To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps his Department is taking to prepare land ownership statistics for England and Wales which will identify the level of domestic ownership of England and Wales.

There are no plans to produce such statistics at the present time.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when his Department intends to make the registration of land ownership in England and Wales compulsory.

Compulsory registration of title on sale was extended to the whole of England and Wales on 1 December 1990 under the provisions of the Land Registration Act 1925. The Government indicated in the citizens charter White Paper that they would explore options to complete the land register in the absence of a sale of title. Responses to the subsequent consultation paper issued by the Land Registry, "Completing the Land Register in England and Wales", are presently being assessed and will be taken into account in formulating future policy.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what facilities will be available to hon. Members on the new annunciator service.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bosworth (Mr. Tredinnick) on 13 July, Official Report, column 444.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee on which dates the new annunciator service will be operational for each building of the parliamentary estate.

The new annunciator equipment, which was demonstrated to the House on 22 July, is currently undergoing acceptance tests. If those tests are successfully completed, the equipment is expected to come into operation, serving screens throughout the parliamentary estate, early in 1994.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee (1) by which date each building on the parliamentary estate will be cabled;

The Information Committee hopes to report on the parliamentary data and video network early in the new year. It intends to deal with the timing of cabling as part of that study.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will undertake a questionnaire to gauge the demand from hon. Members for training courses in the use of word processors.

As part of its inquiry into the parliamentary data and video network the Committee has sent a questionnaire to all Members. The responses will be considered by the Committee as part of its deliberations which, it is hoped, will lead to a report to the House early in 1994.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee what plans he has to include in the parliamentary on-line information system the full text of answers in entirety relating to parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement.

The Library is in the process of upgrading the software and hardware for the parliamentary on-line information system (POLIS). When the upgrading is completed in spring 1994, the Library, in co-operation with the Department of the Official Report, intends to create a database containing the complete text of oral questions and debates.Providing the text of written answers to parliamentary questions in the POLIS database is also in the Library's development programme, but this involves complications resulting from the format of some answers.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee (1) if he will list the recommendations of the last report on the format of the Vote bundle that were (a) implemented and (b) not implemented; and if he will consider a further review of the format and content of the Vote bundle;(2) what proposals he has to rationalise the content of the Vote bundle or otherwise reduce its cost.

The Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee carried out a full investigation into the Vote bundle in 1991. Its three recommendations which have been implemented were: (a) the removal of Division lists (b) the removal of daily minutes of proceedings of statutory instruments Committees (c) the abolition of the Blue Order Book and its replacement by a White Order Book available on demand.I see no reason at present for a further review, but the Committee would of course consider carefully any specific new suggestions made by hon. Members.

To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee (1) if he will examine the possibility of producing a one-page daily agenda for the front of the Order Paper;

Both these suggestions were made by my hon. Friend to the former Accommodation and Administration Sub-Committee of the Services Committee which decided not to recommend their adoption. I see no reason to reconsider these specific proposals at this stage.

To ask the Chairman of the Finance and Services Committee what is the cost of maintenance of the rifle range; what is the rate of use of the rifle range; and if he will conduct a cost-benefit assessment of its current usage.

I have asked the Director of Works to write to the hon. Member in respect of the maintenance costs of the range. The other points raised by the hon. Member are matters for the Houses of Parliament Sports and Social Club, which operates the range.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if the Committee will consider introducing proposals to amend the rules relating to photography in the Palace of Westminster so as to prohibit filming in New Palace Yard after 12 noon.

The Administration Committee has already agreed to review the regulations governing photography and filming in the Palace of Westminster. Consideration is expected to begin early in the new year, and I shall ensure that the issue raised by my hon. Friend is included in the Committee's deliberations.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the Commission will institute a survey of Members to ascertain what additional services they would like to have provided.

It is for the domestic committees to maintain an oversight of the needs of hon. Members in consultation with House Departments, and to make recommendations for additional services on the basis of a considered study. Their proposals are then considered as necessary by the Finance and Services Committee and the Commission, as well as the House in the case of a major new service.The Commission has no plans to undertake a survey of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, if he will consider bringing forward plans for induction courses for new hon. Members and in-service training for existing Members in conjunction with the Civil Service college; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what consideration he has given to the establishment of a charitable foundation to (a) operate the national lottery and (b) distribute the funds from the national lottery; and what would be the financial effects of doing so.

The question of a charitable foundation to operate the national lottery was debated extensively in both Houses during the passage of the legislation. (a) The licence to operate the lottery will be awarded by the Director General of the National Lottery after a competitive tender exercise designed to maximise the proceeds for good causes. There is no reason why a charitable foundation should not bid for the licence.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the amount of art funding granted to projects covering the Greater London area in each of the last three years.

Government funding for the arts in London is channelled through the Arts Council, and is provided both direct to clients and through the London Arts Board. The amount of Arts Council funding for the Greater London area—excluding national companies—in each of the last three years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what percentage of the Arts Council's budget is spent on administration; and what were the equivalent figures five and 10 years ago.

The percentage of the Arts Council's budget spent on administration in 1992–93, 1987–88 and 1982–83 is set out in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many clients per head of staff were handled by (a) the Arts Council and (b) its music department (i) 10 years ago and (ii) now.

The number of clients per head of staff handled by the Arts Council and its music department 10 years ago and in 1992–93 are set out in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the members of the committee to review the funding of the four London orchestras; and if he will also list their relevant qualifications for this task.

The membership of the committee, together with relevant background information, is as follows:Sir Leonard Hoffman (chairman):

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list those public investment projects within his Department's responsibility which have attracted private capital and have been commenced since the 1992 autumn statement.

[holding answer 2 November 1993]: A number of projects are currently under consideration, but none has yet reached the stage where any details can be given. By their nature, such projects involve a long lead-time, but we will make announcements about any major projects as soon as we are in a position to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans there are to privatise the arrangements for the service of remembrance at the Cenotaph.

[holding answer 2 November 1993]: Provision of individual works services such as the cleaning and repair of the Cenotaph has for many years been managed and carried out by Building Management South East as part of the Property Services Agency. Now that Building Management South East Ltd. is in the private sector it is important that other firms have the opportunity to compete for its work. I will therefore be inviting competitive tenders in due course. There will be no change in the actual service of remembrance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects that the United Kingdom will ratify the biological diversity convention; and what outstanding obstacles there are to the ratification.

We intend, with our EC partners, to ratify the convention on biological diversity by the end of 1993, given satisfactory progress towards securing safeguards against our concerns on the financial provisions of the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money will be spent by housing action trusts in Liverpool over the next five years.

The HATs' spending plans for the next three years will be finalised once the current public expenditure survey has been completed. An external financing limit for 1994–95 and indicative EFLs for the subsequent two years of this survey period will be set next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department takes into consideration EC objective 1 status when assessing levels of grant and standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement.

Standard spending assessments are the Government's assessment of the appropriate amount of revenue expenditure by each local authority taking account of its physical, demographic and social characteristics. The calculation of SSAs take no account of the likely level of funding from European Community institutions.Under arrangements agreed with the European Commission, my Department will provide public expenditure cover, in the form of supplementary credit approvals, automatically and in full, for forecast European regional development fund receipts arising on projects which fall within the "other services block", my Department's urban initiatives and projects for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage has the policy responsibility. To the extent that an authority chooses to use part of its allocation of basic credit approvals to provide matching funding within a project using ERDF grant, then the revenue consequences of these credit approvals will have been reflected in SSAs in the usual way.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are applied for assessing spending on (a) refuse collection, (b) environmental health and (c) planning; and if he will make a statement.

Refuse collection, environmental health and planning control are among those services included in the standard spending assessment for "All Other Services" at the district level. The formula for the distribution of resources for "All Other Services" is set out in the Local Government Finance Report (England) 1993–94 approved by Parliament in February 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will make it his policy to include (a) economic and (b) social deprivation indices in the standard spending assessment; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make it his policy to base future standard spending assessments on research into the variations in spending needs between different authorities; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will make it his policy to include in the additional needs index a disability indicator of need in both special and ordinary schools; and if he will make a statement.

We have recently completed a review of the system of standard spending assessments. As part of the review we have considered the inclusion in standard spending assessments of a wide range of indicators, including measures of economic deprivation and disability. The existing system of standard spending assessments is based on statistical evidence and research into the factors which lead to variation in the costs faced by local authorities.Proposals for standard spending assessments for 1994–95 will be announced later this autumn as part of the provisional revenue support grant settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria his Department applies when assessing the needs of areas of poor health; whether age is a factor; and if he will make a statement.

We have recently completed a review of the system of standard spending assessments. As part of the review we have considered the inclusion of a range of health indicators, including standard mortality ratios, taking account of variations in the age structure of the local population.Work on the review has now finished and my right hon. Friend will announce the outcome later in the autumn as part of his proposals for revenue support grant for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has received from the Local Government Commission and the local authority associations of the transitional costs of local government reform in England.

The Local Government Commission has included in its reports on each of the review areas in the first tranche, estimates of transitional costs associated with its recommendations. Neither the Association of District Councils nor the Association of County Councils has submitted estimates of any such costs. My officials have, however, been holding technical discussions with representatives of the ADC and ACC on the implications of local government reorganisation, including any potential transitional costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the original estimate of the council tax base in Barnet and Wandsworth; and what is the latest estimate.

The council tax bases used for the 1993–94 local government settlement, derived from the proposed valuation lists sent to the authorities between 15 November and 1 December 1992, were 128,281 and 105,392 band D2 adult equivalents for Barnet and Wandsworth respectively.The latest estimates, derived from the valuation lists available to authorities on 7 June 1993, are 130,459 and 110,334 band D equivalents for Barnet and Wandsworth respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultation his Department has undertaken with British aerosol manufacturers and users about the terms of the draft Environmental Protection (Non-Refillable Refrigerant Containers) Regulations.

My Department issued a consultation paper in March 1992 setting out the proposals for these regulations. The British Aerosol Manufacturers Association (BAMA) was among the organisations consulted. Officials have since discussed the proposed regulations directly with representatives of BAMA.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table for the latest available year showing for each local housing authority in England (a) the total amount of capital receipts, (b) the reserve proportion thereof, (c) numbers in temporary accommodation and (d) the cost of temporary accommodation, with totals for London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs, shire districts, and England.

I have today placed in the Library of the House tables giving final figures of (a) total receipts and (b) reserved receipts for 1991–92 and corresponding provisional figures for 1992–93 for each local housing authority in England.My Department does not collect information on the total numbers of those homeless households which have been placed by local authorities in temporary accommodation having been accepted by them as homeless, nor on the costs of the various types of temporary accommodation other than bed and breakfast accommodation.Data on the total numbers of households placed in temporary accommodation and some data on the costs are, however, collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. The latest information is for 1991–92 and is published in "Homelessness Statistics 1991–92 Actuals", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what advice he has received from the National Radiological Protection Board on the annual collective dose of radiation worldwide from (a) background radiation, fallout and non-nuclear industry sources, (b) medical exposure and (c) the operation of the thermal oxide reprocessing plant; and if he will make a statement;(2) what advice he has received from the National Radiological Protection Board on the annual collective dose of radiation to the whole United Kingdom population from all sources now; by what amount that dose would increase if THORP was operating; and if he will make a statement.

Details of the annual collective doses of radiation from all sources to the United Kingdom population are published in the National Radiation Protection Board's (NRPB) "Radiation Exposure of the UK Population—1993 Review". Information on the collective doses to the world's population from all sources is published in "Sources, Effects and Risks of Ionising Radiation UNSCEAR 1988 Report to the General Assembly, United Nations". At the request of the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on the Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE), NRPB has published estimates of the collective doses arising from proposed Sellafield discharges. These calculations indicate that the operation of THORP would increase the annual collective dose to the United Kingdom population by less than 0.003 per cent. and the world's population by less than 0.0006 per cent. I am arranging for copies of these publications to be placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a list of tower blocks erected in England by local authorities for housing purposes, (a) currently in occupation or (b) demolished or awaiting demolition with details in the year in which approvals for construction and/or financing was given by his Department, and the number of dwellings in each block, where this occurred in 1963 and thereafter.

The information requested is not collected by this Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for each financial year since 1978 the average unrebated rent for (a) local authority tenants, (b) housing association tenants for each local housing authority in England, with sub-totals for London boroughs, metropolitan boroughs, and shire districts, and England, in current prices, constant prices, and with a constant price index where 1978 equals 100.

I have today placed in the Library a table showing the average local authority weekly unrebated rent for each housing authority for each financial year from 1988–89 to 1992–93, both at current and constant prices with the latter also expressed as an index with 1988–89 equal to 100. This information could only be provided for years before 1988–89 at disproportionate cost.From 1978 to 1989 the information for housing association tenants can be found in the publication "Statistical Note for Rent Officers: Statistics of Rent Registrations by Rent Registration Area and Rent Assessment Committee Determinations by Panel Area". From 1990 the information on registered fair housing association rents can be found in the publication "Rent Officer Statistics"; information on new lettings by registered housing association can be found in the National Federation of Housing Associations' quarterly bulletin; and information on rents for the whole housing association stock can be found in the report "Housing Associations in 1992" published by the Housing Corporation.Copies of all these publications are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present strategic guidance for the provision of new dwellings in Tyne and Wear; what meetings have been held with the city of Newcastle upon Tyne on this matter; and what allowance has been made for the need for more student accommodation in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.

The strategic guidance for Tyne and Wear, published in 1989, stated that the five unitary development plans should provide for a basic requirement of 30,100 dwellings to be built between the beginning of 1988 and the end of 2001. The necessity to review and roll forward this strategic guidance has been discussed at a number of meetings with officers from the city of Newcastle upon Tyne as part of a continuing dialogue. The need for more student accommodation in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne will be one of the factors taken into account when setting new guidelines for housebuilding beyond the year 2001.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he proposes to make to the house renovation grant system following his recent consultation exercise.

After considering the response to the consultation paper on the future of private housing renewal programmes, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today laid before the House Renovation Grant Limit Order, under which the upper limit for mandatory renovation grants to owners, tenants and landlords in England will be £20,000. The order will come into force on 14 January 1944. I propose no change, for the moment, to the Exchequer subsidy rate in England of 60 per cent. or to the test of applicants' resources.The consultation paper included longer-term options which I am considering further. The Government's objective is to ensure that the resources available for private housing renewal are targeted effectively.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is making an announcement today covering arrangements for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in implementing the system of local authority air pollution control introduced under part 8 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

By the end of March this year, some 13,000 applications for authorisation had been received by local authorities, of which over 5,500 had been decided. Only 12 appeals were received by my Department during the first two years of operation of the new air pollution controls.I am pleased to say that the evidence from the data that have been collected and from a review of 25 local authorities conducted by my Department is that local authorities are getting on well with tackling their new responsibilities. None the less, there remains a heavy workload to determine the outstanding applications and to ensure that the necessary improvement are made by operators.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made with the proposal for a housing action trust in Brent.

I am pleased to announce that I have decided, after careful consideration of tenants' views and of the detailed feasibility study for the estate, that there should be a ballot of tenants on the proposal to establish a housing action trust for the Stonebridge estate in Brent. This is a further example of the Government's determination to tackle the problems of rundown estates and improve their management in close consultation with the people who live there.I shall announce the ballot date in due course. In the meantime, further consultations with the tenants will take place, so that they can ask the questions and receive the answers which will enable them to understand the implications for them of the establishment of a housing action trust.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has had from Manchester city council in regard to proposals on market franchise rights; what reply he is sending; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 20 October 1993]: We have received representations from the council objecting to the Government's proposals. The representations are being carefully considered along with other consultees' views.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to reply to the letters of 3 October and 14 October from Mr. N. T. P. Murphy, a constituent of the right hon. Member for Copeland, concerning Nirex.

[holding answer 29 October 1993]: My officials replied to Mr. Murphy on 3 November 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total gross public spending for each year since 1981–82, and the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96, in 1992–93 prices, for the urban development corporations.

[holding answer 2 November 1993]: The urban development corporations' programmes are supported by grant in aid, receipts from their activities and receipts from the European Community. Actual grant in aid paid to the urban development corporations for each year from 1981–82 and the projected public expenditure plans to 1995–96, at 1992–93 prices, are set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the projected expenditure for each year to 1995–96 in 1992–93 prices, for the Urban Regeneration Agency.

[holding answer 2 November 1993]: The Urban Regeneration Agency's programme will be supported by grant in aid, receipts from its activities and receipts from the European Community. As the agency has yet to be established, the receipts it may generate cannot be predicted accurately. Payments from the European Community will depend upon approval for projects under the European regional development fund community support frameworks which have yet to be determined. Public expenditure plans for the grant in aid to the Urban Regeneration Agency, derived from the 1993 departmental annual reports and expressed in 1992–93 prices, are: set out in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to ensure that existing knowledge about effectiveness is used to improve service quality;(2) how the Government's autumn initiative on quality in purchasing will ensure that existing knowledge about effectiveness is used to improve service quality.

The Department of Health's research and development division has published its strategy, "Research for Health", part of which relates to the dissemination of existing knowledge on effectiveness of treatment. A unit that will provide a focal point for review and dissemination of research will shortly be set up.In addition the Department has commissioned a series of effective health care bulletins. Each bulletin consists of a systematic review and synthesis of literature on clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and acceptability of health service interventions. These bulletins are designed to aid purchasers in drawing up effective contracts.As part of the national health service research and development programme, the Cochrane centre has been set up in Oxford, to establish a database of controlled trials, and to provide an information service.The Department of Health's central health outcomes unit and the United Kingdom outcomes clearing house in Leeds have been set up to develop and promote the assessment of outcome of services. A recently published departmental consultation document on population health outcome indicators is based on the collation of existing knowledge about effectiveness.In addition clinical audit has been established whereby procedures used for diagnosis, care and treatment are compared against standards of proven effectiveness, with the aim of improving quality of patient care. As a part of this, the health professionals are currently working with the Department to develop nationally agreed guidelines, based on knowledge about effectiveness and appropriateness of services, for use in purchasing high-quality care.Copies of these documents will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the remit of the new NHS race unit; what are its planned staffing level and budget; and where it is to be sited.

The remit of the national health service ethnic health unit is described in the executive letter sent to NHS general managers and chief executives—EL(93)89, —copies of which will be placed in the Library. The letter explains that the unit is being set up

"to help to ensure that black people and people from different ethnic backgrounds derive full benefit from the Health of the Nation strategy, from local health purchasing policies, the Patient's Charter, the Care in the Community initiatives and the developing role of primary care".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the projects commissioned since 1975 by her Department and by its predecessor Department to evaluate methods of getting smokers to give up smoking; if she will list for each project the name and institution of the principal investigator and the titles of the reports in which the findings were published; and if she will place a copy of each report in the Library.

The Department of Health and its predecessor has participated in a number of programmes of basic social/behavioural research on factors affecting smoking habits, and several large, ad hoc research studies. These provide a wealth of information on which more specific, targeted smoking cessation interventions are based.A list of the studies will be placed in the Library.The studies are listed and those marked* were concerned specifically with the evaluation of smoking cessation interventions. Also listed are three specific evaluation projects which are currently in planning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the projects commissioned since 1975 by the Health Education Authority and its predecessor, the Health Education Council, to evaluate methods of getting smokers to give up smoking, and for each project the name and institution of the principal investigator and the titles of the reports in which the findings were published; and if she will place a copy of each report in the Library.

Little of the research work of the Health Education Authority or its predecessor the Health Education Council has been specifically devoted to evaluation of smoking cessation interventions but many of the studies carried out by or on behalf of these bodies contain information on the social/behaviourial factors affecting smoking habits. They therefore form the basis for specific targeted smoking cessation interventions.A full list of Health Education Council and Health Education Authority publications on smoking will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to health authorities on their expected role in nuclear emergency planning and the distribution of potassium iodate tablets; and if she will make a statement.

The Department's guidance to English health authorities on their role in nuclear emergency planning is contained in the circular HC(89)8 and its annex, copies of which are available in the Library. Earlier this month, the circular was amended to include revised guidance to health authorities on planning for the distribution of potassium iodate tablets for use in the event of a nuclear emergency. Copies of this amendment will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date Mr. P. B. Horsburgh will relinquish his position as chairman of the Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust; what reasons he gave for leaving his post; what position within the national health service he will be taking up; if he will be eligible for severance pay; and if she will make a statement.

Mr. Peter Horsburgh's appointment as chairman of the Doncaster Healthcare national health service trust ends on 30 November 1993. He has no appointment pending to any other non-executive post in the region. Severance pay is not appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action she will take regarding the waiting time policy being operated by the George Eliot hospital, Nuneaton, with respect to general practitioner fund holders;(2) what measures she will take to prevent disparities in waiting time developing between fund-holding and non-fund-holding practices in the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

Joint guidance—EL(91)84—issued by the Department and the profession, copies of which will be placed in the Library, makes it clear that contracts offered to one purchaser should not disadvantage the patients of another. National health service managers are responsible for ensuring that this guidance is implemented locally. The George Eliot hospital is meeting its contracts with the district health authority. General practitioner fund holders, like all purchasers, are free to purchase spare hospital capacity, on behalf of their patients, where this is available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide details of the number of fund-holding general practitioners in each of the London boroughs in terms of numbers and as a percentage of general practitioners.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number and percentage of general practitioner fund holders that have spent more than their budgets for 1992–93.

This information will not be available until final accounts have been audited and the information collected at the end of November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the items general practitioner fund holders can spend their savings on.

The purposes for which general practitioner fund holder savings may be used are clearly set out in regulation 24 of the National Health Service (Fund-holding Practices) Regulations 1993, Statutory Instrument No. 567 1993, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the extent to which general practitioner fund-holding patients are being treated ahead of non-fundholding patients with the same clinical need.

All emergencies are treated immediately.Joint guidance issued by the Department and the profession—EL(91)84—and a letter from the national health service chief executive about urgent issues dated 22 February 1993 require hospitals to hold common waiting lists for urgent and seriously ill patients and to give urgent cases priority within local timescales. NHS managers and clinicians are responsible for implementing this guidance locally. Copies of the guidance, and the executive letter, will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will estimate the number of general practitioners and general practitioner fund holders who own their premises.

The information is not available centrally on which such an estimate could be based.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October, Official Report, columns 398–400, if she will make a statement on the role and position of general practitioner fund holders within the restructured NHS.

General practitioner fund holding has been one of the major successes of the reformed national health service. More than 6,000 GPs in 1,200 practices are now fund holders. From next April, over a third of the population will be served by fund-holding GPs. This reflects the real achievements in improving patient care. The new arrangements for district health authorities and family health services authorities will not undermine the role of GP fund holders in providing a competitive edge in purchasing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in Britain died of cold-related diseases in each of the last five years.

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will conduct an analysis of the health implications of VAT on fuel.

No. We are aware of analysis aimed at predicting the effect on household consumption of fuel, and of evidence concerning the effect on health of variation in domestic ambient temperatures. It is not possible, however, to combine these data to make any reliable inference about the health consequences of change in the cost of fuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures exist in hospital trusts to ensure proper examination of wrongful or inappropriate conduct of consultants and other senior clinical staff.

Trusts are required to follow the existing arrangements in relation to the handling of clinical complaints against national health service consultants and other senior clinical staff set out in departmental circular HC(88)37, copies of which are available in the Library. It is for trusts to establish arrangements for investigating other allegations of misconduct by consultants or other senior clinical staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets she has for the reduction in osteoporosis; and if she will make a statement.

None specifically. However, alongside specific interventions such as hormone replacement therapy, available through general practitioners and clinics, important measures which should help reduce the incidence of osteoporosis include increasing levels of physical activity, cutting down excess alcohol, avoiding cigarette smoking, and eating a balanced diet. We are promoting all these lifestyle measures through the health strategy "The Health of the Nation", a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what increase in patient expenditure is experienced within the NHS during January to March, over that of the months from July to September.

From the information available to the Department, we estimate that hospital and community health services expenditure in the months of January, February and March 1993 was between 4 and 5 per cent. higher than that in the months of July, August and September 1992. The hon. Member should note that this information is based on unaudited management information as the audited accounts of health authorities do not include the figures required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost of the distinction award system for hospital consultants; and what plans she has to increase openness and public accountability for the scheme.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 27 October at column 694.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the use of the maggot dye chrysoidine and the link between it and cancer.

The Committee on the Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment considered the dye chrysoidine up to 1985. On the last occasion, the committee reaffirmed its earlier advice that it would be prudent for anglers who wanted to use chrysoidine to avoid skin contact with the dye. The Government conveyed this advice to the National Federation of Anglers and the angling press at that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage increase in patient admissions occurs in the winter months, January to March, as opposed to the summer months, July to September.

Providers reported that in 1992–93 the number of finished consultant episodes in the general and acute specialties in January to March was about 3 per cent. higher than in July to September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is in force laying out the procedures doctors and surgeons should carry out if they discover cases where they have reason to believe informed consent for radical surgery has not been obtained; and who has the responsibility of ensuring those procedures are properly carried out in (a) directly managed units and (b) hospital trusts.

It is for doctors and health professionals themselves to ensure that valid consent is obtained from their patients for any treatment proposed. The common law requirement for consent is reflected in guidance issued by the National Health Service Management Executive and by health professionals' own ethical codes. Treatment of a patient capable of giving consent, without obtaining consent, could leave health professionals, health authorities or trusts open to legal action.Individual members of staff in the NHS have a right and duty to raise with their employer any matters of concern they may have about health service issues concerned with the delivery of care to a patient in their authority, trust or unit. Guidance issued to the NHS, EL(93)51, copies of which are available in the Library, recommends that local policies and procedures be introduced to allow these rights and duties to be fully and properly met.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she regards as being in force for the obtaining of informed consent for radical surgery.

Guidance on consent to examination and treatment was issued to the national health service by the NHS Management Executive in August 1990, HC(90)22, copies of which are available in the Library. It advises that patients have the right under common law to give or withhold consent. Sufficient information must be given to patients to ensure that they understand the nature, consequences and any substantial risks of the treatment proposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment has been made of the extent to which there is a shortage of specialist dieticians to counter diabetes; and if she will make a statement.

The numbers of dieticians working in the national health service has grown from 1,140 in 1987 to 1,410 in 1992. It is for purchasers and providers to determine the numbers of dieticians required to provide an effective service to people with diabetes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what support is being given to voluntary organisations to meet the target set in the "Health of the Nation" regarding the rate of suicide.

In the mental illness field, more than 40 grants are being made to some 28 voluntary bodies at a total cost of £2 million in 1992–93. Most of these organisations provide help and support for mentally ill people in the community and make a contribution towards meeting our "Health of the Nation" target to reduce the rate of suicide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to make the prescriptions of nebulisers available on the NHS; and if she will make a statement.

Hand-operated nebulisers are already available on general practitioner prescription and powered nebulisers may be prescribed by consultants for patients in hospital and in the community. No changes are planned in these arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when welfare milk tokens ceased to be valid for exchange for soya, goat's, fully skimmed and long-life milks; and what were the reasons for the change.

There has been no recent change in the products available under the welfare food scheme. Milk tokens have never been valid for soya, goat's or fully skimmed milk. Long life—UHT—milk is obtainable for milk tokens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to require all surgeons and anaesthetists to provide audit data for national confidential inquiry into perioperative death.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 28 October at column 766. We strongly support the participation of all clinicians in medical audit and in national confidential inquiries, but to be effective we believe that this must be done on a voluntary basis. All surgeons and anaesthetists are encouraged to take part in the national confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths by their respective royal colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Government's response to the report of the national confidential inquiry into perioperative deaths published in September.

We have welcomed the report of the national confidential enquiry into perioperative deaths—NCEPOD—and its general conclusion that across the range of specialties covered, patients can rely on excellent standards. The report acknowledges that progress has been made to resolve a number of problems identified in earlier enquiries and provides important messages about high standards of surgical and anaesthetic care in this country. We are committed to a programme of work to improve the quality of patient information, including the development of a single patient identifier to provide a means for health event linkage.Through careful assessment of clinical standards this enquiry helps to ensure that the medical profession retains a critical approach to its work. The Government wish to encourage all surgeons and anaesthetists to continue to support NCEPOD, and national health service managers and the profession to act on the results. We expect all doctors to participate in peer review activities, and we provide continuing financial support for medical and clinical audit, as well as for NCEPOD. In these ways doctors can develop confidence in their clinical performance and identify areas where they can further develop their expertise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her oral answer of 26 October, Official Report, column 678, what percentage of the total cost is represented by (a) the management allowance for general practitioner budget holders, (b) the administrative costs to the FHSA, DHA, trusts, RHA, management executive and her Department, and (c) the computer allowance for fund holders.

On average, the management allowance represents 2.1 per cent. of general practitioner fundholder budgets and the average computer reimbursement costs associated with managing a fund are 0.5 per cent. Administration costs of other national health service bodies associated with fund holding are not identified separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost per prescription of packaging generic drugs in the same way as branded drugs.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that generically prescribed drugs have the same information for patients as brand prescribed drugs.

The United Kingdom labelling and leaflet regulations apply equally to all licensed medicines. Labels and patient information leaflets supplied with generically prescribed medicines will have to contain all the information required by regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation she intends to undertake, pursuant to her oral statement of 21 October,Official Report, columns 398–400, on proposals to reduce the number of regional health authorities from 14 to eight from 1 April 1994.

A consultation document has been published setting out my proposals to determine new national health service regions and to establish eight new regional health authorities to replace the existing 14. The consultation document is being sent to all Members of Parliament, NHS bodies, community health councils, local authorities, health service trade unions and other interested organisations. Copies will also be placed in the Library. The consultation document invites views on the proposals by 15 January 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she gave permission for the construction of a multi-storey car park at the RVI Hospital Trust, Newcastle; how much capital she has made available and in which financial years; and whether this is included in the capital programme of the Leayes wing at the RVI Trust.

Permission for the construction of a multi-storey car park at the Royal Victoria infirmary and Associated Hospitals national health service trust has not yet been granted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what capital resources she has committed and in respect of which financial years for the unification of opthalmology services at the RVI Trust Newcastle; what sums have been committed; and what plans she has to review this commitment in the light of proposals that may emerge from the current review of Newcastle hospital services by the Newcastle district health authority.

Capital funds of £7· million have been committed to the unification of ophthalmology service at the Royal Victoria Infirmary and Associated Hospitals national health service trust. The funds are phased over two years, with completion of the scheme in 1995. To date, £244,000 has been committed for planning costs.Proposals following the outcome of the review of acute services in Newcastle by Newcastle district health authority are awaited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the membership, date of appointment and remuneration and other allowable expenses of the NHS corporate governance review panel, together with other positions within the NHS that each member holds.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr. Brazier) on 12 July at columns 386–87. Members of the corporate governance task force are not remunerated for the assistance they are giving, but travel and subsistence expenses are payable at civil service rates. The members of the four working groups of the task force and their other positions are as listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what provision she has made for viral haemorrhagic fever; at what locations in-patient provision against the possibility of this condition has been made; and at which locations in the last five years such provision has been discontinued.

Patients with, or with suspected, viral haemorrhagic fever, are treated in high security infectious disease units; these units are funded directly by the Department of Health. There is presently one such unit with provision for four patients per year at Coppetts Wood hospital, north London. Discussions on the possibility of upgrading a similar unit in Newcastle are presently taking place. A unit at Fazakerley hospital in Liverpool closed in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what dedicated in-patient provision has been made for the treatment of HIV/AIDS; at which locations such provision has been made; and what additional in-patient provision she expects to make.

This information is not available centrally. Funding for the treatment and care of people with HIV and AIDS is included in the revenue funding allocated to regional health authorities each year. Regions and health districts then determine the type and level of service provision in the light of local needs and circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what capital investment has been made, or is committed, into the HIV/AIDS infectious diseases complex at Newcastle general hospital; and when any new or refurbished facilities are expected to open;(2) what were the capital and other costs associated with the Scids immune deficiency unit at Newcastle general hospital; how many patients this unit is expected to treat each year; and when it is expected to open.

This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Crute, the chairman of Newcastle health authority, for further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she has issued on the decommissioning of sites and buildings where high-dose radium treatment machines have been installed; what the planned life of such machines is expected to be; how long after the use of such machines has ceased she expects to wait before decommissioning can begin; and whether sites and buildings containing such defunct machinery will require extra security.

Radium has been replaced as a radioactive source in radiotherapy machines by safer materials such as cobalt and iridium. Hospitals using such sources are registered with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution—Department of the Environment—who provide guidance on safe handling. Replacement or removal of sources is carried out by approved contractors as part of the national disposal service. Hospitals also appoint local radiation protection advisers who implement the requirements of the Ionising Radiation Regulations 1985. Expected equipment lifetimes can be at least 15 years with a further 10 years maintenance support if required. However, existing machines are now being replaced by linear accelerators, which generate treatment beams without the need for radioactive sources and pose no radiation hazard when turned off. The existing disposal service imposes no undue delays or risk of contamination of premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of control assistants, using whole-time equivalents, for each ambulance service in each year since 1990.

The information available is shown in the table. Separate figures for control assistants are not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of ambulance staff in England employed by the NHS in 1990, 1991 and 1992, using whole-time equivalents.

[holding answer 21 October 1993]: The information requested is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what journeys abroad, involving public expenditure, she and other Ministers in the Department have made since 9 April 1992; what were the dates of the journeys and the places visited; what was the purpose of the journey in each case; by whom the Minister was accompanied, and what additional public expenditure was involved; and what was the total cost of each journey made abroad by each Minister.

[holding answer 26 October 1993]: The information available is shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the cost of employing management consultants to assist in her Department's assessment of applications for trust status in each wave; how many assessments took place; and which were the consultants concerned.

[holding answer 1 November 1993]: The information is shown in the table. Information on the number and cost of the fourth wave assessment is provisional as the process is not yet complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many payments have been paid under section 7 of the Land Compensation Act 1973 to property owners in the vicinity of the Newcastle western bypass north of the Stamfordham road interchange; what total sum has been paid; and when the last payment was made.

No compensation is payable under section 7 of the Land Compensation Act 1973. However, compensation payments made due to the works on Newcastle western bypass north of the Stamfordham road interchange under the other provisions of part I of the Act is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on (a) the present stage of preparation and estimated timetable for completion and (b) the latest estimate of cost of the (i) Braintree-Al2, (ii) Stansted-Braintree, (iii) A1-Stansted, (iv) A5-A1, (v) Leighton Linslade bypass, (vi) Wing

Most of the schemes which comprise the east-west route are at early stages in their development. It is difficult to be certain of the programme and cost. The latest planning data are as follows and are subject to the availability of funding and completion of statutory procedures.