire District Council
Mr. T. Lloyd—Dyfed County Council
Mr. N, Saul—Sealink UK Ltd.
Mr. M. Earley—HM Coastguard
Mr. D. Millar—HM Coastguard
Mr. M. P. Jones—MAFF
Capt. N. Sainsbury—Cardiff Marine Office, DOT
Mr. N. J. Spring—Cardiff Marine Office, DOT
Mrs. A. Hay—Cardiff Marine Office, DOT (Secretary)

The members of the United Kingdom Search and Rescue Committee are as follows:

Mr. C. J. Harris (Chairman)—DoT DMEO
Cdr. D. T. Ancona—DoT Chief Coastguard
Mr. J. Astbury—DoT HMCG
Capt. R. Pomphrey—DoT DSG1B
Mr. A. G. Thorning—DoT Civil Aviation Safety Adviser
Ms. D. Parkin—DoT CAP2
Mr. E. J. Glover (Secretary)—DoT MEAD
Miss P. A. Brown (Assistant Secretary) DoT MEAD
AVM A. B. Blackley CBE AFC RAF—AOSNI RAF
Wg Cdr. M. J. Carlyle—MoD SAR (RAF)
Wg Cdr. White—Wg Cdr. Air RAF HQ 18 Gp
Mr. C. Kingham—MoD (Air)
Cdr. P. G. Millar—MoD (DNW/WASF)
Mr. J. R. G. Clark—MoD SEC (AIR)
Mr. R. M. Wilton—British Telecom
Mr. R. Burdess—British Telecom
Mr. H. E. Brenchley—Meteorological Office
Mr. I. Small—CAA C(G)2
AVM J. F. H. Tetley CB CVO—RNLI
Lt. Cdr. B. Miles—RNLI
Cdre. G. R. Cooper—RNLI
Mr. R. A. Hall—Chamber of Shipping
Capt. J. R. Corke—UK Offshore Operators Association
Capt. N. MacD Turner RD—Trinity House
Mrs. A. Welch—The Royal Aero Club
Mr. R. Sjoberg—Royal Yachting Association
Mr. B. Hayman—Royal Yachting Association
Mr. W. F. Hay CBE—Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Mr. R. Allan MBE—Scottish Fishermen's Federation
Mr. G. E. Lawry—Cornish Inshore Fishermen's Federation
Mr. D. R. Bond—National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST)
Mr. M. Howard—National Union of Marine, Aviation and Shipping Transport Officers (NUMAST)

Capt. D. Whatling—British Air Line Pilots' Association (BALPA)
Mr. T. Santamera—National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
Mr. J. Kinahan—National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT)
Capt. W. A. Kirwan—Director, Irish Maritime Emergency Service (IMES)
Capt. A. V. Cherry—British Air Transport Association (BATA)
Mr. R. D. Mapleson—British Air Transport Association (BATA)
Capt. D. M. Cowell—Isle of Man Government
Mr. Jeffard—North Yorkshire Police
Mr. F. MacLennan QPM FBIM—Deputy Chief Constable
ACPO(S)—Northern Constabulary
Mr. R. Evans—Assistant Chief Constable
ACPO(W)—South Wales Constabulary
Capt. R. M. Bullen—States of Jersey
Capt. T. A. Spencer—States of Guernsey
Capt. P. R. White—British Ports Federation
D. C. G. Brook Esq. CB CBE—Civil Emergencies Adviser Home Office

Mv Braer

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the chemical composition of dispersants, including the half-life of biodegradable substances, used to date to disperse oil spilled from the MV Braer.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: I have been asked to reply.In general, dispersants are a blend of surfactants and solvents which have the ability to modify surface tension between the oil and the water, promoting the formation of oil droplets and helping to prevent the oil reforming into one mass. Dispersion of the droplets in the water column makes the oil more accessible to the natural processes of degradation. The precise chemical composition of individual dispersants is subject to conditions of commercial confidentiality under which manufacturers have provided the information.No specific tests are carried out on the biodegradability of the dispersants. However, data on the substances used indicate that they are not environmentally persistent and most would degrade within a few weeks.

National Finance

Training Organisations

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to change VAT regulations as they currently apply to organisations providing training opportunities to the unemployed.

Customs and the Department o f Employment are jointly consulting with training and enterprise councils and other training providers in order to assess the impact of VAT on Government-funded training schemes. It is too early yet to predict whether these consultations will result in a recommendation for a change in VAT legislation.

Council Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what advice was given to valuation officers on the special circumstances relating to farm properties in relation to valuation for the council tax;

(2) what instructions were given to district valuers on checking properties for restrictive planning covenants in favour of agricultural use when establishing valuations for council tax bandings;

(3) what was the base level for estimating farm incomes to establish the valuations of properties for council tax bandings.

The banding of dwellings for council tax has not been carried out by reference to farm incomes. General advice was given to listing officers on the approach to the valuation of farmhouses. The way in which special circumstances relating to particular categories of property are to be taken into account is a matter for individual listing officers.Listing officers were instructed to make appropriate general inquiries from local authorities as to the existence of planning restrictions limiting dwellings to occupation by persons engaged in agriculture.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the instructions given to district valuers on checking whether properties were connected to water, gas or electricity when establishing valuations for council tax bandings.

No specific instructions were issued to listing officers about checking for these services. The availability of water, gas or electricity are factors taken into account in any valuation of property as part of normal valuation practice.

Printed Products (Vat)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the current obligations on the United Kingdom under the existing treaties of the European Community in respect of VAT on printed products, including books and newspapers and (b) the additional obligations arising from the treaty on European union.

Article 189 of the treaty establishing the European Economic Community places upon member states the obligation to comply with European Community law. There are no additional obligations in this regard in the treaty of European union. Community law in respect of VAT takes the form of directives, of which the most significant is the sixth VAT directive, as amended. The right of the United Kingdom to continue with its zero rates, including those on books, newspapers and printed products, is fully protected by that legislation.

Contractors' Payments

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress towards the introduction of new contracting terms requiring companies awarded Government contracts to pay their subcontractors promptly.

Government Departments and agencies have confirmed that they have introduced a clause into their contracts for goods and services which requires the supplier or contractor to pay its suppliers or subcontractors promptly.

Taxation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 19 January, Official Report, column 148, what information he has on the average income tax liability of each decile group of tax-paying married men for the years 1986–87 to 1989–90.

For years prior to the introduction of independent taxation income tax liability was calculated on a tax unit basis and a married couple was counted as one tax unit. The table shows the average income tax liability of those tax units comprising a married couple, and the figures include the liability on both the husband's and the wife's income.

Decile groups of taxpaying married couple tax units Per cent.	Average income tax liability (£ per year)
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90
Bottom 10	180	150	140	180
10–20	450	430	410	520
20–30	720	710	680	810
30–40	970	990	980	1,100
40–50	1,300	1,300	1,300	1,400
50–60	1,600	1,600	1,600	1,700
60–70	1,900	2,000	2,000	2,100
70–80	2,400	2,500	2,500	2,800
80–90	3,200	3,300	3,300	3,900
Top 10	8,300	9,000	9,200	10,700
Average	2,800	2,900	2,900	3,300

Lord Chancellor's Department

Business Debt

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on progress towards improvements to court procedures for business debt recovery.

Both the Lord Chancellor and I recognise the difficulties that late payment causes the business community. Although it would not be equitable to single out business debts for special treatment by the courts, we are committed to improving the efficiency of the court system for the benefit of all court users. For example, procedures have been streamlined and simplified through initiatives such as the establishment of the computerised summons production centre and the county court bulk centre; more general measures for replies to summonses to be sent directly to plaintiffs and allow them to prepare a range of court documents, giving greater control over the speed with which their cases move through the system. Recent changes to the small claims procedure—October 1992—have reduced the number of times a party is required to attend court.Other improvements, such as a measure to encourage district judges to help unrepresented litigants present their cases and giving them the right to be represented by someone other than a lawyer at a small claims hearing, are of equal benefit to business men as to other litigants. During 1993 improvements will be made to a number of post-judgment procedures including administration orders and oral examinations.

Legal Aid And Advice

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the adult population of (a) Cornwall and (b) Devon is currently eligible for (i) legal advice and assistance and (ii) legal aid for civil purposes irrespective of the level of contribution; and what is his estimate for the proportion which will be so eligible after 1 April.

The information is not available. The only estimates of eligibility which are available are those which are made for England and Wales as a whole.

Retrials

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many cases in the last year section 8 of the Criminal Appeals Act 1968 has been breached in that the retrial was not listed within the two-month period; and what action he is taking to ensure that the provisions of section 8 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 regarding the period for listing a retrial are complied with.

On three occasions during 1992 the time limits laid down by section 8 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 were not met.As the right hon. Lady is aware from my previous reply on 11 December 1992, at columns

801–2, existing instructions to court staff are that defendants in such cases must be arraigned within two months so as to comply with the statute. Guidelines for Crown court listing to be published on 1 February 1993, which have already been dispatched for issue to the Crown court, state that the appellant must be arraigned on a new indictment within two months. The Registrar of Criminal Appeals will, in addition, when retrials are ordered in the future, change the letter which he always sends to the Crown court and the legal representatives of the parties notifying them of the Court of Appeal's order, stating in clear terms the need to arraign the defendant in two months.

Northern Ireland

Burglaries

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what statistics he has for house burglaries in Carrowdore, Ballywalter and Greyabbey districts in the Ards peninsula in each of the past three years; whether policing has been increased in these areas; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 25 January 1993]: Total house burglaries reported to the RUC in the Greyabbey station area, which includes the villages of Carrowdore, Ballywalter and Greyabbey, for the last three years were as follows:

1990–11 burglaries
1991–15 burglaries
1992–13 burglaries

Policing in the area is an operational matter for the Chief Constable of the RUC. I understand that police patrols have been increased in the Greyabbey station area during the last six months.

Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring exists to assess the Training and Employment Agency's programme to encourage the development of skills within the two communities; what numbers of men and women are being trained within each community; and what monitoring takes place to assess the long-term impact of such training.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. S. Crozier. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from J. S. Crozier to Mr. Kevin McNamara, dated 22 January 1993:

You asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what monitoring exists to assess the Training arid Employment Agency's programmes to encourage the development of skills within the two communities; what numbers of men and women are being trained within each community and what monitoring takes place to assess the long term impact of such training. As Chief Executive of the Agency, I have been asked to reply.

The Training and Employment Agency has instituted arrangements to collect information by which it can monitor uptake of all its employment and training services, by reference to religion, gender and disability. After a developmental period this information is now coming on stream. It is as yet incomplete, partly because there are still substantial numbers of people who entered our programmes before its collection commenced but its quality is steadily improving. The information will be monitored monthly.

Because there is a constant flow in and out of our programmes, the figures change from month to month. However at the last count there was a total of 27,350 people receiving training in our programmes. Of those whose religion we have so far been able to determine, 7,061 were Protestant (47%) and 7,927 were Catholic (53%). We cannot as yet establish the gender split, within these groups. Overall however 62% of participants were male and 38% were female.

Establishing the long term impact of training measures is by definition a long term process, and is difficult to do accurately or exhaustively. However we collect information about the numbers and proportion of trainees who secure recognised vocational qualifications and employment. We plan in future to analyse this information so that we can establish what proportions of successful trainees are Protestant or Catholic, male or female, or disabled.

Civil Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what regulations exist preventing or limiting the employment of citizens from (a) the Republic of Ireland, (b) other European Community countries and (c) Commonwealth nations in the Northern Ireland civil service.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: Rules relating to the conditions under which persons may be appointed to the Northern Ireland civil service are set out in the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commission General Regulations 1991, a copy of which has been placed in the House of Commons Library.In the case of citizens of Commonwealth nations a work permit under the Immigration Act 1971 is required.

Prime Minister

Kashmir

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise the issue of the status of Kashmir and the human rights of Kashmiri people with the Indian Prime Minister during his forthcoming visit to India.

I expect my discussions with the Indian Prime Minister to include the situation in Kashmir and our concerns about human rights.

Arabic-Speaking Adviser

To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint an Arabic-speaking adviser as part of the staff in 10 Downing Street.

I have no plans to do so.

Office Running Costs

To ask the Prime Minister what steps are being taken by him to limit or reduce the cost of running of his office.

My office is subject to the same efficiency and value-for-money initiatives as the rest of the civil service. Between 1989–90 and 1991–92, the cost of running my office fell by just over 2 per cent. in real terms.

Cd-Rom

To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements are in place for Government Departments to offer financial assistance for CD-ROM applications for blind and visually impaired people; and if he will make a statement.

The Department for Education is providing £40,000 for the development of software which will enable blind and partially-sighted people to gain full access to CD-ROM materials. This is being undertaken in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Open university and will be completed later this year. The software will be published by the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	GPFH 1991–92 computer costs as a percentage	Reimbursement forecast computer costs Total	GPFH 1992–93 computer forecast as a percentage
FHSA	1990–91 £	1991–92 £	Per cent.	1992–93 £	Per cent.
Cleveland	164,551	390,595	47.77	279,000	35.48
Cumbria	207,618	291,129	38.67	367,000	34.60
Durham	315,675	472,302	34.87	603,000	17.91
Northumberland	163,208	337,076	39.85	109,000	30.28
Gateshead	139,978	112,098	46.37	160,000	68.13
Newcastle	94,301	188,000	21.28	149,000	34.23
North Tyneside	66,176	130,985	21.90	155,000	27.74
South Tyneside	22,738	153,310	10.46	53,000	37.74
Sunderland	99,868	62,796	1.64	150,000	3.33
Northern RHA	1,274,113	2,138,291	34.42	2,025,000	29.38
Humberside	327,888	742,389	52.87	413,000	57.63
North Yorkshire	334,616	816,768	60.06	472,000	75.64
Bradford	273,818	210,981	21.20	304,000	0.00
Calderdale	87,973	147,520	20.97	124,000	44.35

Health

Multiple Pregnancies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 7 July, Official Report, column 147, if she has yet reached a decision on publishing the counselling guide about multiple pregnancies for patients attending infertility centres; and if she will make a statement.

It is our intention to fund publication and distribution of the booklet "The Prospect of Triplets and Quads". Arrangements for this are being finalised.

Dentistry

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the reduction in turnover experienced by dental practices in Cornwall as a result of the Government's recent changes in the method of remuneration.

The most recent quarter for which figures are available shows that the turnover, as reflected in gross income received, of dentists in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly family health services authority has increased by some 20 per cent. by comparing October to December 1992 with the same period in 1990.

Gp Fund Holders

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total amount of the computer budget in general practice per family health services authority, regional health authority and nationally in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, or estimates, and what was the percentage of that computer budget given to first, second and third wave GP fund holders for each FHSA, RHA and nationally in 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93.

The information shown in the table is based on quarterly returns from individual FHSAs. The way in which the information is collected from, and supplied by FHSAs, means that in some cases it may not accurately reflect the split between reimbursement for non-fund holders' computers and those for fund holders. Figures in 1990–91 do not distinguish non-fund holders' and fund holders' computer costs.

	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	GPFH 1991–92 computer costs as a percentage	Reimbursement forecast computer costs Total	GPFH 1992–93 computer forecast as a percentage
FHSA	1990–91 £	1991–92 £	Per cent.	1992–93 £	Per cent.
Kirklees	90,101	289,665	5.83	375,000	40.53
Leeds	259,692	455,401	72.11	489,000	77.71
Wakefield	261,735	284,355	20.84	310,000	86.13
Yorkshire RHA	1,635,823	2,947,079	46.26	2,487,000	58.26
Derbyshire	471,473	1,085,302	62.22	1,147,000	79.08
Leicestershire	475,200	457,765	41.65	852,000	49.53
Lincolnshire	261,553	425,853	52.26	656,000	69.66
Nottinghamshire	402,328	633,071	24.92	561,000	48.84
Barnsley	54,686	118,154	0.00	116,000	63.79
Doncaster	166,544	120,396	26.88	361,000	44.60
Rotherham	77,973	116,782	30.98	130,000	44.62
Sheffield	185,997	839,567	2.69	735,000	17.41
Trent RHA	2,095,754	3,796,890	35.22	4,558,000	54.43
Cambridgeshire	243,895	337,503	0.00	522,000	4.60
Norfolk	340,698	270,400	4.61	799,000	67.08
Suffolk	131,596	680,541	27.50	710,000	23.38
East Anglian	716,189	1,288,444	15.49	2,031,000	35.75
Bedfordshire	170,555	574,916	12.37	411,000	65.69
Hertfordshire	619,934	719,229	61.46	1,045,000	76.56
Barnet	49,118	190,236	0.00	100,000	0.00
Brent and Harrow	82,239	277,200	0.00	450,000	55.56
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	250,407	269,023	13.21	177,000	64.41
Hillingdon	124,309	145,243	28.43	125,000	40.00
Kensington, Westminster and Chelsea	102,058	237,140	63.60	340,000	2.35
North West Thames RHA	1,398,620	2,412,987	30.70	2,648,000	56.34
Essex	420,739	908,000	.0.0	864,000	48.50
Barking and Havering	77,756	189,657	23.70	91,000	8.79
Camden and Islington	116,859	122,793	.0.0	124,000	8.06
City and East London	160,184	230,000	13.95	136,000	0.00
Enfield and Haringey	107,118	129,176	13.76	251,000	11.55
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	117,957	161,736	0.00	140,000	0.00
North East Thames RHA	1,000,613	1,741,362	5.44	1,606,000	29.02
East Sussex	243,918	305,603	47.63	801,000	81.52
Kent	411,913	1,036,195	49.11	1,043,000	57.81
Greenwich and Bexley	87,126	167,616	29.77	290,000	46.55
Bromley	105,764	130,526	37.09	77,000	28.57
Lanbeth, Southwark and Lewisham	135,139	218,862	13.67	329,000	0.00
South East Thames RHA	983,860	1,858,802	42.10	2,540,000	55.63
Surrey	395,220	974,250	40.27	308,000	60.39
West Sussex	216,829	848,879	42.23	717,000	41.98
Croydon	77,180	185,371	36.91	181,000	23.20
Kingston and Richmond	88,667	311,207	45.54	175,000	34.86
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	148,649	421,660	16.11	322,000	18.63
South West Thames RHA	926,545	2,741,367	37.53	1,703,000	38.17
Dorset	239,321	739,422	51.16	472,000	66.10
Hampshire	509,500	923,102	52.58	617,000	23.34
Wiltshire	209,551	198,000	8.08	130,000	19.23
Isle of Wight	49,054	92,136	78.64	92,000	23.91
Wessex RHA	1,007,426	1,952,660	48.76	1,311,000	38.37

	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	Reimbursement of computer costs Total	GPFH 1991–92 computer costs as a percentage	Reimbursement forecast computer costs Total	GPFH 1992–93 computer forecast as a percentage
FHSA	1990–91 £	1991–92 £	Per cent.	1992–93 £	Per cent.
Berkshire	200,482	587,964	44.18	764,000	65.71
Buckinghamshire	325,477	631,026	61.94	657,000	69.41
Northamptonshire	186,181	534,029	69.93	437,000	48.28
Oxfordshire	231,169	670,835	33.14	205,000	41.46
Oxford RHA	943,309	2,423,854	51.42	2,063,000	60.79
Avon	342,890	650,000	33.08	613,000	67.54
Cornwall and Scilly Isles	221,977	241,900	36.77	247,000	67.61
Devon	444,429	1,071,252	46.83	1,110,000	32.43
Gloucestershire	195,681	422,702	44.30	424,000	46.70
Somerset	250,570	638,953	27.01	289,000	21.45
South Western RHA	1,455,547	3,024,807	38.53	2,683,000	44.76
Hereford and Worcester	355,423	473,700	53.52	644,000	75.78
Shropshire	96,265	297,328	44.67	158,000	18.99
Staffordshire	291,961	695,641	28.34	356,000	16.85
Warwickshire	122,586	457,340	52.13	466,000	75.97
Birmingham	225,436	374,906	0.00	374,000	42.78
Coventry	69,344	178,207	33.67	292,000	38.36
Dudley	58,259	64,695	0.00	417,000	23.98
Sandwell	108,346	313,951	28.88	271,000	29.52
Solihull	94,236	267,880	55.25	267,000	86.89
Walsall	48,069	127,429	24.50	216,000	60.65
Wolverhampton	51,266	77,138	0.00	100,000	—
West Midlands RHA	1,521,191	3,328,215	34.61	3,561,000	49.06
Cheshire	644,647	1,030,878	15,85	1,288,000	19.02
Liverpool	121,994	371,000	0.00	412,000	20.39
St. Helens and Knowsley	152,865	310,131	62.87	470,000	55.32
Sefton	314,332	264,038	39.67	260,000	57.69
Wirrel	74,132	408,187	0.00	391,000	8.95
Mersey RHA	1,307,970	2,384,234	19.42	2,821,000	27.44
Lancashire	459,282	672,519	13.76	771,000	24.25
Bolton	150,175	150,476	52.01	141,000	81.56
Bury	48,107	109,852	0.00	214,000	0.00
Manchester	62,032	209,285	3.92	234,000	20.51
Oldham	70,779	88,154	34.92	85,000	35.29
Rochdale	118,082	136,133	24.09	154,000	35.06
Salford	47,086	201,837	0.00	160,000	18.75
Stockport	123,543	175,398	47.29	215,000	73.95
Tameside	67,211	138,193	25.02	96,000	53.13
Trafford	54,985	90,814	0.00	131,000	58.78
Wigan	103,448	105,807	0.00	138,000	27.54
North Western RHA	1,304,730	2,078,468	17.33	2,339,000	33.73
England	17,571,690	34,117,460	34.07	34,376,000	45.21

Incontinence

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women in England and Wales suffer from incontinence.

Estimates vary according to the definitions used by researchers, but up to about 3 million adults and children in England and Wales may be affected. A Medical Research Council survey showed a prevalence of urinary incontinence of 8.5 per cent. in women and 1.6 per cent. in men aged 15 to 64 and 11.6 per cent. in women and 6.9 per cent. in men aged 65 and over.

Smoking

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the risk to women who are (a) smokers and (b) non-smokers and taking the contraceptive pill of a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease.

The risk of myocardial infarction, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases in young women is increased approximately three to four fold by either oral contraceptive use or by smoking. When the two are combined there is an approximately tenfold increase in risk overall.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the cost to the national health service of advice from doctors to their patients in respect of giving up smoking per year.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the number of smokers who die each year in the United Kingdom as a result of smoking and smoking-related diseases.

It is estimated that in the United Kingdom about 110,000 deaths each year are smoking related.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the number of deaths in the United Kingdom each year from lung cancer caused by passive smoking.

In its fourth report published in 1988, the independent scientific committee on smoking and health estimated the number of lung cancer deaths in non smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke over most of their lives as

"several hundred deaths per year".

Breast Cancer

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of women with breast cancer in Britain have, since 1980, died within (a) one year, (b) three years and (c) five years of the original diagnosis being made; and what comparison she has made of the survival rates of women with breast cancer in other EC countries.

The one, three and five-year relative survival rates—per cent.—for cases registered in 1981 in (a) England and Wales and (b) Scotland are given in the table. More recent figures for England and Wales are not available. Those for Scotland show no change in the five-year relative survival rate, but small improvements in the one and three-year rates. Figures on cancer survival are not published by any other EC country.

One, three and five year relative survival (per cent.) of cases of breast cancer registered in England and Wales and in Scotland in 1981
	one year relative survival rate	three year relative survival rate	five year relative survival rate
England and Wales	86	71	62
Scotland	87	72	62

Eye Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people had sight tests in Nottingham, North, or the next biggest geographical area for which figures are available, in (a) the last 12-month period for which figures are available and (b) 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1988; and what proportion of these were over the age of 65 years.

Figures are not collected in respect of parliamentary constituencies. The numbers of national health service sight tests paid for in each financial year by the Nottingham family health services authority are shown in the table.

Year	Number of sight tests
1987–88	238,980
1988–89	254,830
¹1989–90	111,410
1990–91	82,950
1991–92	96,850
¹ From 1 April 1989, NHS sight tests were restricted to certain groups in the population. The sight tests paid for in 1989–90 include some conducted prior to 1 April 1989. The remainder paid for in 1989–90 do not represent a full year under the new system, because of the delay in payments. The figure for 1989–90 is not, therefore, directly comparable with that for 1990–91.

The Department does not collect information on either the number of private sight tests carried out, or the number of people aged over 65 who have sight tests. The figures are collected by financial year.

St Bartholomew's Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date she proposes to visit St. Bartholomew's hospital to discuss the Tomlinson report; and if she will make a statement.

I have visited St. Bartholomew's hospital twice to listen to views on the Tomlinson report, We expect to announce our policy on the future of London's health services and medical education shortly.

Children In Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what examination she has made of financial hardship faced by families visiting children in hospital.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) on 20 January at column 321.

Tuberculosis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of tuberculosis have been reported in (a) England, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) Northern Ireland in each year since 1985.

The information requested is shown in the table.

Notifications of Tuberculosis¹ in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland since 1985.
	England	Scotland	Wales	Northern Ireland
1985	5,583	707	274	83
1986	5,743	756	249	108
1987	4,853	560	232	99
1988	4,960	528	201	86
1989	5,223	533	209	94
1990	5,010	563	194	131
1991	5,268	546	166	96
¹ Excludes chemoprophylaxis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what moneys are expended nationally on tuberculosis vaccinations in schools in the United Kingdom.

This information is not available centrally. The National Health Service Supplies Authority purchases tuberculosis vaccine—BCG—on behalf of the national health service. It is for district health authorities to arrange for immunisation and costs vary from one authority to another.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of rickets and TB have been reported in the Liverpool health authority area in the past five years; and if she will make a statement.

The information requested about the number of cases of rickets is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. D. H. Tod, chairman of Liverpool health authority, for details. Information on the number of cases of tuberculosis in Liverpool is given in the table.

	Number of cases
1991	44
1990	55
1989	70
1988	49
1987	36

Source: OPCS.

Tobacco

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to license tobacco retailers.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the advertising of tobacco.

The Government's policy on tobacco advertising is set out in the "Health of the Nation" White Paper.

Children's Hospices

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's hospices are funded by Government funds for (a) revenue costs and (b) capital projects.

The Department is giving direct assistance to voluntary organisations, in one case contributing to the running costs of an existing children's hospice and, in another, to the cost of planning a new hospice soon to be constructed. Support for this new development is from a £5 million programme of pilot projects which we are funding to identify good practice in the care of children with life-threatening illnesses. We are not providing any help with capital costs. Health authorities may purchase services for children with life-threatening illness from statutory and voluntary sector bodies, but no details of these are held centrally.

Child Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on progress made towards implementing the European Council recommendation 92/241/EEC on child care.

Local authorities, national voluntary organisations, child care providers in the private and voluntary sectors and other relevant organisations were sent copies of the recommendation 92/241/EEC on 11 January together with the Department's further guidance on the day care provisions in the Children Act—LAC (93)1. Copies of the recommendation and the guidance are available in the Library.

Abortion

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her Department's definition of informed consent under her Department's guidance for dealing with patients, in the context of women consenting to an abortion.

Patients have the right under common law to give or withhold consent prior to examination or treatment. Informed consent as such does not form part of English law. Patients are, however, entitled to receive sufficient information in a way that they can understand about the proposed treatment, the possible alternatives and any substantial risks, so that they can make a balanced judgment. A doctor will exercise his or her professional skill and judgment in deciding what information a patient is given about a particular treatment.This principle applies to all forms of treatment, including abortion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions exist for reporting physical complications following abortions which occur after the form notifying her Department of the abortion has been submitted.

There is no formal procedure for reporting complications occurring after an abortion has been notified to the Chief Medical Officer, but doctors can provide additional information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if charities providing abortion services for the NHS through agency agreements with individual district health authorities may also enter into agency agreements with individual GP fund holders; and if she will make a statement.

Terminations of pregnancy are not included in the list of goods and services which GP fund holders may purchase. We have no plans at present to change this.

Consultants

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on relating the system of distinction awards for consultants to their performance, with particular reference to outcomes.

The leaflet "Consultants' Distinction Awards", issued in October 1990, sets out general guidelines on the criteria used in assessing consultants for awards. A copy of the leaflet is available in the Library. This makes clear that, in considering consultants for awards, awards committees look for performance over and above what is normally expected in respect of service to patients, teaching and the management and development of the service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the reform of the system of distinction awards—merit payments—for consultants.

There are at present no plans to change the distinction awards system.

Hospital Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each ministerial visit to (a) Charing Cross, (b) Guy's, (c) London chest hospital, (d) Queen Charlotte's, (e) Queen Elizabeth hospital, Hackney, (f) Royal Brompton, (g) Royal Marsden, (h) St. Mary's, Paddington, (i) St. Thomas's, (j) St. Mark's, (k) St. Bartholomew's. (l) UCH-Middlesex, (m) the Royal National Ear, Nose and Throat, and (n) the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, since 23 October 1992; how long the Minister spent at each hospital to the nearest quarter hour; and if she will indicate for each hospital whether the Minister held discussions on the Tomlinson report with (i) management, (ii) consultants, (iii) junior doctors, (iv) nurses or (v) staff side.

In addition to visits by my colleagues I have either visited or had discussions with representatives of all the hospitals mentioned. I have visited St. Batholomew's twice to listen to their views on the Tomlinson report. I have also had meetings with professional, educational and trade union representatives.

Nhs Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the rules relating to the making available to NHS patients of services and equipment available for private patients in NHS trusts; and what is the position in respect of the laser treatment for myopia at St. James's hospital, Leeds.

The availability of such services within the National Health Service is dependent on the decisions of purchasers, who are responsible for assessing the health care needs of their resident populations.The corneal laser centre based at St. James's hospital, Leeds offers a service supplied by an independent company. The laser equipment will be used for the private treatment of short sight, a service currently not available under the NHS. It will also be made available to treat NHS patients with corneal scars. The revenue from leasing the premises and the royalties the trust receives from each operation provides additional funds for services for all patients at the hospital.

Ambulance Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis of the standards set in the citizens charter for response performance of emergency ambulance services.

The patients charter performance standards reflect those first recommended to the ambulance service in 1990 as a national benchmark which all services should strive to meet or better.

Care In The Community

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring her Department is undertaking of implementation of care in the community in respect (a) of local authority variations around the United Kingdom, (b) existing proposed provision of residential facilities in the private sector and (c) the effectiveness of dialogue between interested parties over each individual client's needs.

The social services inspectorate and regional health authorities are currently undertaking their fourth round of monitoring of the progress being made by English social services and health authorities towards the full implementation of the Government's community care reforms from April this year. This monitoring is paying particular attention to liaison between authorities arid between the statutory and independent sectors. The Department routinely collects data on the number of private residential care home places in England. Arrangment in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

West Midlands Rha

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order the publication of the management letter by the district health auditor which was sent to the West Midlands regional health authority in December 1992.

No. This is a management document. Its publication is a matter for West Midlands regional health authority.

Mr Joseph Raphael

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will make a statement concerning the escape from custody of Joseph Raphael on 19 January;(2) what changes she intends to make in the procedures for the transportation of remand prisoners from hospital to court;(3) if she will make a statement on the escape by Joseph Raphael while being taken to the Old Bailey in the company of nurses from Cane Hill secure unit.

I understand that Mr. Raphael was detained in the secure unit at Cane Hill hospital on 6 November 1992 under section 35 of the Mental Health Act 1983, which provides for an accused person to be remanded to hospital for a report on his medical condition. He was to appear at the central criminal court on 19 January 1993 on a charge of murder. He absconded from the custody of the nurses who were escorting him from the hospital to the court. He subsequently gave himself up to the police and was detained at Brixton prison.The Ravensbourne NHS Trust, which manages the Cane Hill unit, has stated that a decision was taken following clinical assessment to transport Mr. Raphael without a police escort. The trust is holding an internal inquiry into the incident and the events leading up to it. We will be studying the inquiry report carefully and will consider in consultation with the Home Office what further guidance might be needed for hospitals and the police about their responsibilities in this area.

Managerial Staff

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many senior nurse manager posts there were in each region in each year since 1989.

[holding answer 18 January 1993]: Information on the number of nurse manager posts in each region is not collected centrally. The table shows the number of senior nurses in posts paid on review body pay scales in each year since 1989. There are in addition senior nurse managers on the pay arrangements for general and senior managers; the numbers of these senior nurses cannot be disaggregated from other senior managerial staff. The fall in nurse numbers is a result of the continuing transfer of senior nursing staff to the managerial grades and the growing numbers of Project 2000 trainees who are not counted in the manpower figures.

Senior Nurses, by RHA, whole time equivalents
	September 1989	September 1990	September 1991
Northern	240	150	120
Yorkshire	200	140	170
Trent	250	190	160
East Anglian	90	60	60
North West Thames	300	300	150
North East Thames	350	260	210
South East Thames	240	170	120
South West Thames	180	130	110
Wessex	140	110	90
Oxford	130	120	120
South Western	140	90	70
West Midlands	310	270	240
Mersey	140	100	90
North Western	270	250	260
SHAs	50	40	40
OSAs	—	—	—
England	3,030	2,370	2,010

Source: Non Medical Manpower Census, HAP(STATS)B, NHSME Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 wte.

Radiation

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what facilities and experienced personnel are available within the national health service to detect, study and report on the incidence of illness resulting from nuclear radiation contamination.

[holding answer 18 January 1993]: Currently, there is no known method of directly identifying disease in an individual which has been induced wholly or in part by exposure to low levels of radiation in the environment. In order to establish whether an excess incidence of disease in a given population is associated in some way with external factors, accepted public health practice is to subject the available data to epidemiological study. The national health service employs public health professionals in each region and district whose responsibilities include monitoring the health of the local population and investigating unusual patterns of disease. Statistics on disease are also monitored at the national level. In addition, the Department has established the small area health statistics unit which is concerned with the assessment of any risk to the health of the population from point source contamination. In relation to environmental radiation, the results of epidemiological studies are referred to the Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment, a group of independent experts which was set up to assess and advise the Government on the health effects of natural and man-made radiation in the environment, and to assess the adequacy of the available data and the need for further research.

Mrs Tracey Evans

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will order a public inquiry into the circumstances which led to the discharge of Mrs. Tracey Evans from Brighton general hospital; what social services involvement occurred in this case; and what assessment has been made of the implications for the treatment of schizophrenics arising out of the case of Tracey Evans.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: No. The reports I have received from the local agencies involved indicated that there was nothing untoward which suggested that Mrs. Evans would harm her children.This is a tragic case and is one that will fall within the remit of the inquiry which the Government have asked the Royal College of Psyschiatrists to establish in consultation with the other relevant professional groups to

"Inquire into the circumstances leading up to and surrounding homicides and suicides committed by people under the care of or recently discharged by the specialist psychiatric services, to identify factors in the patients' management which may be related to the deaths, and to recommend measures designed to reduce the number of such incidents".

Education

Lingua Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if pupils at independent schools are eligible to participte in the programme of exchanges under the Lingua programme; and what are the reasons for these arrangements.

Under the terms of the Council of Education Ministers' decision of 28 July 1989, upon which the Lingua programme is based, eligibility for support for pupil exchanges is limited to pupils attending educational establishments supported with public funds. In line with this, pupils at independent schools in the United Kingdom are not eligible for support under the current programme.

Socially Responsible Parenthood

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to develop a post-school education strategy aimed at promoting socially responsible parenthood as recommended in the Elton report on discipline in schools.

The Government's general policy for further and higher education is to create a framework to enable institutions to meet the widely differing needs of students. It is for institutions to decide which courses to offer, and to help students to select those courses which meet their needs. The Government would expect institutions, including local authority adult centres, to take account of the need for education about parenthood, building on that provided in school in collaboration with other appropriate agencies, including the youth service.

School Management

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities have schools which take formal account of the views of pupils on matters relating to school management; and whether these arrangements meet the standards expected by his Department.

This information is not collected centrally. Pupil participation in school management is a matter for individual schools and their governing bodies.

School Governors

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities provide regular training courses for school governors which meet the standards expected by his Department.

All LEAs arrange for training for school governors. The 1991 HMI report "The Quality of Training and Support for Governors in Schools and Colleges" found that 81 per cent. of training sessions inspected were sound or very good. Training and support were reaching a high proportion of governors.

Pupil Exclusions

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest available figures for the number of pupils excluded from school (a) permanently and (b) temporarily.

The Department has been monitoring permanent exclusions at maintained schools over a two-year period starting with summer term 1990 under the national exclusions reporting system—(NERS). Some preliminary findings from NERS were incorporated in our recently published discussion paper on exclusions. Some 3,000 pupils were permanently excluded in the first year of the NERS exercise. Information on temporary exclusions is not collected by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities have schools with conditional re-entry agreements as a means of readmitting excluded pupils to schools; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness.

This information is not collected centrally.

School Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for Education on what occasions he has used his powers under the Education Reform Act 1988 to close schools whose governing bodies were deemed to be failing in the performance of their statutory duties.

None.

Schools (Communication Systems)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities have formal systems of communication within their schools and between schools and parents, governors, their communities and outside agencies, as recommended in the Elton report on discipline in schools; what percentage of schools have such systems of communication; and to what extent they meet the standards expected by his Department.

This information is not collected centrally.

Health Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to monitor the response of local education authorities to the ending of grants for education support and training—GEST—funding for health education co-ordination and the impact on the employment of dedicated health education staff;(2) what plans he has to monitor the continued provision of drugs education in schools from 1 April.

The monitoring arrangements for the GEST preventive health education programme were set out in the original draft circular inviting bids, which issued on 1 July 1991. Amongst other things, this made clear that LEAs would be asked to provide by July 1993 a brief report on the work undertaken in 1992–93 and its effectiveness. My right hon. Friend will look to the Office for Standards in Education to provide him with information and advice about all aspects of education provision in schools. This will include provision made for preventive health education, aspects of which are included in the national curriculum and must be studied by all pupils.

Educational Psychologists

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities have developed working relationships between schools and educational psychologists to provide advice on the management of behaviour in groups and in schools as a whole which meet with the standards expected by his Department.

This information is not collected centrally.

St Mary's School, Hendon

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to determine the application by St. Mary's school, Hendon, to become a grant-maintained school.

No application for grant-maintained status from St. Mary's school, Hendon, has yet been received. Following the positive ballot result at the school in favour of grant-maintained status on 7 December, the governors must publish proposals within six months from that date and submit them to the Secretary of State for determination.

Schools (Arson Attacks)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the latest available figures for the incidence of arson attacks in schools; and if he will make a statement.

The number of incidents of arson in schools in England is not collected centrally. Information on the number of incidents of deliberate—or probably deliberate—fires in maintained primary and secondary schools in England is collected as part of the Department's annual survey of security in schools. In the financial year 1990–91 there were an estimated 3,100 such fires.

Schools (Lunch-Time Supervision)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities provide lunch-time supervision; what percentage of schools in each local education authority provide such supervision; how much is spent; and what assessment he has made of the extent to which this supervision meets the standards expected by his Department.

This information is not collected centrally.

Schools Police Liaison

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he has taken to monitor the way in which local education authorities have assessed the number of schools in their areas which would particularly benefit from school-police liaison projects; and what percentage of such schools in each local education authority have these projects.

This information is not collected centrally.Under the Education (No. 2) Act 1986, school governing bodies are required to report annually to parents on steps taken to strengthen links with the community, including the police. Advice on good practice in police/school liaison was contained in HM inspectorate's publication "Our Policeman" published in 1989. The Elton report on "Discipline in Schools", distributed to all LEAs and schools in March 1989, also gave advice on links with the police. The Department is currently funding a research project by the National Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders on the role of the education service in youth crime prevention. My right hon. Friend will wish to review the general question of links between schools and the police in the light of the outcomes of that project.

Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many local education authorities have made representations to him on the funding of education services in the last three months.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from a number of local education authorities.

Surplus School Places, Hampshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of surplus school places in each district council area in Hampshire in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools; and what was the basis on which these figures were calculated.

The information is not available in the form requested. We estimate that in 1991 there were 24,719 surplus primary places and 10,373 surplus secondary places in Hampshire, representing 17 per cent. and 16 per cent. of total capacity respectively. These figures derive from the Department's survey of school capacity which was carried out during the 1990–91 academic year. Surplus place figures were calculated by comparing the capacity derived from the more open enrolment formula with the number of pupils on roll at each school.

Schools Expenditure, Hampshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the capital expenditure on (a) nursery schools, (b) primary schools and (c) secondary schools in Hampshire in each of the years since 1987, expressed in 1987 values.

The table shows the information requested:

Capital spending by Hampshire LEA on schools, expressed in cash terms and in 1987 values
	Nursery and Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
	£'000	£'000
1987–88	11,407	7,306
1988–89	15,169	7,015
1989–90	12,588	5,846
1990–91	11,412	7,438

Notes:

1. 1990–91 is the latest year for which data are available.

2. Capital expenditure on nursery and primary schools is not identified separately in the returns made by local authorities.

3. Real value figures were derived by applying the GDP deflators announced with the Autumn Statement.

Nursery Education, Hampshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of three and four-year-old children attended nursery school or nursery classes in Hampshire in each year since 1987.

In each year between 1987 and 1991—the latest year for which information is available—approximately 5 per cent. of the local three and four-year-old population attended maintained nursery schools and classes in Hampshire.

Mandatory Awards

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the arrangements for the provision of mandatory awards.

These arrangements are already kept under periodic review.

Schools ACGS: 1992–93 and 1993–94
(£000s)
LEA	Total Schools ACG Bid 1992–93	Total Schools ACG 1992–93	Total Schools ACG Bid 1993–94	Total Schools ACG 1993–94
Avon	8.904	4,269	13,012	4,780
Bedfordshire	7,840	3,789	4,788	2,827
Berkshire	21,703	5,238	22,707	4,421
Buckinghamshire	12,412	5,289	13,016	5,869
Cambridgeshire	26,667	6,380	21,740	7,638
Cheshire	24,991	8,605	30,688	9,676
Cleveland	6,760	3,788	9,396	3,657
Cornwall	18,476	4,443	16,000	2,864
Cumbria	19,115	10,024	20,260	8,298
Derbyshire	41,748	15,997	40,245	12,885
Devon	19,165	9,855	21,406	10,592
Dorset	20,581	4,735	19,980	5,196
Durham	27,504	7,001	40,197	5,306
East Sussex	51,441	17,076	41,132	11,020
Essex	56,032	17,954	44,992	11,643
Gloucestershire	16,446	6,980	29,223	8,598
Hampshire	17,377	12,086	26,375	9,605
Hereford and Worcester	10,884	3,331	10,640	2,396
Hertfordshire	23,519	5,677	17,980	4,009
Humberside	21,275	9,049	24,479	6,936
Isle of Wight	6,425	1,584	6,015	1,939
Kent	39,229	20,229	38,444	15,820
Lancashire	31,926	20,456	37,631	11,129

Maths And Physics

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he is making in standards of teacher training in maths and physics.

All courses of initial teacher training for primary teachers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland must include at least 100 hours devoted to maths and 100 hours devoted to science. A number of courses for secondary teachers now provide for "balanced" science, including physics. Postgraduate teacher training courses in "balanced" science enable students whose initial degree was in one science to spend part of the course extending their knowledge of the others.Under the programme of grants for educational support and training, the Department for Education supports 20-day designated courses of in-service training to enhance the subject knowledge of primary maths and science teachers. They make a valuable contribution to improving teaching standards.

Capital Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the bids for capital expenditure for education from shire counties in 1993–94 and 1992–93 and the annual capital guideline notified by the Department for Education for 1993–94 and 1992–93.

The figures in the table represent the bids and annual capital guidelines—ACGs—for county and voluntary controlled schools in 1992–93 and 1993–94. They do not include capital work at sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges, the responsibility for which will transfer on 1 April 1993 to the Further Education Funding Council, or capital work at voluntary-aided schools.The allocation figures also exclude resources issued during the current year by means of supplementary credit approvals—SCAs. No SCAs have yet been issued for 1993–94.

LEA	Total Schools ACG Bid 1992–93	Total Schools ACG 1992–93	Total Schools ACG Bid 1993–94	Total Schools ACG 1993–94
Leicestershire	25,919	8,372	16,310	6,859
Lincolnshire	26,435	12,263	21,646	10,471
Norfolk	9,347	2,811	9,457	3,987
North Yorkshire	12,236	6,222	10,883	5,296
Northamptonshire	8,087	4,107	8,603	4,558
Northumberland	7,343	2,516	3,782	2,199
Nottinghamshire	20,549	5,182	11,267	2,989
Oxfordshire	20,179	5,681	25,525	3,301
Shropshire	10,398	4,109	4,485	3,842
Somerset	9,071	5,134	14,762	4,207
Staffordshire	18,048	7,805	17,790	6,041
Suffolk	18,343	9,169	21,070	7,494
Surrey	17,976	5,482	26,031	10,167
Warwickshire	10,802	1,988	12,011	2,058
West Sussex	10,950	3,645	18,801	4,277
Wiltshire	12,175	4,137	7,055	2,518

Notes:

1. The figures do not include capital work at FE, sixth form or tertiary colleges as, from 1 April 1993, responsibility for the funding of capital work in such institutions will transfer to the Further Education Funding Council.

2. The figures are ACGs only and do not include any schools supplementary credit approvals issued in year. No supplementary credit approvals for 1993–94 have yet been issued.

3. The figures do not include work related to the technology schools initiative as these allocations are made via supplementary credit approvals.

4. The figures do not include bids or capital allocations for work at voluntary aided schools.

Duchy Of Lancaster

Civil Research And Development

36.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the Government's spending on civil research and development in the latest available year; and what were the comparable figures for the United States of America and Japan.

Data in the 1992 annual review of Government-funded research and development show that Government spent £2,772.8 million—0.51 per cent. of GDP—in 1990–91 and an estimated £2,830 million in 1991–92 on civil research and development.In calendar year 1990, the latest year for which comparable figures are available, Government expenditure on civil research and development in the United States of America and in Japan was £14,524 million—0.44 per cent. of GDP—and £5,651 million—0.43 per cent. of GDP—respectively.

Departments Of Physics

37.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to maintain the dual support system in respect of departments of physics, not currently considered to be in the top research rank, to ensure that they have the funds to develop ideas that may move them up the scale.

All university departments can apply for research council grants to support projects. Applications are considered on their merits. Institutions are free to use their block grants from the higher education funding councils to foster promising departments.

Kpmg Management Consultants

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

Contracts were awarded by the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies to KPMG Management Consultants during the past 12 months for the following:

CCTA—the Government Centre for Information Systems

Distributed information technology infrastructure scoping study.
Information systems strategy study.
Infrastructure management scoping study.
Speaker for managing change workshop.
Business transformation scoping study.

Office of Science and Technology

Financial management survey of costing Research Council contracts with other Government Departments.

Civil Service College

Study of future financial structures.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what percentage of public expenditure was the responsibility of non-departmental public bodies in (a) 1979 and (b) 1992 or the latest year for which figures are available.

Expenditure by non-departmental public bodies, which excludes national health service bodies, funded by the Government through grants and other support was 4 per cent. of general Government expenditure in 1978–79 and 4.6 per cent. in 1990–91.

Citizens Charters

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on his proposals for citizens charters as they affect young people under 18 years of age.

Young people benefit—as do all sections of society—from the better quality, more responsive public services promoted by the citizens charter initiative. More specifically, they will benefit from the publication, later this year, of charters setting standards of service for students in further and higher education.

Freedom Of Information

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will introduce a Bill on the freedom of information.

The Government will be publishing a White Paper later this Session setting out our further proposals for achieving greater openness and access to information.

Research And Development

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what spending per capita on research and development is in each country of the European Community and the EC as a whole.

The latest figures for per capita spending on research and development in the EC are for 1990:

Millions of Current Purchasing Power Parity £ per capita, 1990
	£
Belgium	165.66
Denmark	¹170.81
France	252.66
Germany	306.78
Greece	¹19.65
Ireland	58.02
Italy	124.50
Netherlands	193.68
Portugal	¹19.84
Spain	57.18
United Kingdom	210.60
EC Average	186.90
¹ Nearest date to 1990.

Note: Luxembourg is not separately identified in OECD R & D statistics.

Tuberculosis

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what clinical research is carried out in the United Kingdom into tuberculosis; at what institutions; and at what cost.

	NDPBs			Health Service bodies			Total NDPBs and Health Service bodies
Year	Total	Total staff	Total gross expenditure £ million	Total	Total staff	Total expenditure £ million	Total	Total staff	Total expenditure £ million
1979	2,167	217,000	6,150	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1982	1,810	205,500	8,330	n/a	n/	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1983	1,691	196,700	9,940	261	1,072,300	14,350	1,952	1,269,000	24,290
1984	1,681	141,200	7,280	259	1,080,300	15,420	1,940	1,221,500	22,700
1985	1,654	138,300	7,770	266	1,071,100	17,050	1,920	1,209,400	24,820
1986	1,658	146,300	8,240	355	1,055,500	14,160	2,013	1,201,800	22,400
1987	1,643	148,700	9,100	356	1,047,600	14,350	1,999	1,196,300	23,450
1988	1,648	134,600	9,450	359	1,027,400	15,500	2,007	1,162,000	24,950
1989	1,555	118,300	9,410	359	1,035,100	17,020	1,914	1,153,500	26,430
1990	1,539	117,500	11,870	355	1,029,200	19,370	1,894	1,146,700	31,240
1991	1,444	116,400	13,080	411	1,026,300	20,770	1,855	1,142,700	33,850
Percentage change 1979–91	-33.4	-46.4	+112.7	+57.5	¹-4.3	¹+44.7	¹-5.0	¹-10.0	¹+39.4
¹ Since 1983.

n/a—Not available.

The main agency through which the Government support biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant-in-aid from this Department. The MRC is an independent body deciding what research to support on its own expert judgment.In the last financial year 1991–92, the council's expenditure for research directly relevant to tuberculosis was £808,000. This supported basic research at its own MRC tuberculosis and related infections unit at the Hammersmith hospital, and through grants to researchers at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Public Health Laboratory Service, London, and the university of Leicester. A further £327,000 was spent in 1991–92 on projects which may, in part, be relevant to the study of tuberculosis.The MRC is not currently funding any research into tuberculosis directly relevant to patients, but the council is always willing to consider for support soundly based new scientific proposals in competition with other applications.Research is also undertaken by higher education institutions, but details are not available centrally.

Quangos

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give figures for the total number of quangos, together with the total number of staff employed and the total expenditure, including those connected with the health service, for each year from 1979 to 1991; and if he will give the percentage difference in each figure between 1979 and 1991.

The available information is shown in the table; fuller details are published in "Public Bodies", copies of which are available in the House Library. The figures are not strictly comparable on a year-by-year basis because of the change of status of some major spending bodies.

House Of Commons

Hendon Artists

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition of paintings by Hendon, South artists to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 22 to 26 March 1993.

Machine Tool Technology

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to machine tool technology to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 1 to 5 March 1993.

Staff Salaries

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will set out the level of the most recent salary or wage increase given for this year for each grade of staff employed by the House, giving the effective date of the increase in each case.

Grades 1 to 3 in the service of the House are affected by the decision of the Government that, in common with Ministers and Members of Parliament, staff covered by the Top Salaries Review Body should receive no pay increase in 1993. However, the second stage of the 1992 TSRB award comprising a 3 per cent. increase of salaries in payment will be implemented with effect from 1 April 1993. This applies to staff of the House in grades 1 to 3.The most recent salary increases for other grades are as follows:

Grade	Percentage increase	Effective date
4–7	3.9	1 August 1992
8 and below (including Catering grades)	4.1	1 April 1992

The existing arrangements for discretionary performance-related pay will continue to operate.

Questions

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce proposals to allow the tabling of questions to take place (a) by fax and (b) by electronic transfer.

I have no plans to do so.It is the long-standing practice of the House that each question should be tabled on the personal authority of an hon. Member, either in person or on his or her behalf by another hon. Member, or in writing with a genuine signature. It would not be possible for the Clerks in the Table Office to verify that a fax or electronic message had been sent personally by an hon. Member. However, the hon. Member may wish to draw this matter to the attention of the Select Committee on Procedure.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when he now expects to respond to the Procedure Committee's third report of Session 1990–91, HC 178, on parliamentary questions.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on Thursday 22 October 1992, at column 363.

Trade And Industry

Cambridge Water Company (Judgment)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the effect on British industry of the retrospective provisions of the judgment in the case of Cambridge Water Company v. Eastern Counties Leather plc.

Eastern Counties Leather is petitioning for leave to appeal to the House of Lords. The Government will await the final determination of this case.

President Of The Board Of Trade

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 745, if he will now abolish the title of President of the Board of Trade; and if he will make a statement.

No.

Chemical Weapons

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the United Kingdom national authority under the chemical weapons convention to include representation from the chemical industry, the scientific community and other concerned and interested parties.

The national authority will be an executive body. No decision has been taken about the involvement of the chemical industry, the scientific community, and other concerned and interested parties. Such involvement will be the subject of consultation in due course.

Pit Closures

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures he is taking to ensure that British Coal's care and maintenance procedures in the 31 pits proposed for closure do not prejudice the outcome of his reviews; and if he will make a statement.

Coaling and development work is continuing at the 21 pits subject to the coal review so there can be no question of the outcome of that review being prejudiced. British Coal has given frequent assurances in correspondence, to the Trade and Industry and Employment Select Committees, and in court that it is preserving the fabric of the 10 pits so that if, at the end of the period of consultation, it is decided to keep any or all of them open, that will be possible. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has asked Boyds to report on whether the fabric of the 10 pits is being preserved in accordance with those assurances.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he expects Boyds to complete its report on the 10 pits proposed for immediate closure; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has asked Boyds to submit its final report by 15 March 1993. A copy of the full terms of reference of the Boyds study of the 10 pits is available in the Library of the House.

Oil And Gas Exploration

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to protect wildlife sites and sites of special scientific interest in the firth of Forth from oil exploration and possible oil contamination arising from the Department of Trade and Industry's 14th round of offering coastal oil and gas exploration licences.

The environmental sensitivities of all areas offered in the 14th offshore oil and gas licensing round, including any which encompass sites of special scientific interest or of particular wildlife value, have been considered on a block-by-block basis. Environmental conditions to be attached to blocks offered in the first two stages of the round have been drafted following agreement with the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee; those for coastal blocks, including those offered in the Forth approaches, include requirements to consult these bodies and relevant local authorities regarding environmental protection measures before exploration commences. Other special conditions may include seasonal restrictions on exploration activities and controls on discharges from rigs and the chemical formulation of drilling muds.

Corporate Communications Ltd

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has appointed inspectors to inquire into the actions of the auditors and directors of Corporate Communications Ltd.

I cannot comment on the affairs of individual companies. I am prepared to consider any information the hon. Member may provide in the usual way.

Maxwell Companies

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date Companies house was notified that the ownership of London and Bishopgate International had been transferred from Kevin Maxwell to L & B Holdings plc.

On 24 May 1989.

Coal Industry

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what response he has made to the findings by the Closkey Coal Information Services contained in the Easington district council submission entitled "The Case for Easington and Vane Tempest Collieries"; and if he will commission an environmental impact report.

We are taking Easington district council's submission into account in the coal review, and hope to publish a White Paper setting out our findings as early as possible next month. The commissioning of an environmental impact report would be an operational matter for British Coal.

Republic Of Ireland

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the operation of the market development fund in the Republic of Ireland with respect to possible unfair competition for United Kingdom exports into the European single market and possible subsidy implications; what consideration has been given to the implications for manufacturing firms in Northern Ireland; what representations he has made to the authorities of the Irish Republic; and if he will make a statement.

Officials in this, and other Government Departments, are watching closely the operation of the market development fund which is scheduled to terminate at the end of March 1993. My right hon. Friend raised our concerns with the Commission as soon as he heard of this scheme. These concerns included the incompatibility of the measures with the common market, the damaging effects on United Kingdom and other Community producers and the serious precedents it would set were the Commission to approve the measures. As a result of this approach, the Commission imposed a number of important restrictions on the operation of the scheme.

British Steel (Us Duties)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 1992, Official Report, column 459, what further discussions he has had with the United States about their imposition of duties on British steel output.

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade raised this matter with the US Secretary of Commerce by letter on 11 December.

Outstanding Debts

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on progress towards requiring large companies to state in their reports and acounts how quickly they pay outstanding debts.

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs and Small Firms has today published a consultative document to take forward the commitment the Government have given that in future large companies will be required to state in their report and accounts how quickly they pay.

Late payment is a reflection of business culture which is intangible and notoriously resistant to change. The Government are using their influence to nudge a culture change in the right direction.

A number of options have been considered as the best way of taking forward the commitment and these options are discussed in the consultative document.

The Government-preferred option uses data large companies collect already, rather than requiring collection of new data which would be a burden on business. Suppliers and others will be provided with information they have not had previously.

The consultative document also suggests which companies would be required to make this disclosure by proposing a definition of large companies.

The Department is seeking comments on the consultative document by 26 March 1993 with a view to presenting the necessary regulations to Parliament and applying them to company accounts as soon as possible.

Energy Strategy

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the generation costs, and employment and investment levels of the nuclear and offshore gas and oil industries, relative to coal equivalents, in developing a national energy strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Many of these issues are being addressed in the coal review currently being undertaken by my Department.

Wind Generation

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has further to increase the generation of wind-generated electricity in East Anglia; and if he will make a statement.

Wind-generated electricity is expected to increase in the future, encouraged by further orders under the non-fossil fuel obligation. There are no plans to promote wind energy selectively in particular locations.

Bcci

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on what date he granted an extension to the liquidators of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International to the undertaking they gave on 14 January 1992 to hold a creditors' meeting.

In view of the terms of the judgment of the vice-chancellor given on 2 March 1992 no formal extension was given to the liquidators in respect of the undertaking whch they gave on 5 December 1991 regarding the holding of a creditors meeting pursuant to section 141 of the Insolvency Act 1986. The liquidators have now sought and obtained the directions of the court with regard to the summoning and conduct of such a meeting which I understand will be held May 1993.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many compromises he has sanctioned in respect of the liquidation of the bank of Credit and Commerce International; and what is the value involved.

Twelve such sanctions have been given, 10 in respect of claims totalling £30,877,540 and two in respect of claims totalling 14,438,462 US dollars.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many meetings he has had with the liquidators of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

None.

Colombian Coal

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations his Department have made to the EC Commission in support of British Coal's anti-dumping claim against Colombian coal imported into the United Kingdom through the EC.

The responsibility for deciding whether an anti-dumping complaint should be formally investigated lies with the Commission. The Government have made it clear to the Commission that we look to it to take seriously its responsibilities in this area and therefore to consider British Coal's complaint carefully. We have also made clear that we have no objection to its opening an investigation.

Electricity Generators

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will call for a report from the Office of Electricity Regulation on profits made by the electricity generators.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: When the Government set up the privatised electricity market it appointed the Director General of Electricity Supply—DGES—to regulate it. It is for the DGES to decide whether any action is called for over the profits made by the electricity generators. However, the terms of reference of the coal review announced on 26 October said that the review would, amongst other issues, consider in consultation with the DGES whether any company is abusing its position in the marketplace.

National Heritage

Press Regulation

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to maintain press freedom.

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what changes will be made concerning the Press Complaints Commission in the light of the report by Sir David Calcutt, QC; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to the question from the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).

National Lottery

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what recent representations he has received about his proposals for a national lottery.

I have received a number of recent representations from a wide range of interested parties about the Government's proposals for a national lottery. Only a small minority of those representations were opposed to the establishment of a national lottery.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received urging the location of the headquarters of the national lottery in an area traditionally associated with the pools industry; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has received representations from the Liverpool chamber of commerce and from the editor of the Liverpool Echo, and from the Glasgow development agency. Bradford metropolitan borough council has also urged consideration of Liverpool as a location. The National Heritage Committee recommended that the headquarters of the office of the national lottery should be established in such an area.

Bbc Licence Fee

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the BBC licence fee; and if he will make a statement.

Since the Department's establishment, we have received a total of 713 representations about the television licence fee. Matters raised included the level of the fee, possible concessions for particular groups and the operation of the concessionary licence scheme.

Cathedrals

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what grants his Department is making to support the preservation of great cathedrals.

In April 1991, the Government launched the cathedral repair grant scheme, aimed at assisting with the repair of cathedrals and comparable buildings of other denominations. A total of £11.5 million, spread over the three financial years 1991–92 to 1993–94, was provided to English Heritage for this purpose. Following the autumn statement, I was able to announce an additional provisional allocation of £4 million for each of the two years 1994–95 and 1995–96 in order to sustain this very successful scheme.

Rugby League Grounds

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the operation of the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 in relation to professional rugby league football.

I am empowered under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 to designate for the purposes of safety certification any sports ground accommodating more than 10,000 spectators at which football, rugby or cricket is played. The purpose of certification is to secure reasonable public safety. At present, 25 rugby league grounds are designated under the 1975 Act.

Highcliffe Castle, Dorset

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the future of Highcliffe castle, Dorset.

The Buildings at Risk Trust has submitted to Christchurch borough council a business plan for the restoration of Highcliffe castle. I have agreed to meet my hon. Friend, and a deputation from the council, on Monday 15 February, to discuss the plan.

Windsor Castle (Fire)

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he is now in a position to give an estimate of the cost of Windsor castle's restoration and the percentage to be met from public funds.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the question from the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks).

Theatres Act 1843

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the passing of the Theatres Act 1843.

Although we have no particular plans to mark this anniversary, I am grateful to my hon. Friend for having drawn it to the attention of the House. As he will know, the Theatres Act greatly liberalised the provision of theatre in London in the last century.

Drug Abuse (Sport)

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if, when he next meets the chairman of the Sports Council, he will discuss with him the problem of drug abuse in sport.

During 1993, I expect to have a number of meetings with the chairman of the Sports Council to discuss issues of mutual concern, including the abuse of drugs in sport.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action he will take to counter the abuse of the taking or administration of drugs in sport.

My Department is seeking to combat drug abuse in sport both nationally through support for the Sports Council's national drug testing programme and internationally through the Council of Europe's anti-doping convention and the memorandum of understanding with the Australian, Canadian and Norwegian Governments.

Regional Orchestras

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy concerning regional orchestras.

Under the arm's-length principle, it is for the Arts Council to set policies for the arts in line with the broad objectives agreed by the Government. As my right hon. Friend said in his statement to the House on 11 December, Official Report, columns 1123–33, the orchestras are unevenly distributed around the country, and their funding requirements needed to be assessed by comparison with each other. They will, therefore, continue to be funded directly by the Arts Council rather than the regional arts boards.

Tourism

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he next expects to visit seaside resorts in the north-west to review progress in co-ordinating the marketing of tourist attractions inside and outside the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to visit resorts in the north-west in the immediate future. I am a regular visitor to the north-west and either my right hon. Friend or I would welcome an invitation to visit my hon. Friend's constituency as soon as an opportunity can be found.

Pub Theatre

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received concerning assistance towards pub theatre; and if he will make a statement.

Although I have received no representations about pub theatre, I am aware that the growth in pub theatre over the last two decades has added a new and lively dimension to theatre life in London and elsewhere. The funding of these theatres is a matter for the Regional Arts Boards. I understand that a number of pub theatres have received grants from, for example, the London Arts Board.

Defence

Northumberland National Park

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each of the last five years, the amount of land in the Northumberland national park used by the Army, Navy and Air Force.

That part of Otterburn training area which lies within the Northumberland national park area has been as follows:

1988 23,364 hectares freehold
1989 23,364 hectares freehold
1990 23,364 hectares freehold
1991 23,379 hectares freehold
1992 23,379 hectares freehold

Since 1991, about 3,640 hectares within the national park (including Kidland, Kidlandlee and parts of Harwood forest) have been licensed for use up to a maximum of 28 days each year. In addition, some training has been carried out on private land such as Thirwell common and Blakehope fell without charge and by prior arrangement with the owners.The land detailed is mostly used for training by the Army.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list, for each of the forthcoming five years, the amount of land in the Northumberland national park expected to be allocated for use by each of the armed services; and if he will make a statement.

The future use of land within Northumberland national park for military training is under review at present. It is too early to say what the precise future requirements will be.

Equipment (Exports)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list for each year since 1980 levels of exports of defence equipment in pound million to (a) NATO and other western European countries, (b) the middle east and north Africa, (c) other African countries, (d) Asia and the far east and (e) Latin America and the Caribbean.

I refer the hon. Member to table 1.12 of "Defence Statistics," 1992 edition, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. 1991 is the latest year for which these figures are available.

Kpmg Management Consultants

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the contracts awarded by his Department to KPMG Management Consultants over the past 12 months.

During the past 12 months one contract has been placed with KPMG Management Consultants; the contract covers the provision of out-placement services related to "Options for Change".

Bosnia

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding pay and allowances for British troops serving in Bosnia; whether he plans to introduce any special allowances for those troops; if he will list the comparative pay and allowances for British troops serving in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) BAOR and (c) Hong Kong; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations on this subject.The pay and allowances paid to military personnel depend not only on their location but on their rank, job and personal circumstances, including whether they are married or not. It is our general policy that normal provisions on pay and allowances apply wherever personnel are serving. Service personnel receive the 'x' factor (currently an 11.5 per cent. addition to basic pay) throughout their career, which recognises their liability to serve, on occasions, in difficult and demanding circumstances. Provisions also include the payment of local overseas allowance (LOA) to personnel deployed outside the United Kingdom to cover, where appropriate, the additional costs associated with living in the country concerned. The troops deployed from Germany to the former Yugoslavia continue to receive a significant element of their LOA (70 per cent. for married personnel and 40 per cent. for single personnel) in recognition of their continuing financial commitments in Germany. In recognition of the conditions under which troops are serving in the former Yugoslavia, we have introduced a special welfare package which includes free two-way aerogrammes and an allowance towards the cost of telephone calls for all troops based in the region.

Nuclear Weapons Testing

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom of radioactive decontamination and rehabilitation of Christmas island and Monte Bello island following weapons testing; and if he will make a statement.

Three independent studies by American and New Zealand experts have demonstrated that the levels of radioactivity on Christmas island—now Kiritimati—is consistent with that to be expected from world-wide fall-out. As for the Monte Bello islands, the report of the technical assessment group showed their isolation and lack of potable water ensured visitations would be casual and that such visits would cause no radiological health concern. For both localities, therefore, no radioactive decontamination is either necessary or planned.

Hms Ark Royal (Aircraft Landings)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of (a) the Sea Harrier and (b) the Sea King pilots who landed their aircraft on HMS Ark Royal on 15 January had not previously exercised landing of their aircraft on an aircraft carrier at sea.

None.

Search And Rescue

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about his plans to transfer the search and rescue unit from RAF Coltishall to RAF Wattisham; if he proposes to review the transfer; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received a number of representations. There are no plans to review the decision.

Hms Vanguard

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the in-service date of HMS Vanguard.

Vanguard remains on course to enter service towards the end of 1994 or early in 1995.

Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's assessment as to the operational effective range of the anti-ballistic missile systems deployed around Moscow.

Components of the ABM system deployed around Moscow include the short range Gazelle interceptor for engagements within the atmosphere and the Gorgon long-range interceptor for engagements beyond the atmosphere. The Gorgon is capable of engaging incoming warheads at ranges of several hundred kilometres.

Ballistic Missiles

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how the downloading of Russian ballistic missiles under the terms of the START II agreement will be verified; and whether the downloading of Russian ballistic missiles precludes those missiles from being uploaded at a subsequent date.

START II is a bilateral treaty between the United States of America and the Russian Federation. I understand that the comprehensive verification procedure agreed under START I will apply to the new treaty as well. The texts of both START treaties have been released. Implementation of the treaty is a matter for the states party to it.

Polaris

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's latest assessment of the year in which the final Polaris submarine will be decommissioned.

We expect the last Polaris submarine to be decommissioned in the second half of the decade.

Raf Carlisle

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the reason for the postponement of the planned £2 million capital improvements at RAF Carlisle; and when the improvements will now commence.

A study is currently being carried out, with the knowledge of the trade unions, into options for the rationalisation of RAF equipment supply depots To avoid pre-empting the results of that study, it was considered prudent to defer expenditure on the transportation shed at RAF Carlisle.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Fallen Livestock

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what new guidelines have been produced by his Department to local authorities on the provision of facilities for animal waste disposal following the publication of the fourth report of the Agriculture Committee, Session 1990–91, HC 493, on disposal of fallen livestock.

The Government reply to this report—Cm 1778—made it clear that it did not believe that it would be appropriate for local authorities to take on new functions on disposal of fallen livestock within their areas of responsibility either voluntarily or as a legal duty. The Department has issued codes of good agricultural practice for the protection of water and air which contain advice to anyone including local authorities on the disposal of animal carcases.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken by his Department since 1991 to tighten legal controls over the disposal of fallen stock.

The Animal By-Products Order 1992 came into effect on 1 January 1993. This requires anyone disposing of fallen animal carcases to ensure that they are either processed in establishments approved or registered for such purposes, buried or burned.The order increases the penalties that can be imposed on those found to be disposing and dumping fallen stock illegally.

Hill Farmers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on state-financed social payments, subsidies and other support schemes to supplement income available to hill farmers in other EC member states.

Information on payment of compensatory allowances to hill farmers for 1987 to 1989 in all EC member states is available at page T/129 of "The Agricultural Situation in the Community—1991 Report", published by the European Commission. This publication is in the Library of the House. More recent information is not available. The Government do not have comprehensive details of expenditure on social and other national payments available to hill farmers in other member states.

Hormone Substances

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been charged with offences under the Hormonal Substances (Food Source) (Animals) Regulations 1991 to date.

The Hormonal Substances (Food Sources) (Animals) Regulations 1991—SI 1991/1593—were revoked and replaced by the Animals, Meat and Meat Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1991—SI 1991/2843—which came into force on 8 January 1992. To date no persons have been charged with offences under either set of regulations.

Salmonella

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the checks which take place for salmonella in live birds in Holland producing eggs that are being sold in the United Kingdom.

I understand that official checks are carried out for the presence of salmonella in poultry brooding flocks in the Netherlands, but not as far as I am aware in commercial egg laying flocks.The EC Zoonoses directive—92/117/EEC—agreed at the December Agriculture Council, includes provisions for the control of salmonella in poultry. The directive comes into force on 1 January 1994, and from that date producers in all member states will be required to meet the standards set in the directive. We would expect the European Commission to ensure compliance with the requirements in other member states.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of egg imports are subject to testing for salmonella.

Checks for salmonella in imported eggs ceased from 1 January on the introduction of the single market. However, all eggs, including imported eggs, remain subject to checks at any stage of marketing.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of salmonella were reported in each month since January 1991.

The total number of incidents of salmonella in animals and birds reported to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under the Zoonoses Order 1989, in each month since January 1991 were:

	1991	¹1992
January	389	275
February	371	320
March	315	290
April	318	245
May	280	183
June	300	236
July	300	282
August	298	281
September	492	298
October	500	301
November	393	270
December	315	166
TOTAL	4,271	3,147
¹ Figures for 1992 are provisional.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements exist for the removal of egg stocks from the market where sample testing of imported eggs reveals salmonella contamination.

All eggs on the British market, whether imported or home produced, may be subject to testing for salmonella. Any food, including eggs, which poses a threat to human health would be removed from the market under section 9 of the Food Safety Act 1990.

Eggs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures common to all member states of the European Community exist for the inspection of eggs and chickens.

European Community legislation requires inspections of chickens and eggs for various purposes including animal health, trade and consumer protection. Detailed arrangements for such inspections are usually a matter for the competent authority in each member state.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures exist to ensure that where containers carrying imported eggs are subject to random sampling, such sampling includes eggs from throughout the container and not just from those areas of the container which are immediately accessible to inspection officials.

Sampling arrangements are the same for both home produced and imported eggs. Arrangements take account of the need both to take representative samples and to facilitate the flow of trade.

Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value, at 1980 prices, of hill livestock compensatory allowances in each year since 1980.

The figures requested are shown in the table.

Hill livestock compensatory allowances at 1980 prices¹ £ per head
	Severely disadvantaged area			Disadvantaged area
	Beef cows	Higher rate sheep	Lower rate sheep	Beef cows	Sheep
1980	35.00	5.50	4.25	². .	². .
1981	37.98	5.59	3.80	². .	². .
1982	36.63	5.14	3.50	². .	². .
1983	35.01	4.92	3.34	². .	². .
1984	33.36	4.69	3.19	². .	². .
1985	31.45	4.42	3.00	15.72	1.50
1986	37.23	4.61	3.07	18.61	1.54
1987	35.76	4.43	2.95	17.88	1.48
1988	34.08	4.22	2.81	17.04	1.41
1989	31.61	3.92	2.61	15.81	1.31
1990	28.88	3.97	2.38	14.44	1.19
1991	31.70	4.38	2.45	15.85	1.23
1992	30.54	4.22	2.36	15.27	1.18
1993	29.65	3.04	1.69	14.82	1.34
¹ Current prices deflated by the retail price index.
² . . Not applicable.

Recycling (Horticulture)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what specific assistance is currently granted by his Department to promote the use of recycled waste in horticulture.

Advice on disposal, including the potential for recycling, of waste from agricultural and horticultural premises was included in the MAFF/Welsh Office code of good agricultural practice for the protection of air, issued in July 1992. The Ministry's professional advisory service, Agricultural Development Advisory Service, also offers free initial advice to growers on a wide range of environmental issues, including the recycling of waste.

Dairy Inspection Charges

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 January, at column 74, regarding dairy inspection charges, for what reason no dairy inspection charges are levied in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

This is a matter for the respective Secretaries of State.

Fishing Industry

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to the European Commission and to other fishing nations requesting that other European fishing efforts in British waters be limited to an extent equal to that resulting from the days at sea limitations to be imposed on British fishermen.

The multi-annual guidance programmes which were agreed in December require all member states to take steps to reduce their fishing effort, but it is for individual member states to determine the balance between measures to reduce capacity and measures to reduce time at sea.

Myxomatosis

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the veterinary medicines directorate will have completed its assessment of the current application from Intervet (UK) Ltd. to licence a myxomatosis vaccine.

The assessment of product licence applications against the Medicines Act's criteria of safety, quality and efficacy is a complex matter and is individual to each product. The application referred to is being assessed as rapidly as possible, consistent with the requirements of the Act.

Badgers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences for fox hunts to damage and enter dogs down badger setts during the breeding seasons of (a) December 1991 to June 1992 and (b) December 1992 to June 1993 he has granted; and if he will give details in each case.

No such licences have been issued.

Abattoirs

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost to the meat and livestock industry of veterinary supervision in abattoirs.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) on 11 January, Official Report, column 618.

Scotland

Children's Hospices

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the development of hospices for terminally ill children in Scotland.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland gave to his question on 1 December, at column 186–87.

Health Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland remuneration if he will list all appointments made as members or chairpersons and members-designate and chairpersons-designate of all national health service trusts and trusts-designate in Scotland as at 21 January and the annual scale of remuneration payable to each.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: The information requested is as follows.

		Annual remuneration £
Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. A. B. Broomfield	Aberdeen	19,285
Non-executive Directors
Professor Graeme Catto	Aberdeen	5,000
Professor Michael Meston	Aberdeen	5,000
Mr. Harold Tocher	Aberdeen	5,000
Dr. Fiona Lyle	Laurencekirk	5,000
Mrs. Ann D. Scott	Aberdeen	5,000
South Ayrshire Hospital NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. J. D. Brown	Ayr	17,145
Non-executive Directors
Mr. William M. Mowatt	Ayr	5,000
Mr. Harold J. Currie	Mauchline	5,000
Mr. Graeme McKinstry	Ayr	5,000
Mrs. Anne Wilson	Girvan	5,000
Mrs. Dorothy McLellan	Symington	5,000
Royal Scottish National Hospital NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. A. D. Ward	Uplawmoor	17,145
Non-executive Directors
Mr. Willian Hughes	Falkirk	5,000
Ms. Valerie Smart	Falkirk	5,000
Professor Averil Stewart	Linlithgow	5,000
Mr. David Tarr	Bridge of Allan	5,000
Dr. Peter Williams	Bridge of Allan	5,000
Ayrshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust
Chairman: Mrs. A. K. Bates	Galston	17,145
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. Ian Allison	Ayr	5,000
Mr. David Gall	Ayr	5,000
Mr. Robert Johnston	Beith	5,000
Dr. Susan Kinnaird	Troon	5,000
Mr. W. Scott McConnell	Strathaven	5,000
Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. G. Bruce	Thurso	15,125
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. John Gunn	Wick	5,000
Rev. Alexander Murray	Lairg	5,000
Dr. Elizabeth MacKenzie	Skerray by Thurso	5,000
Mr. John Rosie	Thurso	5,000
Ms. Wilma Taylor	Wick	5,000
Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts
Chairman: Mr. J. S. Fair	Dundee	19,285
Non-Executive Directors
Mrs. Maureen Cane	Broughty Ferry	5,000
Mr. Gordon Lowden	Dundee	5,000
Mr. Robert Lyon	Dundee	5,000
Mrs. Jacqueline Wood	Dundee	5,000
Professor Heather Dick	Dundee	5,000
Moray Health Services NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. J. Snedden	Elgin	17,145
Non-Executive Directors
Mrs. Marjory Adams	Elgin	5,000
Mr. Russell Anderson	Elgin	5,000
Mrs. Lydia King	Lossiemouth	5,000
Mr. William Phillips	Elgin	5,000
Mr. James Royan	Elgin	5,000

		Annual remuneration £
North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. W. Ritchie	Kirkoswald	19,285
Non-Executive Directors
Mrs. Angela Dunbar	Saltcoats	5,000
Mrs. Kim Donald	Fenwick	5,000
Mr. James Grier	West Kilbride	5,000
Mr. Alan Stewart	Kilmarnock	5,000
Mr. Keith Tulloch	Monkton	5,000
Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. J. Kyle	Gairloch	17,145
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. James Gray	Fortrose	5,000
Mrs. Flora Hunt	Inverness	5,000
Mr. Alexander Morrison	Golspie	5,000
Professor George McNicol	Rosemarkie	5,000
Mr. Judith Robertson	Inverness	5,000
Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. T. Gibson	Paisley	17,145
Non-Executive Directors
Mrs. Audrey Burns	Houston	5,000
Mr. Allan Durward	Bridge of Weir	5,000
Mrs. Marion Ford	Paisley	5,000
Mr. Alec MacDonald Gaunt	Paisley	5,000
Mr. George Murray	Paisley	5,000
Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. G. B. McKelvie	Auchterarder	17,145
Non-Executive Directors
Mrs. Agnes Bowie	Stirling	5,000
Mr. Graham Houston	Dunblane	5,000
Mrs. Doris Littlejohn	Bridge of Allan	5,000
Mr. Graeme Simmers	Balfron	5,000
Mrs. Anne Walker	Deanston	5,000
Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust
Chairman: Dr. J. L. C. Dall	Glasgow	19,285
Non-Executive Directors
Dr. Robert Colville	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Danielle Glasser	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Lorna Howieson	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Joan Mackenzie	Glasgow	5,000
Mr. Desmond O'Brien	Glasgow	5,000
West Lothian NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. R. S. Watt	Edinburgh	19,285
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. Thomas Bennie	Linlithgow	5,000
Mr. Jack Cunningham	Armadale	5,000
Mrs. Irene Douglas	West Calder	5,000
Mr. Peter Johnston	Livingston	5,000
Mrs. Carole Stevenson	Livingston	5,000
Southern General Hospital NHS Trust
Chairman: Mr. A. Garland	Glasgow	5,000
Non-Executive Directors
Mr. Robert McEwan	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Ann Moore	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Agnes Stewart	Glasgow	5,000
Mr. Henry Tankel	Glasgow	5,000
Mrs. Susan Bell	Biggar	5,000
Grampian Health Care NHS Trust
Chairman: Dr. A. J. Taylor	Fyvie	19,285
Monklands and Bellshill NHS Trust
Chairman: Dr. G. Bell	Bellshill	19,285
Yorkhill NHS Trust
Chairman: Mrs. J. Cameron	Glasgow	19,285

My right hon. Friend expects to announce shortly the names of the non-executive directors of the Grampian Healthcare, Monklands and Bellshill, and Yorkhill trusts.

Health Promotion

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out the individual contributions made in an official capacity by Ministers in his Department towards his Department's health promotion campaign.

[holding answer 22 January 1993]: In his foreward to the policy statement "Scotland's Health—A Challenge To Us All", my right hon. Friend set out some of the initiatives we would be taking to help promote good health in Scotland.My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State is co-ordinating action on the policy statement; and, with his agreement, the chief medical officer has met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss ways in which these two bodies can contribute to health improvements in Scotland. In October he formally welcomed the launch of a major anti-smoking campaign by the Health Education Board for Scotland. Both he and I participated in a number of engagements during European Drug Prevention Week in November to emphasise the dangers of drug misuse to health.On 4 December my hon. Friend the Minister for industry and local government in Scotland met representatives of employers' organisations in Scotland to discuss health promotion in the workplace. He was much encouraged by the helpful and constructive views expressed at the meeting and by the general welcome given to our proposal to prepare a guide to good practice on health promotion in the workplace. Later this year my hon. Friend, the Minister for agriculture and the environment in Scotland, will be meeting representatives of farming, food processing and retailing organisations to discuss how they can contribute to improvements in the Scottish diet. Further ministerial activity will take place as appropriate to maintain the momentum generated by the policy statement.

	In money terms					Deflated by retail prices index 1987–88=100
Subsidy	1987–88 £	1988–89 £	1989–90 £	1990–91 £	1991–92 £	1987–88 £	1988–89 £	1989–90 £	1990–91 £	1991–92 £
Sheep annual premium	6.24	6.10	6.94	9.88	16.03	6.24	5.81	6.14	7.98	12.24
Suckler cow premium	33.40	33.40	47.43	51.69	59.64	33.40	31.83	41.94	41.76	45.52
Hill livestock compensatory allowances¹
Hill sheep	6.75	6.75	7.50	8.75	8.75	6.75	6.43	6.63	7.07	6.68
Upland sheep	4.50	4.50	4.50	4.90	4.90	4.50	4.29	3.98	3.96	3.74
Cows	54.50	54.50	54.50	63.30	63.30	54.50	51.94	48.19	51.14	48.32
¹ Rates payable in the severely disadvantaged areas.

Road Traffic Accidents

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many people have been charged by Scottish police forces for failing to report and stop at the scene of a road traffic accident, in each of the last five years; and if he will give a regional breakdown of these figures;

Petitions

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his Department's policy for responding to the signatories of petitions; if it is his policy to respond to each of the signatories; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 20 January 1993]: My Department's usual practice is to respond to the organisers of a petition or the individual who presents it. If the organisation or person is not readily identifiable my Department writes to the first name on the petition. Responses are not sent to each of the signatories.

Official Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the (a) dates and (b) reasons for each official visit he has made to Paisley since being appointed to his present post; what plans he has to visit the town; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 20 January 1993]: I attended the formal launch of the Glencoats area development in Ferguslie Park, Paisley on 4 October 1991. I have no plans to visit Paisley in the immediate future.

Hill Livestock

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the subsidies available to hill livestock farming businesses over the last five years for which figures are available; and how they have varied in value at constant prices in relation to farm input costs and the retail price index over the last five years for which figures are available.

[holding answer 18 January 1993]: The table shows the main rates of assistance available to hill farming enterprises, in money and real terms, from livestock subsidy schemes over the last five years. Information on the prices of input items of hill farming enterprises are not readily available. However, aggregate input costs which include input volume as well as price changes, have risen at a rate below the retail prices index.(2) how many people have been prosecuted for failing to report and stop at the scene of a road traffic accident, in each of the last five years; and if he will give a regional breakdown of these figures.

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. Table (i) gives the total number of offences under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and corresponding earlier legislation, which were cleared-up by Scottish police forces. Table (ii) gives the number of offences under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and corresponding earlier legislation, which were

Failing to stop or report a road traffic accident, or give information or insurance documents, by region, Scotland 1987 to 1991 (i) Number of offences cleared-up
	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Borders	207	213	195	174	144
Central	290	346	334	334	295
Dumfries and Galloway	359	417	496	403	471
Fife	625	501	524	605	476
Grampian	1,388	1,277	1,270	1,313	1,286
Highland	370	340	305	310	380
Lothian	1,879	1,850	1,578	1,718	2,058
Strathclyde	3,035	2,932	2,865	2,831	2,794
Tayside	709	595	666	688	584
Orkney	26	37	26	37	18
Shetland	40	32	43	33	34
Western Isles	32	27	40	25	50
SCOTLAND	8,960	8,567	8,342	8,471	8,590

(ii) Offences proceeded against by court location
	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991
Borders	84	82	101	99	81
Central	241	251	244	238	229
Dumfries and Galloway	191	265	346	354	266
Fife	234	199	185	198	202
Grampian	686	977	777	896	977
Highland	233	193	165	193	216
Lothian	1,476	1,255	1,075	1,206	1,097
Strathclyde	1,418	1,581	1,389	1,406	1,380
Tayside	571	528	563	509	461
Orkney	38	22	18	31	13
Shetland	57	20	14	14	26
Western Isles	25	18	23	38	36
High Court	5	4	2	7	4
Proceedings discharged before court appearance	75	66	59	41	3
SCOTLAND	5,334	5,461	4,961	5,230	4,991

Employment

Disabled People

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will publish a table showing the (a) names, (b) place of residence, (c) current occupation, (d) salary, honorarium or allowance payable, (e) expected weekly time commitment, (f) date of appointment and (g) date of retirement of those appointed to serve on each local committee for the employment of disabled people; and if she will make a statement.

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 M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Gordon McMaster, dated 25 January 1993:

As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about

proceeded against. Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 includes both failing to stop or report a road traffic accident and also failing to provide proof of insurance.

Committees for the Employment of People With Disabilities (CEPD5). This is something which falls within the responsibility delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

Unfortunately, I cannot provide you with the information you require about the names, residence and occupation of people appointed to the Committees. There are 60 local Committees with a total membership of approximately 900 people and such information about the membership is not held centrally.

Chairmen and members of Committees are not paid. Certain allowances may however be claimed and I am enclosing a note of the current rates.

We do not expect any particular weekly commitment from people on the Committees, nor is there a record of the amount of time spent on Committee work. There are usually 2–4 meetings each year and events to promote people with disabilities.

Turning to your question about the date of appointment and retirement, I regret I cannot give details about the date of appointment as such information is again not held centrally. Committees are normally reconstituted approximately every three years when all appointments are considered afresh. Committee Chairmen are appointed by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State on behalf of the Secretary of State. Members are appointed by my Regional Directors again on behalf of the Secretary of State. The Committees are next due to be reconstituted on 1 April 1994 and current appointments will terminate on 31 March 1994.

Committees have a duty to advise and assist the Secretary of State for Employment (in practice my local officials) on matters relating to the employment and self employment of people with disabilities in their areas. Their role includes:

helping to influence and educate employers locally towards positive policies and action to promote the employment and progression of people with disabilities;
promoting and marketing our services to people with disabilities particularly employers;
a statutory role in respect of items referred to them in conjunction with registration of people as disabled and the provisions of the Quota Scheme.

We value the help Committees give to promoting people with disabilities and in getting the important message across to employers that disability does not mean inability.

As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Allowances for CEPD chairmen and members Subsistence allowance
	If lunch is not provided £	If lunch is provided £
Night subsistence
Inner London	98.70	94.45
Elsewhere	85.85	81.60
Day subsistence
More than 5 hours but not more than 8 hours	4.25	none
More than 8 hours	9.30	5.05

Financial loss allowance including loss of earnings and child case allowance
	£
(i) Where the period during which loss or expense is incurred is not more than four hours—maximum of	20.70
(ii) Where the period during which loss or expense is incurred exceed four hours—maximum of	41.40
Maximum amount paid per day—	41.40

Mileage by private motor vehicle
	Engine capacity of car
	Up to 1500cc	1501–2000cc	Over 2000cc
Up to 5,000 miles per year	35.7p	40p	43p
Over 5,000 miles	17p	21 p	27p

Redundant Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to introduce a charter for redundant workers.

The redundancy payments service charter, which has been in operation since November 1991, lays down standards of service to be met in dealing with claims for statutory redundancy payments, as well as certain other debts against employers who have become insolvent. It prescribes target time limits within which claims will be met, and which have recently been enhanced.In December 1991, the Employment Service published its job seekers charter, which tells job seekers how the Employment Service can help them get back to work and what happens when they claim unemployment benefits. All local offices display the standards and their performance against them.

Unemployment Benefit Disqualification

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is available regarding the length of periods of unemployment benefit disqualification imposed by adjudication officers in the area which includes the Derbyshire, North-East constituency.

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 M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Harry Barnes, dated 25 January 1993:

As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the length of periods of unemployment benefit disqualifications in the North East Derbyshire area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

All decisions on claims for unemployment benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities.

Information about the length of disqualification periods imposed is not collated or published as each is decided in the light of the circumstances surrounding the individual case. Without knowledge of these circumstances no meaningful interpretation of the information could be made.

I hope this is helpful.

As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information is available regarding the lengths of periods of unemployment benefit disqualification imposed by adjudication officers in the area which includes the constituency of Manchester, Withington.

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 M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Keith Bradley, dated 25 January 1993:

As the Employment Service is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to write to you direct to respond to your Parliamentary Question to her about the length of periods of unemployment benefit disqualifications in the Manchester, Withington area. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

All decisions on claims for unemployment benefit are made by the independent adjudicating authorities.

Information about the length of disqualification periods imposed is not collated or published as each is decided in the light of the circumstances surrounding the individual case. Without knowledge of these circumstances no meaningful interpretation of the information could be made.

I hope this is helpful.

As decided by the Administration Committee of the House of Commons, Chief Executive replies to written Parliamentary Questions will now be published in the Official Report. I will also place a copy of this letter in the Library of the House.

Wales

Transport Links

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the European Community to secure the inclusion of additional Welsh seaports in the draft maps outlining the trans-European transport network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has made to the European Community concerning the possibility of including Cardiff Wales airport as a second-line hub airport within a trans-European airport network.

The Government are currently considering their approach to the Commission's work on trans-European transport networks which are still at an early stage. My officials hope soon to meet the Commission's transport directorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what representations have been made by his Department to date to the European Community concerning (a) the future development of ferry ports in Wales and (b) the future development of transport links between Wales and the Republic of Ireland;(2) what representations he has made to the European Commission's directorates general XVI (inter-regional) and VII (transport) concerning the inclusion of Wales-Ireland transport links as part of the INTERREG programme.

My officials have had a number of discussions with their counterparts in the European Commission over links between Wales and the Republic of Ireland and my right hon. Friend intends to raise this matter at his next meeting with Commissioner Millan.

Self-Employment

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many self-employed people in Wales have reported (a) zero income and (b) after-tax losses in Wales in each year since 1990.

Reliable estimates for Wales are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have been self-employed (a) in their main job and (b) in a secondary job in Wales in each year since 1990; and what are the numbers of self-employed (i) men, (ii) women and (iii) the percentage of the Welsh work force who have been self-employed in each year.

The estimated numbers of people who have been self-employed in main and secondary jobs are given in the table. These estimates are subject to sampling variablity and are not reliable indicators of year to year changes.

Self-employed in main and second job by sex
Thousands
Spring	Self Employed (main job)	Self Employed (second job)¹	Self Employed in main job as a percentage of economically active
1990
All persons	166	18	12.3
Males	128	13	16.7
Females	38	—²	6.6
1991
All persons	161	12	12.0
Males	123	—²	16.3
Females	38	—²	6.5
1992
All persons	168	18	12.7
Males	129	11	17.1
z7Females	39	—²	6.9

Source: Labour Force Surveys

¹ Excludes those who did not state their status in second job.

² Estimates below 10,000 are not published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many families with a self-employed main earner have been in receipt of (a) family income supplement and (b) family credit in Wales in each year since 1990; and if he will express this figure as a proportion of all (a) family income supplement claimants and (b) family credit claimants.

Estimates of the numbers in receipt of family credit, based on a 5 per cent. sample of awards, are given in the table. Family income supplement was replaced by family credit in April 1988.

Family credit recipients in Wales
	Families with a self employed main earner	Families with a self-employed main earner as a percentage of all cases
April 1990	4,100	19
April 1991	3,740	17
April 1992	3,920	16

Source: Department of Social Security.

Quangos

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give figures for the total number of quangos in Wales, together with the total number of staff employed and the total expenditure, including those connected to the health service, for each year from 1979 to 1991, together with the percentage difference in each case.

The available information is shown in the tables, based on the figures published annually in "Public Bodies,".

Total number of public bodies in wales^{1 2} Table 1
Year	Executive	Advisory	Tribunals	NHS	Total	Per cent difference year on year
1978–79	16	12	3	9	40	—
1979–81	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1981–82	17	19	4	10	50	—
1982–83	17	27	4	10	58	+16
1983–84	16	30	10	10	66	+14
1984–85	16	31	11	18	76	+16
1985–86	16	30	11	18	75	-1
1986–87	16	30	11	19	76	+1
1987–88	17	28	11	19	75	-1
1988–89	18	30	11	19	78	+4
1989–90	18	29	11	19	77	-1
1990–91	19	31	11	19	80	+4

Total number of staff employed by public bodies in Wales^{1 2}
Year	Executive	NHS	Total	Percentage difference year on year
1978–79	7,548.0	³50,321.0	57,869.0	—
1979–81	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
1 April 1982	7,393.0	³54,055.0	61,448.0	—
1 April 1983	7,082.5	54,030.0	61,112.5	-1
1 April 1984	1,766.0	54,121.0	55,887.0	-9
1 April 1985	1,749.0	54,791.0	56,540.0	+1
1 April 1986	1,529.0	55,602.0	57,131.0	+1
1 April 1987	1,570.5	55,567.0	57,137.5	—
1 April 1988	1,548.0	55,602.5	57,150.5	—
1 April 1989	⁵1,565.0	55,765.0	57,330.0	+1
1 April 1990	1,580.5	55,851.0	57,431.5	—
1 April 1991	1,794.0	55,517.5	57,311.5	-1

Total expenditure by public bodies in Wales^{1 2}
Year	Executive £ million	NHS £ million	Total £ million	Percentage difference year on year
1978–79	212.32	³411.00	623.32	—
1979–81	n/a	n/a	n/a	—
1981–82	310.50	³765.30	1,075.80	—
1982–83	304.81	737.82	1,042.63	-1
1983–84	130.11	784.33	914.45	-12
1984–85	138.61	⁵838.93	977.54	+7
1985–86	134.82	909.43	1,044.25	+7
1986–87	133.45	977.42	1,110.87	+6
1987–88	168.64	1,082.25	1,250.88	+13
1988–89	223.51	1,202.43	1,425.94	+14
1989–90	337.18	1,285.86	1,623.04	+14
1990–91	379.67	1,465.81	1,845.48	+14
¹ Source: Report on Non-Departmental Public Bodies published January 1980, Cmnd 7797.
² Source: "Public bodies", first published in 1982 and successive years by the Cabinet Office.
³ Figures for NHS bodies are estimated. Not previously published in this format.
⁴ These figures should be read in conjunction with the notes provided in the Cabinet Office publications "Public Bodies" for the appropriate year.
⁵ Figures published in "Public Bodies" were misprinted. Amended figures are shown above.

Business Advice Centres

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many clients have sought th assistance of each business advice center in Wales within each of the last three years; and what monitoring has been undertaken of the nature of the inquiries.

Business Advice Centre
	1989–90		1990–91		1991–92
	¹BAS	²TS	BAS	TS	BAS	TS
Ystradgynlais and Brecon	685	113	465	74	630	129
Llandrindod Wells	668	67	661	57	794	144
Welshpool	1,412	107	940	94	1,040	100

Many organisations in Wales, "centres" for giving advice to businesses. Information on total numbers of clients seeking advice from such bodies is not held centrally. However, the Development Board for Rural—DBRW—operates a network of business advice center and the information requested for those centres is as follows:

	1989–90		1990–91		1991–92
	¹BAS	²TS	BAS	TS	BAS	TS
Newcastle Emlyn	747	73	1,033	128	1,011	130
Aberystwyth	1,292	120	1,178	97	1,152	69
Dolgellau	524	125	772	100	793	59
¹ BAS—Business Advisory Sessions (number held).
² TS—Training Sessions (number held).

The Development Board for Rural Wales monitoring includes a range of processes including customer-care questionnaires, independent reviews and evaluations of customer needs, as well as meeting representatives of the business advice centres monthly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the business advice centres established in Wales within the last three years; and if he will make a statement outlining the main activities carried out by such centres.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given today. As regards the Development Board for Rural Wales network of business advice centres, two additional centres have been established at Cardigan and Lampeter. They primarily provide advice on business start-up, training, and access to information on premises and financial assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been allocated by his Department to develop business advice centres in Wales within each of the last three years; and if he will list the amount allocated to each centre.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given today. The Development Board for Rural Wales has allocated funding to its business advice centres over the last three financial years, as follows:

Business advice center	1989–90 £	1990–91 £	1991–92 £
Ystradgynlais and Brecon	21,000	36,000	36,000
Llandrindod Wells	14,000	18,000	18,000
Welshpool	14,000	18,000	18,000
Newcastle Emlyn	18,000	18,000	18,000
Aberystwyth	14,000	18,000	18,000
Dolgellau	14,000	18,000	18,000

In addition, the Welsh Development Agency and the Development Board for Rural Wales have given funding for core services and special projects to Wales' 21 local enterprise agencies, which also provide business advice, as follows:

1989–90 £	1990–91 £	1991–92 £
430,700	370,400	353,000

Local Development Agencies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish local development agencies to operate in the 10 areas which head the deprivation tables published by his Department with the duty of granting loans to assist unemployed people to establish their own businesses.

I have approved local enterprise agencies in all but one of the areas concerned and I am

currently considering an application for the remaining area. These agencies provide a wide range of services to people considering establishing their own business, including advice on the Government's loan guarantee scheme.

Disabled People (Unemployment)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current rate of unemployment among (a) disabled people in total and (b) disabled people of working age in Wales.

Information on those with a health problem or disability which limits the kind of paid work they can do is available from the labour force survey, but is only collected for people of working age. It is estimated that, in the summer of 1992, 7 per cent. of such people were unemployed according to the International Labour Organisation definition. A further 12 per cent. said they would like a job but were not currently looking for work. These estimates are based on very small samples in Wales and may be subject to large sampling variability.

Education Capital Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what was the indicative capital allocation for education in Mid-Glamorgan (a) for 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93; and what information he has of the actual expenditure by Mid-Glamorgan;(2) what calculation he has made in capital appraisals for Mid-Glamorgan in 1993–94 for the development of bilingual education.

Welsh local education authorities do not receive indicative capital allocations for education services. County councils receive annual basic credit approvals which are unhypothecated to particular services. Spending priorities between services and within services, including spending on bilingual education, are a matter for them. Actual capital expenditure on education services by Mid Glamorgan county council, including any financed from the authority's own resources, in 1991–92 was reported at £9.014 million and for 1992–93 is forecast by the local authority to be £8.226 million.

Ec Regional Development Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the projects supported by the European regional development fund in Wales, by county, for each of the last three years.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman and will place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Trunk Roads

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on how many occasions, and for how much mileage in each case, county highways have been redesignated as trunk roads in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

In the last 10 years only two such trunking orders have been made. These were:

1982—The St. Clears-Nash (South Pembrokeshire) Trunk Road (Nash Finger Post—Waterloo Roundabout Trunking) Order 1982 (SI 1982 No. 437). A length of 2.81 miles.

1987—The London—Fishguard Trunk Road (A48) and the Newhouse—High Beech Principal Road (A466) (County of Gwent) Order 1987 (SI 1987 No. 322) A length of 1.34 miles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Cardiff city council concerning the release of final tranches of urban development grant to the Brent Walker Welsh world trade centre; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office receives a written quarterly progress report from Cardiff city council on the Cardiff international arena—formerly the world trade centre. Frequent informal contact by officials is also maintained with the city council's monitoring team.Under the terms of the urban development grant agreement between Cardiff city council and Brent Walker plc, £3 million has been paid to Brent Walker for work undertaken and £0.25 million remains to be paid. The balance of the grant will only be released when the building has been completed to the satisfaction of the city council and the Department.

Conwy Tunnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what analysis he has made of the cost control and contracting techniques used in the completion of construction of the Conwy tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that the financial aspects of the work carried out on the Conwy crossing, including cost control and contractual arrangements, are consistent with best financial practice as laid down in the Department's rules and instructions for dealing with all trunk road projects.

Central Office Of Information

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales for what length of time the Central Office of Information will carry responsibility for his Department's printing and publicity contracts; and if he will place a copy of the letter of arrangement with COI covering the delegation of power to place his Department's contracts in the Library.

We will be reviewing the arrangements during 1993–94 and will change them if value-for-money and managerial considerations suggest that that is the right course.The relationship with COI is a long-standing one. The extent to which COI is used is a matter for administrative decision rather than specific contract.

Butetown Link Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he had with the South Glamorgan county council concerning the application of a global settlement agreement with the contractors' consortium building the Butetown link road section of the south Glamorgan peripheral distributor road.

My right hon. Friend met the leader of South Glamorgan county council on 16 November and again on 20 January when the financing of the Butetown link was discussed.

Printing And Publicity Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date he was first informed of allegations of improper conduct in the placing of his Department's printing and publicity contracts; and what follow-up action he took.

On 28 April 1992 I was advised that a member of staff engaged in publicity work was to be dismissed for misconduct following an informal investigation. The matter was put in the hands of the police.A reorganisation of the department's systems for publicity management had been instituted in 1991 and is continuing.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which non-departmental public bodies are sponsored by his Department; which of these are audited by the National Audit Office; which firms of private accountants audit each of the others, by what method of tendering contracts to such firms are awarded; and for what duration.

[Pursuant to his reply, 10 July 1992, c. 360–61]: Three Welsh non-departmental public bodies were not included in "Public Bodies 1991" because of their establishment after its publication.Wales Youth Agency was incorporated on 1 April 1992. The agency is a company limited by guarantee. Messrs. Owens Thomas and Co., chartered accountants, were appointed as auditors on 18 December 1992. The appointment followed open competition.The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Further Education Funding Council for Wales were established on 6 May 1992. In both cases the Comptroller and Auditor General is the auditor.

Social Security

Carers

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his best estimate of the cost of continuing payment of invalid care allowance for a period of (a) eight weeks and (b) six months after their caring responsibilities come to an end to carers who have been receiving invalid care allowance for more than one year.

The estimated cost of continuing payment of invalid care allowance after caring ceases to carers who have been receiving the benefit for more than one year is £5 million for eight weeks and £16 million for six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will review the present rules governing carer premium and carers over the age of 65.

The carer premium is linked to entitlement to invalid care allowance and is primarily intended to give additional help to younger carers, many of whom previously had no premium. Additional help is given to people over 60 through the pensioner premiums. We have no plans to extend the carer premium to people who are unable to establish entitlement to invalid care allowance on age grounds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many carers aged over 65 years receive (a) invalid care allowance and (b) the carer premium; and what proposals he has to increase the amount of financial support for older carers.

At 31 December 1992, 288 men over age 65 and 9,028 women over age 60 were receiving invalid care allowance. Separate figures are not held on the numbers of carers over age 65 who receive carer premium. We have no plans to increase the amount of financial support for older carers.

Note: Separate figures are not available for female carers over age 65.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much his Department spends on invalid care allowance and the carer premium; and what percentage of the total social security budget this figure makes up.

Expenditure on invalid care allowance and the carer premium was £262 million and £15.5 million respectively in 1991–92. This represents 0.02 per cent. of the total social security budget for that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost his Department to restore national insurance credits for short-term benefits through invalid care allowance.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 18 November 1992, at columns 252–53.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he plans to initiate a take-up campaign for invalid care allowance and the carer premium in light of the introduction of community care; and if he will make a statement.

The number of people in receipt of invalid care allowance continues to increase. We have no plans to initiate a take-up campaign at present, but we shall continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he proposes to abolish the upper age limit for first claims of invalid care allowance.

We have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people currently receive invalid care allowance; and what percentage this is of the total number of people caring for 35 hours or more each week.

At 31 December 1992, there were 189,000 people receiving invalid care allowance. Figures showing the total number of people who are caring for 35 hours or more each week are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate for the number of carers who are entitled to the carer premium; and how many are actually paid it.

We estimate that about 70,000 people are entitled to the carer premium because they have invalid care allowance, or would have it but for the overlapping benefit rules, and are claiming income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit. Premiums are awarded in those benefits where the qualifying conditions are met, so this would also be our estimate of the numbers who have it included in the calculation of their benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of national average earnings the current level of invalid care allowance is; and if he will make a statement.

The current rate of invalid care allowance is £32.55 which represents 10.69 per cent. of average national earnings. Invalid care allowance recipients may earn up to £40 a week, after deduction of allowable expenses, without affecting their entitlement. They may also be eligible to receive other social security benefits.

Note: Average national earnings figure for April 1992 is £304.60 ( Source: New Earnings Survey).

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost his Department to extend eligibility for invalid care allowance to carers providing care and support for a person who receives the lower rate care component of disability living allowance; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people would benefit and what is his estimate of the cost of extending entitlement to invalid care allowance to those caring for a person who receives the lower rate care component of disability living allowance.

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs Ewing) on 18 November 1992 at columns 252–53, and to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 11 January 1993 at columns 676–77.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people are (a) in receipt of and (b) estimated to be eligible for the carer premium; and what measures his Department is taking to increase take-up of the carer premium.

We estimate that about 70,000 people are currently eligible for, and receiving, the carer premium in income support, housing benefit or community charge benefit because they have invalid care allowance, or would have it but for the overlapping benefit rules. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the numbers who could become eligible for the premium were they to claim one or more of the benefits mentioned. The carer premium is already publicised in a number of ways and we continually monitor the provision of information about benefits.

Income Support

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate the number of claimants of income support in residential and nursing homes in each of the last three years for which figures are available, in each year giving both the total figures and the numbers in receipt of the weekly rates for elderly people, very dependent elderly, mental disorder other than mental handicap, drug or alcohol dependency, mental handicap, terminal illness and physical disablement below pension age.

Estimates of numbers claiming each of the income support limits are shown in the table.

Numbers of claimants
(000s)¹
	May 1990	May 1991	May 1992
Residential Care
Elderly	58	63	63
Very dependent/blind elderly	31	35	40
Mental illness	5	6	10
Alcohol and drug dependence	3	2	3
Mental handicap	18	21	27
Physical handicap below pensionable age	7	8	9
Others	4	2	2
TOTALS	125	137	154
Nursing Homes
Others including elderly	37	49	60
Mental illness	5	4	4
Alcohol and drug dependence	—²	—²	—²
Mental Handicap	1	2	2
Physical handicap below pensionable age	2	5	7
Terminal illness	17	34	44
TOTALS	64	94	117
¹ Numbers rounded to nearest thousand.
² Denotes figures under 500.

Note: These estimates are based on the May quarterly, one per cent, samples of live cases.

Social Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he will publish the social fund budget allocations for individual district offices, following the social fund discretionary loans budget announced on 18 January.

Today a list of the new social fund budget allocations for district offices has been placed in the Library.As a result of increases in the discretionary social fund loans budget for this financial year, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State has changed two of the Benefits Agency's published targets for 1992–93. The revised targets are:

(i) to keep to the gross allocation for social fund loans and grants of £317 million.

(ii) recovery of Social Fund loans—£187 million.

The new loan recovery target represents the higher level of recoveries which the Benefits Agency is expected to achieve as a result of the increased gross allocation for loans. We do not propose to increase the rate of recovery from individual customers or change their repayment arrangements.

Disability Living Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action his Department is taking to help carers who have gone into debt as a result of the delays in payments of disability living allowance.

Income Support is available under the normal rules for anyone who otherwise would be left without funds.Furthermore an award of invalid care allowance may be backdated for up to 12 months provided that entitlement to disability living allowance has been established for the relevant period.

Community Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the number of severely disabled people who will have to go into residential care when the new funding system for community care is introduced in April; and if he will publish letters sent by officials of his Department during December 1992 to directors of (a) the independent living fund and (b) other relevant organisations about maximum payments for independent living.

The information on residential care is not available in the form requested. We do not intend to publish official correspondence.

Serps

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what plans he has to advertise the financial benefits of opting back into the state earnings-related pension scheme for those with personal pensions;(2) what is his estimate of the number of those holding personal pensions who would now benefit by opting back into the state earnings-related pension scheme.

The 1 per cent. additional rebate, which will be paid to appropriate personal pension holders aged 30 and over from April this year, is intended to ensure that the majority of personal pension holders continue to find it worth while to maintain their personal pensions.Taking out and maintaining a personal pension is a matter of individual choice. The decision will be based on many factors, including age, earnings, likely future investment returns and future employment intentions. It is therefore not possible to say how many appropriate personal pension holders would benefit from returning to the state earnings-related pension scheme at any specific time.

Independent Living Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements will be made under the successor scheme to the independent living fund in assessing care needs for awards; and what action will be taken in the event of reduction in support provided by a local authority.

Responsibility for assessing care needs will initially be with local authorities. People who are eligible for help from the new fund will also be assessed by social workers employed by the successor body. Details of how local authority arrangements will work, including interaction between local authorities and the successor body, have yet to be finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what powers the successor independent living fund body will have to review the awards of existing beneficiaries.

Subject to its cash limited provision, the successor body will have an unfettered power to review the awards of existing beneficiaries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assumptions will be made in considering applications under the successor scheme to the independent living fund, on the level of support from local authorities for applicants; if this will be fixed on a local basis; to whom applications will be made; and if local authorities will be able to refuse awards.

Details of arrangements applying to local authorities are not yet finalised and are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what arrangements will be made under the successor scheme to the independent living fund for appeals by applicants in cases of disagreement between the trustees and local authorities or otherwise; what limits will be placed on payments and whether help for local authorities will count towards the limit; what criteria will be applied in deciding applications; and what arrangements will be made for local cash limits.

There will be no independent right of appeal available to those who apply to the successor body for new cases. It is right that the trustees should have the final say on expenditure for which they are responsible.There will be a ceiling of £500 per week for total costs of help under the scheme.Details of arrangements applying to local authorities are not yet finalised and are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.The people eligible for help from the body for new cases will be those severely disabled people aged 16 to 65 who are:

(a) in receipt of the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance;

(b) who, after paying care costs with help from the fund, are left with income at or about the level of Income Support; and

Ec Social Security Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he next expects to have discussions with other EC member states and the European Commission on the proposed Council regulation amending regulation (EEC) No. 1408/71 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community and regulation (EEC) No. 574/72 laying down the procedure for implementing regulation (EEC) 1408/71; and if he will make a statement.

We have no current plans to discuss these draft amending regulations personally with other EC member states or the European Commission. However, officials are taking part in negotiations on behalf of my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, within the normal Community machinery. Once these negotiations have been completed, reference will be made to the Council of Ministers for final approval by all member states.

Overseas Development Administration

Women Refugees

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what representations he has had on the particular needs and dangers facing women refugees; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will seek to amend the 1951 United Nations convention relating to the status of refugees to define women as a social group facing persecution resulting from gender based discrimination, violence, sexual exploitation and traditional practices harmful to women.

It would not be a practical proposition to amend the 1951 convention on the status of refugees. But I am well aware of the particular needs and dangers facing women refugees. Women are often in the majority among refugees. They may be separated from their husbands and relatives, struggling to look after children in difficult conditions.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has become increasingly aware of women's particular problems and needs, such as protection from violence, equal representation on refugee committees, family planning services and child care facilities. The high commissioner has introduced appropriate operational guidelines and appointed a women's co-ordinator.

Tropical Rain Forests

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress was made during the United Kingdom's presidency of the European Community in implementing the fourth European Community action plan for the Environment as it relates to the conservation of tropical rain forests.

Under our presidency we achieved, with EC backing, the inclusion of follow-up to the UNCED forest principles in the remit of the UN Sustainable Development Commission, and the development of a consensus amongst tropical timber consuming countries that the sustainable production of timber should be the central objective of a renegotiated international tropical timber agreement. The Community and individual member states, including the United Kingdom, made progress towards the identification of incentives for the sustainable management of forests. The Community and many member states continued to undertake substantial programmes of development assistance in tropical forestry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to support the development of a code of conduct to regulate the activities of European national companies operating in tropical rain forest regions.

I have no such plans. Regulation of the activities of companies operating in the rain forests is the responsibility of the rainforest countries themselves. We are ready to consider requests from developing countries for help in the management of their forests including the development and strengthening of effective regulatory arrangements and institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will publish the results of monitoring carried out in relation to the joint Commonwealth Development Corporation and Kolombangara Forest Products Ltd. project, pursuant to plans elaborated in the 1989–1993 environmental working plan;(2) pursuant to his answer of 3 December 1992,

Official Report, column 310, if the Commonwealth Development Corporation has carried out an environmental impact assessment in relation to its involvement with the Liberty Club Ltd. tourist hotel development in Grenada.

As indicated in my earlier answer, decisions on individual investments are the responsibility of the Commonwealth Development Corporation Board. Consideration of the environmental aspects of proposed investments is an integral part of the corporation's project appraisal and approval procedures. The assessment and monitoring procedures for specific projects and the results of these are a matter for the corporation. I have asked the chairman to write the hon. Member and will arrange for copies of his letter to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to review the current level of tariffs on imports of tropical timber goods into the European Community in order to encourage trade in sustainably produced and value-added products.

We have no plans to review these tariffs. Negotiation of such tariffs is the responsibility of the European Commission which is currently engaged in tariff negotiations as part of the Uruguay round on GATT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 4 December 1992, Official Report, column 428, if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the ODA-supported assessment of the implementation to date of the international tropical timber agreement.

We continuously review and assess the ITTO's performance. No report has been produced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the Government's total contribution to the special account of the International Tropical Timber Organisation since 1987.

Since 1987 we have committed US dollars 1,961,986 to projects financed through the International Tropical Timber Organisation's special account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response ODA officials have made to a letter from Friends of the Earth, dated 20 November 1992, requesting detailed information on British support for the tropical forestry action plan.

ODA officials will reply to Friends of the Earth as soon as they have compiled the details requested. I will send the hon. Member a copy of their letter. A summary is contained in my reply to the hon. Member of 7 December 1992 at column 494.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what plans he has to discuss the conservation of tropical rain forests with Ministers from other European Community member states;(2) what plans he has to discuss the conservation of tropical rain forests with ministers from other European Community member states.

I have no immediate plans to do so. Tropical forestry issues are discussed regularly within the European Community at official level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 3 December, to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith), Official Report, column 310, what was the most recent FAO assessment of the rate of tropical forest loss before the one made in 1990.

The previous assessment in 1980 estimated the rate of tropical forest loss to be 12 million hectares annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to discuss with his European Community counterparts the renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement.

No Ministerial meetings are planned. Overseas Development Administration officials have frequent discussions with their European Community colleagues on the renegotiation of the international tropical timber agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to establish a programme for the planting of trees in tropical countries to offset emissions of carbon dioxide.

Our support to forestry programmes in developing countries through the aid programme is designed to encourage sustainable forestry and forest conservation and includes reafforestation activities. One of the advantages of successful implementation of these policies is to the global climate through carbon sequestration.

International Development Association

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom proposals for the replenishment of the World Bank's International Development Association.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Lull) on 19 January at column 155.

Overseas Aid

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportion of British aid is directly focused on the alleviation of poverty;(2) if he will publish in the next issue of "British Aid Statistics" a table showing the proportion of British aid directly focused on the alleviation of poverty.

The basic purpose of the aid programme is to reduce poverty in the poorest countries. We do this in a number of ways including supporting sound policies that will encourage economic growth, ensuring that full account is taken of the impact of our projects and programmes on poor people and by projects which are specifically intended to help the poorest communities directly.Direct poverty alleviation activities are funded through a number of channels including through our bilateral country programmes, and our support for nongovernmental organisations. The overall figure for those activities is not currently available, although work is underway on a system for collating this information. We hope to include it in future editions of "British Aid Statistics". But this direct assistance is only a part of our total contribution to poverty reduction through multilateral as well as bilateral channels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of aid for developing countries planned for 1993–94 and 1994–95 is already committed.

The financial management of the aid programme for developing countries over the survey period is exercised through spending allocations to individual programme managers for each of the three years ahead.It is the responsibility of programme managers to live within their spending allocations and make commitments accordingly. The forecast rate of expenditure in future years against any commitment will be subject to change.The latest position for 1993–94 will be reflected in the main estimates to be published in March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what countries currently receive United Kingdom bilateral aid assistance in relation to the control of human population growth.

We are currently providing bilateral assistance to population programmes in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Zimbabwe; we are also providing assistance to a non-governmental organisation working in South Africa. We expect to begin financing population projects in Tanzania and Uganda in the near future. In addition we are supporting NGO population projects in 17 countries through the joint funding scheme. Our aim is to enable more women and men to choose when to have children and to help meet the considerable unmet demand for safe and effective family planning and reproductive health services in developing countries.

Brazil

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific activities have so far been conducted under the Overseas Development Administration-funded project in the Tapajos national forest in Brazil.

No logging activity has been started in the forest. An initial meeting of agencies involved in the project was held in Brazil on 15 December 1992, chaired by the director of the national forest. It was attended by representatives of the ODA, the International Tropical Timber Organisation (the managing agent) and all the Brazilian agencies involved. Two Brazilian environmental NGOs also attended. The meeting established the steering and consultative committees which will advise and monitor the project. A further meeting in February is planned to consider the work plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available to the House a copy of an environmental impact assessment relating to the Overseas Development Administration-funded project in the Tapajos national forest in Brazil.

The objective of the project is to conduct controlled selective logging on a trial basis to see if it is possible to manage the forest for commercial purposes without causing long term environmental damage. The trial will be in an area of less than 1 per cent. of the national forest and will contribute to an on-going environmental impact assessment.

Aid And Trade Provision

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) of 19 June 1992, Official Report, column 695, when the review of aid and trade provision will be published.

Following the review of the aid and trade provision, Ministers decided in the context of last year's public expenditure discussions that the scheme should continue. An announcement about future policy will be made to the House shortly.

Developing Countries (Aid)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the net flow of private resources to developing countries for each year since 1979; and for each of these years what was the level of aid paid to these countries and the level of their debt interest payments.

The figures are as follows:

($ billion)	Net Private Flows to Developing Countries	Aid (oda) to Developing Countries	Interest and Dividends Paid by Developing Countries
1979	54.0	31.1	n/a
1980	66.2	37.8	63.6
1981	74.3	36.8	86.4
1982	58.2	33.8	95.3
1983	47.9	33.7	90.6
1984	31.6	34.7	89.5
1985	30.2	37.0	92.8
1986	26.5	44.5	80.3
1987	33.7	48.4	73.6
1988	43.9	51.5	93.4
1989	48.6	51.4	93.4
1990	52.6	63.0	93.3
¹1991	55.4	62.0	96.1

Source: OECD.

¹ Provisional figure.

Russian Federation

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much funding from the know-how fund is being given to assist the current symposium in parliamentary democracy for members of the symposium in parliamentary democracy for members of the supreme soviet of the Russian Federation organised by the department of politics of the University of Leeds; which parliamentary parties have been invited to participate; and what attention the symposium is paying (a) to the conflict in Ireland and (b) the role of regional parties in the House of Commons.

The know-how fund has allocated £60,000 towards the costs of this symposium. I understand from the organisers that Members of Parliament from the following parties have been invited to participate in various stages of the course:

the Conservative Party
the Labour Party
the Liberal Democrat Party
the Ulster Unionist Party
the Scottish National Party
Plaid Cymru
the Democratic Unionist Party
the Social Democratic and Labour Party
the Ulster Popular Unionist Party

The symposium will include during its three week programme separate discussion, each of one and a half hours, on the situation in Northern Ireland and on the role of regional and nationalist parties in Parliament.

World Bank

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what efforts have been made by his Department to secure greater public scrutiny of the activities of the International Development Association of the World bank.

The World bank circulates monthly an operational summary containing information about all projects which it is considering for possible financing, and their environmental categorisation. This includes projects financed under the International Development Association as well as those financed on normal Bank terms. Copies of the operational summaries are available in the libraries of the House. All financial decisions made by the board and a wide range of technical and policy papers are also published.Bank procedures require that information on projects with potentially significant environmental impacts is made available to the local groups and non-governmental organisations in the borrowing country well in advance of consideration of the project in the board. We have supported the development of these arrangements.

Development Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to publish the Government's voting position on all multilateral development bank board decisions.

The proceedings of the boards of the multilateral development banks are confidential so as not to inhibit full and frank discussion.

Liberia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what humanitarian aid and other forms of assistance is being provided from his Department to the economic community of West African states and to United Nations and other agencies in their efforts to overcome the problems created by the spillover of the conflict in Liberia into Sierra Leone; and if he will make a statement.

We have supported strongly in the UN and elsewhere the efforts made by ECOWAS to bring about peace in Liberia, which will also be an essential element in resolving Sierra Leone's problems. The UK's humanitarian aid to the region as a whole arising from the Liberian conflict amounts to some £8.4 million (including contributions made through the EC), of which £1.1 million has been provided for assistance to Sierra Leone.

Kenya

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will now press for suspended bilateral and multilateral aid to Kenya to be released.

Britain has not suspended bilateral aid to Kenya. Our development assistance programme, worth £29 million in 1991–92 continues.In common with other donors, we have withheld provision of new balance of payments assistance pending economic and political reforms. Recent progress on the political front has been commendable culminating in the multi-party elections held last month which we and international observers believe constituted a major step on the road to democracy. Economic progress will be examined in a forthcoming IMF review of Kenya's economic reform programme. We and other donors will take account of the outcome of this review in considering future policy.

Overseas Aid Review

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reason statistics on official and private flows to developing countries, with breakdown, and the percentage shares of gross national product involved were dropped from the 1992 British overseas aid review; why the review's publication date was delayed until December 1992; and if he will make it his policy to reinstate the figures for official and private flows, broken down by categories as in the 1991 annual review, and expressed as percentages of gross national product, for subsequent years.

[holding answer 18 January 1993]: Tables giving statistics on official and private flows to developing countries and the percentage shares of gross national product were not included in the 1992 edition of the "British Overseas Aid Annual Review" following an internal review of the format, presentation, content and style of the review.Individual tables taken from "British Aid Statistics" are available free from ODA information department.The review was published at a later date than in the past to coincide with the availability of "British Aid Statistics" which was published later this year following the decision to show tables on a financial rather than calendar year basis.A decision of the format of the 1993 annual review and the information to be contained within it will be taken later this year, taking account of all views expressed on the 1992 review.

Environment

Waste Disposal

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he had held or plans to hold with the National Association of Waste Regulation Officers relating to inconsistency of penalties for waste disposal offences; and if he will make a statement.

None. We understand that the National Association of Waste Regulation Officers is looking into this issue following some recent court cases, but it has so far made no representations to the Department. Within the maxima laid down by Parliament, it is for the courts to determine the most suitable sentence in the light of all the circumstances of the offence and the offender.

Drinking Water

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are to bring down the amount of lead in United Kingdom drinking water in line with the World Health Organisation guideline of 10 micrograms per litre.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wakefield (Mr. Hinchliffe) on 20 January, at column 265.

Climate Change

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations have been made by his Department to the United Nations on the provision of verification of compliance within the framework convention on climate change following the United Nations conference on environment and development.

The United Kingdom believes that effective mechanisms for reporting and review of measures taken under the framework convention on climate change are vital for its effective implementation. We reiterated this point at the December 1992 meeting of the intergovernmental negotiating committee on the convention—INC—which took decisions on a plan of work in preparation for the first meeting of the parties to the convention. Among the issues which the INC will consider is the review of information communicated by developed countries on policies and measures for the mitigation of climate change.

Pit Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to recognise special needs in coal mining areas more quickly; and how quickly it is intended to make such assistance available where collieries close arising from the current coal review.

My Department is making available £5 million under the coalfield areas fund for assistance for areas which may be affected by possible closures. A total of £1.8 million is being made available to the Tyne and Wear development corporation, to support projects aimed at making land quickly available for manufacturing jobs. We are considering enterprize zone designation in areas affected by the possible closures.These initiatives are part of the substantial packages of measures announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 13 and 19 October 1992. Decisions on the implementation of these measures will be taken in the light of the outcome of the coal review.

Urban Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what consultations he has had with local authorities and their associations concerning the conduct of the review of urban programme authorities and the use of 1991 census information; and what plans he has for further consultations;(2) what work has so far been undertaken by his Department in relation to the review of the list of authorities eligible for funding under the urban programme and successor arrangements;(3) what draft criteria have so far been devised for use with the 1991 census data for reviewing the list of authorities eligible for funding from the urban programme and successor arrangements.

The Department has commissioned research into the compilation of an index of urban conditions using 1991 census and other data. The purpose of the index is to consider the needs of urban areas, and it will be used to inform decisions on the future share of urban policy, including the review of urban priority areas. The local authority associations were represented on a steering group to oversee preliminary work on the index. We have since done further work to produce a range of indicators, which will include factors such as unemployment, housing and education. We will be offering the local authority associations the chance to comment on these shortly.

Urban Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library copies of all letters sent out by his Department dealing with bids for urban programme funding for 1993–94 between 15 October and 13 November 1992.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each urban programme authority how much funding Gateshead has received under the urban programme at 1992 prices for each of the last three years; how many projects have been supported; and how many people have been employed by them in jobs and in training schemes.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: I refer the hon. Gentleman to my replies to his previous questions on 14 January, Official Report, column 766, and 13 January, Official Report, column 656.

Whales

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to support proposals prepared by the French Government for discussion at the next meeting of the International Whaling Commission in relation to the creation of a whale sanctuary in the seas around Antarctica.

I have been asked to reply.The French proposal for a whale sanctuary in the Antarctic, put to the International Whaling Commission —ICW—at its 44th meeting in Glasgow last June, is due for further consideration when the Commission meets in Kyoto in May of this year. The United Kingdom was one of the countries which encouraged the IWC to undertake further work on this and related issues. We shall play a full part in its further consideration, liaising with other IWC contracting parties and with the environmental organisations with whom we work closely.

Oil And Gas Exploration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to protect wildlife sites and sites of special scientific interest in the Wash, north Norfolk coast, Cardigan bay, the Dorset heritage coastline and Flamborough head from oil exploration and possible oil contamination arising from the Department of Trade and Industry's 14th round of offering oil and gas exploration licences.

I am satisfied that the consultations carried out before issue of oil and gas exploration licences, and the special conditions attached to those issued by my right hon. and learned Friend safeguard such environmentally sensitive areas.

Local Government Review

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the costs to the Exchequer in connection with the present local government review.

The main cost to the Exchequer is that of the Local Government Commission, estimated at £3.259 million for 1993–94, its first full year of operation. A small staff commission is also planned. Within this Department there are seven administrative staff working mainly on local government reorganisation issues, at an annual salary cost of around £160,000.

Frogs And Toads

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of any change in the population of frogs and toads; and if he will make a statement.

Within Great Britain the Joint Nature Conservation Committee advise that the conservation status and recent trend for each species is as follows:

	Population status	Trend
Common frog	Widespread	Slight increase
Common toad	Widespread	Slight decrease
Natterjack toad	Threatened	Slight decrease

All three species are given protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The common frog and common toad are covered by provisions relating to sale. As a species, the natterjack toad is fully protected under the Act. In 1992, English Nature announced that the natterjack toad would be included in its "recovery" programme. The objectives of the recovery project are to maintain existing populations and re-establish the species on suitable sites.

Waste Management

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many court cases have occurred to date relating to section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; and of these cases, how many have resulted in successful prosecutions.

The offences provided by section 33 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 were partially implemented on 1 April 1992; summary information on prosecutions for this period is not, as yet, available.

Housing Revenue Account Subsidy

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the entitlement to housing revenue account subsidy for each local housing authority in England in 1993–94, indicating separately the housing element and the housing benefit element and the amount by which HRA subsidy falls short of the total to which the authority would be entitled if rent rebate costs were met in full by subsidy and also the housing stock in the area and the average weekly contribution per tenancy towards the cost of rent rebates in each authority.

While broad estimates can be made at national level, it is not possible to provide the information requested for each authority. The housing benefit element of HRA Subsidy claims for 1993–94 will depend on yet to be taken decisions by local authorities on their rents for that year and on the take up of benefit. The housing element of HRA subsidy claims will also, to a lesser extent, be affected by authorities' own decisions. I will write to the hon. Member after April when information on 1993–94 subsidy claims is available.

Council Tax

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to provide that builders of new houses are not liable to make council tax payments unless they are designated occupiers of the new-build houses.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue new guidance to local authorities on defining "substantially completed", in the context of the building of new houses and the liability of builders for community charge and council tax payments.

No. For the purposes of the council tax, billing authorities will serve a completion notice where the new building in question can reasonably be expected to be completed within three months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward proposals to simplify the certification procedures for the buildres of new houses currently in force in relation to the council tax.

Billing authorities will serve a completion notice on the owner of a new building when the work remaining to be done can reasonably be expected to be completed within three months. This brings the procedure for serving completion notices in respect of domestic property into line with current practice in respect of non-domestic property.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what reduction in council tax will be available to disabled persons in band A properties.

I refer the hon. Member to the written answers I gave the hon. Member for Rossendale and Darwen (Ms. Anderson) on 5 November 1992, Official Report, column 370, and 18 November 1992, Official Report, column 203.

Water Metering

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received to his consultation paper "Using Water Wisely" to date; and how many of these representations have expressed opposition to a United Kingdom water metering scheme.

We have received 343 responses to the consultation paper. Forty-eight respondents indicated opposition to metering. It is for each company to decide the method of charging its customers.

Birds

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has as to changes in the population of robins and other species of British birds; and if he will make a statement.

The British Trust for Ornithology's common bird census report for 1991 revealed significant declines in the populations of 20 species, including robins, little owls, skylarks, blackbirds, songthrushes, house martins, bullfinches and yellowhammers. Five species including sparrowhawks and kestrels had increased in numbers. The BTO report indicated declines over a wide range of habitats.For many species the declines are considered to be normal fluctuations and numbers could be expected to be regained quickly. The bad climatic conditions in the spring of 1991 was a factor and some migrant warbler species wintering in Africa were affected by drought conditions there.

Timber

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has made to the convention on international trade in endangered species to secure the inclusion of additional timber species on its lists, since May 1992.

None. Additions to the appendices to the convention are considered at the biennial conferences of the parties. At the conference last March, we proposed successfully that African teak (Pericopsis elata) should be listed. We also supported the listing of American mahogany (Swietenia mahogani), Lignun vitae (Guaiacum officinale), and Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra).We shall be considering what proposals to put to the 1994 conference in due course, on the basis of scientific evidence.

Manchester Olympics Bid

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on Government support for the Manchester 2000 Olympics bid.

The Government are backing wholeheartedly Manchester's bid for the 2000 Olympic games and the Prime Minister and other Ministers are actively involved in promoting it. We are providing up to £75 million support. Of this, £2 million is in aid of the bid itself, matching private funds raised; and up to £73 million is towards the construction of an Olympic arena, a national cycling centre and the acquisition and preparation of the site for the main Olympic stadium.We look forward to welcoming members of the International Olympic Committee when they visit Manchester over the coming months in preparation for their decision on the host city in September 1993.

Valuation Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to valuation officers with regard to rating as one unit households which include a granny flat so that children can care for their parents at home.

The Council Tax (Chargeable Dwellings) Order 1992—SI 1992/549—requires listing officers to treat as a dwelling for the purposes of council tax each self-contained unit constructed or adapted for use as separate living accommodation. Granny flats are therefore treated in the same way as all other domestic property. The council tax bill for one resident will be subject to a 25 per cent. discount. The bill will be further reduced—in some cases to zero—by council tax benefit, depending on the income and circumstances of the resident.

Bed-And-Breakfast Accommodation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many families were placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, annually, in each year since 1987, (a) England and (b) each English housing authority.

Estimates for the calendar years 1987 to 1991 of the average number of households in England who were being dealt with under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985 and were temporarily placed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation are given in the table.

Average for year ending December	Households in bed-and-breakfast
1987	10,430
1988	11,080
1989	11,500
1990	11,810
1991	12,470

At 30 September 1992 the number of households in bed-and-breakfast accommodation had fallen to 10,390 households.I have today placed in the Library a table giving the information as reported by local authorities in England for each year from 1987 to 1991, the last complete year available.

Councillors (Attendance Allowances)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority councillors have claimed attendance allowance in the last financial year.

My Department does not collect this information.

Thorne Moors

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to sign the English Nature/Fison's/Department of Environment agreement on Thorne Moors; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 8 December 1992 to the hon. Member for Doncaster, North (Mr. Hughes), at column 575.

Psa Building Management

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will offer the PSA Building Management businesses for sale.

I am pleased to announce that I am today offering the five PSA Building Management businesses for sale by competitive tender. This follows the sale of PSA Projects last month, and marks the start of the final stage in the privatisation of PSA Services.The sale will be advertised in the United Kingdom and other EC countries from tomorrow. Copies of the sale memoranda will be available from my advisers, Coopers and Lybrand. These will be sent, on request, to all bona fide prospective purchasers.I would prefer to sell each of the five BM businesses to a different purchaser. However prospective purchasers will be permitted to bid for more than one business.Preliminary bids need to be submitted by 9 March. Shortlisted bidders will then be provided with more detailed information and invited to make final offers.

Earth Summit

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those nations known by her Majesty's Government to have ratified agreements made at the Earth summit, stating for each which agreements have been ratified; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 4 December 1992, c. 580.]: I understand that Canada has also ratified the conventions on climate change and biological diversity.

Helping The Earth

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the cost of the Helping the Earth campaign.

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: The cost of the three-year domestic publicity campaign is about £14 million. Each reduction of 1 per cent. in the country's energy expenditure saves some £500 million.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the difference in expenditure, for each new Commonwealth child, required and identified within standard spending assessments; and how this figure was calculated.

[holding answer 19 January 1993]: There are a number of elements within standard spending assessments—SSAs—where ethnicity is used in combination with other factors as a measure of social conditions. At no point are the children of heads of household born in the new Commonwealth identified as a separate ethnic category. It is not therefore possible to identify the separate contribution of these children to SSAs. The weight given to social indices within SSAs follows extensive analysis and discussion with local authority representatives.

Mains Drainage

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many communities (a) in England and Wales and (b) in the Thames Water Utilities Ltd. area, and having 125 or more close-built properties, are not on mains drainage; whether it is his policy to ensure that such communities are put on mains drainage; and in what circumstances any communities will be put on mains drainage other than by requisition.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: Information about the numbers of communities of 125 or more close-built properties not on mains drainage is not held centrally.The circumstances in which communities may be connected to mains drainage other than by requisition are explained by the Office of Water Services, in its "Information Note (No. 11) on First Time Rural Sewerage", copies of which have been placed in the Library.The Department encourages first time connections to mains drainage and mains water supplies in rural areas by providing a grant covering 35 per cent. of eligible scheme costs in response to requisitions by local authorities or owners or occupiers.In the light of concerns that have been expressed to me about the arrangements for rural water and sewerage services I am considering whether any changes to the legal and financial framework are desirable.

Volume 217: debated on Monday 25 January 1993

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Burglary

Offences Against Businesses

Fines

Remand Prisoners (Escorts)

Pools Coupons

Remand Prisons

Police Custody

New Age Travellers

Police Officers (Assaults)

Terrorism (Central London)

Police Recruitment

Data Protection

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Fissile Material Stocks

Nazi Persecution

Plutonium

Government Communications Headquarters

Serbia

Mr Mohd Iftikhar

Kuwait

Nuclear Test Ban

Iraq

Somalia

Liberia

Transport

Driving Tests

Aircraft (Air Circulation)

Workers (Reduced Mobility)

Glasgow Airport

Transport Policies (Land Use)

Driver Sleepiness

Trunk Roads

Road Schemes, Oxford

Rural Train Services

Search And Rescue

Mv Braer

National Finance

Training Organisations

Council Tax

Printed Products (Vat)

Contractors' Payments

Taxation

Lord Chancellor's Department

Business Debt

Legal Aid And Advice

Retrials

Northern Ireland

Burglaries

Training

Civil Service

Prime Minister

Kashmir

Arabic-Speaking Adviser

Office Running Costs

Cd-Rom

Health

Multiple Pregnancies

Dentistry

Gp Fund Holders

Incontinence

Smoking

Breast Cancer

Eye Tests

St Bartholomew's Hospital

Children In Hospital

Tuberculosis

Tobacco

Children's Hospices

Child Care

Abortion

Consultants

Hospital Visits

Nhs Trusts

Ambulance Service

Care In The Community

West Midlands Rha