To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many employer liability personal injury claims worth over £2,500 were settled in court in (a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1992–93 and (e) the first six months of 1992–93.

These figures are not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury claims worth over £2,500 were settled in court in (a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1992–93 and (e) the first six months of 1992–93.

The only figures available are those set out in tables 1 and 2. They show by respective year since 1989, the total number of personal injury cases disposed of by trial, in the case of the High Court, where the amount of the award was £5,000 or more; and in the county courts where the amount of the award was £2,000 or more.

Table 1
Personal injury cases in the high court during 1989–1992 where the amount of award was £5,000 or more
Year
1989	1,823
1990	484
1991	625
1992	1,072

Table 2
Personal injury cases in the county court during 1989–1992 where the amount of award was £2,000 or more
Year
1989	1,136
1990	2,658
1991	1,530
1992	4,106

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the duty solicitor scheme in the most recent year available; and whether that cost is included in the expenditure figures for legal aid.

In 1991–92, the last year for which figures are available, the cost of the duty solicitor schemes was £62 million. It is estimated that the scheme will have cost £72 million in 1992–93. The cost of the duty solicitor schemes is included in the expenditure figures for legal aid.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the amount of contributions to criminal legal aid paid for the most recent year available, and the number of defendants who have made those payments.

In the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of £3·6 million was paid in contributions towards the cost of legally aided criminal cases (£2 million in respect of proceedings in the magistrates courts and £1·6 million in respect of proceedings in courts other than the magistrates courts). In 1991 there were approximately 36,300 contributors in legally aided criminal cases.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total number of defendants granted legal aid and the net cost of that aid, for both civil and criminal legal aid in the most recent year available.

The information sought is not available in the form requested. There were 3·03 million acts of assistance in 1991–92 at a net cost of £906 million, and it is estimated that there will have been 3·39 million acts of assistance in 1992–93. It is not possible to apportion the net cost between plaintiffs and defendants.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much VAT was paid on legal aid fees, and what was the cost of administering VAT on legal services to those aided, for both civil and criminal legal aid for the most recent available year.

The information sought is not available. It is not possible to identify separately the total VAT element of legal aid bills.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of the green form scheme in the most recent year available.

Net expenditure on green form legal advice and assistance in 1991–92 was £95 million. Final figures are not yet available for 1992–93, but it is estimated that expenditure on green form in 1992–93 was £122 million.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the total cost of criminal legal aid both gross and net of contributions ordered and VAT in the most recent year available.

In 1991–92, the last year for which final figures are available, expenditure on criminal legal aid was £478 million gross (£474 million net). Expenditure on criminal legal aid 1992–93 is estimated at £535 million gross (£529 million net). It is not possible to identify the total amount of VAT paid in respect of legal services.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of legally aided defendants who have failed to make any payments as ordered in the most recent year available; what was the total amount involved; against how many people recovery proceedings have been commenced; and what is the amount involved.

In the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of 4,239 civil legal aid certificates were revoked due to the non-payment of contributions at a cost to the legal aid fund of £1·9 million. In 1991 approximately 500 criminal cases had legal aid revoked due to the non-payment of contributions. Information on recovery proceedings for non-payment is not available centrally, nor is not possible to determine the costs involved.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the number of legally-aided defendants who are in arrears with their contributions as ordered at the most recent available date; and what is the total still outstanding, the number against whom recovery proceedings have been commenced and the amount involved, for both civil and criminal legal aid.

The information is not available in the form requested. However, in the period from April 1991 to March 1992 a total of 4,239 civil legal aid certificates were revoked as a result of contributions outstanding representing a sum of £1·9 million, compared with 3,598 and £1·6 million in the previous year. Statistics regarding the financial year just ended will become available in June when the Legal Aid Board is due to publish its annual report for 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards the proposals of the European Commission to limit production of motor cycles to a maximum engine power producing 100 brake-horse power.

The Government's view is that the current European Commission proposal is unsupported by statistical evidence. We are therefore attempting to broker a compromise on power that will be acceptable to United Kingdom motorcyclists. It is at present too early to anticipate the outcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the role of his Department in the licensing of scheduled air services to any destination in balancing demand and provision.

The process of licensing airlines in the United Kingdom for the operation of scheduled air services is undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Within the EC, licensed carriers are entitled to provide services on the basis of their own commercial judgement.The Secretary of State also has a role in determining appeals on licensing decisions taken by the CAA, including those which involve the issue of scarce bilateral capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the implications for road safety of reflective number plates designed to evade speed camera technology; and if he will make a statement.

Reflective number plates designed to evade speed camera technology do not work. Photographs of such plates taken by approved speed detection equipment show the number quite clearly and the offence can be followed up in the normal manner. Use of these plates is illegal and the photographs also provide evidence of this offence. So purchasers are not only wasting their money but are also making themselves liable to additional penalties.These number plates do not comply with the new British standard which is to be published shortly and it will then be made illegal to offer them for sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for improvement of the Al2 serving Lowestoft; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced in "Trunk Roads England into the 1990s" 10 separate schemes for improving sections of the A 12 between the M25 and Lowestoft, targeted with a grade separation of Capel St. Mary junction.The sections to be improved are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he is taking to encourage the European Commission to initiate legislation to require all new cars to be fitted with airbags.

None. The single most effective measure for reducing accident injury for car occupants is the wearing of seat belts. An airbag as a supplement to a seat belt can be provided only at considerable additional cost, and it is for the consumer to decide whether this is justified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has held with groups representing disabled people on proposals in the Railways Bill to safeguard and improve facilities for access to rail travel for people with disabilities.

I met the Joint Committee on Mobility of Blind and Partially Sighted People in January to discuss their concerns with regard to rail privatisation and I am in regular contact with DPTAC. Officials have recently met representatives of other disability groups including the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, MENCAP and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make a decision on the proposed single tender sale by Bournemouth borough council of Bournemouth Transport Ltd.; and if he will make a statement.

We are in correspondence with Bournemouth borough council about the sale of Bournemouth Transport Ltd. by open competitive tender. The council has been told that the Secretary of State will not consent to a single tender sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on what dates he has met with (a) the Association of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen, (b) the Railway, Maritime and Transport Union and (c) the Transport Salaried Staff Association to discuss the future of railway pensions since the publication of "New Opportunities for the Railways" (Cm. 2012).

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussed pensions with the trade unions as follows:

(a) ASLEF 27 October 1992 and 24 February 1993.

(b) RMT 13 October 1992 and a meeting is planned for later today.

(c) TSSA 20 October 1992 and 9 March 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy concerning municipal bus company privatisation.

We are encouraging passenger transport authorities and local authorities who own bus companies to sell them voluntarily. If they do so before 31 December 1993 they will be able to devote 100 per cent. of the receipts to projects—after that date 50 per cent of the proceeds will have to be used for the reduction of debt. We intend to introduce legislation to require disposal. Each sale requires the consent of the Secretary of State under the Transport Act 1985. Consent is very unlikely to be given to sales other than by competitive tender except when it was given in principle before 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultation he proposes with the employees of municipal bus companies prior to a decision to seek privatised status in accordance with the Transport Act 1985; and if he will make a statement.

None. This is a matter for the owning authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many municipal bus companies there are in (a) Wales and (b) England; and what is his estimate of the number of employees engaged in such companies.

There are three local authority owned bus companies remaining in Wales and 30 in England. I have no information about the numbers of employees engaged in these companies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the members of the working group he has established to review restrictions affecting the domestic house building industry; and if he will detail the remit that has been given to the group.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central on 25 March, Official Report, column 703.The names of the members of the construction deregulation task force are as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made on the Government's review of audit and accounting requirements for very small companies.

My Department has today issued a consultative document seeking views on proposals offering very small companies relief from the compulsory audit requirement. This follows a review of audit and accounting requirements for such companies conducted by my Department in consultation with HM Treasury and the Inland Revenue.The Department is seeking views on proposals that very small companies may be exempted from audit if shareholders agree. Two alternative approaches have been identified and the Government will decide which option to adopt in the light of responses to the consultative document.Option A: Abolition

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guarantees he is providing to recipients of concessionary fuel and cash in lieu in the run up to and after the industry is privatised.

I can assure present and past employees of British Coal with entitlements to concessionary fuel or cash in lieu of fuel, and their eligible dependants, that existing entitlements will be safeguarded before and following privatisation of the industry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade in what circumstances oil companies with licences granted by his Department under previous United Kingdom continental shelf licensing rounds are able to withdraw unilaterally from any exploration and drilling commitments specified in such licences.

There are no circumstances in which companies with licences granted under previous United Kingdom continental shelf licensing rounds are able to withdraw unilaterally from any exploration and drilling commitments specified in such licences. However, a licensee may, by giving to the Minister no less than six months' notice in writing, determine the licence. This right to determine the licence is without prejudice to any obligation or liability imposed or incurred under the terms of the licence.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the national strategy technology acquisition plan for aeronautics submitted to him by his Department's aviation committee.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply that I gave on 24 March 1993, Official Report, column 613.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he will be publishing "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom 1993", the Brown Book.

The latest edition of the Brown Book will be published on Wednesday 28 April and I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library of the House and in the Vote Office.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what guidelines there are on procedures for companies exporting controlled goods.

My Department has drawn up a code of practice on export control compliance which I will publish tomorrow and place in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received about unfair trading practices in the film distribution industry; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 23 April 1993]: My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has received two representations about the film distribution industry. The Office of Fair Trading, however, which is responsible for investigating alleged anti-competitive practices, has received a number of representations from small independent cinemas and is currently making inquiries into the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the points raised with him in correspondence by the hon. Member for Macclesfield relating to unfair trading practices in the film distribution industry; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 23 April 1993]: The points raised by my hon. Friend in his correspondence have been referred to the Director General of Fair Trading, who is currently investigating the supply of films for exhibition in cinemas. It would be inappropriate to make a statement until the DGFT has concluded his inquiries.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his policy on the encouragement of fair trading practices within the film distribution industry; and if he will list those regulations, in the United Kingdom and in Europe, which are designed to bring about such fair trading practices.

[holding answer 23 April 1993]: Under United Kingdom legislation, investigation of allegedly anti-competitive or monopolistic behaviour is the responsibility of the Director General of Fair Trading. The DGFT may consider this behaviour under either the Fair Trading Act 1973 or the Competition Act 1980. Anti-competitive practices which affect trade between member states are handled by the European Commission under articles 85 and 86 of the treaty of Rome.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to market test areas of work that have historically been the prerogative of the British Geological Survey.

[holding answer 26 April 1993]: The Department is preparing to seek competitive bids for work under the hydrocarbons programme, which has previously been let to the British Geological Survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many persons were registered as homeless in the Greater Manchester area in 1979 and in 1992.

Local, authorities report the number of households for whom they accept responsibility for securing permanent accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing (Homeless Persons) Act 1977 and the Housing Act 1985 in their quarterly P1(E) returns.The numbers of households accepted as homeless in Greater Manchester in 1979 and 1992 were 3,370 and 14,120 respectively.A new reporting system was introduced for metropolitan authorities from the third quarter of 1982. In addition the definition of acceptances was altered from the second quarter of 1991 to exclude intentionally homeless households. For these reasons figures for 1979 are therefore not strictly comparable with those for 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the council of the Isles of Scilly regarding the council tax; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has received a number of letters and telephone calls from the Isles of Scilly Council about the council tax. In addition, I met my hon. Friend, together with a delegation from the Isles of Scilly Council, on 9 December 1992 and again on 27 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if the weekly £10 premium paid to participants on training for work and on the community action programme will be disregarded for council tax purposes; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The £10 a week training premium is fully disregarded in council tax benefit The £10 a week premium for people on the community action programme will be similarly disregarded when it is introduced later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to introduce a national licensing scheme of persons managing houses in multiple occupation; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has no plans to introduce a national licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation (HMOs). Local authorities already have sufficient powers under Part XI of the Housing Act 1985 to control standards in HMOs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to prevent disabled workers being discriminated against within the terms of compulsory competitive tendering procedures.

It is this Government's intention that local authorities be given every encouragement to employ the disabled. Regulations governing the operation of compulsory competitive tendering, laid before the House on 29 March, allow local authorities to take into account, for the purposes of tender evaluation, the net additional costs of employing both the registered disabled and those eligible to register under the 1944 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what objectives and targets have been set for the Buying Agency for 1993.

I have asked the new chief executive, Stephen Sage, to review the strategic direction of the Buying Agency over the next few months. As part of this, I have asked him to work to the following objectives arid targets for 1993:PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES AND TARGETS 1993

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in privatising the PSA's building management businesses.

A shortlist of bidders has been selected for each business from those making indicative bids. Shortlisted bidders include a Management Buyout (MBO) team for BM Scotland. In line with normal Government practice a contribution is being made to MBO teams' costs in preparing bids. Shortlisted bidders have until 1 June to make detailed practical bids. We hope to exchange contracts as soon as practicable thereafter. Staff will then have the opportunity to decide whether to transfer with their businesses into the private sector and we expect the sales to be completed about two months after exchange of contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for the number of disconnections in England of domestic water supply for each year since 1987.

[holding answer 26 April 1993]: The information is set out in the following table. Information on disconnections prior to privatisation was only collected by the Department for water authorities as part of the water authorities' annual charges returns, and comprises total disconnections (domestic and non-domestic). Information on statutory water company disconnections was not collected by the Department prior to 1988–89.

Number
Water authorities only (domestic and non-domestic)
1987–88	7,447
Domestic and non-domestic
1988–89	14,006
1989–90	7,070
1990–91	6,368
1991–92	18,331
11992	7,212
1 April to September.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 14 December 1992, Official Report, columns 57–60, if he will update the table on housing capital spending by region for 1992–93.

[holding answer 26 April 1993]: The available information, which covers the first three quarters of 1992–93 only, is given in the table. The latest estimate for local authority housing capital expenditure for the whole of 1992–93 is£2· billion.

Local authority housing capital expenditure by region, April-December 1992.
£ million
	Current prices	11981 prices
North (excluding Cumbria)	81	43
Yorkshire and Humberside	141	75
East Midlands	96	51
Eastern	138	74
Greater London	317	169
South East	177	94
South West	114	61
West Midlands	170	91
North West	237	126
Unallocated	61	32
	1,532	817
1 Current price figures have been converted to 1981 prices by excluding the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP market prices deflator.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will update the list of next steps agencies.

The information requested is as follows:

Next Steps Agencies established to date
Agency	Launch date
Accounts Services Agency	1 October 1991
ADAS Agency	1 April 1992
Army Base Repair Organisation	1 April 1993
Building Research Establishment	2 April 1990
Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)	2 April 1991
Central Office of Information	5 April 1990
Central Science Laboratory	1 April 1992
Central Statistical Office	19 November 1991
Central Veterinary Laboratory	2 April 1990
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment	2 April 1991
Chessington Computer Centre	1 April 1993
Civil Service College	6 June 1989
Companies House	3 October 1988
Compensation Agency	1 April 1992
Defence Analytical Services Agency	1 July 1992
Defence Operational Analysis Centre	1 July 1992
Defence Postal and Courier Services	1 July 1992
Defence Research Agency	2 April 1991
Directorate General of Defence Accounts	1 April 1991
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency	2 April 1990
Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency	1 April 1992
Driving Standards Agency	2 April 1990
Duke of York's Royal Military School	1 April 1992
DVOIT	1 April 1992
Employment Service	2 April 1990
Fire Service College	1 April 1992
Forensic Science Service	1 April 1991
Government Property Lawyers	1 April 1993
Historic Royal Palaces	1 October 1989
Historic Scotland	2 April 1991
Her Majesty's Prison Service	1 April 1993
HMSO	14 December 1988
Hydrographic Office	6 April 1990
Insolvency Service	21 March 1990
Intervention Board	2 April 1990
Laboratory of the Government Chemist	30 October 1989
Land Registry	2 July 1990
Medicines Control Agency	11 July 1991
Meteorological Office	2 April 1990
Military Survey	2 April 1991
National Physical Laboratory	3 July 1990
National Weights and Measures Laboratory	18 April 1989
Natural Resources Institute	2 April 1990
Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation	1 April 1992
NEL	5 October 1990
NHS Estates	1 April 1991
NHS Pensions Agency	20 November 1992
Northern Ireland Child Support Agency	5 April 1993
Occupational Health Service	2 April 1990
Ordnance Survey	1 May 1990
Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland	1 April 1992
Patent Office	1 March 1990
Paymaster General's Office	1 April 1993
Pesticides Safety Directorate	1 April 1993
Planning Inspectorate	1 April 1992
Public Record Office	1 April 1992
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre	6 July 1989
Queen Victoria School	1 April 1992
Radiocommunications Agency	2 April 1990
RAF Maintenance	2 April 1991
Rate Collection Agency	1 April 1991
Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency	2 April 1991
Registers of Scotland	6 April 1990
Royal Mint	2 April 1990
Royal Parks	1 April 1993
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency	1 April 1992
Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency	12 April 1991
Scottish Office Pensions Agency	1 April 1993
Scottish Prison Service	1 April 1993
Scottish Record Office	1 April 1993
Service Children's Schools (North West Europe)	24 April 1991
Social Security Agency (Northern Ireland)	1 April 1992
Social Security Benefits Agency	2 April 1991
Social Security Child Support Agency	5 April 1993
Social Security Contributions Agency	2 April 1991

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list total Government expenditure on food research and development for each year from 1978–79 to 1992–93 in (a) cash and (b) constant prices and set out projected Government expenditure on food research and development for each year from 1993–94 to 1996–97 in (i) cash and (ii) constant prices.

[holding answer 21 April 1993]: Government funding for food research and development is mainly directed through the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food, the Agricultural and Food Research

Agriculture and Food Research Council institute staffing 1979–19861
	1979		1980		1981		1982		1983		1984		1985		1986
Institute	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science	Science	Non-science
ABRO	99	113	77	138	63	131	64	130	57	119	62	92	70	79	85	78
IRAD	137	189	132	191	117	175	119	175	122	165	109	140	97	127	80	115
IAP	152	146	188	178	189	175	191	173	187	175	174	174	165	153	199	143
FRI (IFR, N)	109	66	126	66	140	64	154	64	168	72	207	79	195	78	—	—
MRI (IFR, B)	124	83	125	83	115	88	122	88	128	79	137	85	143	74	—	—
PRC	109	114	107	114	114	102	115	101	115	97	116	94	111	83	106	68
LL	77	37	78	37	76	45	80	44	80	43	68	36	—	—	—	—
WRO	95	54	91	57	84	50	88	52	86	52	75	45	—	—	—	—
Units	160	45	123	19	136	22	132	22	129	30	135	34	141	39	122	35
AVRI	126	180	131	176	111	171	110	171	110	171	110	170	95	129	88	118
EMRS	180	184	174	188	164	185	161	176	162	176	153	169	141	157	—	—
GCRI	141	109	140	124	138	122	138	122	137	122	133	120	123	106	—	—
GRI (AGRI)	187	114	178	110	178	111	186	124	183	124	182	119	262	186	249	173
HRD	8	—	8	—	6	—	7	—	7	—	6	—	5	—	—	—
HPRS	90	130	88	123	91	114	90	114	90	113	90	107	90	101	92	80
JII	84	77	84	78	86	78	85	82	85	77	78	73	86	63	120	65
LARS	163	114	163	115	159	114	169	119	158	115	152	116	197	143	152	101
NIAE	149	267	148	271	140	256	145	270	141	273	198	264	129	268	144	245
NIRD (IFR, R)	271	224	261	226	261	232	266	238	262	232	261	234	121	82	—	—
NVRS	140	74	139	73	135	73	146	77	144	79	144	76	129	70	—	—
PBI2	169	79	157	80	163	82	162	82	159	81	151	76	139	77	160	73
RES	426	211	421	214	415	214	420	212	391	189	373	188	371	182	347	179
SSLRC3	65	15	65	15	63	15	63	14	62	15	63	15	60	15	34	6
WPBS	156	115	156	123	154	122	158	119	153	119	149	117	132	113	125	99
IFR	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	534	226
IHR	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	360	315
Total	3,417	2,740	3,360	2,799	3,298	2,741	3,371	2,769	3,316	2,718	3,326	2,623	3,002	2,325	2,997	2,119
1 Pre restructuring.
2 Part of the PBI was transferred to Unilver plc from 1 October 1987.
3 The SSLRC became part of the Cranfield Institute of Technology on 1 July 1987.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the total numbers of (a) science group staff and (b) non-science group staff employed at each of the Agriculture and Food Research Council institutes for each year since 1979; and if he will give estimates up until 1995.

[holding answer 21 April 1993]: Figures given in the two tables show the institute structure prior to and after the major restructuring which took place in 1986–87.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy that any patient unable to afford the patient's contribution under any new service arrangements for dentistry which are introduced following her consideration of the Bloomfield report will continue to be eligible for the full range of dental treatment.

We are consulting widely on the Bloomfield report and will announce our conclusions in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she has of the number of elderly people in the United Kingdom who would benefit from hearing aids;(2) what plans she has to improve the availability of, and access to, hearing aids for the elderly.

The Institute of Hearing Research estimates that the number of people who could benefit from a hearing aid is about 4·4 million. The majority of these are likely to be elderly people.Hearing aids are available through the national health service, normally on referral from hospital ear, nose and throat departments. We have funded a number of pilot projects for direct referral by general practitioners to audiology departments. The result of the projects will be available shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she will take to ensure that war pensioners in the Newcastle area suffering from deafness have access to adequate ear, nose and throat facilities; and how meeting the present demand affects the NHS provisions for the general public who are hearing impaired or profoundly deaf.

District health authorities are responsible for purchasing services, including ear, nose and throat services, to meet the health needs of their resident population. There is a long-standing arrangement whereby, subject to considerations of clinical need, war pensioners receive priority in examination and treatment in national health service hospitals, in connection with the condition(s) for which they receive a pension or gratuity. I understand that special clinics for war pensioners have. been set up at the Freeman NHS trust and there has been no reduction in the service offered to other patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what changes there have been since 1986 in the collection of figures on closures of mental hospitals and loss of beds in mental hospitals; and if she will make a statement.

In April 1987 a new system of data collection covering hospital activity and facilities was introduced followed the recommendations of the Korner committee. The new inquiry into available beds in England replaced an earlier inquiry discontinued after 1986. The new inquiry differed in being on a financial year basis and in classifying beds according to ward type, but figures for beds in mental illness wards continued to be separately collected.The information on the closure of mental hospitals has not been collected centrally on a routine basis since 1991.In order to carry forward its work, the mental health task force led by David King will in future need to collect information of this type.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list those dates in the last year where no secure accommodation was available for juveniles at the time the request was made.

This information is not available centrally. Figures on the levels of occupancy of individual secure units throughout the year are published in "Children Accommodated in Secure Units, year ending 31 March England". A copy is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what studies she has undertaken to assess a possible association between ill-health and unemployment; and if she will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on 19 January at col 224.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff were employed within the national health service in administration and management, by (a) hospitals and (b) family health service authorities in each of the years 1990, 1991 and 1992; and what the costs were in each year.

The information available is shown in the tables.

Staff numbers in England at 30 September each year (whole-time equivalents)
	Administrative and clerical		General and senior1 managers
	1990	1991	1990	1991
Hospitals and2 community health services	111,640	118,810	8,990	12,400
Family health service authorities	4,350	4,650	640	820

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff in respect of whom 70 per cent. of salaries were reimbursed were employed by general practitioners in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date.

At 1 April 1992 there were 79,092 whole and part-time staff employed by general practitioners in England, whose salary costs were reimbursed in whole or part by family health services authorities (FHSAs). From 1 April 1990 FHSAs have had discretion to vary the level of reimbursement taking account of all relevant factors. Information on practitioners' staff in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish figures showing the number of general practitioner trainers and the number of general practitioner trainees, together with the cost per annum, for each of the years since 1980.

The information is shown in the table.

Year	Trainers	Trainees	Grants to trainers	Trainee salaries and expenses
1980	1,856	1,353	2,483,956·09	9,917,847·78
1981	2,040	1,561	3,668,541·79	15,338,492·27
1982	2,236	1,577	4,823,773·39	19,313,059·64
1983	2,335	1,624	5,564,119·18	21,286,172·31
1984	2,370	1,703	5,694,568·18	23,767,572·27
1985	2,451	1,758	5,886,779·28	26,475,607·37
1986	2,496	1,654	6,242,737·30	28,517,366·98
1987	2,527	1,710	6,356,385·12	30,669,887·79
1988	2,469	1,685	6,470,457·00	33,358,905·00
1989	2,472	1,735	6,928,037·00	36,449,935·00
1990	2,726	1,562	7,735,844·00	40,457,508·00
1991	2,824	1,639	7,939,576·00	42,264,385·00
1992	2,940	1,613	8,162,085·00	46,083,103·00

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions general practitioners provided maternity services, and what payments were made to them, in respect of (a) complete care, (b) ante-natal care only, (c) confinement only, (d) pre-natal care and (e) miscarriage, in each year since 1980.

Information on maternity medical services is not available centrally at the level requested. The gross cost of maternity medical services in England since 1980 is shown in the table.

General medical services—maternity medical services fees
	Maternity medical services (£000s)
1979–80	19,072
1980–81	25,643
1981–82	28,238
1982–83	30,423
1983–84	32,399
1984–85	36,868
1985–86	41,580
1986–87	42,948
1987–88	48,564
1988–89	53,733
1989–90	57,983
1990–91	65,945
1991–92	69,045

Data taken from summarised accounts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many night visits were undertaken by general practitioners; and what expenditure was incurred by such visits in (a) the higher rates and (b) the lower rates for deputising services.

The cost and estimated number of night visits in each financial year since 1980 is shown in the table.

General medical services—night visit fees
Year	Night visit payment £ million	Night visit fee £ million	Number of visits
1979–80	3,812	6·75	564,700
1980–81	6,059	10·50	577,032
1981–82	7,226	11·80	612,399
1982–83	8,278	12·75	649,292
1983–84	9,023	13·24	681,531
1984–85	10,510	14·70	714,941
1985–86	12,402	15·55	797,524
1986–87	12,282	16·10	762,828
1987–88	14,185	17·20	824,732
1988–89	16,922	18·75	902,480
1989–90	18,958	20·25	936,187
1990–91
Higher	49,275	45·00	1,095,003
Lower	6,725	15·00	448,303
1991–92
Higher	52,198	45·00	1,159,956
Lower	8,376	15·00	558,428

1. Data taken from summarised accounts.2. In 1990 the new GP contract extended the period night visits fees could be claimed for by two hours, consequently the numbers of visits in 1989–90 and 1990–91 are not directly comparable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total expenditure incurred in each of the years 1990, 1991 and 1992 in respect of additional payments made to general practitioners for (a) meeting target figures respectively, for immunisation and cervical smears, (b) health promotion clinics, (c) new patient check-ups, (d) minor surgery, (e) teaching medical students, (f) vaccination and immunisation fees and (g) contraception treatments, giving respectively, annual fees for ordinary and intra-uterine device treatment.

The information for years 1990–91 and 1991–92 on an accruals basis is shown in the table. The 1992–93 data are not yet available.

Expenditure on selected items All figures taken from the summarised accounts
		1990–91 £ million	1991–92 £ million
(a) Targets
Childhood immunisation	Higher	35·602	38·257
	Lower	3·636	1·556
Pre-school boosters	Higher	11·108	10·916
	Lower	1·507	0·860
Cervical cytology	Higher	42·423	46·262
	Lower	6·543	3·052
(b) Health promotion		44·309	64·024
(c) Registration (new patient checkups)		15·264	19·955
(d) Minor surgery		16·645	21·324
(e) Teaching students		7·940	8·162
(f) Vaccination and immunisation		33·746	24·405
(g) Contraception
Ordinary (£12·75)1		37·634	39·923
IUD (£42·75)1		4·461	4·343
1 Annual fees 1990–91 and 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the average income of a general practitioner in England and Wales for each year since 1980.

The average net income of general practitioners in Great Britain is listed together with the average gross income of general practitioners in England. Average net income for England and Wales separately is not available. Information on GPs in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

Information on GP income 1979–80 to 1991–92
	Average income (England) including expenses £	Average net income (GB) excluding expenses as reported by DDRB £
1979–80	19,942	11,902
1980–81	28,306	15,608
1981–82	31,775	17,793
1982–83	35,075	19,940
1983–84	37,092	20,404
1984–85	41,483	22,687
1985–86	44,241	23,849
1986–87	46,221	24,601
1987–88	50,148	26,508
1988–89	55,380	28,979
1989–90	61,266	31,388
1990–91	76,045	137,204
1991–92	187,873	n/a
1 Provisional figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices are now general practitioner fund holders; and how many individual general practitioners that figure embraces.

At 31 March 1993 there were over 3,000 general practitioners in 585 GP practices in the GP fund holding scheme. Final figures are not yet available for 1993–94 but provisional figures show more than double this number of GP practices have been offered and have accepted budgets from 1 April 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has as to the range of surpluses accumulated by general practitioner fund-holding practices during the most convenient recent period.

In 1991–92 general practitioner fund holders nationally achieved surpluses on their budget of about four per cent. Regional averages ranged from 9·1 per cent. to 1·5 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will allow free prescriptions to students in receipt of income below the income support level and suffering from (a) cystic fibrosis, (b) ankylosing spondylitis or (c) other chronic illnesses not on the list of medical conditions which confer exemption from prescription charges; and if she will make a statement.

Young people under 19 and in full-time education are exempt from national health service charges. Remission of NHS charges, including those for prescriptions, is available under the NHS low income scheme to students aged 19 or over who are of limited means and irrespective of their medical condition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her Department's recommended procedure for hon. Members to meet chief executives of trust hospitals to discuss cases involving and affecting their constituents; and if she will make a statement;(2) what advice she has given chairmen and chief executives of trust hospitals on meeting hon. Members to discuss problems raised with them by constituents; and if she will make a statement.

The Department encourages trusts to develop good communications with local Members of Parliament. The precise arrangements are matters for individual trust boards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will arrange for the key stage 3 English proposals of the Curriculum Council for Wales to be sent to all secondary schools in England.

No. The recommendations of the Curriculum Council for Wales (CCW) for the revision of the National Curriculum Order for English are addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. In most respects they are in agreement with the recommendations of the National Curriculum Council, which my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales adopted as the basis of the proposals which they published for consultation on 15 April. The CCW did, however, recommend certain differences which were indicated in my right hon. Friends' proposals. The chief of these were requirements relating to spoken standard English and the range of pupils' reading which were recommended by the CCW as more appropriate to pupils learning English in Wales. The CCW recommendations are therefore being circulated to all schools in Wales, to inform the consultation on my right hon. Friends' proposals in that country. Those proposals are for a single order, to apply to schools in England and Wales, but they raise the question whether the lists of required or recommended reading in the programmes of study should allow some variation for pupils in Wales to include appropriate representation of work in English by Welsh writers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to increase the value of student grants to take account of the Budget proposal to level VAT on domestic heating;(2) what estimate he has made of the impact on student indebtedness of the proposal in the Budget to levy VAT on domestic heating.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford (Ms Ruddock) on 24 March, Official Report, column 603.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current pupil-teacher ratios (a) in England and (b) in the Greater Manchester area.

The table shows the overall pupil-teacher ratios, at January 1992, for the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sector in England and in the metropolitan districts of Greater Manchester (including self-governing state schools).

LEA	Overal PTR
Bolton	17·40
Bury	18·10
Manchester	17·40
Oldham	17·40
Rochdale	16·90
Salford	17·50
Stockport	18·30
Tameside	17·10
Trafford	18·50
Wigan	16·30
Greater Manchester	17·40
England	17·44

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the average class size in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools which are (i) county non-denominational, (ii) voluntary aided, (iii) voluntary controlled and (iv) special agreement for the last five academic years for which figures are available.

The information requested is shown in the table.

Average sizes of one-teacher classes in maintained primary and secondary schools in England: 1988 to 1992
Position in January of each year
	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992
Primary
county	25·4	25·7	25·9	26·4	26·4
voluntary aided	25·9	26·1	26·4	26·7	26·8
voluntary controlled	24·8	24·9	25·0	25·4	25·5
special agreement	26·8	28·3	27·6	29·7	29·5
Secondary
county	20·0	19·9	20·0	20·4	20·8
voluntary aided	19·6	19·7	19·7	20·1	20·2
voluntary controlled	19·3	19·2	19·3	19·7	19·9
special agreement	20·9	20·9	20·7	21·5	21·4

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answers of 16 March, Official Report, columns 136–37, when he expects to be able to update the tables with information about school leavers' destinations for 1991–92.

The information about school leavers' destinations for 1991–92 will not be available until June.