To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the preparations he has taken to ensure full and effective co-ordination by police forces in the west of England to deal with possible breaches of the law, trespass and blocking of the highway by new age travellers in the summer months.

These are operational matters for the police. The Association of Chief Police Officers has set up a national intelligence-gathering network on the activities of travellers with co-ordinating centres in the Wiltshire constabulary and Cumbria constabulary. Forces have also reviewed their contingency plans for dealing with the problems caused by new age travellers. These have proved effective so far this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he is taking to ensure, in conjunction with the police, that convoys of new age travellers do not block the public highway.

Enforcement of road traffic and highways legislation is an operational matter for the police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the incidence of crimes in each of the last five years in which there has been a racist element.

The only information currently available relates to the number of reported racial incidences and I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Walthamstow (Mr. Gerrard) on 26 April, at column 266.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the resources of the Metropolitan police cab enforcement section have been increased; and if he will make a statement.

The section has been maintained at the same staffing level for the past five years. The Commissioner has no plans to make any increases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) custody officers, (b) custody sergeants and (c) rota sergeants have taken five or more days off work through stress-related illnesses in each police force area in England and Wales in each year since 1990.

The information requested is not held centrally and could be collected from individual forces only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) remand and (b) convicted prisoners were held in police cells in each prison service region for each month in 1993.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of people at the last election who used (a) proxy, (b) absent and (c) postal votes in the parliamentary constituency of Christchurch.

There were 1,356 electors on the postal voters list in the Christchurch constituency at the last general election, and 1,220 postal ballot paper covering envelopes were returned. Information about the number of electors voting by proxy is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will agree to a pilot project on the use of the expandable side-handled baton taking place in specific areas within three police forces in England and Wales.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 21 June, at column 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much British Rail is investing in the new joint venture company Auto Care Europe.

I have authorised BR to invest up to a maximum of £1·33 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to introduce legislation which would require all passengers in minibuses to wear safety belts;(2) what measures are being taken to improve the design of minibuses in the interest of greater passenger safety.

We are making a continuing effort to improve the safety of all road vehicles including minibuses. Seat belts are already required to be fitted to the front seats of all new minibuses. We have sought agreement within the European Community for the mandatory extension of this requirement to all seats in minibuses.Where seat belts are fitted, they must be worn by passengers travelling in the front seat of any minibus and by a passenger travelling in a rear seat of a smaller minibus with an unladen weight not exceeding 2,540 kg.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has consulted the motor insurance industry on the feasibility of requiring evidence of insurance to be displayed on a vehicle's windscreen.

Following wide-ranging discussions with representatives of the insurance industry, the police and the Home Office, we have decided not to require evidence of insurance to be displayed on a vehicle windscreen. Under our present driver-related insurance system, the enforcement benefit would be little more than is already provided by the check on insurance which is made when renewing vehicle excise duty. The display of an insurance disc would provide no assurance that the driver was covered by an insurance policy or complying with policy conditions, nor would it protect against the insurance being cancelled once the disc has been issued.The enforcement potential of a windscreen display would be greater under a vehicle-related insurance regime, where cover is taken out for a particular vehicle regardless of who drives it. However, this would require all vehicles to be insured for any driver and so remove an insurer's ability to take account of the risks associated with different drivers. Because every insured vehicle could be driven by a high-risk driver, the contribution that the present insurance system makes to road safety would be undermined. It could lead to a substantial increase in motor premiums, especially for safer drivers who would, for example, find themselves contributing to the cost of insuring all cars to be driven by novice drivers or by drivers with a poor accident record. Premium increases could in turn encourage further evasion and render the measure self-defeating.I deplore the irresponsible behaviour of the minority of drivers who fail to take out insurance. But I am sceptical about imposing further regulations on all drivers, particularly when we cannot be confident that insurance evasion would be significantly reduced. The police already have wide powers to inspect insurance certificates, and there are over 200,000 convictions for uninsured driving every year. The maximum for this offence was increased to £5,000 in October 1992. We have decided as a result of our discusions that the format of insurance certificates should be reviewed and simplified where possible to assist the police in checking them. This will speed up this important aspect of enforcement. A further check on insurance certificates is made with applications for vehicle excise duty.The decision not require the display of windscreen insurance discs has no effect on the compensation received by those involved in road accidents. Victims of uninsured drivers will continue to be compensated by the Motor Insurers Bureau under a long-standing agreement between the bureau and the Secretary of State for Transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further consideration he has given to the means of notifying to hon. Members his receipt of application for orders under part I of the Transport and Works Act 1992.

Yes. My Department has arranged with the House of Commons Library that applicants will supply a full set of their application documents for the information of hon. Members. The House of Commons Public Information Office will note in the "Weekly Information Bulletin" the receipt of such documents, together with a contact point from which further information may be obtained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the actual or estimated cost of the Ironbridge to Canning Town improvement schemes on or adjacent to the A13 trunk road in the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Newham in respect of (a) East India Dock road, interim junction scheme as now completed, (b) the East India Dock tunnel link, (c) the completed Abbott road, Leamouth road and A 13 Ironbridge widening scheme, (d) the widening of the Canning Town flyover from four to six lanes and associated road works and (e) works associated with the re-aligned east-bound slip road to the A13; and what plans he has for improvements for pedestrian crossing of the A13, Newham way, between these works and the proposed Freemasons road underpass.

The actual or estimated construction costs for the roads schemes listed by the hon. Member are as follows:

Schemes	£ million (including VAT)
(a) and (c) East India Dock Road/Leamouth Road	2·60
(b) East India Dock Road Link	36·00
(d) and (e) A13 Ironbridge/A13 Canning Town Flyover (including NE Slip Road, Canning Town)	50·06

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected outturn cost, or estimated cost of (a) of the Lower Lea crossing, (b) repairs and renewal to the Silvertown flyover, (c) the north Woolwich road widening and improvements, (d) the new Connaught crossing, (e) the Albert Dock spine road and associated intersections and (f) the Eastern G gateway link road in the London borough of Newham at 1993 or other specified year prices; and what is the estimated cost of the east London river crossing and its approaches on both sides of the Thames.

The costs for the road schemes listed by the hon. Member are as follows:

£ million (including VAT)
(a) Lower Lea Crossing	37·5
(b) Silvertown Flyover repairs	10·5
(c) North Woolwich Road Improvements	13·0
(d) Connaught Crossing	26·0
(e) Albert Dock Spine Road	38·5
(f) Eastern Gateway Access Road	10·8
(g) East London River Crossing	2300·0
1Estimates at current prices.
2At 1989 prices; also includes land costs.

Only scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the occasions when his Department has sought orders for the seizure of property from those protesting against proposed new road schemes; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has been unable to identify any such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost per mile of maintaining mainline railway track and branch line railway track (a) throughout the British Rail network and (b) in the south Wales and western regions.

My Department does not hold this information. Maintenance programmes and costs are a matter for the British Railways Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people are currently in receipt of home help service in the Down and Lisburn unit of management; and what was the comparable figure for the same period last year.

In May 1992, the latest date for which information is available, 2,436 people were in receipt of the home help service in the Down and Lisburn unit of management. In May 1991, the number of recipients was 2,444.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people who are currently in receipt of home help service in the Down and Lisburn unit of management have been subject to a reduction in hours.

A total of 453 people who are currently in receipt of home help service in the Down and Lisburn unit of management have had a reduction in home help hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of his Department in establishing a Renewables Order for Northern Ireland.

The Department of Economic Development intends to ask NIE plc to organise a competitive tender to secure generation capacity from plant using renewable sources of energy, with a view to making a non-fossil fuel order. The necessary arrangements for the tender competition are being finalised at present and I hope to make a further statement in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he intends to meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs and the Club and Institute Union to discuss the registration of clubs under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969; and if he will make a statement.

Clubs may be registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 if they satisfy certain conditions. These will be notified shortly to representatives of the Northern Ireland Federation of Clubs and the Club and Institute Union Ltd. Applications to register from clubs may then follow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 24 May, Official Report, columns 461–62, what estimate he has made of the overall administrative costs of the Ballyconnell canal project met in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) in the Republic of Ireland; and how many persons in his Department have been engaged in such work.

The construction work on the Ballyconnell canal is being managed by the Electricity Supply Board in the Republic of Ireland, which reports to a joint steering group comprising six representatives from Northern Ireland Government Departments and six representatives from Republic of Ireland Government Departments. The joint steering group oversees the project, deals with policy issues, approves expenditure and monitors progress. It meets two or three times a year. In addition to these formal meetings, there is also ad hoc liaison between the two Governments and with the project managers, including contacts at local level to facilitate works progress. It is not possible to estimate the overall administrative costs of the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the address of the office of the new Director General for Electricity Regulation in Northern Ireland.

The address is:

• Office of Electricity Regulation Northern Ireland (OFFER NI)
• Brookmount Buildings
• 42 Fountain Street
• BELFAST
• BT1 5EE

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims for compensation, arising from the IRA bomb at the forensic science laboratory at Newtownbreda in September 1992 are still to be concluded.

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Compensation Agency under its chief executive, Mr. J. Robinson. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he now intends to take any action to prevent damage to Ballynahone bog.

[holding answer 21 June 1993]: The Bulrush Peat Company Ltd. has permission for the extraction of peat from part of Ballynahone bog. This followed a detailed public inquiry. While the Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland has no plans to revoke the permission, I shall shortly be announcing a policy statement on how the Government intend to address the issues of peat bogs in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of nurses per neo-natal cot nationally and per region at the latest available date.

The information is not available in the form requested. Latest data on the number of beds on neo-natal wards and nursing staff employed in special care baby units are shown in the tables.

Table 1: Average number of daily available beds 1990–91 England, regional health authority (RHA) and special health authorities
Neonates	Number
England	3,374
Northern RHA	260
Yorkshire RHA	282
Trent RHA	295
East Anglian RHA	121
North West Thames RHA	248
North East Thames RHA	275
South East Thames RHA	271
South West Thames RHA	189
Wessex RHA	182
Oxford RHA	180
South Western RHA	148
West Midlands RHA	371
Mersey RHA	172
North Western RHA	340
Special Health Authorities	41

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she plans to extend the role of general practitioners as independent advocates for patients to hospital doctors.

General practitioners already act as advocates of their patients in providing general medical services and referring patients to specialist services if required. GP fund holding builds on this principle by enabling volunteer practices to purchase directly a range of hospital and community services on behalf of their patients. This is proving a great success and our aim is to extend the benefits to as many patients as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by her Department to encourage the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to change its equal opportunities policies; and if she will make a statement.

The Department shares the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work's—CCETSW—commitment to ensure that individuals are not unfairly disadvantaged on the grounds of age, gender, disability, Ianguage, including sign language, race or religion.Various aspects of the implementation of CCETSW's equal opportunities policy were discussed at the last annual ministerial review in December 1992. It was emphasised that CCETSW should not give a misleading impression in its documentation about the emphasis it places on anti-racist and other anti-discriminatory issues in training, and this must not be at the expense of receiving a solid, practical grounding in other important professional and management skills.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have been treated in the NHS for (a) myopia and (b) other eyesight disorders by laser photorefractive keratectomy; and what information she has on the extent of the use of this treatment in the private sector.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on her assessment of laser photorefractive keratectomy as a treatment to correct myopia; and what plans she has to make it available free of charge to patients at NHS hospitals.

Different types of laser are now being used in the national health service for the treatment of various eye conditions, including glaucoma. The use of photorefractive keratectomy, or excimer, lasers for treating myopia—short-sightedness—is still subject to research. An evaluation study is currently under way and is not expected to report before 1994. The evaluation is important, particularly as most people who are short-sighted and seek laser treatment do not have an eye disease and wish only to avoid wearing spectacles or contact lenses.The form of treatment of myopia is, therefore, currently only available to NHS patients as part of ongoing research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what has been the total number of optical appliances vouchers redeemed in each year since 1986;(2) what was the total cost of the optical appliances voucher scheme in each year since 1986.

The information for England is shown in the table.

	Numbers of vouchers paid for (millions)	Cost of vouchers (£ million)
1986–871	1·46	27·0
1987–88	2·52	47·9
1988–89	2·26	52·1
1989–90	2·27	53·6
1990–91	2·43	63·9
1991–92	2·84	79·8
1992–93	3·18	299·9
1 Figures are for nine months only following introduction of the scheme on I July 1986.
2 Provisional figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish in tabula form details of all grants currently approved by her Department to support projects connected with diet health and cookery including the amount of the grant, the period for which it has been approved, the name and location of the person or organisation to which it is made and the name of the person responsible for accounting to her for the expenditure of public funds in each case.

The Department is currently funding one such project—"Get Cooking" managed by the National Food Alliance which aims to improve the basic cooking skills of young people as a contribution to healthy eating. Funding amounts to £60,000 over two years—£31,000 in 1992–93 and £29,000 in 1993–94—and is subject to the normal vigorous financial management of all projects awarded funding under section 64 of the Health Service and Public Health Act 1968.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to establish an official complaints body to cover all dispensing opticians;(2) what representations she has received concerning the need for an official complaints body for customers of dispensing opticians.

We have no plans to set up a body to investigate complaints against dispensing opticians, who are independent practitioners, nor have we received any representations to do so. The bodies representing optometrists and dispensing opticians set up an independent consumer complaints' system—the optical consumer complaints service—in January this year, and all dispensing opticians' practices have been encouraged to become members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the total NHS budget in each of the last 10 years was spent on drugs; how many items were prescribed per head of population; and what corresponding information she has from other EC countries.

The available information is shown in the tables. The total national health service drugs bill comprises expenditure by family health services—FHS—and the hospital and community health services—HCHS. Items prescribed per head of population relate to prescriptions written by general practitioners and dispensed within the FHS. Comparable data for the other countries in the European Community are not available.

Year	Total NHS drugs bill as a percentage of total NHS expenditure
1982–83	10·2
1983–84	10·7
1984–85	10·4
1985–86	10·5
1986–87	10·6
1987–88	10·7
1988–89	10·8
1989–90	11·2
1990–91	10·7
1991–92	10·9

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Mid-Staffordshire health authority who have been referred by their general practitioner to a hospital consultant are currently not being put on an active waiting list and not being given any indication of when an appointment will be available.

This information is not available centrally. Patients who are referred to a hospital consultant by a general medical practitioner should either be seen immediately or put on an out-patient waiting list depending on their clinical priority. No one should have to wait to be put on an out-patient waiting list after he or she has been referred by his or her GP.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 16 June, Official Report, column 619, whether she will now fund a study of the causes of lung cancer in Liverpool; what is the future of the Sefton general hospital chest clinic in Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

Research studies which are locally based are the responsibility of the regional health authority and would not normally be funded from the Department's central research budget. It would be for Mersey RHA to consider whether or not to mount a study of the causes of lung cancer in Liverpool in the light of its knowledge of local needs, resources and priorities.The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. D. H. Tod, the chairman of Liverpool health authority, concerning the future of the Sefton general hospital chest clinic.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to introduce prescription charges for insulin-dependent diabetics.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 11 June, Official Report, column 373, if she will list the research projects currently being undertaken into the risks from prostate cancer.

This information is not routinely collected, but we are aware of several projects including studies in Newport and Bristol.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the latest available figures for (a) registered disabled, (b) registered blind people and (c) people in residential nursing homes in the parliamentary constituency of Christchurch.

Information is not available in the form requested. The latest available figures for registered disabled and registered blind people are published by local authority in "Register of Physically Disabled Persons (General Classes) at 31 March 1990, England" and "Registered Blind and Partially Sighted People at 31 March 1991, England". The centrally available information on nursing homes is the number of available beds and is published in "Private Hospitals, Homes and Clinics registered under section 23 of the Registered Homes Act 1984, at 31 March 1991, England". Copies of the publications are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest estimate by the Registrar General of Populations of those aged 17 years and over, plus 63 per cent. of those aged 16 years, for the district council area that includes the parliamentary constituency of Christchurch, together with the equivalent year's electoral registration figures, expressed as a percentage of these population estimates.

There are 72,211 parliamentary electors on the 1993 register for the Christchurch constituency. Population estimates are not available for parliamentary constituencies. The Christchurch parliamentary constituency comprises almost all—99·5 per cent.—of the parliamentary electors of Christchurch district part—56·7 per cent.—of the electors of West Dorset district and a very small part of—0·02 per cent.—of the electors of New

£ thousands
	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
Table 1: Average annual cost per whole time equivalent at current prices
Senior/General manager1	..	..	..	..	26·0	28·8
Consultant	38·8	43·5	46·9	48·7	53·3	57·7
Senior house officer	20·1	22·0	23·8	24·5	27·1	29·8
Qualified nurse	12·2	14·7	17·6	18·5	20·0	22·2
Ambulance staff2	10·5	11·3	11·8	310·9	13·1	15·0
Ancillary staff4	6·9	7·2	7·8	8·3	9·0	10·5
Medical laboratory scientific officer	10·9	10·7	12·8	16·2	16·4	17·2
Table 2: Average annual cost per whole time equivalent at 1986–87 prices
Senior/General manager1	..	..	..	..	18·7	18·9
Consultant	38·8	40·1	39·1	38·1	38·5	37·8
Senior house officer	20·1	20·3	19·8	19·2	19·5	19·5
Qualified nurse	12·2	13·6	14·7	14·5	14·4	14·6
Ambulance staff2	10·5	10·4	9·8	38·5	9·4	9·8
Ancillary staff4	6·9	6·7	6·5	6·5	6·5	6·9
Medical laboratory scientific officer	10·9	10·7	10·7	12·7	11·9	11·3
1 No comparable figures are available for the period 1986–87 to 1989–90.
2 Includes expenditure for all ambulance staff as cost for an ambulance driver not available separately.
3 Fall in ambulance staff figure probably due to ambulancemen strike.
4 Includes expenditure for all ancillary staff as cost for a porter and a cleaner not available separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of health service directly employed staff by main staff group each year from 1987 to 1992; and if she will give the changes between each year and over the whole period in numbers and percentages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will name the studies on which she has based her predictions as to the future patterns of pharmaceutical retail outlets subsequent to implementation of her proposals for a new pattern of payment to their proprietors.

Community pharmacists are independent commercial businesses: it is for them to determine their development strategies. Through our proposals, the Government will ensure that patients continue to enjoy reasonable access to a local pharmacy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average annual cost of employing (a) a senior manager, (b) a consultant, (c) a senior house officer, (d) a qualified nurse, (e) an ambulance driver, (f) a porter, (g) a medical laboratory, scientific officer and (h) a cleaner in the NHS in each year since 1986–87 at (i) cash prices and (ii) 1986–87 prices.

The information requested is not readily available. The figures shown in the tables are estimated by combining information from national health service annual accounts and from medical and non-medical censuses.

The information available is shown in the table. More comprehensive information about national health service manpower is published in the "Statistical Bulletin on NHS hospital and community health services non-medical staff in England: 1981–1991" and associated press release—H93/626 NHS Non-Medical Workforce Statistics—dated 12 March 1993, copies of which are available in the Library.

National health service workforce by staff group
Whole-time equivalents
			1988 compared with 1987			1989 compared with 1988			1990 compared with 1989			1991 compared with 1990		1991 compared with 1987
Main staff groups	1987	1988	Number	Per cent.	1989	Number	Per cent.	1990	Number	Per cent.	1991	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Nursing and midwifery staff	397,910	397,650	-260	-0·1	398,050	400	0·1	395,360	-2,690	-0–7	392,200	-3,160	-0·8	-5,710	-1·4
Professions allied to medicine	34,940	35,640	700	2·0	36,710	1,070	3·0	37,300	590	1·6	37,960	660	1·8	3,020	8·6
Scientific and professional	10,860	11,600	740	6·8	12,080	480	4·1	12,690	610	5·0	13,530	840	6·6	2,670	24·6
Other professional and technical	33,170	32,530	-640	-1·9	32,370	-160	-0·5	33,990	1,620	5·0	35,390	1,400	4·1	2,220	6·7
Medical and dental	41,570	42,840	1,270	3·1	44,090	1,250	2·9	45,390	1,300	2·9	46,530	1,140	2·5	4·960	11·9
Ancillary	115,060	107,620	-7,440	-6·5	102,360	-5,260	-4·9	95,690	-6,670	-6·5	85,890	-9,800	-10·2	-29,170	-25·4
Administrative and clerical	113,900	114,720	820	0·7	116,840	2,120	1·8	120,040	3,200	2·7	127,370	7,330	6·1	13,470	11·8
General and senior managers	700	1,240	540	77·1	4,610	3,370	271·8	9,680	5,070	110·0	13·340	3,660	37·6	12,640	1,805·7
Maintenance	18,470	17,330	-1,140	-6·2	16,540	-790	-4·6	16,020	-520	-3·1	15,120	-900	-5·6	-3·350	-18·1
Works	5,710	5,320	-390	-6·8	4,640	-680	-12·8	3,900	-740	-15·9	3,230	-670	-17·2	-2,480	-43·4
Ambulance (including officers)	19,010	18,760	-250	-1·3	18,860	100	0·5	18,130	-730	-3·9	18,190	60	0·3	-820	-4·3

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all Government-funded research into the causes of schizophrenia, giving the amount of funding in each case; and if she will make a statement.

In 1993–94, the Department is committed to fund projects on schizophrenia costing around £290,000. These projects concern detecting early signs of relapse, the long-term outcome of psychosis in Afro-Caribbean patients and a prospective study of psychoses in British Afro-Caribbean people.The Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has funded research directly related to schizophrenia to a value of £1·6 million in 1991–92, the latest figures available, and an additional £678,000 was for general mental illness research relevant to schizophrenia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the whole-time equivalent numbers of (a) agency and (b) bank nursing and midwifery staff employed in the NHS for each year from 1987 to 1992.

The information is shown in the table.

	Bank	Agency
1987	4,920	6,130
1988	5,830	6,240
1989	5,910	7,230
1990	6,230	6,710
1991	8,540	3,930

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish details of the numbers of qualified NHS nurses and midwives, unqualified NHS nursing staff and nursing learners representing these as a percentage of the total

National Health Service Nursing and Midwifery Staff (excluding agency) at 30 September, England (whole-time equivalents)
	1989		1990		1991
	Whole time equivalent	Percentage of total	Whole time equivalent	Percentage of total	Whole lime equivalent	Percentage of total
Total Nursing and Midwifery	398,050	100·0	398,360	100·0	402,700	100·0
Qualified	242,190	60·8	242,340	60·8	243,250	60·4
Unqualified	90,880	22·8	90,450	22·7	90,550	22·5
Traditional Learners	63,310	15·9	58,840	14·8	47,340	11·8
Project 2000	—	0·0	3,000	0·8	10,500	2·6
Unknown	1,680	0·4	3,730	0·9	11,050	2·7

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many occupational therapists were employed within each district health authority in each of the last 10 years.

[holding answer 10 June 1993]: This information will be placed in the Library. The figures show a steady increase over the 10-year period, and in some regions the number has more than doubled.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 7 June, Official Report, columns 43–44, whether levels of PM₁₀ particulate found in the United Kingdom are within the range of those found in United States studies demonstrating an association between PM₁₀ levels and mortality; and what assessment she has made of whether the speciation of PM₁₀ is comparable between the two countries.

I have been asked to reply.Of the studies referred to in the reply to the answer of 7 June, the study in the Utah valley was the only one concerned with PM

To ask the Chairman of the Catering Committee on what dates environmental health officers inspected food preparation and eating areas relating to (a) Westminster Hall Cafeteria, (b) the Strangers' Cafeteria, (c) the Members' Cafeteria, (d) the Members' Tea Room, (e) the Strangers' Dining Room, (f) the Members' Dining Room and (g) the Pugin Room in each of the last four

The health, safety and hygiene needs of the Refreshment Department's kitchens and catering outlets are major elements in the Catering Committee's current inquiry into refreshment services for the House of Commons. I shall ask the Director of Catering Services to write to the hon. Member in reply to the points of administrative detail raised in her question.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) what contracts are still outstanding for ongoing maintenance at No. I Parliament street with building contractors who were involved in the modernisation of this building; and to what extent they are still liable for the responsibility of repairing defects which now exist within this building;(2) if he will list the defects which have been reported and repaired at No. 1 Parliament street since January;(3)if he will make a statement on the reasons for the defects in the cooling and ventilation systems at No. 1 Parliament street; when this system will be working correctly; what action is being taken to disperse cooking smells in the building; and if he will make a statement.

The main contractor's liability period for engineering defects expired in March 1992, but the company is still carrying out residual work on the circle lock doors and the cooling system which have failed to meet the required standards. No other major defects have been reported or identified although, of course, day-to-day maintenance is undertaken within the building to cover minor items which naturally arise.There have been few complaints about cooking smells in the building. The capacity and performance of the cooling system will be improved following work to balance the distribution of the output and improve water filters and valves. This work is expected to be completed in July. In addition, the Director of Works is investigating whether the ventilation system is working to full efficiency.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the size of the parliamentary estate; and how many (a) rooms and (b) bars and restaurants there are in that part for which this House is responsible.

The Parliamentary Estate of both Houses comprises some 116,000 m² of which 87,000 m² is occupied by this House. Within that part of the Palace and its precincts under the control of the House, there are 1,206 offices and 36 Committee or meeting rooms. It is not possible to provide any meaningful estimate of the total number of rooms; they do, however, contain 14 restaurants or cafeteria and nine bars.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has as to the numbers and locations of Somalis in refugee camps; and what progress has been made in assisting them to return to their homes.

Kenya has hosted some 330,000 Somali refugees, mainly in the east of the country. There are 90,000 including some Ethiopians in Djibouti, with a further 62,000 Somalis in Yemen and 150,000 in Saudi Arabia.Latest information suggests that up to 150,000 out of a total of 430,000 refugees have now spontaneously returned from Ethiopia to northern Somalia. Some 30,000 Somalis have also been voluntarily repatriated from Kenya, and another 90,000 from Kenya have so far registered with UNHCR for voluntary repatriation as soon as possible.UNHCR is preparing a regional repatriation plan for several hundred thousand Somali refugees to return from Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen and Djibouti.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to ensure that the report by the Audit Committee of the European bank for reconstruction and development on financial management is published.

The audit committee of directors of the European bank for reconstruction and development plans to report to the board of directors on July 15. We expect the committee's findings to be made public but this will be a decision for the board as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criminal offences have been created by his Department by way of delegated legislation in the last five years.

This information can be given only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Hayes) of II June, Official Report, column 358, how many copies of his Department's MINIS 14 documents have been printed; at what cost; and to whom he is circulating them.

MINIS 14 is printed in eight parts. The number of copies printed for each part is:

Number
Part 1: Local Government Group	90
Part 2: Housing and Urban Group	90
Part 3: Planning, Rural Affairs and Water Group	90
Part 4: Environmental Protection Group	90
Part 5: Principal Establishments and Finance Officer's Command	90
Part 6: Construction Directorate	85
Part 7: Regional Offices	85
Part 8: Legal Command; Information Directorate and Private Secretaries' Office	90

The cost of printing MINIS 14 was £4,496; full sets of MINIS 14 were circulated to the House of Commons Library, the House of Lords Library, the Annex Library, the Environment Select Committee, the National Audit Office, HM Treasury, the DOE trade union side, the Treasury and Civil Service Committee, the DOE libraries, DOE Ministers, the DOE permanent secretary and DOE deputy secretaries. DOE directors are given copies of their own return. Copies of MINIS 14 are available for sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Government have to increase the waste recycling target to above 25 per cent. by the year 2000.

We have no such plans at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will include energy recovered from waste incineration in his Department's waste recycling targets.

The Government consider that recovering energy from waste is a legitimate means of recycling. Our current target, to recycle half of all household waste which can be recycled, relates to materials recycling and composting. However, we have said that we will re-examine the idea of setting targets for energy recovery from waste among other ways of encouraging the greater use of this option. I am currently exploring this issue with colleagues at the Department of Trade and Industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent assessment he has made as to the feasibility of achieving the target of recycling 25 per cent. of all domestic waste by the year 2000; what steps his Department is making to encourage the reaching of this target; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have funded research on a number of the factors which affect the feasibility of recycling 25 per cent. of household waste by the year 2000, including: the costs and benefits of different collection methods; technical and market barriers; and the economic framework for recycling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what encouragement he is giving to alternative methods of municipal waste disposal, other than landfill.

The Government's policy is to set in place the necessary regulatory and economic framework to ensure that waste disposal operations do not lead to pollution of the environment or harm to human health. Within this framework, the Government believe that the market should generally decide the disposal option for particular waste types.The Royal Commission on environmental pollution recently recommended the introduction of a levy on waste going to landfill to reflect the full environmental cost of this form of waste disposal. We are currently considering this recommendation, along with other proposals for changing the economic framework for waste disposal.The Government are keen to promote the development of schemes which derive energy from waste. The non-fossil fuel obligation provides the initial stimulus for such schemes. We also have programmes of work under way to improve composting techniques and to investigate markets for composts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received in recent months concerning the import and incineration of toxic wastes.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer the then Secretary of State for the Environment gave on 28 April, Official Report, columns 949–50, to the hon. Member for Newport, East (Mr. Hughes).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will launch a comprehensive assessment on the state of toxic tips in the United Kingdom and their effect on groundwater supplies.

A research study has been initiated to review the extent and type of groundwater contamination associated with the landfilling of controlled wastes. The work aims to provide information about the significance of any identified groundwater contamination, when compared with background levels and with other sources of contamination, and in relation to drinking water standards. The project is expected to be completed in 1995–96.

To ask the Secretary of State for the environment what grant aid is available for the purpose of restoring redundant farm houses and associated buildings in order that they may again form the basis of an active farming unit.

There are no grants specifically for this purpose. However, under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, renovation grants may be available in appropriate cases for repairs and improvements to farm houses and other buildings that have planning consent for conversion to residential use.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made in meeting its target to provide a monthly analysis of uptake of unleaded petrol.

A monthly analysis of the uptake of unleaded petrol is published by the Department of Trade and Industry in its "Advance Energy Statistics" press notice, issued on the first Wednesday of each month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in Her Majesty's Government's policy to work to improve the financial, managerial and administrative activities of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Our policy remains unchanged. We are major contributors to the United Nations Environment Programme, and we support the efforts the new executive director is making to improve the programme's efficiency and effectiveness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received the report of the Director General of Water Services for 1992.

I am pleased to announce that the director general has prepared his report of 1992 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environmment what work the Building Research Establishment has carried out on the effect on people's health of condensation in the home.

[holding answer 10 June 1993]: It is not normally suggested that condensation has a direct effect on physical health. The potential health consequences of condensation relate to its role in permitting the growth of fungi and mites. Airborne fragments of fungi and mites can give rise to respiratory or skin reactions, particularly in sensitive individuals.The Building Research Establishment executive agency (BRE) is and has long been involved in a range of research which will elucidate the prevalence of condensation, fungi and mites in the home, and the likely health effects of these levels. A list of the major publications resulting from the work attached. BRE publications are available from the BRE bookshop (Tel. 0923 664444).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to designate the middle Severn estuary proposed special protection area for nature conservation and register it with the European Commission.

[holding answer 22 June 1993 ]: The Severn estuary is one of a programme of sites on which the Department is currently working to complete the network of special protection areas (SPAs) in the United Kingdom. SPA designation has significant long-term implications for both nature conservation and land use planning. Detailed consultations are essential to ensure that any conflicts of interest are closely examined, together with the scientific evidence, before a site is designated. I am unable to say when a decision about the Severn will be taken. The Government have designated 72 special protection areas, 23 in the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish details of EC grants available to those required to replace CFC-dependent machinery; if the Government will facilitate the release of EC grants by matching them with United Kingdom funds; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.There are no EC grants available for those required to replace CFC-dependent machinery. Under the current EC framework governing state aid, member states are, however, permitted to provide grants, within specified limits, to support investments designed to protect the environment.Over the past three years, the United Kingdom has committed some £12 million of investment support to the development and demonstration of innovative environmental technologies through two schemes, the joint DTI/DOE environmental technology innovation scheme and the DTI's environmental management options scheme. International environmental research and development is also supported through the EUREKA Euroenviron programme.The Government are now considering how best to take forward then support for environmental technologies, but grants solely to subsidise compliance with minimum legal environmental standards would be contrary to the polluter-pays principle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a copy of the nuclear safety scheme drawn up in association with the designation of Swansea as a Z-berth for nuclear submarines.

The document has not yet been completed as work is continuing on the development of a suitable public safety scheme for the Swansea Z-berth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer on 10 June, Official Report, column 340, if he will make it his policy to seek further information from the United States Administration about the CIA report on Iraq's military capabilities.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many nuclear tests were conducted by the United Kingdom, France, China, the United States of America and the Soviet Union/Russia in each year since 1985.

The United Kingdom has carried out the following numbers of nuclear tests since 1985:

Year	Number
1985	1
1986	1
1987	1
1988	0
1989	1
1990	1
1991	1
1992	0

Nuclear tests carried out by other countries in these

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has about the radioactive contamination at Admiralty Compass Observatory in Slough; and if he will make a statement.

Following a preliminary radiological monitoring survey carried out by Ministry of Defence staff at the Defence Research Agency site at Ditton Park, Slough, formerly known as the Admiralty Compass Observatory, very low levels of radium-226 contamination have been found within and adjacent to a former luminising workshop used in the manufacture of compasses from about 1940 to the mid 1950s. There is no access by members of the public to the building. The contamination external to the building is held within the soil structure and poses no hazard to members of the public. Further monitoring will be undertaken in the near future to establish more fully the extent of the contamination and to determine what remedial action is required.Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, Slough borough council, and the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead council have been kept informed of the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel were court-martialled in each of the last three years in (a) the Royal Navy, (b) the Royal Air Force and (c) the Army and the number of service personnel from each of these services discharged from the services as a result of their court martial.

The number of service personnel convicted by court martial, and the number consequently dismissed in the most recent years for which figures are available, are as follows:

	Royal Navy	Army	Royal Air Force
1991
Number of offenders	38	704	129
Offenders dismissed	21	281	32
1990
Number of offenders	31	816	140
Offenders dismissed	7	322	29
1989
Number of offenders	52	726	120
Offenders dismissed	16	270	40

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what review was carried out into the operation of the Joint Forces Headquarters in the light of Operation Granby; and what were its main conclusions.

The operation of the joint forces headquarters—JFHQ—during Operation Granby was reviewed during the assessment of lessons from the operation. The concept of establishing for major operations a tri-service, in-theatre operational headquarters, and its relationship with the joint headquarters and Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom, were endorsed. Other lessons included the importance during peacetime of the effective training and exercising of the joint forces operational staff who form the core of the JFHQ, and the need for early deployment of the JFHQ should it become apparent that an operation would require the substantial involvement of more than one of the three services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the intended future use of the facilities recently vacated by 22 squadron search and rescue at RAF Leuchars.

Further to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Mr. Hamilton) gave to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 28 April, Official Report, column 406, I can now confirm that the Aberdeen, Dundee and St. Andrews university air squadron has now relocated within the vacated SAR facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists, of what rank, and in what roles are serving in (a) the Croatia theatre and (b) the Bosnia theatre in support of the British contribution to UNPROFOR.

There is one member of the reserve forces serving in Croatia, a lieutenant commander of the Royal Naval Reserve public affairs branch; there are none serving in Bosnia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many men and of what rank from (a) the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, (b) the Gordon Highlanders and (c) the Queen's Lancashire Regiment are currently serving with the Prince of Wales Own (Yorkshire) Regiment in Bosnia.

The information is as follows:

Rank	Number
(a) The Argyll and Sutherland
Highlanders
Lieutenant	1
Sergeant	1
Corporal	4
Lance
Corporal	11
Private	18
(b) The Gordon Highlanders
Captain	1
Lieutenant	1
Sergeant	1
Corporal	2
Lance
Corporal	7
Private	25
(c) The Queen's Lancashire Regiment
Lieutenant	1
Sergeant	1
Corporal	0
Lance
Corporal	10
Private	24

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from British forces of fighting between Croat and Muslim forces near the British Army base in' Vitez on 16 June; and what representations he intends to make to Croat and Muslim authorities.

The security situation around the British forces base at Vitez is closely monitored by troops on the ground there. On 16 June there was fighting between the Croats and Muslims in the Lasva valley near Vitez. No representations were made to the Croat or Muslim authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from the United States Government as to the danger to service men posed by the inhalation or ingestion of uranium dust from uranium tipped shells used during the Gulf conflict.

My Department has received no specific formal information from the United States Government regarding the dangers to service men serving in the Gulf resulting from the use of shells tipped with depleted uranium—DU. A comprehensive health evaluation was undertaken prior to the introduction into service of DU tipped shells and the possible risks arising from the inhalation or ingestion of DU dust after impact are well understood. British forces, including those deployed to the Gulf, are issued with prior advice on how to avoid any risk association with the use of DU shells.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the market tests that have taken place in his Departments since November 1992 and indicate, in each case, whether the result was the maintenance of in-house provision, or whether the service was contracted-out.

The information requested is as follows. It covers new market testing only and does not include the retesting of services which are already contracted-out. It also excludes market tests currently in progress but not yet completed.

	Result
Inland Revenue
Bulk Mailing (Employers' Annual Pack)	Contracted-out
Catering (Telford)	Contracted-out
Customs and Excise
London HQ typing services	Retained in-house
Southend HQ typing services	Retained in-house
Regional Executive Units typing services	Retained in-house
London HQ messenger services	Retained in-house
Internal Audit	Retained in-house
Vehicle fleet management	Part retained in-house, part contracted-out
Department for National Savings
Catering Services	The market test covered four units with a combination of in-house and contracted-out services. The service was retained in-house at one location, the existing external supplier selected at two others, and a fresh external supplier selected at the fourth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received about interest rates and their effect on the economy.

A number of such representations have been received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the number of home owners with mortgage arrears.

The Government do not make estimates of the number of home owners with mortgage arrears. The latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders—CML—which relate to the position at the end of 1992, are as follows:

	Total	Percentage of total mortgages
Arrears 6–12 months	205,010	2·07
Arrears over 12 months	147,040	1·48

The next CM L arrears figures will be published at the end of July.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the views of the central and eastern European shareholders in the European bank for reconstruction and development are taken fully into account alongside those of the G7 shareholders in determining how the bank should be run and in determining any future changes; and if he will make a statement.

The EBRD's board of directors represents all the bank's shareholders. The central and east European shareholders can express their views about the organisation of the bank through their representatives on the board of directors.