To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had regarding the plight of the Marsh Arabs; what discussions have taken place between his Department and the United Nations over their future; what efforts his Department are making over their continued security; and if he will make a statement.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has received numerous representations about events in southern Iraq.We frequently raise the plight of the Marsh Arabs at the United Nations, most recently during the review of sanctions on 18 November. We drew the attention of the United Nations weapons inspectors to reports that chemical weapons were used against civilians. We support the call of the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights for the deployment of monitors in Iraq.In addition, British aircraft are deployed over southern Iraq in support of United Nations Security Council resolution 688.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations have been carried out between his Department and the BBC in respect of the BBC World Service lease at its headquarters in Bush house; and if he will make a statement.

The current lease on Bush house was signed in 1990 and expires in 2005. Discussions with the BBC World Service have already taken place, and it has been agreed that the question of future location will be discussed again in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the refusal of a tourist visa for a limited stay in Britain to Miss Patience Ikeazota by the entry clearance officer in Lagos.

Following an interview at the high commission in Lagos on 9 April 1992, Miss Ikeazota's application for a visit visa was refused, as was her previous application in April 1991, because the entry clearance officer was not satisfied that she was genuinely seeking entry to the United Kingdom for the period of the visit stated by her.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to assist in implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions regarding Azerbaijan.

We maintain high-level contacts with the Armenians and the Azerbaijanis and urge them to adhere to United Nations Security Council resolutions 822, 853, 874 and 884.We are actively supporting the efforts of the Minsk group whose efforts to find a peaceful resolution to this conflict have been fully endorsed by the United Nations.In the past year we have provided almost £1·9 million of humanitarian aid to the region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence and minutes of meetings between his Department and Gerald Bull between 1987 and 1990.

As far as we have been able to establish, there is no record of any correspondence or record of any meeting between this Department and Dr. Gerald Bull.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what exemptions have been sought by Norway under the EC convention on international trade in endangered species regulation and habitats directive.

The Norwegian Government are seeking exemptions from the habitats directive and the CITES regulation for a wide variety of species. These include several species of fish, terrestrial mammals, seals and whales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts Norway has made to secure opt-outs from EC regulations covering the killing and trade in whale and seal products; and if he will make a statement.

The Norwegian Government are requesting exemptions from the EC habitats directive in respect of five seal and three whale species. We shall be discussing the Norwegian request with other member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what current sanctions are being applied against the military Government of Nigeria; and what new ones are being considered.

On 24 June, we announced our decision to withdraw all offers of new military training courses provided for members of the Nigerian armed forces in the United Kingdom; to suspend all assistance to the National War College in Lagos and withdraw the British military advisory team; to suspend issue of visas for members of the Nigerian armed forces and their dependents; to withdraw special treatment of visa applications from Nigerian officials; and to consider all new aid to Nigeria on a case-by-case basis. These measures remain in force.Our response to the latest developments is currently being discussed with our partners in the European Union and the wider donor community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to discuss the new military takeover in Nigeria with his European Union counterparts; and what Proposals he will be taking to that meeting.

The European Union issued a statement on 19 November condemning the fact that the democratic process in Nigeria has been interrupted through

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of fire calls in (a) 1991 and (b) 1992 for each fire authority area and in total; if he will identify the number of hoax calls in each year on a similar basis; and if he will express hoax calls as a percentage of total calls.

The information for fire calls attended by local authority fire brigades is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are laid down by his Department in respect of being informed of police equipment that is either lost or stolen; and if he will make a statement.

The loss or theft of police equipment is a matter for individual police forces and authorities. The Home Office would not become involved unless the scale of such losses was such as to call into question management procedures or the efficiency of the force in question. Nor has the Home Office any plans to introduce monitoring of losses of police equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police inquiries into the Carl Bridgewater convictions and the outcome in each case.

Since the conviction in 1979 of those concerned, there have been seven police inquiries into the case, involving four separate police forces, as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on which dates since 1988 he has received submissions from solicitors representing the men convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater and say what action he has taken in each case.

Solicitors for those convicted of killing Carl Bridgewater have made a number of submissions to the Home Office since 1988. Those which relate most directly to the allegations of wrongful conviction were made on 17 Septemberr 1990, 7 June 1991, 2 August 1991, 13 August 1991, 17 October 1991, 26 May 1992 and 19 January 1993. The matters raised there were carefully considered but as my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke), then Home Secretary, announced on 3 February, they provided no grounds for action to be taken in respect of the convictions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the locations of the 20 pilot schemes for parish constables he intends setting up by Christmas; and if he will make a statement.

It is for police forces and local communities to decide—through consultation—where the pilot schemes for parish constables should be. A number of forces are currently engaged in such consultation. A further announcement will be made nearer the time about the pilot schemes which are being set up. I am pleased with the progress made so far.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was received by the Metropolitan police from London's professional football clubs for policing services in the season 1992–93 and 1993 to date.

I understand that the Metropolitan police received £2,076,781 for the 1992–93 season. The amount received so far during the 1993–94 season is £424,515.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation in his next criminal justice Bill that every tenancy for (a) homes and (b) shops contains a condition prohibiting racial harrassment, binding on landlords as well as tenants; and if he will make a statement.

Current landlord and tenant legislation already gives local authorities powers to take action against tenants who racially harass other tenants. The Public Order Act 1986 created a new low-level offence of offensive conduct which is relevant to all forms of harassment. There are no plans to introduce additional legislation.The Commission for Racial Equality has produced codes of practice for both rented and non-rented housing, which were approved by Parliament in 1990 and 1992 respectively. These include practical steps to deal with, and pre-empt, racial harassment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to the Commissioner of Police regarding the use of police sirens in the Metropolitan area.

I understand from the Commissioner that guidance on the use of sirens is included in the training given to drivers at the Metropolitan police driving school.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the backlog of work at Lunar house, Croydon.

Information for the end of October 1993 on the main areas of work is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will being forward proposals to make it illegal to wheel-clamp orange badge holders on private car parks or other private land; and if he will make a statement.

In the consultation paper on wheel-clamping on private land, issued earlier this year, we acknowledged the need to consider the particular position of orange badge holders. In the light of that consultation, we are still considering what action it might be appropriate to take.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current waiting time for consideration of immigration appeals by the immigration appeals tribunals and independent applellate authorities for nationals of each country; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The immigration appellate authorities—IAA—list cases for hearing once the parties have indicated readiness to proceed to a hearing. The nationality of the appellant does not affect when a case is heard. The first available hearing date at each of the IAA's centres as at 22 November 1993 is set out in the table:

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the wearing of wigs by lawyers.

The standard of court dress requires wigs to be worn by barristers but not by solicitors.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many Queen's Counsel there are; and how many are (a) women, (b) black and (c) Asian.

On 1 October 1993 there were 797 Queen's Counsel in private practice, of whom 41 were women. The ethnic origin of applicants for the office of Queen's Counsel was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991, and the formal records in respect of ethnic origin are therefore incomplete. I believe that on 1 October 1993 there were three black and five Asian Queen's Counsel.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many justices of the peace fail to achieve attendance for the requirement minimum of 26 sittings of their respective benches a year.

This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his policy on the continuation of a magistrate system which includes members of the public from a wide spectrum of occupations and experience; and if he will make it his policy to encourage employers to co-operate with arrangements for their employees to meet the minimum requirements for justices of the peace.

The Lord Chancellor remains wholeheartedly committed to the concept of summary justice provided by lay people drawn from their local community and from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. In the past, the Lord Chancellor has written to the chairmen of major firms and organisations to encourage them to make employees available to serve as justices; on a local basis, his advisory committees from time to time make similar contacts.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many of those justices of the peace who have been officially recorded as being unable to meet the annual minimum attendance have signified that their absences were due to pressures of work or inability to secure release from work for the purpose of fulfilling their duties as magistrates; and how many of these people are civil servants.

This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) how many civil servants are justices of the peace;

This information can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many High Court judges there are; and how many are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

As at 1 November there were 95 High Court judges including six women. The ethnic origin of those appointed as High Court judges has not been recorded in the past, but none is black or Asian.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department (a) the total number of persons employed and (b) the total number of women employed.

Details of the numbers of staff employed in each civil service grade are set out in the table. In column two of the table the total number of staff employed in each grade appears; column three shows the total number of women in each grade.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many British companies in the last two years have been refused permission by the Polish authorities to sell their products in Poland; what products these British companies have been seeking to export to Poland; what reasons the Polish authorities have given to justify refusal of permission; and what efforts his Department has made on behalf of these companies to overturn the decision of the Polish authorities.

No comprehensive record has been kept in the last two years but my Department has received complaints from about half a dozen British companies concerning the application to their products of Polish technical specifications and health and safety regulations. In each case where the company has been unable to resolve the difficulties my Department has intervened in close collaboration with our embassy in Warsaw. One such case has recently been resolved entirely to the satisfaction of the British company concerned; two others are under discussion.If the hon. Member would like to discuss any individual case, I should be pleased to hear from her. She will, no doubt, be aware that British exports to Poland have increased very rapidly over the period in question and it would perhaps be surprising if we did not encounter a few difficulties with a legal framework for business which is still evolving.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on regional industrial policy in each year since 1974–75; and what the expected expenditure will be in the current financial year, at constant prices.

The exact amount spent on regional industrial policy since 1974–75 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Most of the expenditure under regional industrial policy was on regional development grants and regional selective assistance. Information on the spend of these two schemes in Great Britain since 1974–75 is set out in the table together with expenditure on European Community

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many district judges there are; and how many are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

The information requested, as at 1 November 1993, is as follows. Records are not held on the ethnic origins of all office holders, but the numbers relating to those of black and Asian origin are believed to be as given.schemes, regional enterprise grants and some residual spend on investment grants. The information is at 1992–93 constant prices.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many statutory instruments have been introduced by his Department in each year since accession to the EEC.

Records for statutory instruments introduced by the Department of Trade and Industry since accession to the EC are not readily available before 1979. Accordingly the information requested is provided from that year onwards and is as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the organisations consulted over his proposed deregulation Bill and indicate which were broadly in favour of greater deregulation and which were broadly satisfied with the status quo.

A wide range of organisations are beign consulted on proposals for deregulation including those which will be dealt with in the deregulation Bill. Details of measures to be dealt with in the Bill will be announced when the Bill is published. Since consultations cover a large number of specific issues they cannot be classified as for or against deregulation in general.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will review the terms of reference and the guidelines within which the Monopolies and Mergers Commission are required to operate and their operation following in the case of their recent decision on distribution arrangements for perfumes; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will institute an investigation into the workings of the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in order to ensure that mechanisms exist to ensure that no sectional commercial interest is allowed to overrule consumers' interests.

In reaching conclusions as to the public interest, the Monoplies and Mergers Commission are required by schedule 84 of the Fair Trading Act 1973 to take into account all matters which appear to them in the particular circumstances to be relevant. These matters include the desirability of maintaining and promoting effective competition in the United Kingdom and promoting the interests of consumers. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has no plans to review these provisions in the Act.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of whether protectionist trade practices approved by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission fall within the regulations of the competitions policy of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.

In conducting its inquiries, the Monopolies and Mergers Commission takes account of the possible application of European competition law and discuss this with the EC Commission in specific cases where this seems appropriate. Enforcement of European competition law is a matter for the EC Commission or national courts.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many visits abroad he has made during 1993; and what was (a) the cost of each visit to public funds and (b) the purpose of each visit.

I have made three visits abroad during 1993, one to Brussels, one to Argentina and Mexico, and one to Germany.The visit to Brussels was for discussions with EC Commissioners and cost £2,185. The visit to Argentina and Mexico was for trade promotional purposes and cost £27,901. The visit to Germany was to attend the Anglo-German summit and cost £1,071.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade from what date his Department will extend NCM's transitional reinsurance cover.

The Export Credits Guarantee Department's transitional reinsurance support to NCM will be extended beyond its originally envisaged expiry date of December 1994 until at least the end of 1997. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 1993, Official Report, columns 265–66.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the projects or localities that have been or will be assisted through the use of objective 2 funds from the European Community.

[holding answer 26 November 1993]. The areas at present eligible for European structural funds grants under objective 2 are listed in full in two Commission decisions dated 21 March 1989 and 3 May 1990—Official Journal No. L 112/19 and 206/26. They include areas in central Scotland, the north-east, west Cumbria, the north-west, Yorkshire and Humberside, the west and east midlands, and north-east and south Wales. A very large number of infrastructure, training and other economic development projects have received, or are receiving, objective 2 grant in these areas in the current, 1989–93, programme period.Objective 2 areas for the period 1994–96 are under review at present; and the Government put proposals to the Commission in October. A full list of areas proposed is available in the Library of the House. The final decision on these proposals is expected in December.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what share and how much EC objective 2 funding has been allocated to the United Kingdom; and, of this sum, what proportions have now been received or committed.

[holding answer 26 November 1993]: For the period 1989–93 some 3,200 mecu—1992 prices —has been allocated to the United Kingdom under objective 2. This represents 38 per cent. of the total allocated to this objective. To date, over 85 per cent. of the United Kingdom's allocation has been committed to projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the applicants for European Community financial assistance under this year's awards for the conservation of gardens of historic value; what were the reasons in each applicable case for a garden not receiving such funding and if he will make a statement.

The EC pilot projects grant scheme makes awards annually to conservation work within certain themes. The 1993 theme was the conservation of gardens of historic value and the English applicants were:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether a new director-general of the Sports Council has been appointed; and if he will make a statement.

A final decision on the appointment of a new director-general has not yet been made. The selection process is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many visitors were recorded at (a) the Tower of London, (b) Hampton court, (c) the Cutty Sark, Greenwich and (d) the national maritime museum, Greenwich in 1992.

The number of visitors in 1992 were:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the effect on the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland of changes in the funding of the BBC.

Licence payers in all parts of the United Kingdom will benefit from the licence fee settlement I announced on 4 November, which will allow additional and better programmes.The BBC is responsible for deciding how to allocate its revenue under the terms of its present royal charter and licence and agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what were the qualifications that led to Dame Daphne Park being appointed a governor of the BBC.

It is not normal practice to comment on the reasons for appointing particular individuals to public bodies. The role of the BBC board of governors is to protect the public interest, and its membership reflects the experience and diversity of the country at large.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals the Arts Council has to abolish the arts and disability unit; what advice it received from the Arts Council's arts and disability monitoring committee on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

The Arts Council intends to integrate the work of the units within the council responsible for implementing strategic policy in the fields of cultural diversity, disability, and women in the arts, with the art form departments. Such structural changes are matters for the Arts Council to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action his Department is taking over preserving Cliveden house; and if he will make a statement.

Cliveden is owned by the National Trust. I understand that the house, which is let as an hotel, has been admirably restored and refurbished by Cliveden Hotel Ltd., which has invested some £10 million in bringing this fine building to its present excellent condition. Sympathetic new uses such as this are essential to bring in the resources needed to preserve the best of our heritage.Some other parts of the estate require major works and for these the National Trust has launched a public appeal. Works to the clock tower have been included in the priority repair programme agreed between English Heritage and the National Trust for 1993–94 and English Heritage expects to offer substantial grant aid. The National Trust proposes to carry out further works as soon as the success of its appeal allows.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for National Heritage what consultations have been carried out between his Department and the BBC in respect of the BBC World Service lease at its headquarters in Bush house; and if he will make a statement.

None. This is not a matter on which the Department of National Heritage would expect to be consulted.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the schools in the Chelmsford parliamentary constituency that (a) are grant maintained, (b) have had grant-maintained status approved which is yet to come into force and (c) have not yet sought grant-maintained status; and if he will make a statement.

Information on schools by parliamentary constituency is not collected centrally. Relevant information held by the department for schools in Essex local education authority has been placed in the Library.The benefits of self-government are becoming increasingly clear to governors and parents. This is particularly true in Essex, which already has 114 self-governing schools—more than any other LEA in the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what action he has taken since incorporation of further education colleges to ensure that student financial support matches the needs of students.

Local education authorities have the power under the Education Act 1962 to make discretionary awards to students on courses of further education in the light of local needs and priorities. They also have duties and powers under the Education Act 1944, as amended by the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, to provide free transport and assistance with travel costs to post-16 students.My right hon. Friend has made it a condition of grant that colleges in the further education sector may not charge tuition fees to home and EC students aged 16 to 18 on full-time courses. Many colleges operate concessionary fees for other students. Access funds are disbursed by colleges to help eligible full-time students who are in particular financial difficulties.Students may apply for career development loans from the Employment Department; and those in employment can look to their employers for assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the drop-out rate from further education colleges; and what representations he has received that dropping out is being caused by financial constraints on support for meals and travel.

Information on drop-out rates is not currently collected centrally for colleges in the FE sector. The Audit Commission and Ofsted report "Unfinished Business" estimated that for schools and colleges the drop-out rate for 16 to 18-year-olds on full-time courses was 13 per cent. on courses leading to academic qualifications and 18 per cent. on those leading to vocational qualifications.We are seeking to reduce drop-out from colleges in a variety of ways: by providing more information to young people to help them make the right choices at 16; by improving the range and choice of courses available, including new GNVQs and NVQs which offer high-quality alternatives to GCE A levels; and by ensuring that funding mechanisms provide an incentive to colleges not only to recruit but to retain more students.My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters about the duties and powers of LEAs to provide free transport and assistance with travel costs to post-16 students. He has told LEAs that he expects them to monitor the effects of transport policies on participation rates overall and that he will himself keep this aspect of the new arrangements under review.LEAs' responsibilities to provide free meals do not extend to students in colleges in the new FE sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education for what reasons the school examination league tables, published on 17 November, include information about special schools, including those for children with severe learning difficulties.

Special schools are included in secondary school performance tables on the grounds that parents have a right to information on any relevant results, and on rates of unauthorised absence. In successive consultation exercises, last year and this, no organisation representing special needs groups argued that they should be excluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the precise cost of collating the information published on 17 November about school examination results and unauthorised attendance; and on what dates this information was dispatched from his Department to (a) the national press, (b) schools and (c) local education authorities.

The cost of collecting, processing and collating the comparative information on school and college performance published on 17 and 24 November is estimated at £458,000. The data on secondary school performance were sent to the national press on 15 November, under embargo until 1 am on 17 November, so that they could make the necessary preparations for publication; and to schools and local education authorities on 16 November so that they would receive it on the day in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the cost of providing nursery places for all three and four-year-olds whose parents want it.

The cost would depend on the types of provision, the balance between full-time and part-time attendance and the numbers of parents who chose to take up a nursery place. Currently, some 53 per cent. of three and four-year-olds in England are in some form of full-time or part-time schooling. We estimate that the average annual recurrent unit cost for a full-time equivalent pupil aged under five in the maintained sector is £1,770 at 1993–94 prices. In addition, there would be capital and teacher training costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what response he has made to the report on sustainable development prepared by the Education for Sustainability Forum as part of Her Majesty's Government's consultation on the United Kingdom strategy for sustainable development.

The Department is taking account of the education for Sustainability Forum's consultation document "The Role of Education for Sustainability" when preparing its contribution to the Government's overall strategy for sustainable development.

To ask the Attorney-General what steps he is taking to simplify the procedure by which the police have to present evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary recently announced his acceptance of all 16 of the recommendations of a report by outside consultants designed to reduce and streamline police paperwork. The Crown Prosecution Service and the Home Office are now working together to implement these recommendations.

To ask the Attorney-General what advice has been given to police authorities about cautions by his Department and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The police exercise their discretion to caution in accordance with guidelines issued by the Home Office and administer the vast majority of cautions without reference to the Crown Prosecution Service whose function is limited to advising the police on individual cases of difficulty.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding legal proceedings against Asil Nadir.

Mr. Asil Nadir remains in northern Cyprus with which the United Kingdom does not have extradition arrangements. There is a warrant for his arrest should he return. Interpol has been notified.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement about progress under the War Crimes Act 1991.

The Crown Prosecution Service is presently considering interim reports from the Metropolitan police relating to several individuals and further inquiries are being made. Inquiries are not yet complete and the question of possible prosecution cannot be considered until they are concluded. In accordance with the requirements of the War Crimes Act 1991, my consent would be sought in any case where the Crown Prosecution Service considers that proceedings are appropriate.

To ask the Attorney-General what prosecutions have been brought in connection with the publication of the book "Juliette" by the Marquis de Sade.

No prosecutions have been brought.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the Medicines Control Agency's enforcement policy relating to the investigation of reports of the illegal sale or supply of anabolic steroids.

It is the policy of the Medicines Control Agency to investigate all reports concerning the illegal sale or supply of all drugs including anabolic steroids and to take legal action where it is appropriate to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it her policy to collect statistics on the number of fires, fire deaths and fire injuries caused by cigarettes.

Information on fires caused by smokers' materials is already collected and published in the Home Office statistics bulletins by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Copies of the bulletins are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been done into the causes of stillbirths in the last 10 years.

The national perinatal epidemiology Unit—NPEU—which is recognised both nationally and internationally as a centre for research on maternity and perinatal services, is funded by the Department of Health through its research and development division—RDD. The NPEU's publication "Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth" lists research carried out into many aspects of care during pregnancy including circumstances where stillbirth occurs. A copy is available in the Library.The nationwide confidential inquiry into stillbirths and deaths in infancy is currently collecting its first full year of data. The first annual report on the work of the inquiry was published on 15 November 1993, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the Government's policy on (a) salary levels and (b) 1994 pay increases for top hospital administrators.

National health service salaries are set at levels sufficient to recruit, retain and motivate staff of the right calibre within what is affordable. The Government are committed to delegating responsibility for pay to local managers within robust controls on total pay costs, and to establishing closer links between rewards and performance.In 1994–95 pay increases will need to be funded from within efficiency improvements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list for 1992–93 the number of beds and patient activity by broad specialty or departmental group;(2) if she will list for 1992–93 the number of beds and patient activity per thousand population by broad specialty group.

The information is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority (i) the average waiting times and (ii) the year-end waiting list for (y) out-patient and (z) in-patient treatment in ophthalmology;(2) if she will list by year for the last five years and this year to date and by

Information on waiting times for out-patient treatment is not currently available centrally. The information available centrally on waiting times for in-patient treatment by district health authority and specialty is given in "Hospital Waiting List Statistics: England", published twice yearly since 1987. Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when her Department will reach a decision about a new contract for the national perinatal epidemiology unit; how this will take account of the recommendation by the second report of the Health Select Committee of Session 1991–92, on "Maternity Services", HC 29, that funding be guaranteed for sufficient time to ensure the recruitment and retention for the NPEU of high quality staff;(2) what steps her Department is taking to set in train the recruitment of a new director of the national perinatal epidemiology unit.

The Department's director of research and development wrote to the national perinatal epidemiology unit—NEPU—on 24 November, stating that he had started discussions with Sir David Weatherall, Regius Professor of Medicine at the university of Oxford, about the appointment of a new director of the NPEU. The firm expectation following this is that the Department will let a new contract with the university of Oxford in regard to the NPEU.The Department fully intends to follow the recommendation by the second report of the Health Select Committee of Session 1991–92, on maternity services, HC 29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the review into the health benefits—low—incomescheme was begun; when it was ended; and when its conclusions will be made public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many AGI forms are administered each year; and how much per form is spent on administration.

The review was announced to Parliament on 22 May 1991, Official Report, column 530. Since then, a number of internal measures to improve operational efficiency have been implemented, including the transfer of the responsibility for operating the scheme to the Prescription Pricing Authority, a special health authority within the national health service. Other proposals remain under consideration including those resulting from an examination of forms and leaflets. Any changes to the scheme itself will be announced if and when it is agreed that they should be implemented. The NHS low-income scheme remains an essential part of Government policy ensuring that only those who can afford to pay NHS charges are required to do so. In 1992–93, 1.129 million claims to the scheme were processed at an average administrative cost of £6.30 per claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures are in place to allow immediate payment for emergency dental treatment for those on low incomes.

Recipients of income support, family credit, or holders of national health service low-income scheme AG2 certificates for full remission of NHS charges do not pay for NHS dental treatment. Remission certificates are valid for a period of six months and may be sought as a protection by those on a low income before the need for treatment arises. These arrangements ensure that those who cannot afford to contribute towards the cost of dental services should not be deterred from seeking treatment at any time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the latest figure of average population per pharmacy in each EC country.

The latest available information is contained in the reply I gave the hon. Member on 6 May 1993 at column 221.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are the average earnings of general practitioners, broken down by the smallest available geographical area.

Information about the geographical distribution of general practitioners' earnings is not available. The intended average net income for an unrestricted principal providing general medical services in Great Britain in 1993–94 is £40,610. Payments for achieving higher levels of coverage for childhood immunisations and cervical screening, and for administering Hib meningitis vaccine are made in addition. These are currently estimated to add £3,200 to the average GP's remuneration in 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has made of the cost to the national health service of treating patients with problems that could have been prevented by healthy footwear.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued by her Department in relation to children's footwear.

The Health Education Authority's publication "Birth to Five", copies of which are available in the Library, includes a section on feet and first shoes. The book is given free to all first-time mothers in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what are the latest available figures for the numbers of geriatric (a) units, (b) beds and (c) consultants;(2) what plans she has to increase the number of geriatric units, beds and consultants.

The provision of such facilities and services are a matter for local health authorities who have the responsibility for assessing and meeting local health needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the correlation between the degree of specialisation of consultants and the levels of morbidity and mortality in their patients following treatment.

Confidential audit work supported' by the Department of Health, and international studies, indicate that consultants with specialist skills and experience achieve better outcomes, bearing in mind that specialised consultants may need to deal with more complex problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1989–90 the percentage of women invited for breast screening who attended, by regional health authority.

The breast screening programme is achieving its average uptake target rate of 70 per cent. We do not have central statistics for 1990–91 but unvalidated data are available from the national health service breast screening programme. Validated central figures are currently available only for the year 1991–92. Both are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which health authorities and trusts have chief executives who are foreign nationals.

This information is not available centrally.