To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give direction to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

No such powers are held by my right hon. and learned Friend under existing legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when an order for further thermal imaging airborne laser designator pods for the Tornado aircraft will be placed.

I am pleased to announce that a contract for further thermal imaging airborne laser designatorTIALD—pods for the ground attack Tornado was agreed with GEC Marconi Avionics on 11 January 1994. The order, worth around £50 million, will provide more than two years' work for the company's Edinburgh factories and its suppliers around the country.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what proposals he has to make the provision of the sixth European VAT directive retrospective to 1 January 1990; and what he estimates will be the effect on local authority capital expenditure since that date;(2) what proposals he has to refund VAT to golf clubs and other golf course operators as a result of implementation of the sixth European Community VAT directive;(3) what estimate he has made of the effect of implementation of the sixth European Community VAT directive on the 5 per cent. de minimis exemptions for local authorities for trading activities;(4) what estimate he has made of the administrative costs to local authorities of the implementation of the sixth European Community VAT directive;(5) what is the position in the United Kingdom in relation to the implementation of the EC sixth VAT directive; what advice has been issued by Customs and Excise to local authorities on the implementation of this directive; and if he will make a statement.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to my announcement to the House of 22 July 1993, Official Report, column 303, about the prospective VAT exemption for sporting services supplied by non-profit-making sports bodies and local authorities. This will be introduced by Treasury order to implement article 13(A)1(m) of the EC sixth VAT directive with effect from 1 January 1990. At this stage it is not possible to estimate the likely consequences for local authorities. The precise scope and effect of the exemption are at present under consideration in the light of responses from local authorities and others to the consultation paper issued by Customs and Excise. I hope to make a further announcement shortly.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Fife, Central (Mr. McLeish) of 13 December, Official Report, column 472, if he will provide the information on tax and income by region.

Readily available estimates for English regions based on the survey of personal incomes are in the tables. For 1980–81 and 1989–90, married couples are counted as one taxpayer and their incomes are combined. Following the introduction of independent taxation in 1990–91, husbands and wives are counted separately. The estimates of total income relate to income subject to income tax and exclude non-taxable income such as certain social security benefits. The quantile groups of taxpayers are defined by reference to the number of taxpayers in each region in each year.

Information on Quantile groups of taxpayers within each region of England
	1980–81
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
North
Top 1	273	93
Top 5	925	243
Top 10	1,570	380
Bottom 50	1,920	239
All taxpayers	6,780	1,250
Yorkshire and Humberside
Top 1	519	184
Top 5	1,600	437
Top 10	2,630	652
Bottom 50	3,280	409
All taxpayers	11,200	2,020
North West
Top 1	652	228
Top 5	2,140	580
Top 10	3,490	867
Bottom 50	4,230	540
All taxpayers	14,700	2,730
East Midlands
Top 1	419	159
Top 5	1,240	351
Top 10	2,020	513
Bottom 50	2,470	308
All taxpayers	8,470	1,560
West Midlands
Top 1	566	203
Top 5	1,740	487
Top 10	2,770	697

	1980–81
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
Bottom 50	3,490	453
All taxpayers	11,600	2,130
East Anglia
Top 1	217	85
Top 5	670	213
Top 10	1,080	302
Bottom 50	1,200	160
All taxpayers	4,120	814
South East
Top 1	2,950	1,200
Top 5	8,230	2,620
Top 10	12,900	3,640
Bottom 50	13,300	1,760
All taxpayers	48,900	9,850
South West
Top 1	589	257
Top 5	1,630	517
Top 10	2,600	720
Bottom 50	2,790	316
All taxpayers	10,000	1,900

Information on quantile groups of taxpayers within each region Of England
	1989–90
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
North
Top 1	693	200
Top 5	2,080	489
Top 10	3,400	730
Bottom 50	3,930	462
All taxpayers	14,000	2,300
Yorkshire and Humberside
Top 1	1,550	500
Top 5	4,310	1,140
Top 10	6,680	1,590
Bottom 50	6,700	762
All taxpayers	24,800	4,260
North West
Top 1	2,170	694
Top 5	5,670	1,510
Top 10	8,670	2,080
Bottom 50	8,050	899
All taxpayers	31,000	5,390
East Midlands
Top 1	1,450	465
Top 5	3,870	1,050
Top 10	5,920	1,460
Bottom 50	5,560	641
All taxpayers	21,300	3,750
West Midlands
Top 1	1,660	519
Top 5	4,650	1,220
Top 10	7,240	1,720
Bottom 50	7,210	855
All taxpayers	26,700	4,630
East Anglia
Top 1	906	302
Top 5	2,270	627

	1989–90
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
Top 10	3,430	858
Bottom 50	3,180	370
All taxpayers	12,000	2,140
South East
Top 1	10,100	3,470
Top 5	25,300	7,660
Top 10	37,900	10,500
Bottom 50	29,000	3,760
All taxpayers	120,000	24,100
South West
Top 1	2,150	726
Top 5	4,930	1,390
Top 10	7,320	1,860
Bottom 50	6,410	742
All taxpayers	24,700	4,460

Information on Quantile Groups of Taxpayers within each region of England
	1990–91
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
North
Top 1	896	278
Top 5	2,410	624
Top 10	3,870	909
Bottom 50	4,260	474
All taxpayers	15,400	2,640
Yorkshire and Humberside
Top 1	1,930	614
Top 5	4,780	1,300
Top 10	7,320	1,800
Bottom 50	7,020	759
All taxpayers	26,500	4,640
North West
Top 1	2,460	808
Top 5	6,240	1,710
Top 10	9,530	2,350
Bottom 50	9,250	994
All taxpayers	34,900	6,130
East Midlands
Top 1	1,470	474
Top 5	4,060	1,090
Top 10	6,320	1,530
Bottom 50	6,240	668
All taxpayers	23,600	4,100
West Midlands
Top 1	2,100	693
Top 5	5,330	1,490
Top 10	8,120	2,030
Bottom 50	8,000	880
All taxpayers	29,600	5,250
East Anglia
Top 1	1,080	366
Top 5	2,590	757
Top 10	3,860	1,020
Bottom 50	3,390	364
All taxpayers	13,200	2,410
South East
Top 1	12,600	4,370
Top 5	29,400	9,090
Top 10	42,900	12,200
Bottom 50	33,100	4,060
All taxpayers	138,000	27,800

	1990–91
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
South West
Top 1	2,240	696
Top 5	45,450	1480
Top 10	8,280	2,040
Bottom 50	7,960	862
All taxpayers	30,000	5,290

Information on quantile groups of taxpayers within each region of England
	1991–92
Quantile group of tax units	Total income	Income tax liability
Per cent	£ million	£ million
North
Top 1	922	285
Top 5	2,610	659
Top 10	4,170	960
Bottom 50	4,360	444
All taxpayers	16,200	2,710
Yorkshire and Humberside
Top 1	2,000	635
Top 5	5,090	1,350
Top 10	7,760	1,880
Bottom 50	7,410	757
All taxpayers	28,100	4,840
North West
Top 1	2,980	994
Top 5	6,880	1,890
Top 10	10,300	2,560
Bottom 50	9,600	984
All taxpayers	36,300	6,360
East Midlands
Top 1	1,800	587
Top 5	4,390	1,190
Top 10	6,730	1,640
Bottom 50	6,680	710
All taxpayers	24,700	4,300
West Midlands
Top 1	2,140	696
Top 5	5,340	1,440
Top 10	8,110	1,980
Bottom 50	8,290	902
All taxpayers	29,900	5,210
East Anglia
Top 1	1,100	371
Top 5	2,690	758
Top 10	4,050	1,030
Bottom 50	3,830	409
All taxpayers	14,300	2,560
South East
Top 1	14,100	4,880
Top 5	31,700	9,780
Top 10	45,900	12,900
Bottom 50	34,200	4,120
All taxpayers	143,000	28,800
South West
Top 1	2,100	675
Top 5	5,500	1,480
Top 10	8,400	2,050
Bottom 50	8,150	847
All taxpayers	30,400	5,280

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to end the avoidance of tax by payment in vintage wine; and if he will make a statement.

Measures announced in the Budget, and now published in the Finance Bill, will stop employers avoiding the operation of PAYE—pay as you earn—by paying their staff in assets which can then swiftly be turned into cash. This will include payment in the form of vintage wines, when arrangements exist for the employee to sell those wines. Such payments have always been taxable: the new rules simply remove the ability to defer the tax liability until after the end of the year.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on publicity for (i) the Northern Ireland Electricity privatisation and (ii) the British Telecom third privatisation.

The cost of offer advertising was £2·3 million, excluding VAT, for the Northern Ireland Electricity—NIW—share offer and 13·.5 million, excluding VAT, for the BT3 share offer. The NIE costs were equally split between the company and the Department of Economic Development.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

The Treasury has a number of powers to regulate borrowing and lending by local authorities. In addition, the exercise of some of the relevant powers of other Government Departments is subject to formal Treasury consent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Since 1979 three former hon. Members have held appointments on quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations for which I have responsibility. These were to the Securities and Investments Board (SIB):

Mr. Robin Hodgson: non-executive director; duration of appointment four years from 1985; salary £8,000 per annum in 1985 to £10,500 per annum in 1989.

Dr. Oonagh McDonald: non-executive director; duration of appointment two years from 1993; salary £13,500 per annum.

Lord Stewartby: non-executive director; duration of appointment two years from 1993; salary £13,500 per annum.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the circulation within the United Kingdom of counterfeit pound coins; what action is being taken against those making such coins; what advice is given to those in business warning of the circulation of such coins; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: I have received no formal representation about the circulation within the United Kingdom of counterfeit £1 coins and, although there are some in circulation, the numbers are believed to be extremely small in relation to the total number of £1 coins in circulation.Under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981, it is a criminal offence to make a counterfeit of a coin or to pass it on to another person. Where sufficient evidence of such activities exists, it is for the police to take action against those responsible.No specific advice has been given to those in business warning of the circulation of counterfeit £1 coins.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

I have no such powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many persons without accommodation claimed income support in the Newbury constituency in each month between December 1992 and November 1993.

I am informed by Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will consider including in the pension book information on help available to pensioners through the home energy efficiency scheme.

The administration of retirement pension is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of pensioners opt to receive their state pension by automated credit transfer.

This is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the oral answer of 9 December 1993 to the hon. Member for Bristol, East (Ms Corston), Official Report, column 494, if he will now make a statement in regard to the information sought by the hon. Member.

The hon. Member for Bristol, East suggested in her intervention on 9 December that at a meeting on 2 December with departmental officials and the head of the government statistical service, she had been told that information on low income statistics could be made available to her which had been previously refused in a series of replies to her questions, on grounds of disproportionate cost or incompatibility with this Department's statistical practice; and she intimated that this information had been wrongly withheld from the House. This is not so.It continues to be the case that the results in question are either not available at all, could be made available only at disproportionate cost to public funds, or require the use of conventions which DSS statistical advisers consider unsound in the particular context. However, as I have repeatedly said in correspondence with the hon. Member, this Department makes available to bona fide researchers the base data set from which the households below average income statistics are obtained, to enable them to undertake what further analyses they choose under the conventions they prefer. This is entirely compatible with the principles of open government.At the meeting to which she referred, the hon. Member was not offered replies to questions previously refused on grounds of disproportionate cost, non-availability or unreliability. She was, however, reminded that the base data set could be made available to her research advisers for their own use in the computer readable form of their choice. This repeated an offer first made some months ago, which I understand her researchers have now taken up. This Department's practice continues to be to provide reliable information within normal parliamentary conventions.I have repeatedly offered the hon. Member for Bristol, East a meeting to discuss the issues about which she is concerned, but she has chosen not to take this up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may generally give directions to local authorities, among others, or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, in their capacity as employers, as qualifying mortgage lenders and as bodies which may be required to provide information or evidence under the Child Support Act 1991.More specifically, the majority of his powers to give directions to local authorities, or to otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, relate to the administration of housing benefit and council tax benefit. These powers are to be found in:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people who would be eligible for housing benefit were they not protected tenants; what the cost of giving benefit to these people would be; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) regions, (b) districts, (c) trusts, (d) family health service authorities and (e) general practitioners use the Racal healthlink.

Information to the end of November shows that six regions use the Racal healthlink, together with 98 family health services authorities, 932 general medical practitioners and 1,656 dental practices. Precise figures are not available for districts or trusts. However, figures are estimated to be five to 10 and 40 to 50 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the cost of setting up the Racal data network to (a) the Department of Health, (b) health regions and (c) health districts.

The cost of setting up the infrastructure required to operate the healthlink service was met entirely by Racal Network Services Ltd.—RNSL.Costs attributable to the Department were those relating to the employment of civil servants and consultants between November 1987 and November 1991 when the healthlink service was being planned and implemented. These costs are estimated to be £450,000.The only costs payable by health regions and districts are those generated by usage of the healthlink service and records of these transactions are not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what machinery exists to safeguard general practitioner fundholders' choice of hospital;(2) what representations she has received from fundholding general practitioners about choice of hospital for their patients.

I have frequent contact with general practitioner fundholding practices. General practitioner fundholders are able to purchase the best possible care for their patients from whichever hospital they judge best.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make it mandatory for manufacturers to include information on the method of sterilisation of dental handpieces.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 17 December 1993, at column 1007.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in which European countries it is mandatory for manufacturers to include information on the method of sterilisation of dental handpieces.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the powers she has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise to requi[re them to act in a way which she prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which she may exercise these powers.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a number of such powers. They could be listed comprehensively only at disproportionate cost. If the hon. Member has a specific function in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many members of (a) the Labour party, (b) the Conservative party and (c) other political parties who are (i) chairs and (ii) non-executive directors of (1) regional health authorities, (2) district health authorities, (3) trusts and (4) family health services authorities; and if he will give the party breakdown for each authority and trust.

This information is not available centrally.We do not seek details of political affiliation. People are appointed for their personal qualities, and for the skills they bring to the leadership and strategic direction of the national health service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what request she has received from the West Midlands regional health authority for advice as to the suitability of Jane Slowey as a potential non-executive director of South Birmingham health authority;(2) what advice she or any member of her Department gave the West Midlands regional health authority as to the suitability of Jane Slowey as a potential non-executive director of South Birmingham health authority.

None.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

I have no such powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what the most recent waiting list figures are for each district health authority in Wales.

The latest available information on waiting lists for Welsh hospitals is for March 1993, published in "Welsh Hospital Waiting List Bulletin 1993", No. 2. A copy of this publication is held in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the names of the individuals undertaking the review of city challenge;(2) if the review of city challenge was put out to tender;(3) for what reasons consultants have been asked to review city challenge;(4) which consultancy firm is undertaking the review of city challenge;(5) what is the cost of the review of city challenge.

Consultants have been asked to undertake an interim evaluation of city challenge as part of the usual monitoring and assessment of Government programmes.Six companies were invited to tender for the contract. All six responded. The European Institute of Urban Affairs, Liverpool—John Moores—university, led by Professor Michael Parkinson, was awarded the contract. For commercial reasons, the Department does not disclose the cost of individual contracts.The Department has also carried out an internal management review of city challenge procedures. The review made a number of recommendations to streamline procedures and further reduce bureaucracy. City challenge chief executives were represented on the review group. Many of the recommendations have already been implemented and much of what it was considering has already been overtaken by developments on the single regeneration budget and integrated regional offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

The information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's policy on the export of hazardous wastes to developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Below is the text of a statement which I have sent to the secretariat of the UNEP Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

"The United Kingdom restates its intention not to permit the export of wastes to developing countries for final disposal. However, the United Kingdom remains of the view that recycling of wastes offers environmental benefits provided that adequate environmental standards are maintained. Movement of wastes across international boundaries for that purpose does not detract from the environmental benefits, even though there is more difficulty in ensuring that the required standards are being maintained. The control mechanisms provided for under the Basel Convention are designed to overcome those difficulties. The United Kingdom, therefore, does not intend, for the time being, to prohibit the export of any waste moving towards environmentally sound recovery processes within developing countries, provided that the requirements of the Basel Convention are met. The United Kingdom is taking an active role in the work proceeding in the Technical Working Group to draw up guidelines for environmentally sound recovery operations. These guidelines will assist the United Kingdom in deciding which operations are environmentally sound and which are not.

Shipments of hazardous waste from the United Kingdom to developing countries will be investigated over the coming months so that the United Kingdom can meet its obligations under the Basel Convention and the EC Waste Shipments Regulation: any shipments which are not moving towards environmentally sound recovery operations will be prohibited. If, following this investigation, we find that, in general, wastes exported from the United Kingdom to developing countries are not being recovered to adequate environmental standards, then the United Kingdom will consider again the question of imposing a general ban on the movements of hazardous wastes to all or selected developing countries. We will report on our progress in this investigation".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish guidance on the planning aspects of gipsy sites.

My Department and the Welsh Office issued a joint circular on 5 January giving guidance to local planning authorities on the planning aspects of gipsy sites. The guidance forms part of our measures to reduce unauthorised camping, including our proposals to reform the Caravan Sites Act 1968.The guidance should help local planning authorities to decide where gipsy caravan sites are best located and provide for them in development plans. Our objective is that gipsies should find, develop and run sites for themselves, as many of them wish to do.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which costs relating to accommodation of the occupied royal palaces are borne by his Department and which by the occupants of (a) grace and favour accommodation and (b) accommodation for members of the royal family no longer on the Civil List.

I have been asked to reply.My Department meets the landlord's costs of grace and favour accommodation in the occupied royal palaces in England, including that of members of the royal family no longer on the Civil List. These costs include maintenance of the structure and exterior of the building, painting or wall-papering of internal walls and surfaces, permanent fixtures in bathrooms and kitchens and the provision and maintenance of hot water, heating and electrical services. Occupants meet the costs of carpets, curtains, other soft furnishings and moveable equipment and day-to-day minor maintenance and pay for light, heat, water, telephones and council tax. There are slightly different arrangements for the Queen's house, Edinburgh for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is responsible and where his Department pays for all maintenance costs including minor maintenance. The occupants are responsible for paying for the costs of utilities, council tax, soft furnishings and moveable equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the £250,000 spent on refurbishment of apartments in St. James's palace was spent on royal apartments; and how much was spent on each apartment.

I have been asked to reply.The sum of £40,000 was spent on royal apartments at St. James's palace in 1992–93, of which £38,000 was on an apartment for His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales when he moved from Kensington palace. The remaining £2,000 was spent on minor items of maintenance in other royal apartments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to give permission to British Nuclear Fuels plc for the operation of its waste treatment facility for the encapsulation of plutonium-contaminated material located at Sellafield.

I have been asked to reply.Operation of this facility is a commercial matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc, subject to meeting the requirements of the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the countries included on the restricted list for sensitive technologies or military exports (a) in 1979, and (b) currently; and if he will indicate the reasons for the changes in the list since 1979.

The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 imposes restrictions on the export of sensitive technologies and military goods. Unless otherwise specified, the export of goods listed in this order is controlled to all destinations.A list of destinations subject to special export licensing procedures was first announced to Parliament on 19 December 1991,

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response was received from the Government of Saudi Arabia to the official protests following the breaking up of a concert at the international school at Yambu by Saudi police.

The Saudi Arabian authorities were very concerned about the interruption of the winter concert at Yanbu international school on 29 November 1993. They have told Her Majesty's embassy in Riyadh that the incident will be investigated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to discover the whereabouts of the toddler Ben Needham following his abduction in Greece in 1991.

Since they were informed of Ben Needham's disappearance, consular officials have been in regular contact with the Greek authorities in Athens and Kos, and also with the United Kingdom police. The Greeks have conducted several searches for Ben on Kos. The Greek police and police in several other countries continue to investigate every reported sighting. Ben has not been forgotten.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he declined the request for a spokesman for the BBC Radio 4 programme "File on Four" on 21 December 1993 relating to Lockerbie.

Our policy on the Lockerbie bombing has been made clear on numerous occasions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the matters discussed and decisions taken at the meeting of the Co-ordinating Committee on Multilateral Export Controls held in The Hague on 16 November.

Representatives of the Governments participating in COCOM met in The Hague on 16 November. They agreed that COCOM should be terminated as soon as possible, but no later than 31 March 1994. There was also broad agreement that, at the same time, new arrangements should be established to promote transparency and responsibility in the transfer of armaments and related dual-use goods: the details of the new arrangements remain to be decided.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

There are many ministerial statutory powers in relation to local authorities in the United Kingdom. However, none of them, so far as I am aware, specifies that it is the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs who is to exercise the power. As regards those powers expressed to be exercisable by "the Secretary of State", it would be most unusual for my right hon. Friend to be the appropriate Secretary of State to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

Under the present constitutional arrangements for Northern Ireland I have no powers of direction which are specific and exclusive to the local authorities in the Province. Government Departments do, however, have powers under a wide range of legislative provisions to direct and to prescribe by regulations and by other means what action should be taken by district councils. This information is not readily available, however, and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out for each local authority in rank order the expenditure on major discretionary awards per head of adult population in the latest year for which figures are available.

The available information on discretionary awards made at between 50 per cent. and 100 per cent. of the mandatory rate is given in the table.

Total expenditure on full value1 discretionary awards per head of the adult population2
Local authority	1991–92 (£)
Cumbria	16·02
North Yorkshire	14·27
Walsall	9·84
Knowsley	9·79
Cheshire	8·94
Powys	8·92
Leicestershire	8·15
Wirral	7·65
Westminster	7·52
Dorset	7·42
Hackney	7·37
Devon	7·10
Corporation of London	7·08
Richmond upon Thames	7·02
Liverpool	7·00
Durham	6·76
Lancashire	6·70
Islington	6·42
Suffolk	6·28
Shropshire	6·15
Humberside	6·11
Kirklees	5·79
Kingston upon Thames	5·68
Gloucestershire	5·62
Kensington and Chelsea	5·41
Barnsley	5·27
Clwyd	5·21
Cleveland	5·04
Brent	5·01
Avon3	4·96
Camden	4·92
Ealing	4·79
Hampshire	4·72
Sunderland	4·71

Local authority	1991–92 (£)
Bradford	4·68
Newham	4·49
Lewisham	4·47
North Tyneside	4·46
West Glamorgan	4·45
Bromley	4·42
Southwark	4·41
Tower Hamlets	4·39
Norfolk	4·31
Sefton	4·31
South Tyneside	4·26
Kent	4·09
South Glamorgan	4·06
Barking	3·96
Bury	3·80
Waltham Forest	3·72
Lincolnshire	3·66
Wakefield	3·51
Redbridge	3·43
Cornwall and Scilly Isles4	3·35
Isle of Wight	3·32
Greenwich	3·31
Berkshire	3·29
Hereford and Worcester	3·22
Gateshead	3·20
Bexley	3·14
Leeds	3·11
Wiltshire	3·08
Gwent	3·08
Cambridgeshire	3·05
Somerset	3·04
Hertfordshire	3·04
Trafford	2·90
Sutton	2·83
Lambeth	2·75
Nottinghamshire	2·68
Oxfordshire	2·65
Northumberland	2·57
Northamptonshire	2·55
Rotherham	2·36
Mid-Glamorgan	2·26
Essex	2·21
Birmingham	2·21
Bedfordshire	1·96
Hammersmith and Fulham	1·95
Barnet	1·94
Croydon	1·93
St Helens	1·92
Staffordshire	1·89
Sandwell	1·87
Surrey	1·85
Hillingdon	1·84
Havering	1·80
Buckinghamshire	1·70
Oldham	1·70
Solihull	1·67
Bolton	1·67
Doncaster	1·62
Rochdale	1·61
Derbyshire	1·55
Merton	1·54
Enfield	1·51
Dudley	1·44
East Sussex	1·37
Dyfed	1·32
West Sussex	1·17
Tameside	1·10
Newcastle upon Tyne	1·05
Stockport	1·01
Manchester	1·00
Coventry	0·99
Harrow	0·85
Wolverhampton	0·76
Wigan	0·66
Hounslow	0·64
Warwickshire	0·63
Sheffield	0·57
Salford	0·42

Local authority	1991–92 (£)
Gwynedd	0·26
Haringey5	0·00
Wandsworth6	n/a

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the expenditure on supplementary allowances to students in receipt of a mandatory award in respect of their dependants; and if he will give a breakdown of such allowances by age group of students and gender of students.

In the 1991–92 academic year, the latest year for which data are available on mandatory awards made by local education authorities, the gross value of the supplementary allowances made in respect of students' dependants was £29·2 million. Supplementary allowances are not payable separately: they form part of the student's total maintenance requirement which may be reduced according to the other resources available to him before his net grant is calculated. Information on the age group and gender of students eligible for dependants' allowances is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what help is available to assist with the cost of school meals and transport for mature students in receipt of a mandatory award who have children of school age.

Since the implementation of the Social Security Act 1986 in 1988, only children whose parents are in receipt of income support and those children who are themselves eligible for income support, are entitled to receive free school meals. Although most full-time students are not entitled to social security benefits, including income support, certain students in vulnerable groups, including lone parents and disabled students, may be able to claim benefits. Students' partners are able to claim benefits in their own right.Local education authorities must provide free transport if they consider it necessary to facilitate a pupil's school attendance, and may help other pupils with their fares. Authorities are not required to make special arrangements for children whose parents are in receipt of a mandatory award.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will reply to the petition on nursery education presented to the House on 19 November 1993.

My right hon. Friend has noted this petition. It calls for a statutory duty to be laid on local education authorities to provide nursery education on demand. We have repeatedly made clear that the Government's policy is to promote choice and diversity in pre-school provision and to extend access as resources allow. Universal state nursery education would be neither consistent with that policy nor affordable at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The former Members of the House of Commons who have been appointed since April 1992 to the bodies for which the Department of National Heritage is responsible, are set out.Information about the appointment of former Members to bodies which are now the responsibility of the Department of National Heritage before the creation of the Department is not held centrally.No salaries—as distinct from expenses—are paid except where otherwise indicated.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names of all former British representative members of the European Parliament who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The only former British representative member in the European Parliament who has been appointed since April 1992 to the bodies for which the Department of National Heritage is responsible, is:

The Baroness Hooper—trustee, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, April 1993 for five years.

Information about the appointment of former MEPs to bodies which are now the responsibility of the Department of National Heritage before the creation of the Department is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the names of all individuals who are or were members of the House of Lords who since 1992 have been appointed to any quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The members of the House of Lords who since 1992 have been appointed to bodies for which the Department of National Heritage has responsibility for the appointment or has responsibility for the body to which the appointment is made by Her Majesty the Queen or the Prime Minister are set out.No salaries—as distinct from expenses—are paid, except where otherwise indicated.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many civil servants are employed at his Department to deal with tourism issues; and what is the total annual cost of their salaries.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ellesmere Port and Neston (Mr. Miller) on Monday 13 December, Official Report, column 458.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will arrange for the national register of playing fields to be placed in the Library.

The Sports Council is providing a copy of the register's database on diskette to the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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.

The total number of staff by grade and the number of women in each grade within the Department of National Heritage excluding its two executive agencies, the Historic Royal Palaces and the Royal Parks, are listed in the table.

DNH Staff as at 22 November 1993
Grade	Total number in Grade	Of which female
1A	1	—
G3	4	1
G4	1	—
G5	15	4
G6	5	4
G7	42	11
SEO	17	6
HEOD	2	1
AT	3	3
HEO	46	20
EO	55	23
AO	54	28
AA	27	15
SPS	5	5
PS	17	17
Typist	7	7
SGB1	1	1
SGB2	10	7
SIO	5	—
IO	4	1
CUR E	2	2
CUR G	3	—
Assistant Librarian	1	1
TOTALS	327	156

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will provide a list of the (a) dates, (b) locations and (c) invitees for his current programme of regional conferences with groups involved in Department of National Heritage subjects.

The Department of National Heritage is holding a series of regional conferences throughout England for bodies involved in DNH subjects in order to support networks and help create new ones, and to identify examples of best practice and innovation for dissemination throughout the country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of escorting all prisoners in the Metropolitan police district in each of the last five years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of escorting category A prisoners in the Metropolitan police district in each of the last five years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to review the operation by the Prison Service of grants of home leave for prisoners.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a contract has been let for the management of Doncaster prison.

On 1 February 1993 it was announced that from 1 April 1993 the Prison Service agency would assume full responsibility for taking forward Government policy on the involvement of the private sector in the management of prisons.In accordance with EC services directive 92/50 EEC, a notice advertising the requirement for service provision for the operation of Doncaster prison was placed in the supplement to the

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the outcome of the joint Home Office/Metropolitan police review of deportation procedures.

Following the tragic death of Mrs. Joy Gardner, I put in hand a joint review, with the Metropolitan police, of procedures in cases where the force assists the immigration service in the removal of people from this country under immigration powers. A representative of the Association of Chief Police Officers has also been involved in the review.Police involvement is required in only a small minority of removal cases. Wherever possible, the departure of people voluntarily or under the supervision of the immigration service is the preferred option. Compulsion is used only as a last resort.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what purpose his Department employs the private security firm of Norwest Ho1st in connection with the M11 link road.

[holding answer 16 December 1993]: The Home Office does not employ the private security firm of Norwest Ho1st in connection with the M11 link road.I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to his question by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris), on Tuesday 14 December,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he intends to improve liaison between the police and local communities in rural areas; and if he will make a statement.

Under proposals that I expect shortly to bring before Parliament, each police authority will have a duty to consult local people and to publish a local policing plan reflecting local and national goals. In addition, the parish constable scheme, which is being introduced on a pilot basis, will also improve the liaison between the police and the community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff years have been expended on the Health and Safety Executive's market-testing programme since 1 January.

The Health and Safety Executive expects its market-testing programme to produce significant savings. However, the initiative is at an early stage and, to date, the number of staff years spent on market testing, net of savings, is 14·5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to place in the Library a copy of the publication "The Cost to the British Economy of Work Accidents and Work-Related Ill Health".

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Yes, copies will be made available when it is published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if the Health and Safety Commission's review of regulations has so far highlighted any of the sets of regulations identified by the Secretary of State as early candidates for revocation in his press notice of 20 July 1993 as the source of substantial undue costs to business.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The set of regulations referred to in the press notice were identified by the Health and Safety Executive as seeming to have outlived their usefulness in their contribution to maintaining health and safety standards.The Government share the Health and Safety Commission's view that allowing outdated and unnecessary legislation to remain on the statute book adds to the complexity and uncertainty faced by business and others, distracts attention from essential requirements and thus reduces the effectiveness of the regulatory regime in maintaining necessary standards of health and safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many job placements have been achieved by each of the workstart pilot schemes; and in what categories of employment these placements have been found.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 7 December 1993, Official Report, columns 210–11.The participants are working in a range of employment categories including factory operatives; drivers; sales assistants; clerical assistants; hotel and catering assistants; and labourers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what anti-displacement measures have been incorporated into the operating procedures of workstart pilots; and how successful they have been.

All the pilots require employers to sign a declaration stating that they have not dismissed or made redundant any employees directly or indirectly for the purposes of employing the subsidised employee. Each pilot monitors the position of participating employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

The following relevant powers have been identified in the main legislation governing the Department's activities:

Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1958, section 3(1): power to direct local authorities to provide sheltered employment pursuant to section 15 of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944.

Employment and Training Act 1973, section 10(2)—as amended by section 45 of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993: power to direct local education authorities—in Scotland, education authorities—to provide, or arrange for the provision of, a careers service.

Employment and Training Act 1973, section 10(7)—as amended by section 45 of the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act 1993: power to direct LEAs to transfer relevant records to providers of the services.

Employment and Training Act 1973, section 12(2): duty of LEAs to provide specified information in such form and at such times as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State may direct.

Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, section 18(2): power, by regulations, to make local authorities responsible for the enforcement of the relevant statutory provisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of all individuals who are or were members of the House of Lords who since 1979 have been appointed to any quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The following noble Lords hold or held positions to which they were appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment:

The Baroness Turner of Camden

• Member: Central Arbitration Committee
• Fee: £141 per day when sitting
• Duration: Not exceeding five years. but can be reappointed

Also—

• Part-time commissioner: Equal Opportunities Commission —EOC—from 1983 to 1988
• Fee: Daily rate of £85 in 1988
• Duration: Four years plus reappointment for a further year.

The Lord Wedderburn

• Member: Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal—CSAT
• Fee: £141 per day when sitting
• Duration: Three years; can be renewed.

The Lord McCarthy

• Member: CSAT
• Fee: £141 per day when sitting
• Duration: Three years; can be renewed.

The Baroness Dean of Thornton le Fylde

• Member: Employment Appeal Tribunal—EAT
• Fee: £177 when sitting
• Duration: Three years; eligible for reappointment up to age 70.

The Baroness Gardner of Parkes

• Lay Member: Industrial Tribunal
• Fee: £113 per day when sitting
• Duration: Three years; eligible for reappointment up to age 69.

The Baroness Platt of Writtle

• Chairman: EOC
• Salary: £35,066 in 1988
• Duration: Three years, plus a further two years from 1983 to 1988.

The Baroness Lockwood of Dewsbury

• Chairman: EOC
• Salary: £25,455 in 1980
• Duration: Three years, plus a further two years from 1975 to 1980.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of all former British representative members in the European Parliament who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: I regret that it is not possible on the grounds of disproportionate cost to identify any former members of the European Parliament who may have been or who are members of the quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations sponsored by the Employment Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the names of all former hon. Members who since 1979 have been appointed to quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations, excluding appointments as justices of the peace, giving in each case the title of the post, any salary payable and the duration of the appointment.

[holding answer 11 January 1994]: The following two appointments have been made:

Christopher Chope—Health and Safety Commissioner. Annual fee of £1,060 plus an attendance allowance of £105 for each fortnightly meeting attended. Appointed for three years from 1 April 1993. Former Conservative MP.

William S. Hilton—Employer member to the Construction Industry Training Board—CITB; also a member of the CITB administration committee. Eligible for allowance for loss of remunerative time. Appointment for the period November 1984 to April 1990—re-appointed in July 1988. Former Labour MP.

It is not possible on the grounds of disproportionate cost to include details of any appointments to the committees for the employment with people with disabilities, the industrial tribunals, and the employment appeals tribunal, with a total of over 2,250 appointees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will calculate the appropriate daily volume of natural gas consumption for generation of electricity which is equivalent to the employment of each person employed above or underground in a coal mine of comparable performance to those recently closed as being uneconomic.

I have been asked to reply.Estimated daily production per person, based on the overall average output per manshift in British Coal's mines for the period January to October 1993, was7·85 tonnes of coal. Assuming an energy content of 237 therms per tonne, and average efficiencies of coal and gas fired power stations of 34 per cent. and 45 per cent. respectively, the equivalent quantity of gas for use in electricity generation would be 1,400 therms or 41 MWh.Data on output specifically relating to recently closed mines are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what representations he has received about the operation of the London night-time lorry ban;(2) what consultation his Department has undertaken with representatives of the public about the future of the London lorry ban;(3) if he will make a statement on the Government's intentions in respect of the London lorry ban.

I have received a number of representations from hon. Members, from London borough councils and from the Freight Transport Association. Many of these related to the cost of administering the ban and the problems created by the operation of the system of exemption permits. I am considering proposals aimed at reducing the bureaucracy associated with the administration of the ban while maintaining the environmental protection it offers. These will be published shortly. I am arranging to meet the London Boroughs Transport Committee, the Freight Transport Association and the Association of London Authorities shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are his plans for the future procurement of trunk road and motorway maintenance work.

We have no plans to change the current arrangements in the run-up to the establishment of the Highways Agency in April 1994. From then on, it will be one of the tasks of the chief executive to keep the arrangements under review, with a presumption in favour of increasing the opportunities for the private sector to participate in this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the powers he has under public legislation to give directions to local authorities or otherwise require them to act in a way which he prescribes, giving in each case the legislative authority under which he may exercise these powers.

This information can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates his Department has made of the impact of motorway charges on serious injuries and fatalities to vehicle occupants, cyclists and pedestrians.

Motorways are among our safest roads. A key objective of motorway charging is to provide another source of finance to expand the network more quickly. This will reduce the diversion to other roads which would otherwise occur as the motorway network became more congested.The Green Paper "Paying For Better Motorways"—Cm. 2200—considered in some detail the extent to which charging might of itself cause diversion to other roads. The research summarised in the document suggested that charging at levels well below those used in other countries —as was suggested in the Green Paper—would cause only modest diversion.The overall effects of charging on road safety would depend on a number of factors. These include the timing of introduction; the overall charge levels and any variations in charging between different roads and at different times of day; and the practical effects of charging in terms of facilitating quicker expansion of the motorway network. Such issues require further exploration. In the meantime, there is no basis for assessing in detail the likely effects of charging on road safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no repetition of the power failure affecting the London Underground on 24 November.

I have asked London Transport for an urgent, full report on the circumstances of the power failure, to include what actions it proposes to ensure that there is no recurrence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many staff who had been sacked but who were threatening legal action were re-employed on the same salary in each of the last 10 years in each health board in Scotland.

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-executive members of each NHS trust, which has such members, have a background in health care.

The number of non-executive members, including chairmen, of each NHS trust, who have a background in health care, is as shown in the table:

	number
Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust	3
Ayrshire and Arran Community Healthcare NHS Trust	2
Caithness and Sutherland Hospitals NHS Trust	4
Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust	3
Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust	2
Monklands and Bellshill Hospitals NHS Trust	3
Moray Health Services NHS Trust	2
North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust	2
Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust	4
Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust	4
Royal Scottish National Hospital and Community NHS Trust	2
South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust	3

	number
Southern General Hospital NHS Trust	3
Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust	2
Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust	4
West Lothian NHS Trust	1
Yorkhill NHS Trust	3

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many disciplinary offences were committed in each Scottish prison in each of the last five years.

I have asked Mr. E. W. Frizzell, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to arrange for a reply to be given to the hon. Member.