Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Friday 25 February 1994

Lord Chancellor's Department

Commercial Court (Lloyd's Litigation)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment he has made of the likely effect of impending Lloyd's litigation on the work load of the Commercial court.

Mr. Justice Cresswell, the judge in charge of the Commercial court list, is currently conducting a review of the Lloyd's litigation. An assessment of the potential impact on the court's work load will be made at the conclusion of his review, but it is not currently expected to have an adverse impact on other users of the court.

South Yorkshire Courts

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures are being taken by courts in south Yorkshire to protect child witnesses with particular reference to the use of screens, television link equipment, and pre-recorded interviews; and if he will make a statement.

In the area of south Yorkshire screens and video playback equipment to protect child witnesses are available at Barnsley, Doncaster, Sheffield and Rotherham magistrates courts. Live television link equipment will also be available at Rotherham magistrates court from May 1994. Screens, live Television links, and video playback equipment are in place at the Crown court at Sheffield. Screens are also available at the Crown court in Doncaster, and at the family hearing centres at Doncaster, Rotherham and Barnsley county courts.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which courts in south Yorkshire have child liaison officers to protect child witnesses; if he will make a statement.

Child liaison officers are in place at all Crown court centres. In the south Yorkshire region, the Crown court sits at Sheffield combined court and Doncaster where there are child liaison officers in post.

Legal Aid Scheme

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the hourly rate for work carried out under the civil legal aid scheme in England and Wales for (a) advocacy and (b) non-advocacy, chambers work; and what provision there is for uplift to be applied in the hourly rates of remuneration in England and Wales under the legal aid system in operation.

There are a variety of prescribed rates which are contained in the regulations set out in the table. The regulations also provide for the circumstances where an uplift may be granted and the amount by which the prescribed rate may be uplifted. Where the prescribed rates do not apply the rates allowable are at the discretion of the taxing authority.Stautory Instrument number and Title

1991/2038
The Legal Aid in Family Proceedings (Remuneration) Regulations 1991 (as amended SI 1994/230)
1994/228
The Legal Aid in Civil Proceedings (Remuneration) Regulations 1994.

Environment

North Yorkshire County Council

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the expenditure by North Yorkshire county council in each of its departments during the financial years 1992–93 and the anticipated outcome for 1993–94.

The information requested is not available centrally.

Sites Of Special Scientific Interest

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 3 February, Official Report, column 879, for which sites of special scientific interest he refused a section 29 order under the Wildlife and Countryside Act; on what dates; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is as follows:

NCOs refused	Date of refusal
Went Ings Meadows, South Yorkshire	30 August 1983
Sherburn Willows, North Yorkshire	8 February 1985
Brimham Rocks, North Yorkshire	27 February 1985

The three orders were refused because the former Nature Conservancy Council failed to provide evidence that the sites concerned were of national importance.

Allotment Land

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many requests he has received for the disposal of allotment land by local authorities under section 8 of the Allotments Act 1925 from 1 January to 31 December 1993; in how many cases consent to dispose was granted; and what was the total acreage in each case.

Sixty-two applications were received by my Department's regional offices; consent was given for the sale, appropriation or lease in every case and involved a total of 142·14 acres.

Government Car Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of Monday 14 February, Official Report, column 582, what is his policy on making internal documents available for inspection by hon. Members.

The car log sheets used by the Government car service contain detailed information about the movement of Ministers. Security considerations preclude the release of these internal documents.

Pennine Trails

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement on the national Pennine bridleway trail; how it will link up with the trans-Pennine trail; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 21 January, Official Report, column 869. If the Pennine bridleway is approved it will intersect with the proposed trans-Pennine trail.

Repossession (Assistance)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps his Department plans to take to help borrowers faced with shortfalls following repossession.

Low interest rates and improved employment prospects resulting from the Government's economic policies mean that fewer people are getting into difficulties with their mortgage. Those who are will be in a better position to repay any arrears and, as house prices recover, will be less likely to suffer a shortfall in the event of repossession. Individual mortgages are private contracts entered into by the borrower and the lender. It is for these parties, together with any indemnity insurer, to determine how any shortfall following repossession action should be treated.

Council Tax

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints have been made about the council tax in each individual council that is responsible for the collection of the council tax.

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals have been lodged since the 1992 valuations of homes for the purpose of assessing council tax in each district and borough of Dorset and Hampshire; and how many of these cases in each district and borough have now received a final adjudication.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Don Valley (Mr. Redmond) on 17 February at column 967.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department expects the currently outstanding appeals against house valuations for the purposes of assessing council tax to be concluded in each district and borough of Dorset and Hampshire.

As I announced on 11 January, we expect four out of five appeals to be dealt with before the end of the year and the remainder to be settled as rapidly as possible thereafter.

Northumberland Coast

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal to designate the Northumberland coast as a special protection area.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: I have no plans to do so. All representations made to English Nature and to my right hon. Friend will be carefully considered before a decision is made on whether to designate this area as a special protection area for birds in accordance with the United Kingdom's obligations under the EC birds directive.

Social Security

Benefits

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the social security benefit rates for 1994–95.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Gainsborough and Horncastle (Mr. Leigh) on 30 November 1993 at columns 437–50; and to the pursuant reply on 16 December at column 840.

Family Credit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list by occupation, the numbers of successful claimants for family credit; and if he will distinguish within these categories the number of clergy men and women who are successful claimants.

An analysis of family credit recipients, by the occupation of the main earner, is contained in table B.5A of "Family Credit Statistics, Final Quarterly Tables, April 1993", a copy of which is in the Library. Information is not available about the number of clergy men or women receiving family credit and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Industrial Diseases

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 8 February, Official Report, columns 214–15, if he will list the number of industrial injuries disablement benefits paid relating to prescribed disease D1—asbestos industry only—and D3 in each area in each year.

Information is not collected in the precise format requested. The available information is in the table and relates only to new medical assessments made by special medical boards in Great Britain.

Special medical boards Great Britain Number of cases, analysed by Special Medical Board, of asbestos-related diseases D1 and D3 assessed as having 1 per cent. or more disablement
	¹D1	D3
1992
All boards	354	551
Cardiff	53	42
Swansea	12	4
Glasglow	96	77

	¹D1	D3
Stoke	13	30
Sheffield	43	87
Manchester	46	70
Newcastle	42	55
London	49	186
1991
All boards	330	519
Cardiff	32	67
Swansea	6	3
Glasgow	68	58
Stoke	14	20
Sheffield	45	74
Manchester	63	56
Newcastle	53	61
London	49	180
1990
All boards	306	462
Cardiff	27	53
Swansea	6	3
Glasgow	90	53
Stoke	11	19
Sheffield	36	69
Manchester	59	48
Newcastle	18	57
London	59	160
1989
All boards	268	441
Cardiff	36	51
Swansea	3	6
Glasgow	75	55
Stoke	11	26

£ million
Estimated administration costs of benefits
	1988–89		1989–90		1990–91		1991–92
	Admin cost	Admin cost as percentage of benefit expenditure	Admin cost	Admin cost as percentage of benefit expenditure	Admin cost	Admin cost as percentage of benefit expenditure	Admin cost	Admin cost as percentage of benefit expenditure
Child Benefit and One Parent Benefit	105	2·2	111	2·3	107	2·2	118	2·2
Income Suport	1,114	14·7	1,180	15·4	1,348	15·2	1,373	11·8
Sickness and Invalidity Benefit	154	4·3	182	4·5	208	4·5	275	¹4·9
Family Credit	24	6·1	30	7·1	²46	9·3	²33	5·3
Social Fund	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	132	47·1	163	45·2
¹ Figure differs from information in 1993 departmental report as benefit expenditure figure since revised.
² Includes increased capital investment for information technology and publicity costs.

Disability

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many new claims for disability living allowance to each disability centre in each month since April 1993 have either (a) resulted in an award or (b) been rejected; and in each case whether (i) examining medical practitioner evidence was provided, (ii) general practitioner factual reports were provided or (iii) the claim was decided solely on the statement of evidence provided by the claimant;(2) how many new disability living allowance claims have been refused, broken down by reason for refusal, in each month since June 1993 at each disability benefits centre and for the country as a whole.

	¹D1	D3
Sheffield	35	76
Manchester	35	46
Newcastle	25	47
London	48	134
1988
All boards	202	479
Cardiff	22	32
Swansea	3	9
Glasgow	42	73
Stoke	17	19
Sheffield	25	49
Manchester	30	61
Newcastle	17	74
London	46	162
Based on a 100 per cent, count.
¹ Asbestos industry only.
D1 = Pneumoconiosis.
D3 = Diffuse mesothelioma.
Note: Benefit is payable for these conditions where disablement is assessed at 1 per cent, or more.

Administration Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Security, pursuant to her answer of 15 February, Official Report, column 698, if he will express the administration costs as percentage of total budgets for each benefit in each year.

:The information is in the table.

The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Michael Bichard to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 24 February 1994.

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

Your first question refers to new claims received. I have appended at Table 1 details of all new claims received in each Disability Benefit Centre (DBC) in each month since April 1993 showing how many (a) resulted in an award of (b) were rejected; and in each case whether (i) EMP evidence was provided, (ii) GP factual reports were provided or (iii) the claim was decided solely on the statement of evidence provided by the claimant.

Table 2 shows the number of claims refused, broken down by reason for refusal, in each month since June 1993, at each DBC, and for the country as a whole.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Table 1
DBC	Awards Types of evidence			Refusals Types of evidence
	1	2	3	1	2	3
April 1993
Edinburgh	338	355	191	360	482	165
Newcastle	495	338	93	463	359	115
Leeds	1,232	517	414	1,385	591	371
Manchester	363	520	365	629	648	238
Bootle	1,080	398	496	778	542	343
Birmingham	2,093	808	1,235	1,200	463	846
Bristol	628	318	80	587	234	40
Cardiff	680	271	112	737	374	122
Wembley	1,436	713	535	743	492	338
Sutton	1,351	921	377	888	426	218
Glasgow	402	423	283	541	869	209
May 1993
Edinburgh	265	342	220	313	431	152
Newcastle	584	297	86	469	371	120
Leeds	1,025	465	338	1,412	493	310
Manchester	305	482	360	622	499	288
Bootle	698	379	376	600	497	318
Birmingham	1,540	586	1,047	982	317	670
Bristol	465	360	58	435	235	37
Cardiff	1,401	236	108	1,648	309	99
Wembley	1,191	802	576	605	541	349
Sutton	1,859	579	628	1,086	176	412
Glasgow	529	449	365	771	878	327
June 1993
Edinburgh	331	411	257	450	542	234
Newcastle	688	305	145	538	389	152
Leeds	1,117	484	333	1,561	542	345
Manchester	381	505	406	662	680	292
Bootle	752	475	522	799	625	431
Birmingham	1,458	716	1,275	1,099	428	965
Bristol	497	389	82	551	210	46
Cardiff	771	295	108	1,053	374	141
Wembley	1,304	872	690	828	579	446
Sutton	1,325	421	678	957	98	462
Glasgow	458	491	329	818	1,020	393
July 1993
Edinburgh	283	333	183	381	507	195
Newcastle	442	299	157	540	364	181
Leeds	858	518	364	1,343	608	345
Manchester	321	582	392	696	836	315
Bootle	488	436	595	683	620	584
Birmingham	1,446	710	1,228	1,121	487	1,001
Bristol	511	291	106	490	230	55
Cardiff	729	400	190	998	541	177
Wembley	1,094	847	620	691	579	417
Sutton	1,116	451	632	844	124	438
Glasgow	326	360	286	502	628	285
August 1993
Edinburgh	207	278	198	332	419	215
Newcastle	462	323	144	493	392	179
Leeds	775	533	474	1,166	592	346
Manchester	301	487	369	573	640	304
Bootle	454	355	441	705	523	452
Birmingham	1,067	624	1,078	975	440	851
Bristol	378	315	100	307	189	39
Cardiff	258	178	122	393	237	158
Wembley	1,178	775	669	734	488	433
Sutton	956	462	508	901	157	447
Glasgow	268	406	335	536	803	398
September 1993
Edinburgh	208	309	143	345	440	154
Newcastle	462	327	148	555	395	200
Leeds	771	522	389	1,168	595	384
Manchester	346	497	335	709	622	246
Bootle	300	340	549	671	532	584
Birmingham	1,172	626	1,315	1,124	450	1,038
Bristol	546	399	86	631	246	42
Cardiff	554	296	201	1,123	427	230
Wembley	1,251	840	578	741	585	398

DBC	Awards Types of evidence			Refusals Types of evidence
	1	2	3	1	2	3
Sutton	912	596	605	829	189	468
Glasgow	177	391	276	491	681	399
October 1993
Edinburgh	187	338	120	334	380	117
Newcastle	384	294	128	519	364	137
Leeds	795	604	456	1,103	571	345
Manchester	291	474	277	678	589	222
Bootle	292	373	453	800	545	520
Birmingham	1,081	702	1,045	1,059	593	855
Bristol	319	346	100	397	242	62
Cardiff	574	362	219	863	495	179
Wembley	1,163	719	432	741	558	295
Sutton	727	606	461	754	256	377
Glasgow	206	361	234	537	649	291
November 1993
Edinburgh	267	377	153	341	470	149
Newcastle	342	278	92	481	324	138
Leeds	926	648	370	1,019	566	292
Manchester	297	530	317	618	600	256
Bootle	541	389	469	654	478	489
Birmingham	988	687	1,003	1,149	660	905
Bristol	289	341	112	388	259	54
Cardiff	666	374	97	895	459	96
Wembley	1,130	831	446	746	543	321
Sutton	782	723	432	754	295	361
Glasgow	394	438	231	735	688	263
December 1993
Edinburgh	235	326	132	311	344	136
Newcastle	262	286	96	327	243	112
Leeds	830	541	374	680	553	309
Manchester	333	445	227	515	493	156
Bootle	386	377	400	632	403	460
Birmingham	943	709	797	900	588	659
Bristol	321	284	85	393	195	59
Cardiff	551	315	71	608	349	79
Wembley	958	665	348	589	509	279
Sutton	701	589	361	651	320	266
Glasgow	508	340	157	597	491	182
January 1994
Edinburgh	163	363	144	233	391	122
Newcastle	315	361	161	330	326	120
Leeds	731	616	376	684	538	326
Manchester	366	480	312	506	585	188
Bootle	349	372	433	538	425	408
Birmingham	952	758	745	764	611	627
Bristol	416	453	118	434	225	62
Cardiff	694	398	97	612	352	120
Wembley	1,002	854	274	646	685	224
Sutton	667	712	322	623	301	302
Glasgow	341	429	197	442	621	217
Key:
1=Evidence from claimant
2=GP Factual Report
3=EMP

Source: 100 per cent count

Table 2
Refusals by reason
DBC	Medical grounds	Lay grounds ²R and P	Lay grounds ¹Age	Lay grounds other	Total
June 1993
Edinburgh	1,238	4	40	2	1,284
Newcastle	1,082	0	60	1	1,143
Leeds	2,463	1	97	1	2,562
Manchester	1,642	3	54	1	1,700
Bootle	1,899	1	90	0	1,990
Birmingham	2,532	8	191	3	2,734
Bristol	859	2	38	1	900
Cardiff	1,657	3	82	2	1,744

DBC	Medical grounds	Lay grounds ²R and P	Lay grounds ¹Age	Lay grounds other	Total
Wembley	1,898	23	152	3	2,076
Sutton	1,572	7	140	1	1,720
Glasgow	2,235	1	91	4	2,331
Other MUs	110	2	14	0	126
Great Britain	19,187	55	1,049	19	20,310
July 1993
Edinburgh	1,090	6	42	5	1,143
Newcastle	1,086	49	39	0	1,174
Leeds	2,319	4	81	2	2,406
Manchester	1,857	6	47	3	1,913
Bootle	1,932	4	75	1	2,012
Birmingham	2,651	9	152	4	2,816
Bristol	800	2	55	0	857
Cardiff	1,825	2	84	0	1,911
Wembley	1,732	17	137	3	1,889
Sutton	1,458	3	120	3	1,584
Glasgow	1,440	0	57	0	1,497
Other MUs	86	5	16	0	107
Great Britain	18,276	107	905	21	19,309
August 1993
Edinburgh	966	5	49	2	1,022
Newcastle	1,064	10	41	0	1,115
Leeds	2,138	7	103	2	2,250
Manchester	1,521	4	59	3	1,587
Bootle	1,734	3	78	1	1,816
Birmingham	2,300	7	148	6	2,461
Bristol	566	4	53	1	624
Cardiff	845	2	48	0	895
Wembley	1,690	17	103	2	1,812
Sutton	1,577	5	730	1	1,656
Glasgow	1,744	1	71	0	1,816
Other MUs	76	4	19	0	99
Great Britain	16,221	69	845	18	17,153
September 1993
Edinburgh	943	0	47	0	990
Newcastle	1,152	8	46	1	1,207
Leeds	2,160	8	110	0	2,278
Manchester	1,583	6	70	3	1,662
Bootle	1,817	0	67	2	1,886
Birmingham	2,637	11	147	3	2,798
Bristol	944	5	46	2	997
Cardiff	1,863	2	80	3	1,948
Wembley	1,798	17	107	5	1,927
Sutton	1,588	7	108	5	1,708
Glasgow	1,576	2	59	0	1,637
Other MUs	115	1	19	0	135
Great Britain	18,176	67	906	24	19,173
October 1993
Edinburgh	842	3	36	3	884
Newcastle	1,030	7	41	1	1,079
Leeds	2,042	9	86	3	2,140
Manchester	1,495	5	53	7	1,560
Bootle	1,895	0	80	0	1,975
Birmingham	2,535	12	143	3	2,693
Bristol	720	1	50	1	772
Cardiff	1,603	1	77	1	1,682
Wembley	1,653	28	121	2	1,804
Sutton	1,510	5	101	5	1,621
Glasgow	1,481	1	48	1	1,531
Other MUs	102	3	15	0	120
Great Britain	16,908	75	851	27	17,861
November 1993
Edinburgh	969	1	35	3	1,008
Newcastle	9,440	6	34	0	984
Leeds	1,897	5	95	3	2,000
Manchester	1,480	7	57	4	1,548
Bootle	1,648	0	65	0	1,713

DBC	Medical grounds	Lay grounds ²R and P	Lay ground's ¹Age	Lay grounds other	Total
Birmingham	2,743	92	164	13	2,929
Bristol	717	1	39	2	759
Cardiff	1,544	0	67	2	1,613
Wembley	1,654	15	118	0	1,787
Sutton	1,499	8	91	6	1,604
Glasgow	1,694	2	38	3	1,737
Other MUs	124	2	16	0	142
Great Britain	16,913	56	819	36	17,824
December 1993
Edinburgh	798	0	24	4	826
Newcastle	683	5	47	1	736
Leeds	1,559	7	78	3	1,647
Manchester	1,166	5	38	0	1,209
Bootle	1,526	0	49	0	1,575
Birmingham	2,168	10	106	5	2,289
Bristol	655	1	22	0	678
Cardiff	1,113	1	43	0	1,157
Wembley	1,441	19	94	2	1,556
Sutton	1,319	5	60	7	1,391
Glasgow	1,275	0	48	1	1,324
Other MUs	129	4	16	2	151
Great Britain	13,832	57	625	25	14,539
January 1994
Edinburgh	750	3	21	0	774
Newcastle	780	8	43	1	832
Leeds	1,571	8	75	5	1,659
Manchester	1,288	8	50	1	1,347
Bootle	1,396	0	46	0	1,442
Birmingham	2,036	13	122	6	2,177
Bristol	735	3	36	2	776
Cardiff	1,137	4	51	1	1,193
Wembley	1,637	23	104	4	1,768
Sutton	1,296	9	70	5	1,380
Glasgow	1,284	2	36	2	1,324
Other MUs	132	0	14	0	146
Great Britain	14,042	81	668	27	14,818
¹ Age over 66.
² Residence/presence conditions not satisfied.
MU = Management Unit.

Source: 100 per cent. Count.

Child Support Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement about the Child Support Agency performance in meeting the target set out in its customer charter in respect of the letter dated 17 January to the Child Support Agency from the hon. Member for Woolwich, CSA Ref. 1522TYR1002505852 and in respect of the letters dated 6 December 1993, 3 January 1994, 8 January, 15 January and 11 February from the hon. Member's constituent, Mr. Y.;(2) if he will set out the provisions in the customer charter for the Child Support Agency for

(a) replying to correspondence, (b) acknowledging written complaints and (c) replying in full to written complaints; and if he will make a statement.

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for Ros Hepplewhite, the chief executive. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ros Hepplewhite to Mr. John Austin-Walker, dated 24 February 1994:

I am replying to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State for Social Security about your constituent Mr. Y., and the provisions regarding correspondence in the Child Support Agency Charter.

The Agency's Charter contains a stated aim to respond to correspondence within 10 working days of receipt, and the Agency aims to acknowledge written complaints within two days of receipt. Because the Agency is a new organisation providing a completely new service, it will not be possible to state with confidence before the end of the first year the average length of time taken to reply to correspondence.

I replied to your letter about Mr. Y. on 23 February, and I am sorry that the Agency did not meet the targets set in its Charter standards in the correspondence with him.

Transport

Vehicle Testing Stations

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the testing stations within each of the new operational regions established by the Vehicle Inspectorate on 1 November 1993.

I have asked the Vehicle Inspectorate chief executive to write to the hon. Member with this detailed information.

Port Of Liverpool

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what financial support the port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. has received from (a) the European Community and (b) his Department in each financial year from 1990–91 to 1993–94;(2) what financial support the port of Liverpool and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co. is expected to receive from

(a) the European Community and (b) his Department in 1994–95 and in subsequent years.

Financial support from the European regional development fund—ERDF—to the Mersey Docks and Harbour Co.—MDHC—is set out in column 1 to the following table. The sums are those which MDHC are entitled to claim under MIDO1, MIDO2 and RENAVAL in each of the calendar years 1990 to 1995.Financial support from the Department of Transport to the port of Liverpool is shown in column 2 in the table. The port was previously within the dock labour scheme and qualified, under the Dock Work (Compensation Payment Scheme) Regulations 1989, for contributions towards the costs of severances of former registered dock workers made redundant following abolition of the scheme. Column 2 shows the amounts paid in the calendar years 1990, 1991 and 1992 to MDHC and to the eight other employers in the port.

Year	(1)	(2)
	ERDF sums which MDHC are entitled to claim	Dock labour severance payments made to
		(a) MDHC	(b) Other Liverpool port employers
1990	140,522	3,447,500	2,625,000
1991	672,460	157,500	612,500
1992	1,238,521	500,000	200,000
1993	1,948,375	—	—
1994	2,178,833	—	—
1995	18,575	—	—

Birmingham International Airport

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress is being made in talks with the United States Government on access by United States airlines to Birmingham international airport; and if he will make a statement.

Liberalisation of routes from the United States to United Kingdom regional airports has been a consistent priority of this Government. In December the United Kingdom tabled a proposal which would give immediate open access to regional routes, including to Birmingham. We hope that the United States Government will consider our proposal seriously.

Driving Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms exist to monitor the degree of compliance or non-compliance with regulations concerning (a) operators acting illegally without an operator licence, (b) parking and routing restrictions, (c) drivers' hours, (d) overloading, (e) general conditions placed by the licensing authority on operators and (f) payment of vehicle excise duty.

The Vehicle Inspectorate is the Department's vehicle and traffic enforcement agency. In the 12 months ending 31 March 1993, the inspectorate inspected 295,125 heavy goods vehicles and 40,508 public service vehicles, the majority of which were "O" licensed vehicles. The results of inspections by the vehicle inspectorate provide the traffic commissioners with details of traffic and roadworthiness offences by licensed heavy goods and passenger vehicle operators. The performance of operators is monitored by the licensing review board in each traffic area office which can make recommendations for disciplinary action by the traffic commissioner.In respect of specific aspects of compliance and non-compliance listed in the question, the position is as follows:

(a) operators acting illegally without an operator licence

The Vehicle Inspectorate's traffic examiners carry out roadside and other spot checks on lorries and also visit operators' premises. Intelligence from co-operation with other enforcement organisations including the police is used to target co-ordinated enforcement checks against suspected illegal operations.

(b) parking and routeing restrictions

Enforcement of local authority parking and routeing restrictions for heavy commercial vehicles is primarily an operational matter for the chief officer of police in consultation with local authorities. It is a matter for them to assess the effectiveness of the enforcement effort. Traffic commissioners, as licensing authorities, can impose conditions on the number, type and size of authorised goods vehicles which at any time may be at a licence holder's operating centre for the purposes of maintenance and parking. The licensing authority may also impose conditions on a licence regulating the parking arrangements for authorised vehicles at or in the vicinity of a licence holder's operating centre.

(c) drivers' hours

EC regulations require the fitment of tachographs to most heavy goods vehicles over 3½ tonnes and also to certain passenger carrying vehicles. The tachograph records the drivers' activities—driving, rest and periods of other work—as well as vehicle speed and time. The resultant records allows retrospective checking by enforcement authorities. The Vehicle Inspectorate checked 1,656,353 tachograph charts for heavy goods vehicles and 208,278 tachograph charts for public service vehicles in the 12 months ending 31 March 1993.

(d) overloading

One of the declarations that an applicant for a goods vehicle operator's licence must make to the traffic commissioner before a licence is granted is that he or she will make proper arrangements to ensure that vehicles, including trailers, will not be overloaded.

Checks on vehicles weights are carried out by staff of the Vehicle Inspectorate, the police and local authority trading standards departments. For this purpose, the Department of Transport has provided some 69 enforcement weighbridge sites which are used regularly by the enforcement organisations. There are also a number of public and private weighbridges which are available for use by drivers and enforcement officers.

Statistics on heavy goods vehicles weighed by vehicle inspectorate traffic examiners are reported in the annual reports of the licensing authorities, copies of which are available in the House of Commons Library. In the year ending 31 March 1993, 124,004 heavy goods vehicles were weighed by Vehicle Inspectorate traffic examiners.

(e) general conditions placed by the licensing authority on operators

There are no mechanisms in place routinely to monitor the compliance or non-compliance by operators of conditions imposed by traffic commissioners. Failure to comply with conditions attached to a licence can be drawn to the attention of a traffic commissioner by local residents, local authorities, police and other enforcement agencies. This can result in a specific monitoring exercise being initiated, and, if necessary, follow-up action being taken including disciplinary action against the operator for non-compliance with the conditions of the licence.

(f) payment of vehicle excise duty

Estimates of the revenue loss through evasion of vehicle excise duty are derived from periodic roadside surveys of moving vehicles, updated by an ongoing exercise conducted by the Department's statisticians to monitor trends. Details of the most recent survey can be obtained from the transport statistics report "Vehicle Excise Duty evasion in Great Britain in 1989–90", which is available in the House of Commons Library. The next survey is planned for June 1994, with the results due to be published in September.

Shipping Industry (Training)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will provide details of the amount of money allocated by his Department for the Government assistance for training scheme in the United Kingdom shipping industry, in each year since 1988; and what was the outturn expenditure in each of those years.

The table shows the allocation of money to the GAFF scheme and the outturn in each year since 1988.

Table 1: GAFT scheme
£ million
	Provision	Spend	YTS spend
1988–89	2·5	0·84	—
1989–90	3·5	1·75	—
1990–91	3·5	2·25	—
1991–92	¹3·4	¹3·23	0·75
1992–93	¹3·7	¹3·20	0·55
1993–94	¹3·9	¹²23·27	0·55
¹Includes YT element—provided by Employment Department.
²Forecast.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of which non-elected bodies whose membership in whole or in part is appointed by him (a) meetings are open to the public, (b) there is scrutiny of financial procedures by independently appointed audit and (c) there are rules governing the declaration of interests.

(a) board meetings and committee meetings of public bodies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are not held in public.Tribunal hearings which hear appeals against the Civil Aviation Authority's decisions on the granting or otherwise of licences or certificates are open to the public on application. The eight traffic commissioners all hold public inquiries in connection with bus and goods vehicle operator licensing. Other bodies may hold consultation meetings in public from time to time as circumstances require.(b) My right hon. Friend appoints auditors annually to audit the accounts of the British Railways Board, the Civil Aviation Authority, London Transport and the Traffic Director for London. The general lighthouse fund accounts consolidate the accounts of the general lighthouse authorities and the fund's accounts are audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The annual reports and accounts of port and harbour authorities are required by statute to be accompanied by an independent auditor's report.(c) There are statutory requirements governing the declaration of interests of board members of the British Railways Board, the Civil Aviation Authority and London Transport. No requirements regarding declarations of interest have been imposed by my right hon. Friend on members of the lighthouse authorities—the majority of whom he does not appoint. The Traffic Director for London does not have a board but he is required by the terms of his appointment to be alert to the possibility of any conflicts of interest and to consult my right hon. Friend in any case of doubt. There are no rules covering the declaration of interests for advisory committee members, many of whom are appointed because of their particular interests, but members would be expected to declare an interest if a situation of conflict should arise.The constitutions of some port and harbour authorities contain provisions requiring members to declare any pecuniary interests, direct or indirect, in any contractual or other matters with which the authority is concerned. More generally, my right hon. Friend seeks from all persons appointed by him to the boards of authorities a declaration of interests at the time of appointment or reappointment.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what amounts of money as a percentage of overall amount received, have been earmarked in 1992–93 and 1993–94 in each highway authority for the strengthening and widening of roads in preparation for the introduction from 1999 of 44-tonne lorries for international routes.

No such earmarking of resources has taken place. Local highway authorities may use allocations for capital maintenance and minor improvement works on any schemes they wish within the rules of the transport supplementary grant system. We have, however, made specific allocations for the assessment and strengthening of bridges in preparation for the introduction of 40-tonne lorries in 1999. The allocations to each authority for this purpose in 1992–93 and 1993–94 are shown in the following table. The introduction of 44-tonne lorries for certain combined transport journeys will not require any additional strengthening compared with that of 40-tonne lorries, since it does not involve any further increase in axle weights.

Authority	1992–93		1993–94
	£000	Per cent.	£000	Per cent.
City of London	3,043	88·2	1,696	75·3
Barking	72	4·8	288	10·3
Barnet	461	41·8	130	8·8
Bexley	315	8·7	297	4·4
Brent	1,038	30·5	611	25·4

Authority	1992–93		1993–94
	£000	Per cent.	£000	Per cent.
Bromley	180	3·1	207	3·6
Camden	2,195	44·9	1,634	37·4
Croydon	12	0·6	90	1·4
Ealing	20	0·4	392	9·8
Enfield	2,270	18·5	1,235	18·4
Greenwich	335	31·5	355	18·3
Hackney	75	2·4	147	5·1
Hammersmith	940	41·9	1,000	31·3
Haringey	532	13·7	688	19·7
Harrow	410	3·6	747	5·5
Havering	308	35·7	647	46·6
Hillingdon	300	1·6	450	3·4
Hounslow	60	5·2	270	4·7
Islington	315	12·6	274	10·6
Kensington	25	1·4	298	17·0
Kingston	461	17·2	425	15·3
Lambeth	100	12·1	190	14·7
Lewisham	287	2·3	200	2·3
Merton	93	4·3	95	3·4
Newham	460	6·4	3,237	31·3
Redbridge	249	22·5	223	9·9
Richmond	372	39·2	546	42·4
Southwark	33	0·8	125	2·4
Sutton	109	6·9	620	22·7
Tower Hamlets	86	2·9	491	5·4
Waltham Forest	30	1·4	100	3·5
Wandsworth	2,736	47·5	2,943	50·7
Westminster	3,700	58·0	2,665	49·6
Bolton	1,175	32·2	1,098	28·3
Bury	370	29·3	570	28·7
Manchester	2,210	11·5	3,048	11·3
Oldham	2,842	22·2	2,806	31·6
Rochdale	505	31·1	923	44·8
Salford	555	13·3	765	21·3
Stockport	2,087	55·1	2,289	49·3
Tameside	1,276	44·3	373	11·1
Trafford	200	3·8	158	3·0
Wigan	450	10·4	384	21·4
Knowsley	320	2·3	386	1·7
Liverpool	400	15·5	555	11·6
St. Helens	225	1·5	192	3·8
Sefton	538	36·0	598	28·8
Wirral	670	17·3	1,349	27·6
Barnsley	824	9·7	469	9·3
Doncaster	3,479	46·0	1,578	21·8
Rotherham	350	8·3	85	2·5
Sheffield	1,350	6·4	3,941	14·7
Gateshead	910	14·8	273	10·4
Newcastle	255	5·7	300	4·1
North Tyneside	20	2·1	340	20·2
South Tyneside	40	3·1	291	15·4
Sunderland	394	6·2	440	8·3
Birmingham	2,300	8·3	2,119	5·5
Coventry	320	3·0	734	5·2
Dudley	138	1·8	588	5·5
Sandwell	2,487	45·8	2,656	46·4
Solihull	100	3·9	194	5·2
Walsall	2,018	10·1	1,500	6·6
Wolverhampton	140	1·4	2,023	10·9
Bradford	1,000	18·4	945	14·1
Calderdale	374	33·6	904	31·3
Kirklees	1,650	32·9	1,294	14·5
Leeds	595	5·8	3,581	15·8
Wakefield	1,386	42·2	1,209	28·0
Avon	1,595	5·9	1,819	8·2
Bedfordshire	1,486	31·3	2,150	28·0
Berkshire	1,064	8·8	1,125	8·8
Buckinghamshire	549	10·6	611	8·8
Cambridgeshire	1,900	29·9	2,474	23·3
Cheshire	1,020	4·3	2,720	10·5
Cleveland	540	5·1	1,119	7·4
Cornwall	790	6·8	1,700	14·6
Cumbria	1,497	29·6	1,522	17·9
Derbyshire	828	13·9	1,276	15·2
Devon	1,771	18·4	1,500	11·4
Dorset	830	10·7	850	10·8
Durham	800	7·9	1,200	9·1

Authority	1992–93		1993–94
	£000	Per cent.	£000	Per cent.
East Sussex	613	6·4	1,776	16·9
Essex	565	4·1	1,729	10·4
Gloucestershire	486	5·3	700	7·7
Hampshire	795	2·6	1,225	2·9
Hereford and Worcester	467	5·6	685	12·9
Hertfordshire	1,256	9·2	2,045	11·4
Humberside	1,650	9·5	1,961	9·3
Isle of Wight	0	0·0	187	5·7
Kent	2,250	3·1	1,701	2·3
Lancashire	7,910	26·6	5,873	26·6
Leicestershire	385	2·3	896	7·3
Lincolnshire	1,440	18·2	2,207	20·6
Norfolk	3,887	24·7	4,786	25·7
Northamptonshire	1,142	9·7	1,394	13·2
Northumberland	100	1·5	4,480	38·9
North Yorkshire	1,760	10·7	2,875	12·4
Nottinghamshire	2,080	20·4	2,101	16·3
Oxfordshire	820	7·0	1,115	9·5
Shropshire	88	1·1	2,130	30·7
Somerset	926	10·7	1,120	7·9
Staffordshire	1,250	14·4	1,410	9·3
Suffolk	2,910	23·3	2,340	19·5
Surrey	5,900	24·5	4,765	14·0
Warwickshire	1,815	46·5	2,462	44·4
West Sussex	200	2·3	671	7·5
Wiltshire	25	0·4	185	4·3

Roads, Leicestershire

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which road development schemes in Leicestershire and Rutland his Department has approved for funding in the latest financial year for which his Department has made its decision; and when he expects the Oakham bypass to be approved by his Department within the Leicestershire county council's current list of road scheme priorities.

Work started during the 1993–94 financial year on the A46 Leicester western bypass trunk road scheme at a cost of £36 million.On local road schemes the total estimated expenditure accepted by the Department in this financial year for transport supplementary grant—TSG—during 1994–95 for Leicestershire, was £2,514,000

¹ including adjustment for underspend in previous years. Major schemes receiving continued support will be:

(a) Leicester A46/47 link road

(b) A447 Hinckley northern perimeter road completion

(c) A512 Ashby/Loughborough-Coleorton improvement

(d) A563 Leicester motorway employment area stage 4 Soar Valley way

(e) A563 Braunstone way underpasses

The A606 Oakham-Langham bypass is included by Leicestershire in its five-year programme of major county highway schemes with a 1998–99 start year. The bid year for TSG would be 1997–98.

¹ Funding for structural maintenance on bridges and carriageways was also included.

A1

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which properties have already been bought and which properties it is the intention of his Department to purchase alongside the stretch of the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham which is due to be widened.

Fifteen applications for purchase of properties between Stamford and Grantham have been received under the statutory blight regulations; of those, to date two acquisitions have been completed and a further 12 applications have been accepted, the remaining application is still under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans there are to widen the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham.

The plan to widen the A1 northwards from Stamford was first announced on 3 July 1990. Subsequently a scheme for the Stamford to Newark section entered the roads programme on 17 December 1991. Detailed plans will emerge in the form of public consultation proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available for inspection by local councillors and other interested parties his Department's existing plans for any scheme to widen the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham.

Plans will be made available when the public consultation stage is reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what public consultations he expects there to be about the widening of the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham; and under what procedure and timetable.

It is our usual practice to consult the public about scheme options before publishing statutory orders under the Highways Act 1980 to which objections can be lodged and, if necessary, a public inquiry held. Timing depends on the outcome of the roads programme review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which junctions he expects to be closed and which he expects to remain open following the widening of the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham.

It is too early to say.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consultants have been appointed for the widening of the A1 in the county of Rutland between Stamford and Grantham.

Kirkpatrick and Partners has been appointed for the widening of the A1 between Peterborough and Stamford including the A1 Stamford bypass. Consultants for the remainder of the A1 in Rutland cannot be appointed before the outcome of the roads programme review.

Left-Hand Driving

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to bring the side of the road vehicles use in Britain into conformity with European practice.

No. The case for making this change was studied in detail in 1969 and was reviewed in 1992 in response to a recommendation by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in its report on the motor industry. The review confirmed that the change to driving on the right would have minimal economic benefits, could adversely affect road safety and would cost at least £2 billion.

These are powerful reasons for continuing to drive on the left along with some 38 other countries, and one third of the world's population.

London Underground

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give urgent consideration to the proposals by ABB in Derby for refurbishment of the Northern line of London Underground on a lease finance basis; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. At London Underground's request, the Government are considering very urgently whether a deal along the lines of that proposed by ABB might be consistent with our published guidelines for public sector leasing. We expect to be in a position to take a view of this point very soon.

Fishguard-Paddington Railway Line

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet representatives of British Rail to discuss the desirability of retaining all existing stations on the main Fishguard-Paddington line to maintain its viability; and if he will make a statement.

I regularly meet representatives of British Rail for discussions on a wide range of issues.I understand that there are no plans to to propose closure of any stations on the Fishguard to Paddington line.

Oil Tankers

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to ensure oil tanker traffic is monitored around the United Kingdom coast 24 hours a day.

At present, laden oil tankers report their movements to local coastguards in the areas of the Fair Isle channel, Pentland firth and the Isles of Scilly. In both the Dover strait and the Minch, all tankers report their movements to local coastguards. The provision of further monitoring will be subject to the recommendations made by the inquiry announced by the Secretary of State to the House on 11 January 1993, Official Report, columns 609–10, under the chairmanship of Lord Donaldson of Lymington.

Bus And Coach Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he intends to take to co-ordinate a strategy to improve safety in mini-buses and coaches; and if he will make a statement.

We are reviewing the full technical and cost implications of seat belts in mini-buses and coaches. I expect to receive a report within the next few weeks. I cannot anticipate when decisions will be taken; but we shall be publishing our conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation has been carried out of the proposal to fit seat belts to omnibuses; and if he will make a statement.

We are reviewing the full technical and cost implications of seat belts in minibuses and coaches. I expect to receive a report within the next few weeks. I cannot anticipate when decisions will be taken; but 'we shall be publishing our conclusions.

Research Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give a list of current research contracts concerning any aspects of transport and the environment, giving costs and the names of consultants employed.

I am placing the information requested in the Library.

East Coast Ports

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent progress has been made on improvements to road communications between the midlands and the east coast ports.

A great deal.Since 1990 the main achievement has been the construction of the A14—M1-A1 Link road—the final sections of which will be completed later this year. This route provides a vital east-west link, connecting the east coast ports to the midlands and the north.In addition, a number of bypasses and improvements to existing routes across East Anglia have been completed including on the A11, Thetford-Bridgham Heath, Thetford bypass, Four Wentways-Newmarket, Newmarket-Red Lodge, Red Lodge bypass, and on the A47, Norwich southern bypass, East Dereham-North Tuddenham, Narborough bypass, Castor-Ailsworth bypass, Guyhirn and Eye bypasses.Construction work has started on A11, Besthorpe-Wymondham and Stump Cross-Four Wentways and on A47, Walpole Tilney-Tilney High End thus further improving these routes through East Anglia.

Channel Tunnel Rail Link

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will supply copies of the detailed plans showing the safeguarded zones relating to the channel tunnel rail link to every hon. Member whose constituency is affected in Kent.

A copy of the full-sized detailed plans for all of the safeguarded areas has been placed in the Library of the House.I understand that Union Railways is making arrangements for A3 sized copies of the safeguarding plans to be sent to all hon. Members who constituencies are affected by the safeguarding directions.

Severn Tunnel (Train Crash)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now publish the Seymour report on the train crash in the Severn tunnel on 7 December 1991.

The Health and Safety Executive has today published the Severn tunnel accident inquiry report. A copy of the report will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has drawn from the Seymour report on the train crash in the Severn tunnel on 7 December 1991; what action he will be taking in regard to safety standards and of the organisation of accident and emergency services.

I have noted the conclusions and recommendations made in the Severn tunnel accident inquiry report. British Rail is considering the recommendations and has already implemented a range of measures to improve the detection of faults, the maintenance of equipment, communications and access to the tunnel. Interested parties are continuing to look at further ways of improving liaison and site arrangements for the emergency services.

Vehicle Excise Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by office the number of excise reports which have been received by each vehicle registration office (a) that are discarded due to lack of staff resources, (b) that are closed because the alleged offender cannot be traced and (c) that will not be investigated.

[holding answer 9 February 1994]: Column A—Insufficient resourceDuring the past four years there has been an appreciable increase in the number of excise offence reports—EORs—received from the police. Since 1991–92 EORs have been rising at the rate of between 13 per cent. and 17 per cent. per annum.

	million
1990–91	1·3
1991–92	1·5
1992–93	1·7
¹1993–94	2·0
¹Forecast.

The introduction of new technology and improved working practices enabled the local office network to cope with the increase initially. However, by the end of 1992–93 the gain from those improvements had largely been exhausted. 1993–94 has seen further increases in the number of EORs, brought about chiefly by the introduction of the windscreen warning notices—WWN—scheme. This has put a number of local offices under severe pressure with the result that some EORs were being discarded because there were insufficient resources to deal with them. As an immediate solution, revised guidelines were issued to the network in July 1993. This resulted in cases being dealt with in order of priority with serious cases involving other traffic offence, the better quality named reports, persistent offenders and high value cases involving HGVs being processed first.The agency has also, as a short-term measure, succeeded in getting an additional £120,000 running costs during the current financial year. This has been given to those local offices where the problem of receipts is most acute to pay for the recruitment of casual staff and/or overtime working. The agency will consider longer term measures when the local office strategic review is completed this spring.

Column B and C cases not pursued

Column B refers to the number of cases in which the alleged offender cannot be traced and which results in the abandonment of the case.

The figures listed in column C are cases where initial inquiries indicate that there is little or no likelihood of a successful conclusion. The decision is then taken not to proceed with detailed investigation. These include cases where discrepancies exist between the details on the vehicle record and the excise offence report or where information contained on a microfilmed copy of an application is illegible. While a case is already being dealt with VROs may choose not to action further EORs for the same vehicle. VRO managers take cost-effectiveness into account in deciding whether or not to pursue a case. An example is where the current keeper relicenses the vehicle immediately on being reported and where the outstanding back-duty is so small that the cost of pursuit would outweigh the amount of recoverable revenue. A further example is where a new keeper relicenses within five days of acquiring the vehicle.

April 1993 to January 1994
		(a)	(b)	(c)
VRO	Excise offence report receipts	Insufficient staff resource	A/O¹ not traced	Cases not pursued
Manchester	57,625	1,938	1,298	2,401
Sheffield	34,292	15	2,130	2,091
Liverpool	54,723	9	1,631	6,178
Bangor	8,423	0	423	73
Chester	13,157	0	525	0
Huddersfield	13,318	1	2,845	622
Leeds	39,543	772	3,131	2,847
Preston	30,428	7	544	3,883
Hull	12,577	0	1,660	464
Aberdeen	5,977	0	511	72
Inverness	2,822	0	280	0
Dundee	11,693	0	1,767	1,159
Middlesbrough	16,655	0	2,841	2,294
Newcastle	56,918	0	9,383	3,170
Carlisle	7,219	1	1,249	801
Edinburgh	24,339	0	1,158	558
Glasgow	37,175	0	2,531	1,030
Luton	50,805	1,120	556	6,349
Ipswich	18,670	1	1,027	1,413
Chelmsford	52,614	1,166	2,759	2,431
Norwich	35,121	666	1,382	3,058
Haverfordwest	5,808	0	304	45
Cardiff	41,292	14	994	1,055
Swansea	13,274	2	1,143	214
Taunton	9,997	817	647	1,305
Truro	11,479	0	425	1,036
Gloucester	17,477	118	1,416	76
Exeter	29,204	38	2,586	4,440
Bristol	32,845	0	3,910	1,662
Worcester	15,081	0	1,341	152
Swindon	13,116	15	1,662	479
Reading	19,271	0	3,610	3,259
Portsmouth	37,788	70	1,830	5,472
Oxford	17,131	0	2,720	1,581
Brighton	42,861	162	1,574	1,251
Maidstone	56,687	0	2,552	2,123
Guildford	22,735	0	1,001	1,849
Bournemouth	17,013	0	1,478	1,533
Stoke	16,275	0	1,525	2,245
Leicester	25,429	1	446	4,580
Lincoln	13,650	274	1,112	157
Nottingham	33,590	0	5,251	1,722
Peterborough	13,427	0	1,440	610
Northants	21,681	2	711	419
Birmingham	55,787	2	10,251	2,527
Coventry	22,402	11	2,319	2,738
Dudley	9,883	30	951	108
Shrewsbury	5,471	0	758	96
LEO²	379,443	8	20,069	13,642
¹Alleged Offender.
²London Enforcement Office.

M11 Link Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to evict residents in Cambridge Park road, Wanstead along the route of the M11 link road; when he expects such action to take place; what will be the likely cost of the operation; what steps he is taking to ensure that no violence or excessive force is used; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 February 1994]: On 16 February squatters were removed from numbers 2–12 Cambridge Park road. Initial estimates of the cost of the operation are in the region of £200,000. Eight arrests were made, two by county court bailiffs, and six by the police of whom five were in connection with the anti-BNP Welling riots. No excessive force was employed by the authorities. The protestors were defying court orders to quit the properties. I regret that by their action they are prolonging the inevitable disruption suffered by the local community, deferring the very real benefits including reduction in local traffic, improvement in air quality, lower accident rates and better facilities for residents which the scheme will bring.Expenditure on enforcement action denies expenditure on real benefits to the community, and I very much regret that given that the link road has been the subject of no less than three public inquiries, a small minority should so misguidedly inflict such damage on the local area.

Vehicle Inspectorate

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people are employed within each operational region of the Vehicle Inspectorate on (a) vehicle testing and (b) road transport enforcement; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make a statement listing the testing fee scales currently operated by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

I have asked the Vehicle Inspectorate chief executive to write to the hon. Member with this detailed information.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 23 February 1994:

Vehicle Inspectorate stuffing and costs

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the Vehicle Inspectorate. In all you asked five questions. One of these related to the future status of VI's testing stations and will be answered by Mr. Key.

The information relating to the remaining four questions is attached as follows:

Annex 1: VI testing stations by region following the Inspectorate's reorganisation on 1 November 1993.
Annex 2: Staffing and costs by district prior to 1 November 1993 (staffing expressed in whole time equivalents).
Annex 3: Current test fees.
Annex 4: Staffing by Vehicle Testing (VT) and Road Traffic Enforcement (RTE) regions.

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any additional questions please write to me at the above address.

Vehicle inspectorate testing stations by region

West Scotland

Bishopbriggs
Lochgilphead
Fort William
Inverness
Newton Stewart

Kirkwall
Lairg
Lerwick
Portree
Stornoway
Wick
Kilmarnock
Dumfries

East Scotland

Aberdeen
Livingston
Berwick-upon-Tweed
East Fortune
Charlesfield
Keith
Perth
Kirkcaldy
Montrose

North West

Carlisle
Heywood
Steeton
Workington
Kirkham
Barrow
Milnthorpe

North East

Darlington
Newcastle
Scarborough
Leeds
Walton

Merseyside and North Wales

Wrexham
Caernarvon
Bromborough
Liverpool
Bredbury

North Midlands

Sheffield
Doncaster
Derby
Nottingham
Beverley

West Midlands

Stoke
Shrewsbury
Wolverhampton
Birmingham

East Midlands Grimsby

Leicester
Peterborough
Grimsby
Grantham
Weedon

East

Chelmsford
Ipswich
Norwich
Crimplesham
Royston

South Wales

Kidderminster
Ammanford
Haverfordwest
Hereford
Llantrisant
Llanrystyd
Llandrindod Wells
Pontypool

South West

Bristol
Calne
Exeter
Taunton
South Molton
Gloucester
Plymouth
St. Austell
Redruth

South Central

Leighton Buzzard
Poole
Salisbury
Bicester
Newbury
Southampton
Cowes

London

Edmonton
Purfleet
Yeading
Mitcham

South East

Canterbury
Guildford
Hastings
Lancing
Gillingham

Analysis of staffing and operational costs pre-November 1993 Vehicle testing and enforcement
	Spend £	Staffing
Carlisle	191,316	16·15
Bishopbriggs	368,322	31·52
Livingston	324,764	26·53
Inverness	174,611	11·21
Kilmarnock	155,263	14·10
Aberdeen	143,794	12·94
Perth	176,841	15·59
Scottish GMO	51,880	3·00
Scottish total	1,586,591	131·04
Derby	183,936	16·84
Bredbury	355,218	34·08
Heywood	380,824	34·67
Kirkham	351,395	33·17
Liverpool	303,418	32·79
Wrexham	348,493	31·16
North West GMO	42,797	3·00
North West total	1,966,081	185·71
Nottingham	268,355	23·09
Beverley	165,193	14·19
Walton	236,361	18·97
Doncaster	162,080	12·52
Grimsby	133,695	19·62
Sheffield	206,076	14·42
Leeds	385,201	34·22
Darlington	265,789	23·32
Newcastle	253,708	22·08
North East GMO	49,482	2·75
North East total	2,127,940	185·18
Kidderminster	253,372	22·89
Birmingham	343,941	31·08
Wolverhampton	301,692	27·57
Stoke	441,958	37·29
Llantrisant	258,628	21·48
Pontypool	143,024	12·40
Ammanford	172,672	15·04
Wales Mid GMO	47,602	3·00
West Midlands and South Wales total	1,962,889	170·75
Southampton	256,210	21·66
Newbury	152,105	13·08
Poole	205,310	17·62
Bristol	380,822	34·72
Exeter	313,527	26·08
Plymouth	207,013	16·00
Gloucester	124,762	12·87
Bicester	141,899	13·18
South West GMO	45,298	2·80

	Spend £	Staffing
South West total	1,826,946	158·01
Purfleet	359,021	32·33
Edmonton	359,750	29·49
Leicester	205,678	19·35
Weedon	184,781	18·81
Grantham	168,092	15·93
Chelmsford	198,745	18·62
Royston	193,161	15·81
Leighton Buzzard	146,178	15·60
Norwich	190,383	17·62
Peterborough	277,252	27·78
Ipswich	185,965	17·82
East GMO	54,626	2·00
East total	2,523,632	231·16
Yeading	422,591	33·00
Mitcham	314,421	25·00
Canterbury	155,972	13·54
Gillingham	185,931	16·29
Hastings	111,341	9·84
Lancing	160,131	14·05
Guildford	188,422	16·62
South East GMO	51,686	2·00
South East total	1,590,495	130·34
Vehicle testing and enforcement total	13,584,574	1,192·19

Traffic enforcement
	Spend £	Staffing
Edinburgh	117,173	9·00
Glasgow	85,342	6·00
Perth	61,868	4·00
Scottish EMO	71,201	8·00
Scottish Total	335,584	27·00
Manchester	96,299	8·00
Preston	96,837	9·00
Carlisle	53,372	4·00
Warrington	82,371	7·00
North West EMO	131,645	8·50
North West Total	460,524	36·50
Leeds	81,820	7·00
Brigg	95,563	8·00
Gateshead	102,454	8·00
Sutton in Ashfield	101,594	7·00
North East EMO	119,104	13·08
North East Total	500,535	43·08
Cobridge	70,595	6·00
Cardiff	105,049	9·00
Worcester	73,361	6·00
Birmingham	112,253	8·00
West Midland and South West EMO	162,872	13·08
West Midland and South West Total	524,130	42·08
Bristol	73,397	6·00
Poole	100,439	7·00
Plymouth	80,917	6·00
Reading	76,559	6·00
Western EMO	100,103	10·00
South Western Total	431,415	35·00
Grantham	77,584	5·00

	Spend £	Staffing
Weedon	63,981	5·00
Aylesbury	75,279	8·00
Norwich	93,392	7·00
Harwich	98,865	8·16
Eastern EMO	120,749	12·81
East Total	529,850	43·97
Uckfield	73,170	5·00
Dover	77,520	5·00
Maidstone	65,421	5·00
Chessington	135,461	10·00
Belvedere	124,837	9·00
Stanmore	12,413	0·00
South East and Metropolitan EMO	133,521	10·68
South East Total	622,343	44·68
Traffic Enforcement Total	404,381	272·31

Total vehicle and testing enforcement
Spend £	Staffing
308,489	25·15
453,664	37·52
386,632	30·53
174,611	11·21
155,263	14·10
143,794	12·94
178,641	15·59
123,081	11·00
1,922,175	158·04
280,235	24·84
452,055	43·08
434,196	36·67
433,766	40·17
303,418	32·79
348,493	31·16
174,442	11·50
2,426,605	222·21
350,175	30·09
280,756	22·19
338,835	26·97
263,854	19·52
133,895	19·62
208,076	14·42
385,201	34·22
285,789	23·32
253,708	22·08
168,586	15·83
2,628,475	228·26
323,967	28·89
448,990	40·08
375,053	33·57
554,211	45·29
258,628	21·48
143,024	12·40
172,672	15·04
210,474	16·08
2,487,019	212·83
329,607	27·66
252,544	20·08
286,227	23·62
457,381	40·72
313,527	26·08
207,013	16·00

Spend £	Staffing
124,782	12·87
141,899	13·18
145,401	12·80
2,258,361	190·01
436,605	37·33
423,731	34·49
280·957	25·35
278,173	25·81
266,957	24·09
198,745	18·62
193,161	15·81
146,178	15·60
190,383	17·62
277,252	27·78
185,965	17·82
175,375	14·81
3,053,482	275·13
495,761	38·00
391,941	30·00
221,393	18·54
321,392	26·29
236,178	18·84
172,544	14·05
188,422	16·62
185,207	12·88
2,212,838	175·02
16,988,955	1,464·50

Notes:

1. Allocations of VI staffing between testing and enforcement divisions can be carried out on the basis of the management accounts produced for same period ie testing 55 per cent. enforcement 45 per cent.

2. Operational costs are those quoted on the October district/sector unit cost analysis.

3. On 1 November 1993 VI split its operational work beween two new divisions: vehicle testing (VT) and road transport enforcement (RTE). VT created a regional structure based on 14 regions. RTE reorganised into 23 areas in integrating traffic and roadworthiness enforcement work.

4. GMO = Group Managers Office.
EMO = Enforcement Managers Office.

Current Test Fees
	Test fee¹ £	Re-test fee £
Heavy goods vehicles (HGV)
Motor vehicles
2 axle	32·70	16·60
3 axle	33·70
4 or more axles	34·70
Trailers
1 axle	16·70	8·30
2 axle	17·10
3 or more axles	17·90
Clearance of prohibition by partial inspection
Motor vehicle	16·60
Trailers	8·30
Public Service Vehicle
9–12 passenger seats	28·20	14·10
13+ passenger seats	40·30	19·80
Clearance of prohibition by partial inspection
9–12 passenger seats	14·10
13+ passenger seats	19·80
C.O.I.F.

	Test fee¹ £	Re-test fee £
Examination (inclusive of tilt test)	129·00
Tilt re-test	129·00
Examination re-test	15·40
A. D.R.
Motor vehicle (excluding annual test fee)		98·80
Trailer (excluding annual test fee)		98·00
T. I. R.
Initial inspection	62·60
Re-inspection	43·70
¹Re-test after failure (within 14 days of initial inspection).

January 1994 staffing analysis
	Staffing
VT division
Region
West Scotland	39
East Scotland	40
North East	60
North West	53
Merseyside and North Wales	62
North Midlands	55
South Wales	47
West Midlands	60
East Midlands	53
South West	58
South Central	48
London	70
East	54
South East	44
VT total	743
RTE division
Group
Scotland and North West	170
West Midlands and South Wales	99
South East and West	187
North East and East	214
RTE total	670
VI summary
Division
VT	743
RTE	670
VI total	1,413

Note: VI also employs 316 staff at its headquarters in Bristol and Swansea working in VT, RTE and central services.

Northern Ireland

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the drainage council for Northern Ireland.

The members currently appointed to the Drainage Council for Northern Ireland are:

Councillor A. Bresland
Councillor S. Doyle
Councillor W. Haggan
Councillor E. Hetherington
Councillor J. Junkin
Councillor W. King
Councillor P.J. McBride
Councillor J. McNickle

Councillor C. E. Rollston
Councillor W. Sheldon
Mr. K. Brady
Mrs. D. Brown
Dr. S. Cochrane
Mrs. C. Kennedy
Mr. M. McCaldin
Mrs. K. McHenry
Mr. C. E. Ronaldson
Miss J. Townsley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed lo the Youth Council for Northern Ireland.

The membership of the Youth Council for Northern Ireland is as follows:

Mr. J. F. Campbell (Chairman)
Mrs. S. C. Hogg (Vice-Chairman)
Miss P. McKeever
Mr. W. G. Watson
Mr. G. Skillen
Mr. S. Farren
Mr. E. Rainey
Mr. G. Bell
Mr. O. Magill
Miss L. Blair
Mr. G. P. Butler
Mr. J. Quinliven
Mrs. A. Wright
Mr. T. Long
Mrs. E. M. McGrath
Ms M. McGarrigle
Ms M. Shields

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to each of the Northern Ireland industrial tribunals.

Industrial tribunals comprise three members—one from each of the following panels:

Chairmen

Mr. J. E. Maguire—President of Industrial Tribunals
Mrs. M. E. Perceval-Price—Vice President of Industrial Tribunals
Mrs. M. Davey
Mrs. M. R. Cooper
Mr. S. M. P. Cross
Mr. J. A. Gallagher
Mrs. L. A. Gilbert
Mr. B. J. Greene
Ms M. K. McAlister
Ms E. R. McBride
Mr. A. McGettigan
Mr. P. R. Maguire
Mr. I. Montgomery

Employees' representatives

Mr. S. Adair
Ms M. Adams
Mr. R. Blaney
Ms M. Blood
Ms A. Brennan
Mrs. G. Burke
Mr. E. Cairns
Ms M. Cassidy
Mr. G. Clarke
Mr. D. Copeland
Ms G. Coulter
Mr. A. Crawford
Ms E. Dickey
Mr. P. Dyer
Ms T. Gallagher
Ms M. Graham
Mr. S. R. Gunning
Ms D. Hanna
Mr. R. S. Headley
Mr. B. Heuston
Ms P. Holloway

Mr. J. E. Hughes
Mr. G. Hunter
Ms A. P. Johnston
Mr. A. Keery
Ms T. Kelly
Mr. W. J. Kirkwood
Mr. J. Law
Mr. R. Lowden
Mr. F. Mallon
Mr. J. Mallon
Ms B. Martin
Mr. J. E. Martin
Mr. W. D. Mercer
Mr. P. Millar
Mr. E. Miller
Mr. A. Molloy
Mr. J. Murphy
Mr. D. Murray
Mr. E. McBride
Mr. K. McCabe
Ms J. McCaffrey
Mr. B. McCarthy
Mr. F. McCrossan
Mr. E. McDaid
Mr. J. M. McDonnell
Ms A. McGonigle
Mr. J. McKeown
Mr. G. McKnight
Mr. J. McParland
Ms S. McQuade
Ms S. E. Nevin
Mr. J. Nicholl
Mr. E. Oakes
Mr. O. J. O'Callaghan
Ms C. O'Malley
Mr. J. Patterson
Ms M. Quaile
Ms C. Rawlings
Mr. W. Robinson
Mr. M. Rooney
Ms A. Scallon
Ms M. Scott
Mr. E. Sheridan
Mr. T. Smyth
Mr. B. Webster
Mr. A. White
Mr. P. Williamson
Mr. T. Wright
Mr. R. Gourley
Ms D. Hanna

Employers' representatives

Mr. C. H. Adams
Mr. R. Allen
Mr. J. Atcheson
Mr. W. G. Black
Mrs. D. Boyd
Mr. R. T. Boyd, MBE
Ms L. Breen
Mr. R. Brewster
Mr. A. Broomhead
Mr. S. A. Buchanan
Mr. G. Burnison, OBE
Mr. A. Burnside
Mr. T. Carney
Ms M. Carson
Lady Carswell, OBE
Mr. A. Cormack, OBE
Mr. S. Craig
Mrs. S. Cunningham
Mr. J. W. Currie
Mr. J. N. Dickinson
Mr. W. S. Donaghey
Ms M. Donnelly
Mr. W. A. Doran
Mrs. K. Elliott
Mr. R. Ferris
Mr. P. Fitzsimons
Mrs. H. D. Gault
Mr. W. F. Gillespie, OBE, TD, BA, JP
Mr. P. de Haan

Miss A. Hamilton
Mr. J. D. Hampton
Mr. A. Haslett
Mr. E. Hesketh
Mr. W. H. Heubeck, CBE
Mr. R. D. Hind
Mr. J. Hughes
Mr. W. C. Hurst, OBE
Mr. E. Ingham
Mr. N. Irwin, OBE
Mr. N. Jones
Miss E. Kennedy, MBE
Mr. W. Kennedy, MBE
Mr. P. Killen, OBE
Mr. F. G. Lawrence
Mr. J. B. Leetch
Professor P. V. Mageean, OBE
Mr. C. A. Maginess
Mr. A. Martin, DFC
Mr. S. Moore, JP
Mrs. A. E. Morrison
Mr. A. H. MacLaughlin
Mr. G. McCartan
Dr. W. J. McCourt
Mrs. L. A. McEleavy
Mr. G. McGrath
Ms T. McGuckin
Mr. J. McIlwaine
Miss S. McKee
Mr. H. O. McMurray, MBE
Mrs. A. McNally
Mr. G. C. O'Neill, MBE
Miss M. O'Neill
Mr. D. Paulin, CBE
Mrs. J. Rainey
Dr. R. L. Schierbeck, OBE
Mr. W. M. Scott
Mrs. A. Scullion
Mr. A. J. Sherrard
Mr. H. V. Shimmons
Mrs. U. Short, BSc.
Mrs. D. Stewart
Mr. J. D. Thompson
Mr. R. H. Thompson
Mr. D. C. Tinkler
Mr. R. G. Toland
Mrs. E. Torrans
Mr. D. Turkington
Mr. N. C. Wilkinson
Mr. J. R. Wilson
Mr. W. Slinger

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Livestock Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland.

The current members of the Livestock Marketing Commission for Northern Ireland are:

Mr. J. Millar (Chairman)
Mr. J. G. Kelly
Mr. B. Fawcett
Ms M. Percy
Mr. P. J. Kelly
Mr. G. Lowe
Mr. R. Moore

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Training Schools management board for Rathgael and Whiteabbey.

In the interests of personal security it would not be appropriate to name individual members of the Rathgael and Whiteabbey schools management board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Agricultural Research Institute for Northern Ireland.

The members of the board of trustees of the Agricultural Research Institute for Northern Ireland are as follows:

Mr. H. R. Kirkpatrick
Dr. C. H. McMurray
Mr. W. G. Smyth OBE
Professor F. J. Gordon
Mr. J. B. Mulvenna
Mr. J. A. Patton CBE
Mr. N. W. Shaw CBE
Mr. I. C. Murray
Mr. J. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to each of the fair employment tribunals.

Fair employment tribunals comprise three members—one from each of the following panels:

Chairmen

Mr. J. E. Maguire—President of the Fair Employment Tribunal
Mrs. M. Perceval-Price—Vice President of the Fair Employment Tribunal
Mrs. M. Davey

Employers' Representatives

Mr. R. C. Bacon
Miss. M. E. Bailey
Mr. C. Bamford
Mrs. M. T. Breslin
Mr. J. Campbell
Mrs. R. Chambers
Mr. C. J. Duffy
Mr. J. J. Eccles OBE
Mr. R. M. Gibson
Mr. R. T. Jordan OBE
Mr. H. D. Montgomery
Mr. M. Moroney
Mr. F. P. Murtagh
Mr. B. McGuire
Mr. W. F. I. McKay
Mr. N. McKenna
Mr. J. R. McKinstry
Dr. E. A. McPherson
Mrs. M. Noble
Mrs. J. Roberts
Mr. D. B. Smith
Mr. T. Stothers
Mr. N. L. Valentine OBE
Mr. S. White
Mr. E. Bridle
Mrs. H. D. Gault

Employee representative

Ms M. Abraham
Mr. S. Adair
Mr. K. Bannon
Ms P. Browne
Ms A. Campbell
Mr. R. B. Carson
Mr. R. Clarke
Mr. T. D. Douglas MBE
Mr. R. Gourley
Mr. A. Hewitt
Mr. R. Jay
Mr. G. Johnston
Mr. C. C. Lowry
Mr. J. MacPollock
Mr. B. McCarthy
Mr. W. McCreight
Mr. S. McDowell
Mr. R. McFAdden
Ms P. McKeown
Ms A. Nicholl
Mr. J. Nixon

Mr. P. O'Donnell
Ms C. O'Malley
Ms A. M. Powell
Mr. J. Rafferty
Ms R. Taillon
Mr. M. Toal
Mr. N. Young
Mr. W. F. Jackson
Mr. P. A. McCartan
Mr. E. Sheridan

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Pig Production Development Committee.

The current members of the Pig Production Development Committee are as follows:

Mr. R. Overend (Chairman)
Mr. R. J. Collins
Mr. S. Hall
Mr. M. Hartley
Mr. R. Kerr
Mr. J. McBride
Mr. R. Irwin
Mr. B. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland.

The members of the Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland are as follows:

Right hon. Betty Boothroyd MP (Chairman)
Hon. Mr. Justice Pringle
Mr. D. J. Clement
Mr. P. G. Duffy

In addition, the commission includes as assessors the Registrar General of Births and Deaths in Northern Ireland and the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland.

Current members of the Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland are as follows:

Mr. K. Murnaghan (Chairman)
Mrs. G. Savage
Mr. I. Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Northern Ireland Industrial court.

The Northern Ireland Industrial court comprises the president of the industrial court, Mr. J. E. Maguire, and two members—one from each of the following panels:

Employers representatives

Lady Carswell
Mr. W. S. Donaghey
Mr. R. Edgar
Mr. W. F. I. McKay
Mrs. D. Stewart

Employees' representatives

Mr. A. Gibb
Ms D. Hanna
Mr. J. E. Martin
Mr. J. McCusker

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Foyle Fisheries Commission.

The current members of the Foyle Fisheries Commission are Mr. W. J. Anderson and Mr. J. S. Allister.

In addition to these two appointments by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, the Government of the Republic of Ireland have two appointees on the commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Independent Commission for Police Complaints for Northern Ireland.

The current membership of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints is as follows:

Chairman:

Mr. James Grew CBE

Deputy Chairman:

Lady Carswell OBE

Deputy Chairman:

Mr. Kevin Murnaghan

Members:

Mrs. Isobel M. Brownlie
Mr. Thomas J. Garrett
Miss M. Fionnuala McGrady
Mr. Brian E. Reid
Mr. G. Bernard Turkington

However, a new commission has been appointed by the Secretary of State and will take up office on 1 March 1994. The new commission is as follows:

Chairman:

Mr. James Grew CBE

Deputy Chairman:

Mr. Kevin Murnaghan

Deputy Chairman:

Mr. Brian Reid

Members:

Miss Suzanne Bryson
Dr. Robin Davidson
Mr. Thomas J. Garrett
Miss M. Fionnuala McGrady
Mr. G. Bernard Turkington

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Sports Council for Northern Ireland.

The full membership of the Sports Council for Northern Ireland is as follows:

Mr. Don Allen (Chairman)
Alderman Peter Robinson, MP
Tony Carlin
Mrs. Roseanne McCaughan
Mrs. June Davis
Mrs. Georgie Hart
Mrs. Jackie McWilliams
Mr. David Bowen
Mr. Clarence Hiles
Dr. Ian Cony
Miss Fionnuala McGrady
Mr. Jim McKeever
Mr. Stephen Hilditch
Mr. Dawson Stelfox
Mr. Ronnie Trouton

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the registered homes tribunals.

The members currently appointed to registered homes tribunals are:

Chairmen

Mr. J. A. K. Irvine

Mr. S. F. M. Magee

Expert Members

Dr. F. Brown
Dr. S. Boyd
Dr. S. Compton
Dr. P. Flanagan
Dr. K. J. Fullerton
Dr. R. M. Galloway
Dr. J. S. Garvin
Dr. C. M. Marriott
Dr. O. E. P. Shanks
Mrs. S. R. Brownlee
Miss G. Hamilton
Mrs. G. Kelly
Ms J. McCrum
Mrs. E. Mehaffey
Mrs. M. Ralphs
Mr. W. J. Totten
Mrs. K. Cochrane
Mrs. B. Dickson
Mr. R. Kennedy
Mrs. H. M. Leo
Ms A. Lunny
Ms J. Marley
Mrs. M. O'Boyle
Mr. W. R. Sharpe
Mrs. E. Thomson
Mrs. N. Walsh
Mr. B. Wilson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the tribunal under schedule 11 of the health and personal social services (NI) Order 1972.

The current members of the health and personal social services tribunal are:

Mr. E. A. Comerton QC
Mr. J. D. McMullan
Dr. D. Boyd
Mr. D. S. Stewart
Mr. P. B. Linehan
Dr. U. Donnelly
Mr. P. J. Brogan

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) who are the members currently appointed to each of the social security appeal tribunals;(2) who are the members currently appointed to each of the medical appeal tribunals;(3) who are the members currently appointed to each of the disability appeal tribunals.

The appointment of members to all the appeal tribunals is the responsibilty of the president of the independent tribunal service, Mr. C. G. MacLynn. The hon. Member may wish to write to him direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the mental health review tribunal for Northern Ireland.

The members currently appointed to the mental health review tribunal for Northern Ireland are:Mr. F. C. Elliott, QC

(Chairman)

Legal Members

Mr. P. Coghlin, QC
Mr. P. Mooney, QC
Mr. W. B. Stevenson
Mr. M. A. Morrow, QC

Medical Members

Dr. W. A. G. MacCallum
Dr. D. Eyre
Dr. B. McConnell

Dr. P. Porter
Dr. M. McGinty
Dr. G. MacFlynn

Lay Members

Mrs. M. E. Hornsey
Dr. E. Downey
Mrs. A. M. Gault
Ms D. Cunningham
Mrs. S. Hillan

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Central Nursing Advisory Committee.

The current members of the Central Nursing Advisory Committee are as follows:

Chairman:

Mr. J. E. Mone

Members:

Mrs. M. C. Waddell
Miss E. M. McNair
Mr. F. A. Rice
Mr. A. A. Boardman
Dr. O. D'A Slevin
Mrs. A. R. Conn
Miss M. G. E. Foster
Miss A. I. Duddy
Mrs. M. J. Graham
Mrs. M. Keenan
Mr. J. J. O'Boyle
Miss M. A. Pidgeon
Mrs. K. Savage
Mrs. E. Roche
Miss P. Ginnety
Mrs. M. J. Smyth

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Central Dental Advisory Committee.

The current members of the Central Dental Advisory Committee are as follows:

Chairman:

Dr. J. G. Kennedy

Members:

Mr. I. McCappin
Mr. J. J. Murray
Mr. G. S. Hobson
Mr. T. Smyth
Professor I. C. Benington
Mr. B. McGonigle
Mrs. F. P. W. Simpson
Mr. M. W. Curran
Mr. I. D. F. Saunders
Mr. R. W. Kendrick
(1 vacancy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education.

Current members of the Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education are as follows:

Mr. D. S. Gordon
Professor A. H. G. Love
Professor R. W. Stout
Professor B. J. Rowlands
Professor P. M. Reilly
Dr. S. Rainer
Dr. S. Moore
Mr. W. D. Maxwell
Mr. I. D. F. Saunders
Dr. J. Watson

Dr. R. M. Galloway
Dr. J. R. Hayes
Dr. A. L. T. Blair
Dr. J. Robinson
Mr. A. A. B. Barros D'Sa
Professor E. R. Trimble
Dr. D. Patterson
Dr. P. Thomas
Dr. H. Lamki
Dr. I. W. Carson
Dr. D. Stewart
Mr. T. Irwin
Dr. P. S. Kellet
Dr. D. O. Todd
Dr. J. M. Dunlop
Dr. J. R. Darling
Mr. J. H. Gilleece
Professor I. C. Benington
Dr. J. F. McKenna
Mr. W. J. N. Collins
Dr. O. Quigley
Miss M. E. A. Hanna
Professor P. G. Toner
Dr. J. Howe
(One vacancy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland.

The members currently appointed to the Mental Health Commission for Northern Ireland are:

Chairman

Mr. H. E. Pierce

Legal Member

Mrs. M. T. O'Neill

Medical Members

Dr. W. A. Norris
Dr. G. J. Calvert
Dr. P. S. Curran

Nursing Members

Mr. K. Toal
Mrs. M. Kennan

Social Work Members

Miss W. Gregg
Mr. R. D. Poole

Psychology Member

Dr. R. Davidson

Lay Members

Dr. D. Paulin
Mrs. M. Hall
Dr. A. Williamson
Mrs. M. B. Porter

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Vaughan's charity.

The members currently appointed to the Vaughan's charity are:

Mr. K. Murnaghan
Mr. S. B. Morrow
Mr. V. Cassidy
Mr. E. Rogers
Mr. S. Gormley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who are the members currently appointed to the Public Service Training Council.

At present no members are appointed to the Public Service Training Council. The work of the council is currently under review and the terms of office of all former members have expired. No new appointments will be made until decisions have been taken on the future of the council.

Salmon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the number of spawning salmon and grilse which are needed to (a) maintain and (b) enhance the number of fish running each river in the Foyle system; what has been the average (i) counted and (ii) estimated in each such river in each of the last five years; what is his estimate of the optimum number of (1) parr and (2) smelts needed to bring each of these rivers up to maximum numbers; and what numbers of salmon he would take as the maximum run for each river.

The basis for management of salmon stocks in the Foyle system, including estimates of the number of spawning fish required in each of the principal tributaries, is set out in the report by P. F. Elson and A. L. W. Tuomi entitled, "The Foyle Fisheries: New Basis for Rational Management". Information on the status of stocks in recent years is contained in the Foyle Fisheries Commission annual report for 1992. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.There are no facilities for counting parr or smelts but fish counting facilities for ascending stocks are available for a major part of the system and these indicate that runs for the past six seasons have significantly exceeded the estimated spawning requirement. The estimated spawning requirement was still significantly exceeded after deduction of reported angling catches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) one sea winter, (b) two sea winter, (c) three sea winter and (d) four sea winter fish were salmon and grilse fish running the River Bush in each available year; how many fish were caught by rod in each class in each year since 1964; and what was the average weight of fish in each class in each year.

The available information is given in the table:

Year	1SW	2SW	Hatchery	Total reported rod catch
1973	2,334	213	0	192
1974	3,246	214	10	374
1975	2,969	289	80	688
1976	2,842	205	40	245
1977	1,631	152	528	254
1978	1,366	189	81	160
1979	1,662	158	6	256
1980	2,593	271	65	321
1981	1,142	396	43	307
1982	1,373	119	42	271
1983	833	133	11	169
1984	504	88	20	108
1985	1,922	454	140	642
1986	2,402	434	868	641
1987	1,799	587	710	606
1988	2,647	358	1,078	796
1989	896	97	270	300
1990	1,649	194	329	374
1991	2,021	254	1,021	472
1992	2,186	301	484	677

No three or four sea winter fish have been identified. Although the number of hatchery origin salmon returning as adults are also given in the table, these are not segregated into age groups as they are almost entirely one sea winter fish. Rod catch statistics are available only from 1973 and are not separated to show wild-hatchery segregation, sea age class or average weight. Average weights for wild-salmon are not routinely summarised and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

Quotas

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his estimate of the value of (a) milk quota and (b) suckler cow quota and sheep quota for the old and new less-favoured areas in Northern Ireland; and what provision is made for recognising those sums in the income and value of Northern Ireland farm production or capital formation in his Department's assessment of Northern Ireland farm income.

The information sought in the first part of this question is not available. There is no need to take explicit account of quotas in estimating income, output or capital formation.

Scotland

Sites Of Special Scientific Interest

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was (a) the number and (b) the total cost in 1992–93 of management agreements between Scottish Natural Heritage and owners and occupiers of sites of special scientific interest to (i) compensate for profit forgone and (ii) facilitate positive conservation management.

In 1992–93 Scottish Natural Heritage made payments in respect of 442 management agreements of £3,617,616. Agreements which provide compensation payments can also contain an element of positive conservation management. Payments on the 307 such cases amounted to £3,258,534. In 135 cases providing for positive conservation management payments totalled £359,082.

School Leavers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many school leavers there were in each of the past 10 years from the maintained and independent sectors; and what percentage in each category were intending to enter degree or teacher training courses.

Information for the years 1982–1992, based on the Scottish school leavers survey is set out in the table.

School leavers
School session	Education authority and grant-aided schools	Independent schools
¹1982–83	89,343	1,645
1983–84	88,164	1,573
1984–85	84,146	1,673
²1985–86	79,607	3,469
1986–87	76,654	3,702

School session	Education authority and grant-aided schools	Independent schools
1987–88	72,366	3,693
1988–89	68,942	3,753
1989–90	63,978	3,919
1990–91	58,534	3,536
1991–92	56,848	3,748
¹Numbers of leavers from the independent sector are estimated for 1982–83 to 1984–85.
²In 1985, most of the then grant-aided schools in Scotland became independent.

No statistics are collected of the intended destinations of school leavers in either category.

In November 1993, the audit unit of the schools inspectorate published the first of a new series of data on actual school leaver destinations in Scotland showing figures for 1992–93. A copy of the publication "Leaver Destinations for Scottish Secondary Schools 1992–93" is available in the Library.

Habitats

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional financial resources he will make available in Scotland to implement the European Union directive—92/43/EEC—on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I made to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman) on 3 February, Official Report, column 778.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what actions he will take or policy changes he will make to implement the requirements of European Union directive 92/43 EEC on the conservation of natural habitats of wild fauna and flora; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's proposals for action to implement this directive were set out in the consultation paper "Implementation in Great Britain of the Council Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora", published on 4 October 1993. Copies are in the Library of the House. The Government are currently considering the responses to this consultation paper.

Gp Fundholders

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the Scottish Office has made of the extent to which differential treatment is being offered to national health service patients dependent on whether they are the patients of general practitioner fundholders; and if he will make a statement.

Under the rules governing contracts in the NHS under the procedural manual on contracting, together with the procedural manual on general practice fund-holding, copies of which are being placed in the Libraries of the House, GP fundholders may enter into contracts to develop new services or improve standards of care for their own patients provided only that as a consequence they do not directly disadvantage national health service patients being referred to the provider from other GP practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance the Scottish Office has issued to NHS trusts on the financial incentives which they can offer to general practitioner fundholders in order to secure contracts for treating their patients; and if he will make a statement.

Section 6.7 of the procedural manual on contracting sets out the rules on costing and pricing of contracts by NHS trusts for all purchasers including GP fundholders. Contract prices should always reflect full costs calculated in accordance with the general principles set out in the manual.

Planning Permission

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the increase in the fee scale for applications for planning permission approved by Parliament in December 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The latest increases in the levels of fees to be paid by applicants for planning permission have not produced any representations to my right hon. Friend.

Royal Northern Yacht Club

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what powers Dunbartonshire Enterprise made a grant to the Royal Northern yacht club, Rhu, for stone cleaning and minor stone repairs; what was the amount of the grant; and how many permanent jobs were created as a result.

The payment was made under the local enterprise company's delegated authority and questions about the project would be best addressed to its chairman. However, I understand Dunbartonshire Enterprise agreed in December 1991 to provide grant assistance of £49,786, representing less than 15 per cent. of the total cost of the project, towards the refurbishment of the Royal Northern yacht club. The statutory authority for the payment was section 6 of the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990.Job creation is not necessarily the criterion by which environmental expenditure is justified; but Dunbartonshire Enterprise suggests that the refurbishment project safeguarded the jobs of five full-time and 11 part-time staff.

Howie Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Howie report was published; and when he expects to make a statement.

The Howie committee's report was published on 5 March 1992 and the consultation period closed on 31 December 1992.Following consideration of the report, I was pleased to announce, on 19 January, that standard grade will remain in S4. My right hon. Friend expects to make a further announcement in due course.

Nhs Trusts (Ayrshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, columns 53–54, for what reason the information available for the NHS trusts in Ayrshire on public relations costs is not collected centrally in respect of other health boards and NHS trusts; if he will make it his policy to collect and publish the information requested; and if he will make a statement.

Public relations expenditure is such a small, though necessary, item in the budgets of health boards and NHS trusts that it would not be apropriate for my right hon. Friend to monitor it in detail. Information on the costs involved is therefore not normally collected centrally but was specially obtained for the answers given to the hon. Member on 24 January 1994, at column 71 and on 7 February 1994 at column 53 in respect of bodies in his constituency.

Forestry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if all access agreements for privatised Forestry Commission land are binding on all subsequent owners of that land.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 27 January 1994, Official Report, column 347.

Audit Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many councils are currently subject to investigation by the Audit Commission; what is the nature of these investigations; and if he will list the councils concerned.

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the Commission for Local Authority Accounts in Scotland—the Accounts Commission. The commission is responsible for the audit of all local authorities in Scotland. Information about the commission's detailed activities is not held by the Scottish Office.

Homosexuality

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the policy of the Lord Advocate on the prosecution of men who engage in consensual sexual acts and who are aged between 16 and 18 years of age; and if he will make a statement.

As was made clear in my answer of 8 February 1994, Official Report, column 180, to the hon. Member for Greenock and Port Glasgow (Dr. Godman), since December 1991 procurators fiscal have been directed by the Lord Advocate to report to Crown office for Crown counsel's consideration cases of consensual homosexual acts where both of the participants are over 16 years but one or both are under 18 years. That remains the position. As with any case, Crown counsel will consider all the circumstances in deciding on the question of proceedings.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the Edinburgh new town conservation committee.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: The present membership of the Edinburgh new town conservation committee is as follows:

Chairman:

Lord Cameron of Lochbroom PC QC FRSE (appointed by the Secretary of State, after consultation with the City of Edinburgh District Council)

Members:

Mr. Patrick W. Simpson, Deputy Chairman (appointed by the Cockburn Association)
Miss C. H. Cruft OBE HonFRIAS (appointed by Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland)
Mr. J. G. Malcolm-Smith (appointed by Great King Street Association)
Mr. David Price (appointed by Drummond Civic Association)
Mrs. Marjorie Appleton (appointed by Central New Town Association of Edinburgh)
Councillor David Guest (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Councillor Mrs. Margaret McGregor (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Councillor John Wilson (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Councillor Veronica Crerar (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Councillor Douglas Mackenzie (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Councillor Mrs. Sheila Gilmore (appointed by City of Edinburgh District Council)
Professor Alistair Rowan (appointed by Historic Buildings Council for Scotland)
Mr. J. Angus Mitchell CB CVO MC (appointed by Historic Buildings Council for Scotland)
Professor James Dunbar-Nasmith CBE (appointed by The Scottish Civic Trust)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the board of the children's panel.

[holding answer 17 February 1994]: There are currently 2,009 members of children's panels in Scotland. I am sending the hon. Member a list of their names and am arranging for a copy of that list to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the boards of the children's panels advisory committees.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: Membership of the children's panel advisory committee for each of the 12 regional and islands authorities as at 18 February is as follows. Chairmen—CH—and members—ME—are appointed by the Secretary of State. Other members are appointed by regional authorities.

	Appointment
Borders region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mrs. N. Burnett	LA
Mr. A. Hewat	LA
Mr. A. Napier	CH
Dr. J. Paterson-Brown	ME
Mrs. J. M. Schofield	ME
Central Region CPAC at 18 February 1994
The Rev. J. Billows	ME
Mr. W. T. Dickson	LA
Mrs. M. J. Fitzpatrick	LA
Mrs. H. McKechnie	ME
Mr. I. Miller	LA

	Appointment
Mr. R. Pickles	ME
Mr. R. Ramage	CH
Mr. P. Ward	ME
Dumfries and Galloway region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mr. T. Brown	ME
Mr. T. Davis	ME
Mrs. D. M. Hill	ME
Mr. T. A. McAughtrie	LA
Mrs. M. McKay	CH
Mr. K. W. Morton	LA
Mr. J. Pirrie	LA
Mr. R. Smith	ME
Mrs. K. A. Vivers	ME
Mr. J. B. Wallace	LA
Fife Region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mr. A. Cameron	LA
Mrs. M. Cook	ME
Mrs. J. Flannigan	CH
Mrs. V. Gemmell	LA
Mrs. C. Mitchell	ME
Mrs. A. Smith	LA
Mr. J. Taylor	ME
Mrs. E. Thomas	ME
Grampian Region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mr. S. Burnett	LA
Mr. J. K. Fowlie	ME
Mr. J. R. Gibson	ME
Mr. S. A. Kinnaird	ME
Mrs. A. Logan	ME
Mrs. V. J. Maltin	LA
Mr. R. McKail	ME
Mrs. O. Rutherford	CH
Mr. J. Towers	LA
Highland Region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mrs. M. Harley	ME
Mr. J. T. MacDonald	LA
Mr. J. D. MacDonald	ME
Mr. D. Mackenzie	ME
Rev. A. Murray	LA
Dr. P. D. Robertson	Ch
Mr. W. Smith	LA
Mrs. V. A. J. Wotherspoon	ME
Lothian Region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mr. I. Buchanan	LA
Mrs. I. C. Dickison	ME
Mr. D. Flaherty	ME
Mr. M. Gibb	ME
Dr. M. MacMillan	CH
Mr. P. Nolan	LA
Miss E. A. Shaw	ME
Orkney Islands CPAC at 18 February 1994
Dr. M. E. Cant	ME
Mr. H. Ferris	ME
Mr. I. F. MacLeod	ME
Mrs. F. Mathieson	LA
Mrs. C. Muir	CH
Mrs. M. I. T. Trickett	LA
Shetland Islands CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mrs. T. J. Jamieson	ME
Mr. G. M. McElvogue	LA
Mr. D. Sinclair	CH
Rev. L. S. Smith	LA
Mrs. R. Young	ME
Strathdyde region CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mrs. C. M. S. Barron	ME
Mr. J. Douglas	LA
Miss R. Gillan	LA
The Rev. D. Laing	LA
Mrs. H. M. Lang	ME

	Appointment
Miss M. McDonald	CH
Mrs. M. McGaughrin	ME
Mr. T. McGillivary	LA
Miss M. Morris	ME
Mrs. M. L. Robertson	ME
Mr. B. M. Scott	LA
Mr. J. L. Smyrl	ME
Mrs. J. L. Speculand	ME
Mr. N. Toppin	LA
Mrs. E. H. Waine	ME
Tayside region CPAC at 18 February 1994
The Rev. G. Brownlie	ME
Mr. J. B. Coburn	ME
Mr. H. Connolly	LA
Mrs. L. Graham	LA
Mr. F. E. Mcculloch	ME
Mr. G. McNicol	ME
Mr. J. Mudie	LA
Mrs. P. Stevenson	CH
Western Isles CPAC at 18 February 1994
Mrs. M. Bremner	LA
Mr. W. Forsyth	ME
Mrs. M. Maclver	CH
Mr. D. J. Maclennan	LA
Dr. J. Smith	NF

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the Scottish agricultural consultative panel.

[holding answer 17 February 1994]: The current members of the Scottish agricultural consultative panel who are all appointed by the Secretary of State are as follows:

Mr. G. C. D. Budge
Mr. T. A. Cameron (Chairman)
Mr. A. S. Chalmers
Mr. H. Crawford
Mr. D. J. D. Dixon
Mr. J. S. Fowlie
Mr. T. C. Graham
Mr. G. Harvey
Mr. J. K. Henry
Mr. J. L. Howie
Mr. J. F. Lascelles
Mr. I. K. MacKenzie OBE JP
Mr. G. S. McClymont
Mr. D. D. McDiarmid
Mr. J. A. McIntyre
Mr. J. A. McNicol
Mr. C. Manson.
Mr. G. R. Marwick JP
Mr. J. A. Morris
Mr. G. B. Pate
Mr. S. M. Ritchie
Mr. M. Stevenson
Mr. F. B. Young

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland who are the members currently appointed to the Scottish Vocational Education Council.

[holding answer 17 February 1994]: The current members of the Scottish Vocational Education Council are:

Members nominated by the Secretary of State for Scotland

Mr. James David Frederick Miller, D.Univ(Stirling)
MA(cantab) CIM FIPM FRSA (Chairman)
Mr. Brian James Lundie Minto, CA ATII MIM (Vice Chairman)
Mr. John Anderson, MA(Hons)
Mrs. G. Susan Bell, ACIS
Mr. Thomas Johnstone Burness, OBE MA MLitt DipEd
FRSA MIM

Ms Fiona M. W. Hynd, MIM
Mr. Derek Stevens Mason, OBE, JP FRICS FFB
Mr. John Bruce Park, MRSH MIP EngTech
Mr. Frank Pignatelli, MA MEd FIM FRSA
Mr. Iain Richard Roberts, MSc LLB(Hons) FIPM
Mr. Grahame Thomas Smith, BA(Hons)
Mr. Peter Thomson Syme, BSc CEng MIMechE
Professor David J. Tedford, BSc PhD ScD ARCST CEng
FIEE SMIEEE FInstP FRSE FRSA

Member nominated by the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities

Councillor Joyce Smith

Members co-opted by the Council

Mr. Andrew P. Armstrong, OBE BSc
Mr. John N. Hornibrook, OBE FEng
Mr. John Meiklejohn, BSc(Hons) C.Chem MRSC FEIS
Mr. William Nicol, CBE BSc HonDEd FCIOB FInstR FScotvec
Mrs. Heather B. Sheerin, OBE SRN

Fishing Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultation he proposes to have with representations of the Scottish fishing industry about the European Union proposal for a Council regulation fixing management objectives and strategies for certain fisheries or groups of fisheries for the period 1994 to 1997; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: This complex proposal has recently been published by the Commission. It requires careful study, including by scientists. When Fisheries Departments have analysed its implications, discussion will be arranged with representatives of the fishing industry.

Pupil Costs, Strathclyde

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the unit cost per pupil at each secondary school administered by Strathclyde regional council.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: This information is published in "Scottish Schools: Costs 1993–94" published in December 1993, a copy of which is in the Library.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Nuclear Waste (Dumping At Sea)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) of 17 February, Official Report, column 986, if the ban on low-level radioactive waste disposal into the sea includes liquid radioactive waste discharged from land-based sources.

The ban on radioactive wastes at sea does not include controlled low-level emissions from land-based sources. Land-based emissions do not come within the scope of the London convention.

Agricultural Development Advisory Service

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cost recovery target she has set for ADAS in 1994–95; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided that for 1994–95, ADAS will be asked to recover 63 per cent. of its costs for advisory services charged to the commercial customer from the ultimate beneficiary of those services. The remaining costs will be met by my Department.In order to achieve these new targets, and reduce its cost base to make it competitive in all its markets, ADAS is today announcing plans for restructuring its operations. The principal changes are the consolidation of the 15 consultancy centres into seven larger units, and the 11 research locations will be managed through five of those locations. These changes will give improved efficiency and save management and local administration costs.With the aim of providing a cost-effective service to smaller farms, ADAS has also introduced an information service called FarmLine on a pilot basis this week which will make full use of modern technology. Although there is expected to be a reduction in the total number of consultants, all farming sectors and geographical areas will continue to have access to ADAS consultancy service.The combined effect of these changes will ensure ADAS can provide better value for its customers, helping them to respond more profitably to the changing demands of the industry. They will also enable the agency to continue its successful track record of meeting or exceeding all its annual targets since charging was introduced for its services in 1987.

Forestry

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many hectares of forest have been created in England in each year since 1967.

The areas of new woodland planted or grant aided by the Forestry Commission in England were as follows:

Year ended 31 March	Area (hectares)
1968	¹5,800
1969	¹5,100
1970	¹5,900
1971	6,314
1972	6,017
1973	5,231
1974	3,722
1975	3,272
1976	2,438
1977	2,077
1978	1,979
1979	1,388
1980	1,712
1981	1,375
1982	1,353
1983	1,943
1984	1,877
1985	1,143
1986	1,230
1987	1,357
1988	1,857
1989	1,882
1990	3,564
1991	4,397
1992	4,036
1993	5,095
¹Estimate.

Ministerial Instructions

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will list the occasions since 1979 when Ministers have issued written instructions to override her Department's accounting officer's objections.

[holding reply 24 February 1994]: From records currently available formal directions have been issued on the following occasion: February 1992.

Defence

House Purchases

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 24 January, Official Report, column 101, what are the criteria and rules applying to the house purchase advances, including the circumstances under which advances can be written off.

Advances of salary are only available to staff who are moving home at public expense following a compulsory transfer.Advances for house purchase of up to six months gross pay may be made available to staff who require financial assistance to complete the purchase of a property at the new place of duty. Applicants must first reinvest any net equity from the sale of their former home and obtain the maximum mortgage from commercial sources. Advances will not be granted to assist staff to improve their standard of housing.Advances of up to 12 months pay may also be made exceptionally to transferring staff who are unable to redeem their outstanding mortgage from the sale proceeds of their former home. Applicants must first satisfy the Department that they have no other means of meeting the debt, for example through use of savings or assistance offered by some building societies and banks.Additionally, advances of up to 12 months pay have been made in the past to assist staff who, having taken our commercial bridging loans to help them transfer, saw the value of their properties fall below the level of the bridging loans, as a result of the downturn in the property market in the late 1980s.Recovery of the advance is normally made from salary. When employment ceases full repayment of any outstanding advance would be sought. Write-off of any outstanding advance where employment has ceased would be considered only where the individual cannot be traced or the expenditure required to pursue recovery by legal means is likely to exceed the value of the sum recovered.

Contracting Out (Pension Rights)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidance he has issued about the effect of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 and the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 on the transfer of pension rights in services in his Department which are subject to contracting out.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 18 February 1994, Official Report, column 1010.

Missile Defence

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to review the need for missile defence; and if he will make a statement.

We are embarking on a two-year national programme of pre-feasibility studies into ballistic missile defence options for the United Kingdom. Once this is completed we hope to be in a position to make a definitive decision on whether we have a requirement for such a capability.

Mr D Cross

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Mr. D. Cross of Brookvale, Bradiford, Barnstaple, North Devon, will be given a decision on his application, ref: APG/H17830R/JSCO, submitted on 7 November 1993 to the joint services commutation office at Glasgow to commute part of his pension.

Mr. Cross was asked on 12 November 1993 to supply the joint services commutation office with further details of how he intends to fund his venture. Should he be able to provide the necessary funds, he will then be required to take a medical examination following which a decision will be made on his application.

National Finance

Vineyards Regulatory Regime

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people, full-time or whole-time equivalents, are employed by Customs and Excise on the regulatory regime for English vineyards.

Customs estimates that it deploys the equivalent of between one and two staff years on the regulatory regime for English vineyards.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost per bottle to Customs and Excise and to vineyard owners of English vineyards wine of the Customs and Excise regulatory regime.

It is estimated that it costs customs less than one penny per bottle of English wine. I regret that figures are not available for the costs incurred by the vineyard owners.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost to the Exchequer of the regulatory regime operated by Customs and Excise in respect of wine made in English vineyards.

It is estimated that the annual cost to the Exchequer of the regulatory regime operated by Customs and Excise is less than £40,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the result of the cost compliance assessment carried out by Customs and Excise of their regulatory regime on English vineyards in respect of (a) Customs. and Excise and (b) the vineyards either per vineyard or in total.

The regulatory regime operated by customs had already been introduced before cost compliance assessments were carried out. No cost compliance assessment has been undertaken on the regulatory regime for English vineyards since its introduction.

Cannabis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how cannabis seized by Customs and Excise is disposed of.

Customs and Excise disposes of the cannabis it has seized by incineration under its supervision.

Commemorative Coins

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new commemorative coins Her Majesty's Government plan to issue.

Her Majesty the Queen has been graciously pleased to approve my recommendation that two special commemorative £2 coins be issued in 1995. The first of these will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of the second world war and the second the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations. It is not intended that the coins should be put into general circulation, although they will be available at face value from most banks and post offices. In addition, special collector versions will be produced in base and precious metals.

Capital Allowances

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide further details of the capital allowances measure announced on 13 January.

As announced on 13 January, at column 249, the Government propose to bring forward legislation at Committee stage of the Finance Bill to rectify a defect in the capital allowances legislation as it affects the disposal of long leases in enterprise zone buildings.A number of taxpayers have asked for more detail of what the legislation will contain. In the interests of reducing uncertainty which may be affecting perfectly legitimate commercial decisions, I am announcing further details now in advance of the draft legislation being published.The aim of the measure is to prevent abuse of the enterprise zone allowances for tax avoidance, without damaging the incentive for bona fide investments in enterprise zone property. The legislation will therefore provide that a balancing charge will be imposed when a long lease is disposed of within seven years. This seven-year limit on balancing charges will not apply to artificial tax avoidance schemes which include guaranteed exit arrangements. For those schemes a balancing charge will apply if the building is sold within the first 25 years of its life.Representations have been made that the weakness in the capital allowances legislation is not significant in the case of buildings eligible only for normal industrial buildings allowances. The Government accept this and the draft legislation will cover buildings in enterprise zones qualifying for 100 per cent. capital allowances, but not other buildings.

Bank Charges

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will investigate high street banks' use of bank charges; and if he will make a statement.

Bank charges for small business customers were looked at in a Bank of England survey announced to the House by the former Chancellor on 26 January 1993 Official Report, columns 621–23. They were also mentioned in a more recent report by the bank of the financing of small firms. Neither report highlighted the level of bank charges as a significant problem.The Consumers' Association published a report on retail banking last December which showed that overdraft and other fees varied considerably between current accounts. The report also found that it could be worth while for customers to move their accounts to the institution which offers the most appropriate services for their needs.

Independent Financial Advisers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has had from independent financial advisers about the cost of complying with present regulations.

Treasury Ministers have received a number of such representations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to improve the present regulations concerning independent financial advisers.

The regulations governing the conduct of independent financial advisers are primarily a matter for Securities and Investments Board and the self-regulatory organisations recognised under the Financial Services Act 1986. In July last year my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor issued directions to SIB requiring it to develop a new approach to regulation of the marketing of investment-based life insurance products. On 7 January SIB published new rules relating to independent financial advisers and other life insurance distribution channels.

Scott Inquiry

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are in place for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to demand or request from the Scott inquiry papers in the inquiry's possession which customs officers consider material to a customs investigation.

No particular arrangements are in place. Customs and Excise have no powers to demand papers from Lord Justice Scott. Their powers to demand papers apply in relation to persons concerned in certain activities or suspected of having committed offences.The response to any request to Lord Justice Scott for papers he holds is a matter for him. It is, of course, open to those who have provided information to the inquiry to provide Customs and Excise direct with any information they have relating to suspected breaches of export control.

Inflation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual inflation rate in each of the years since 1967; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested is available in table 8 of the publication "Retail Prices Index December 1993", CSO Business Monitor MM23, a copy of which is available in the Library.

Oil Revenues

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the values to the United Kingdom of oil revenues for each year from 1978.

I have been asked to reply.Figures on the value to the United Kingdom of oil and gas revenues since 1978 have been published by the Department of Trade and Industry annually in "Development of the Oil and Gas Resources of the United Kingdom. Table 14 gives details of income from the United Kingdom continental shelf and table 15 gives the revenue accruing to the Exchequer. Copies of this publication are available in the Library of the House.

Overseas Development

Malaysia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date, where and how the British Government announced that they had agreed to the request of the Malaysian Government that the soft loan for Pergau was to be paid direct to Tenaga Nasional; and how and where it was announced.

[holding reply 21 February 1994]: Her Majesty's Government informed the Malaysian Government that they could accept their request for the soft loan to be made direct with Tenaga Nasional in a letter from the British high commissioner in Kuala Lumpar to the Ministry of Finance on 14 May 1991. The details of financial and contractual arrangements are not usually the subject of announcements.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Kurdish People (Turkey)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the British Government have taken to condemn human rights violations against Kurdish people in Turkey.

The United Kingdom and our European Union partners condemned human rights abuses in Turkey in the European Union statement to the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly of 23 November. There will be a similar statement at the Commission on Human Rights currently being held in Geneva.

Duchy Of Lancster

Consultancies

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the value of consultancy contracts awarded by his Department each year since 1992, both in current prices and at constant 1994 prices.

The costs of consultancy contracts awarded by the Office of Public Service and Science and its agencies in 1992–93 and 1993–94 to date are as follows:

	£
OPSS and its agencies
1992–93	4,054,273
1992–93 at constant 1993–94 prices	4,186,036
1993–94 to date	5,016,285

The costs of consultancy contracts awarded by COI and HMSO in 1992–93 and 1993–94 to date are as follows:

	£
COI
1992–93	136,460
1992–93 at constant 1993–94 prices	140,894
1993–94 to date	55,189

	Maintained schools¹		Independent schools¹
Academic year	Number of school leavers	Percentage entering degree or teacher training courses	Number of school leavers	Percentage entering degree or teacher training courses
1991–92	31,520	—	1,065	—
1990–91	32,220	14	1,055	45
1989–90	34,525	12	1,170	38
1988–89	37,825	10	1,280	32
1987–88	39,380	9	1,225	24
1986–87	42,770	8	1,080	30
1985–86	42,125	9	1,060	34
1984–85	43,190	8	1,240	33
1983–84	42,855	8	1,185	29
1982–83	44,085	8	1,240	39
Source: 1982–83—1990–91 School Examinations Survey; 1991–92 Welsh Office RDI.
¹Data are not available for 1991–92 as intended destinations were collected in different categories.

Rechem Incinerator

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the possibility of compensation for farmers who have been affected by the ReChem incinerator plant in Gwent, South Wales.

I understand one farmer in Gwent is taking legal proceedings against the company. In the circumstances, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. My Department has, however, funded an independent survey of PCB-dioxin contamination in the Pontypool area and the results were published in April 1993. A copy of the report has been placed in the Library of the House.

Average Wage

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proportion of the average United Kingdom wage is the average Welsh wage.

At April 1993 the average gross weekly earnings of full-time employees in Wales was 89 per cent. of the average for the United Kingdom.

	£
HMSO
1992–93	410,075
1992–93 at constant 1993–94 prices	423,402
1993–94 to date	1,061,025

Wales

School Leavers

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers there were in each of the past 10 years from the maintained and independent sectors; and what percentage in each category were intending to enter degree or teacher training courses.

The information required is given in the following table.

Opencast Mining

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received regarding opposition to opencast mining at Selar Farm grassland site of special scientific interest near Neath; and if he will make a statement.

A total of 31 representations have been received to date. Consideration is currently being given to requests that an application for opencast mining which will affect the Selar Farm grasslands site of special scientific interest should be called in for my own determination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the effect on the Marsh Fritillary butterfly colonies at Selar Farm grasslands site of special scientific interest and Parc Slip West, Mid Glamorgan, of the decisions to allow British Coal to develop opencast mines on those sites.

The effect on the Selar Farm grasslands site of special scientific interest which includes a colony of Marsh Fritillary butterflies is a consideration which is being taken into account in determining whether an application for an opencast mining development should be called in for my own determination. In the case of Parc Slip West, I determined to grant consent in September 1993.

Cardiac Surgery

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what special measures he has taken to ensure that more heart bypass operations are performed.

The development of the specialist adult cardiac unit at the University Hospital of Wales has been completed at a cost of £5 million and a new unit is planned for Morriston hospital. Pending its completion, additional funding approaching £4 million per annum has been provided to enable health authorities to secure further operations from other specialist centres.The development of the paediatric cardiac unit at the University Hospital of Wales is nearing completion following an expansion project earlier this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many heart bypass operations were performed on Welsh patients, and in what locations, in each year since 1980.

The information is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Education

Further Education Colleges

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received concerning the introduction of the new model contract by the College Employers Forum.

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of letters from further education lecturers, both directly and through hon. Members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will estimate the numbers of employers and part-time students whose need for further education services is not limited to the working day or the traditional three college terms for each year from 1992–93 to 1994–95; and what influence the kind of staff contract has had or is expected to have on the ability of colleges to meet the demand.

Few, if any, employers close their own businesses for up to 16 weeks in each year, so their employees are available for training at times when a college running a traditional 36-week teaching year is closed. Most adult part-time students are also ready to learn during the holidays, or in the evenings. A more flexible contract will assist colleges to open for longer and to meet demand when it arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made on local employee relations in colleges arising out of the 2 per cent. reduction of college funding.

The 2 per cent. holdback relates to the introduction of more flexible contracts for staff appointed on or after 1 April 1994. I see no reason why the introduction of more flexible contracts should damage employee relations. Staff should see the advantages for themselves of a system where the weight of the whole job is considered rather than the counting of hours on tasks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what proportion of contracts he will require to be adequately flexible for the £50 million held back from the grant to colleges of further education to be payable; and if he will make a statement;(2) what time scale he envisages for rapid progress in moving further education staff over to new contracts;(3) what sanctions are being imposed on colleges to move existing staff on to new contracts;(4) what he considers to be the significant majority of existing lecturers signing new contracts in colleges of further education which would satisfy his desire to move staff over to them.

The £50 million grant will be released to the Further Education Funding Council in proportion to the number of colleges which certify that staff appointed on or after 1 April 1994 have contracts that provide adequate flexibility for the colleges' needs. No sanctions will be imposed on colleges who do not move existing staff on to new contracts; it is for colleges to decide how rapidly they wish to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the ratio of staff to students of further education colleges for each of the last five years; and what increase in the ratio will be allowed by greater flexibility of contract.

The table gives student-staff ratios for further education colleges for the last five years. Future plans for the employment of lecturers are a matter for individual colleges. It is not possible to say what effect the introduction of new contracts will have on the ratio of staff to students.

Academic year	Student staff ratio
1988–89	10·1
1989–90	10·6
1990–91	10·9
1991–92	11·8
1992–93	12·3

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will list for each further education college the proportion of existing staff who have been moved on to new contracts;(2) if he will list those further education colleges which have had strikes, stoppages or working to rule over new contracts.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what limits he is imposing on cash sums and salary increases offered to existing staff or further education colleges to accept new contracts;(2) whether colleges of further education can make payments of fees for private medical insurance for staff as part of an incentive package to persuade staff to accept new contracts.

Within the framework of the Government's policy on public sector pay, it is for individual colleges to decide what they will pay their staff, and what form increases or incentives will take, within the resources available to each college.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what procedures he has introduced to vet staff contracts in colleges of further education to ensure that they satisfy his requirements;(2) by what criteria he will assess whether new contracts for further education staff

(a) offer adequate flexibility and (b) are sufficiently different; whether the contracts currently being issued to new staff fulfil these criteria; and in what respects existing contracts do not meet them;

(3) what kind of certification from governing bodies of further education colleges, that their new contracts provide adequately increased flexibility, is acceptable to him; how that flexibility will be audited; and if he will make a statement.

It will be for colleges themselves to certify that their new contacts both provide adequate flexibility for their needs, and, so far as lecturers are concerned., also differ significantly from the former local authority contracts. The Further Education Funding Council will ask them to sign a declaration to that effect. Such a declaration would be subject to scrutiny by the college's auditors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals he has for ending the system of three traditional terms in (a) further education colleges, (b) former polytechnics and (c) universities.

The Government have no such plans. The organisation of the academic year is a matter for institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what limits are indicated for hours worked per week in new staff contracts in further education colleges; and how the part-time contract is differentiated from the full-time contract;(2) what liability is imposed on further education staff for damage to college property or equipment

(a) by them and (b) by students in the new contracts;

(3) if his Department will review or offer advice on new contracts to governing bodies of further education colleges.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will give details of the changes in conditions of employment proposed in the new contract for further education lecturers; to what extent these are linked to increased salary awards; and if he will make a statement.

It is for each college to decide what form of new contract it wishes to introduce.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) if he will set out his objections to the existing contracts of staff of further education colleges; and what changes to these conditions would be acceptable to him;(2) whether existing contracts for staff of further education colleges include an hour-by-hour account of what they are to do;(3) to which restrictive practices in the Silver Book of further education colleges he objects; and what difficulties each of those practices poses in respect of a more flexible and responsible service.

The Silver Book includes the following restrictions: no more than 10 sessions per week; no more than 30 hours duty per week; no more than 21 hours of class contact per week; no more than two evening sessions per week; and reduced class contact time for other professional duties according to agreed procedures. Such restrictions prevent colleges from making the best use of their human and material resources. It will be for individual colleges to decide the precise content of new, more flexible contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will detail the negotiations with the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education about the new contract for staff; and what representations he has received from them on it.

The Colleges Employers Forum has held negotiations with NATFHE on the introduction of more flexible contracts between September 1993 and February 1994. A delegation from NATFHE met officials at the Department on 25 November 1993. NATFHE has asked to see officials again and a meeting is being arranged. I am not aware of any other representations from NATFHE on this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the detailed conditions for the release of holdback of the £50 million kept back from further education colleges in November 1993; and if he will list the colleges which have satisfied them to date.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Bath (Mr. Foster) on 16 February, Official Report, column 842. The condition relates to the financial year 1994–95, and colleges will be asked in due course by the FEFC whether they have satisfied the conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how the effect of his statement to colleges of further education that the higher pay costs shall be covered by efficiency improvements will differ from the increases in pay costs available in the rest of the public sector.

The Government's policy that increases in pay costs should be covered by efficiency improvements applies throughout the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish in the Official Report his speech to principals of further education colleges in the week ended 11 February and a copy of his letter to the chairs of the College Employers Forum of 8 February.

Since these are lengthy texts, I have placed copies of them in the Library of the House.

Further Education Funding Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 18 February, Official Report, column 1019, what legislation sets out his responsibilities with regard to approval of staff employed by the Further Education Funding Council.

Provisions concerning the appointment of staff of the Further Education Funding Council are contained in schedule 1 to the Further and Higher Education Act 1992. Paragraph 7 of that schedule provides that the council may appoint such employees as it thinks fit. The only requirement for approval by the Secretary of State is in the case of the appointment of future chief officers—paragraph 2(3) of that schedule—the first chief officer having been appointed by the Secretary of State under the terms of paragraph 2(2) of that schedule.

Funding Agency For Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what will be the payment to members of the Funding Agency for Schools.

The chairman of the Funding Agency for Schools, Sir Christopher Benson, will receive an annual fee of £33,430 for an equivalent of two days per week from 1 April 1994. Other members of the agency will be eligible to receive £155 and reimbursement for travel and subsistence expenses for each day spent on agency business, such as attending board and sub-committee meetings.

Sixth Forms

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will list the new sixth forms to which he has given approval in (a) grant-maintained schools and (b) local authority schools since April 1992.

Since April 1992 my right hon. Friend has approved proposals for new sixth forms in 17 grant-maintained schools and two LEA-maintained schools. The schools concerned are:(a) Grant maintained

Baverstock GM School, Birmingham
Small Heath School, Birmingham
Sawtry Village College, Cambridgeshire
The Merrill Community School, Derbyshire
Chellaston School, Derbyshire
Beauchamps GM School, Essex
Bromfords School, Essex
The King John School, Essex
West Hatch School, Essex
The Arnewood School, Hampshire
The Burgate School, Hampshire
Ringwood School, Hampshire
The Maplesden Noakes School, Kent
Sheringham High School, Norfolk
Highams Park School, Waltham Forest
Queen Elizabeth School, Warwickshire
Moseley Park GM School, Wolverhampton.

(b)LEA maintained

St. Peter's RC Comprehensive School, Solihull.

My right hon. Friend has also recently approved proposals for the establishment of a new school for pupils aged 11 to 18 years in Halifax, Calderdale, to replace two 11 to 16 schools.

Home Department

Public Interest Immunity Certificates

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many public interest immunity certificates he, or his predecessors, have been asked to sign in each year since 1979; how many he or his predecessors decided not to sign; and if he will make a statement of his policy on signing of public interest immunity certificates.

No central record is kept of public interest immunity certificates signed or not signed since 1979. My policy is to sign public interest immunity certificates, in accordance with my legal duty, where I am satisfied that there is a public interest in protecting documents or information from disclosure in legal proceedings. It is for the court, in any particular case; to weigh the public interest asserted in the certificate against the competing public interest in the due administration of justice.

Women's Royal Voluntary Service

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department expects to pay in grant to the Women's Royal Voluntary Service during the financial years 1993–94 and 1994–95; and if he will make a statement on the purposes for which that grant is paid.

The Women's Royal Voluntary Service provides through some 145,000 volunteers a wide range of services to the community. Home Office grant in aid, which helps to fund the core administrative expenses of the service, amounts to £6.247 million in 1993–94. The level of grant in aid for 1994–95-has yet to be decided.

Prison Suicides

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to deposit in the Library copies of reports of the internal investigations into suicides in prisons at the request of hon. Members.

No. The internal investigation is a review which the Prison Service carries out for its own management purposes. In the case of deaths in custody, a full public inquest is conducted separately by the coroner.

>Yugoslav Refugees

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 December to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Blunkett), Official Report, column 674, (a) how many refugees have been admitted to Britain from former Yugoslavia to the current date, (b) how many applications for asylum have been granted and (c) how many applications for asylum are under consideration.

Information on asylum applications by nationals of the former Yugoslavia, and on decisions made, in the period 1 January 1992 to 31 January 1994 is given in the table. The large majority of these cases—an estimated 6,640 at 31 January 1994—are under consideration and the applicants are being allowed to stay in the meantime.In addition to consideration of asylum applications, the Government have, under arrangements announced in November 1992 and June 1993, offered to receive 1,000 particularly vulnerable individuals from the former Yugoslavia, and their close dependants, an estimated total of 4,000 people. As at 21 February 1994, 568 particularly vulnerable individuals and 781 dependants had arrived under these arrangements. Prior to this, 68 sick and wounded ex-detainees from Bosnia arrived in September 1992.

Decisions¹ on applications¹ received for asylum in the United Kingdom from nationals of the former Yugoslavia, excluding dependants, 1 January 1992 to 31 January 1994
	1 January 1992–31 January 1994
Asylum applications¹	7,590
Decisions²³⁴	370
Recognised as a refugee and granted asylum	5
Not recognised as a refugee but granted exceptional leave to remain⁵	110
Refused asylum and ELR—after full consideration	15
Refused under para 180F⁶	145
Refused on safe third country grounds⁷	95
Applications pending⁴	6,640
¹ Provisional figures rounded to the nearest 5.
² Figures exclude information on applications made overseas.
³ Decisions do not necessarily relate to applications made in the period.
⁴ Information on withdrawals is not readily available and not shown in the table.
⁵ Usually granted for a year in the fist instance, subject then to further review.
⁶ For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to invitation to interview to establish identity (para. 101 prior to 26 July 1993).
⁷ Refused on the grounds; that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.

Staff Transfers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the schemes his Department operates to assist staff facing financial hardship following a transfer, showing (a) the particular criteria and rules applying to each one, including the circumstances under which any loans can be written off, (b) the total amount loaned or granted under the schemes in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94 and (c) the number of staff assisted in 1992–93 and so far in 1993–94.

Under authority delegated from the Treasury the Department may assist staff facing serious financial hardship following a transfer in the public interest. The assistance available depends on the circumstances of each case. It may include concessionary payment of an advance of salary, and concessionary payment of a housing cost supplement to assist with an increased mortgage. It may also include a special payment of part or all of any unavoidable shortfall between the equity released by the sale of a property and an outstanding approved bridging loan. The Department must be satisfied that:

(a) There is serious financial hardship: the individual must provide details of his or her income—including his or her spouse's and his or her outgoings.

(b) There is a genuine loss: i.e. the equity released by the prospective sale will be insufficient to clear the bridging loan approved by the Department. The proposed sale price must be supported by an independent valuation arranged by Home Office accounts branch through the chief valuer's office of the Inland Revenue.

(c) The individual is making his or her maximum affordable contribution to meeting the shortfall: i.e. has taken out the maximum available and affordable mortgage and advance of salary.

(d) The individual has acted reasonably in all transactions relating to the bridging loan.

Special payments in excess of £20,000 must be approved by the Treasury. The only loans made are advances of salary. No such advances have been written off.

The other information requested is follows:

1992–93
	Main Home Office	Prison Service
Advances of salary	£98,105	£575,377
Numbers of staff	11¹	93²
Special payments	£507,403	£975,882
Numbers of staff	15¹	90²
Notes:
¹ 9 staff received an advance of salary and a special payment.
² 70 staff received and advance of salary and a special payment.

1993–94 (to 18 February 1994)
	Main Home Office	Prison Service
Advances of salary	£92,062	£606,884
Numbers of staff	6¹	64²
Special payments	£98,753	£1,089,329
Numbers of staff	5¹	66²
Notes
¹4 staff received an advance of salary and a special payment.
²47 staff received an advance of salary and a special payment.

No payments have been made by the United Kingdom Passport Agency, the Forensic Science Service or the Fife Service College.

Accident And Emergency Services

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is proposing in regard to accident and emergency services following the Seymour report on the train crash in the Severn tunnel on Saturday 7 December 1991.

The Seymour report does not make recommendations in respect of the emergency services. Lessons learnt in the course of the response to all major incidents are incorporated into the plans and procedures of the emergency services at the local level.

European Parliament Elections

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements are being made to inform citizens of other member states of the European Union resident in the United Kingdom of their right to vote in elections to the European Parliament.

Following the coming into force of the treaty on European Union, and of the European Parliamentary Elections (Changes to the Franchise and Qualifications of Representatives) Regulations 1994, citizens of member states of the European Union resident in the United Kingdom have the right to vote and to stand as a candidate in elections to the European Parliament on the same basis as existing electors and candidates.Information sheets will be distributed to electoral registration officers; the main political parties; the embassies and consulates of other member states of the European Union; British embassies and consulates in other member states; the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; and specialist bodies including the Alliance Francaise, the Goethe Institute, the Italian Cultural Institute and the Spanish Institute. There will also be notices in the London, Edinburgh and Belfast

Gazettes.

Application forms for Community citizens to apply for inclusion in the electoral register will be available from electoral registration officers from 1 March, and must be returned by 29 March. Local political parties will be able to obtain copies of the form and the leaflet from electoral registration officers for use locally.

Ministerial Instructions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the occasions since 1979 when Ministers have issued written instructions to override his Department's accounting officer's objections.

[holding answer 24 February 1994]: There are no known instances since 1979 of Ministers in the Home Office issuing written instructions in pursuance of paragraphs 13 or 14 of section 6.1.5 of "Government Accounting".

National Heritage

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 10 February,official Report, column 404, what are his powers of direction in respect of boards of non-departmental public bodies funded by his Department.

This information was recently supplied to the National Heritage Committee during its inquiry into English Heritage. It is available in annex II to the published minutes of evidence taken before the Committee on 13 January 1994—HC 139-i—a copy of which is available in the Library.

Consultants

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will publish the fee to be paid to Capita Management Consultancy Ltd. In respect of its review of archaelogical services in London on behalf of his Department.

The fees paid for consultancy contracts let by my Department such as are nor required to be advertised to the official Journal of the European Communities are treated as Commercial in confidence and are not, therefore, disclosed.

Cultural Exports

To ask the secretary of State for National Heritage what are the criteria which will inform his Department's review of the guidance and United Kingdom application forms for the export licensing of cultural goods described on page 52 of the Government's White Paper "Deregulation: Cutting Red Tape".

The revision of the existing "Notice to Exporters" will set out the export licensing requirements under both United Kingdom legislation and the EC regulation 3911/92. It will, as now, explain the procedures by which an object might be considered of Waverley standard, as a result of which the Secretary of State would defer his decision on either a United Kingdom or an EC licence. The United Kingdom licence application will be revised to a similar—or possibly the same—layout to that of the EC licence application, once the latter has been revised in minor ways by the European Commission.

Transfer Of Functions Order

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 995, if he will specify the costs relating to the preparation and promulgation of the Transfer of Functions (National Heritage) Order 1992.

My Department paid £8,000 to the Treasury Solicitors' Department for the preparation of the Transfer of Functions (National Heritage) Order 1992. No separate charge was made by parliamentary counsel for the drafting work. In addition, there were other minor administrative and staffing costs associated with the preparation and promulgation which cannot be quantified separately.

Windsor Castle

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 19 January column 653, concerning the damage to medieval wall paintings at Windsor castle, how wide was the chase; at what stage it became apparent that a medieval painting was involved; what other changes were made to the internal medieval fabric of King John's tower during the re wiring of the castle; what is the nature of the remedial conservation work; what agency has been responsible for carrying out this work; what plans there are to evaluate, expose and conserve the wall paintings; why clearance was given for cutting a long chase in undisturbed medieval masonry; and if he will make a statement.

The chase was around 30 mm wide. It became apparent that a medieval wall painting was involved after the chase had been made; the traces of paint patterns were very faint and barely discernible.Generally existing chases were used during the rewiring, but one other new chase was made in the second floor room where the paintings were found, one new chase in the ground floor room and some limited chases in the staircase landing areas on each floor. No other changes were made to the internal medieval fabric.The remedial conservation work consisted of Ronafix bonding and special lime mixes applied in the areas of the chases. The work was carried out by contractors employed by the royal household's property section. Longer-term conservation is being considered by English Heritage which has prepared an interim report and is planning a more detailed investigation. It will make recommendations regarding such things as long-term conservation.The rewiring project was planned by the former Property Services Agency—PSA—in 1987 and 1988. At that time the PSA and the Department of the Environment, which then had responsibility for the occupied royal palaces, regarded the project as maintenance and replacement and did not consider clearance to be required. Clearance procedures and liaison with English Heritage have improved substantially since the household took over the maintenance of the occupied royal palaces. Further information will be available when English Heritage's investigation has been completed.

>Cable Television

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals there are to license cable television for Skipton.

I understand from the Independent Television Commission that it has not received any proposals for providing a cable system in Skipton.

Wrecks

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action his Department is taking to improve the management of protected wreck sites in English waters; and what assessment he has made of whether adequate records of such sites are being kept.

My Department is continuing to work closely with the joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee and English Heritage on what measures may be taken to improve the management of protected wrecks in English waters. Licensed divers are required to submit reports, countersigned by an archaeological adviser, which detail their activities and assess the status of site records; the Advisory Committee on Historic Wreck Sites reviews the adequacy of such reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to transfer responsibility for protected wreck sites in English waters to English Heritage; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions are currently taking place on what future role English Heritage might take in relation to protected wrecks in English waters; certain practical issues remain to be resolved.

Broadcasting

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy to encourage programme making in Wales and Scotland so as to increase the proportion of programmes made there; and if he will make a statement.

Programme-making is primarily the responsibility of the broadcasters. However, provisions in the Broadcasting Act 1990 help to promote programme-making in both Wales and Scotland through the arrangements for S4C and the Gaelic television fund. Additionally, the Welsh and Scottish ITV companies, in common with all Channel 3 licensees, are required to produce 80 per cent. of their regional programming in the area of their licences.The Government plan to publish a White Paper in the spring with proposals for the future of the BBC, including its role in programme production.

Per week
United Kingdom standard region	Structural insurance	Contents insurance	Households with contents and/or structural insurance
	£	£	£
(a) Average household insurance premiums for flats
North	2·20	1·00	2·00
Yorkshire and Humberside	¹—	0·90	1·00
North West	1·80	1·80	2·30
East Midlands	2·00	1·10	1·70
West Midlands	2·20	1·10	1·80
East Anglia	¹—	1·30	1·70
Greater London	3·50	2·70	4·00
Rest of the South East	3·10	1·40	2·40
South West	2·90	1·60	2·50
Wales	¹—	1·50	1·50
Scotland	2·30	1·50	2·50

Prime Minister

Thermal Oxide Reprocessing Plant

To ask the Prime Minister if he or his officials have received a copy of the Touche Ross report prepared for BNFL on the economic prospects for THORP.

No.

Trade And Industry

Buses

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encouragge the development of markets for United Kingdom companies manufacturing low floor buses.

A number of United Kingdom bus manufacturers have been involved, in London and Tyneside, in demonstration projects, which are supported by the Department of Transport, to evaluate the benefits of low floor buses.The result of these studies will be widely disseminated and United Kingdom bus producers are well placed to take advantage of any subsequent increase in demand for such vehicles.

Household Insurance

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the current average household insurance premiums for (a) self-contained flats, (b) two-bedroom houses and (c) four-bedroom houses in each parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom.

I have been asked to reply.The figures in the tables are from the 1992 family expenditure survey and are of direct payments by households. The figures are for United Kingdom standard regions as data by parliamentary constituency are not available. The survey has a small number of households in some of the categories, so the figures are subject to large sampling variations. The figures are average weekly expenditure, rounded to the nearest lop. The survey does not distinguish between self-contained flats and non-se if-contained flats.

United Kingdom standard region	Structural insurance	Contents insurance	Households with contents and/or structural insurance
	£	£	£
Northern Ireland	¹—	¹—	¹—
(b) Average household insurance premiums for 2 bedroom houses
North	2·40	1·30	2·70
Yorkshire and Humberside	2·30	1·30	3·20
North West	2·20	1·70	3·50
East Midlands	2·10	1·40	3·10
West Midlands	2·20	1·50	3·10
East Anglia	2·40	1·40	3·00
Greater London	3·90	2·60	5·80
Rest of the South East	3·20	1·70	4·40
South West	2·70	1·70	3·90
Wales	2·20	1·20	3·00
Scotland	2·80	1·50	3·20
Northern Ireland	2·20	1·00	2·20
(c) Average household insurance premiums for 4 bedroom houses
North	3·50	2·50	5·90
Yorkshire and Humberside	3·90	2·00	5·20
North West	4·50	3·00	7·10
East Midlands	4·40	2·70	6·60
West Midlands	4·70	2·90	6·90
East Anglia	3·80	2·20	5·70
Greater London	5·90	4·40	9·80
Rest of the South East	4·80	2·70	7·20
South West	3·80	2·00	5·60
Wales	4·30	2·60	6·60
Scotland	4·80	2·70	6·40
Northern Ireland	3·70	1·90	5·40
¹ Data not available as there are five or fewer reporting households.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of homes in the United Kingdom are not currently covered by a household insurance policy by parliamentary constituency.

I have been asked to reply.Estimates of the proportion of households in the United Kingdom not currently covered by a household contents insurance policy are given for United Kingdom standard regions, based on the 1992 family expenditure survey. Similar information on structural insurance is not available from the family expenditure survey.

Households with no contents insurance
United Kingdom standard region	Per cent.
North	28
Yorkshire and Humberside	27
North West	26
East Midlands	20
West Midlands	27
East Anglia	13
Greater London	38
Rest of the South East	20
South West	20
Wales	30
Scotland	24
Northern Ireland	44

Health

Nurse-Patient Ratio

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average qualified nurse-patient ratio in each of the last five years.

The available information is shown in the table.The number of in-patients is not collected centrally. The table shows the number of ordinary admissions, which is the term used for in-patient consultant episodes.

	Ordinary admissions	Qualified nursing and midwifery staff (excluding community)
1988–89	7,335,448	206,110
1989–90	7,476,626	209,300
1990–91	7,524,192	206,150
1991–92	7,759,202	207,500
1992–93	7,829,403	210,230

Notes:

1. Ordinary admissions are taken for the year 1 April to 31 March.

2. Qualified nursing and midwifery staff are as at 30 September—ie for the 1988–89 year the figure is as at 30 September 1988.

3. Figures for qualified staff show all qualified nursing and midwifery staff, including senior nurses and midwives but excluding those nurses who have transferred to senior management terms and who cannot be identified separately from other senior managers. It also excludes pre and post registration learners and Project 2000 nursing students.

Gp Fundholders

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will update her answer of 26 January 1993, Official Report, columns 689–94, on general practitioner fund-holders' management allowance payments in each year from 1990–91 to 1993–94 for each family health services authority and regional health authority.

The information provided on 26 January was obtained through a one-off exercise to review the management allowance carried out in November 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of general practitioner fundholders' budgets were spent in the private sector for each of the years for which figures are available.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 7 February at column 52.

Alcohol And Drug-Related Deaths

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by region the number of (a) accidents and (b) deaths that were alcohol or drug related since 1990.

The information is shown in the tables.The figures for alcohol show those cases where cause of death has a clear association with alcohol in England and Wales from 1990 onwards. Other cases have not been included where the evidence of association is less clear.Alcohol is implicated directly or indirectly in a number of causes of death including accidents, suicide and diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver, stroke, cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and oesophagus. Studies undertaken since 1985 suggest that a reasonable estimate of all alcohol-associated deaths would be around 25,000 per year in England and Wales.The figures for drugs show those cases where cause of death has a clear association with drugs in England and Wales from 1990 onwards.Information on accidents which do not lead to death is not available.

Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales¹, regional health authority 1990–1992
	1990	1991	1992
England and Wales	1,939	1,971	2,016
Northern	111	137	131
Yorkshire	96	105	110
Trent	117	124	132
East Anglian	68	57	60
North-West Thames	194	202	177
North-East Thames	170	142	145
South-East Thames	131	150	152
South-West Thames	130	123	114
Wessex	83	104	96
Oxford	98	95	111
South-Western	131	102	97
West Midlands	193	209	241
Mersey	117	120	144
North-Western	174	176	186
Wales	120	114	104
¹Includes deaths to persons whose usual residence is outside England and Wales. These details are excluded from any subdivision of England and Wales.

The following International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD) were used where the underlying cause of death is linked to alcohol consumption.

ICD 291	Alcoholic psychoses.
ICD 303	Alcoholic dependence syndrome.
ICD 305.0	Non-dependent abuse of alcohol.
ICD 425.5	Alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
ICD 571.0	Alcoholic fatty liver.
ICD 571.1	Acute alcoholic hepatitis.
ICD 571.2	Alcoholic cirrhosis of liver.
ICD 571.3	Alcoholic liver damage, unspecified.
ICD 980	Toxic effect of alcohol.

Drug-related deaths in England and Wales¹ regional health authority 1990–1992
	1990	1991	1992
England and Wales	2,060	2,097	2,393
Northern	122	110	134
Yorkshire	169	150	177
Trent	136	143	167
East Anglian	72	71	92
North-West Thames	168	186	174
North-East Thames	178	186	208
South-East Thames	206	205	225
South-West Thames	128	117	128
Wessex	104	110	113
Oxford	75	75	88
South-Western	118	91	150
West Midlands	165	161	179
Mersey	98	92	108
North-Western	202	258	286
Wales	87	101	117
¹Includes deaths to persons whose usual residence is outside England and Wales. These details are excluded from any subdivision of England and Wales.

The following International Classification of Diseases codes (ICD) were used where the underlying cause of death is linked to drug misuse.

ICD 070	Viral hepatitis.
ICD 292	Drug psychoses.
ICD 304	Drug dependence.
	ICD 304.0–304.9, by type of drug, excluding 304.6 (Absinthe addiction and glue sniffing).
ICD 305	Non-dependent abuse of drugs.
	ICD 305.2–305.9 by type of drug.
ICD 960–979	Poisoning by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (includes overdose).

Paediatric Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by district health authority the number of community paediatric nurses employed.

This information is contained in the "Directory of Paediatric Community Nursing Services" issued by the Royal College of Nursing of the United Kingdom, copies of which are available in the Library.

Private Patients

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many private patients in national health service hospitals within the Trent regional health authority received treatment in each medical discipline in 1991–92.

The information requested is shown in the table. The figures are provisional estimates for 1991–92:

Private patients treated in NHS hospitals in Trent region All causes: 1991–92
Specialty	Finished consultant episodes
General Surgery	672
Urology	41
Trauma and Orthopaedics	393

Specialty	Finished consultant episodes
ENT	167
Ophthalmology	502
Oral Surgery	74
Neurosurgery	58
Cardiothoracic Surgery	57
Paediatric Surgery	37
Anaesthetics	30
General Medicine	274
Clinical Haematology	29
Cardiology	112
Dermatology	4
Genitourinary Medicine	4
Neurology	9
Rheumatology	12
Paediatrics	16
Geriatric Medicine	12
Obs and Gyn (Obstetrics)	139
Obs and Gyn (Gynaecology)	277
Radiotherapy	12
Radiology	15
Clincal Pathology	3
Total	2,949

Source:Hospital Episode System 1991–92—provisional estimate.

Episodes may not total, due to rounding.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in respect of which non-elected bodies whose membership in whole or in part is appointed by her (a) meetings are open to the public, (b) there is scrutiny of financial procedures by independently appointed audit and (c) there are rules governing the declaration of interests.

The public bodies for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is responsible are listed in the publication "Public Bodies", copies of which are available in the Library.Regional health authorities, district health authorities, family health services authorities and national health service trusts are required to have at least one public meeting per year.The Health Education Authority, the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work, the English National Board for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting and the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting hold public meetings.NHS tribunals are held in public if the respondent or applicant requests it.NHS authorities and trusts and executive non-departmental public bodies—NDPBs—are subject to audit by either the Audit Commission or the National Audit Office. The Public Accounts Committee scrutinises the activities of all such bodies and may summon the chief executive of a NHS authority, NHS trust or NDPB to give evidence if any issue of probity arises or if there is any suggestion that it is not conducting its operations as economically, efficiently and effectively as it should.NHS authorities, trusts and NDPBs have rules governing the declaration of interests, and these rules will be further strengthened from 1 April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all the organisations and agencies over which her Department has, in whole or in part, rights of nomination; and if she will make a statement.

The non—departmental public bodies—both executive and advisory—tribunals and national health service bodies over which my right hon. Friend has rights of nomination are listed in "Public Bodies 1993", a copy of which is available in the Library.My right hon. Friend also makes appointments to the advisory boards of the three next steps agencies for which the Department of Health is responsible:

The NHS Estates Agency
The Medicines Control Agency
The NHS Pensions Agency.

Health Warnings (Eggs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what source of detailed evidence the chief medical officer of health bases his health warnings against eggs; and if he will reconsider the justification for continuing that warning.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 4 November 1993 at column 456. The Chief Medical Officer's advice stands.

Local Authority Homes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1990 (a) the number of elderly residents supported by local authorities, by type of home, (b) the number of mentally ill residents supported by local authorities, by type of home and (c) the number of people with learning disabilities, by type of home.

The available information for residential care homes for the period 1990 to 1992 is given in the following publications: "Residential Accommodation for Elderly and for Younger Physically Handicapped People: Local Authority Supported Residents Year Ending 31 March 1992 England" and "Residential Accommodation for People with Mental Illness and People with Learning Disabilities: Local Authority Supported Residents at 31 March 1992 England". Copies of these publications are available in the Library.

Diseases

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1990 the number of notifications of (a) cholera, (b) dysentery, (c) tuberculosis, (d) diphtheria, (e) whooping cough, (f) scarlet fever and (g) measles.

The number of cases notified for selected diseases in 1990 and 1991 are listed in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication, "Communicable Disease Statistics" series MB2, Nos. 17 and 18 respectively, copies of which are available in the Library.The information is shown in the table for 1992. The data have been checked as correct and will be the figures that are given in the published volume in April.

Number of cases notified for selected diseases in England and Wales 1992
	Number
Cholera	25
Dysentery	16,960
Tuberculosis	¹5,798
Diphtheria	8
Whooping Cough	2,309
Scarlet Fever	4,645
Measles	10,268
¹ Excluding chemoprophylaxis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1990 the rate per 100,000 population of diagnosed episodes of (a) whooping cough, (b) scarlet fever, (c) measles, (d) scabies, (e) pneumonia and pneumonitis and (f) pleurisy.

The notification rates of selected diseases in 1990 and 1991 are listed in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication, "Communicable Disease Statistics" series MB2, Nos. 17 and 18 respectively, copies of which are available in the Library.The information for 1992 is shown in the table. The figures have been checked as correct and will be the figures that are given in the published volume in April.

Notification rates (per 100,000 population) of selected diseases in England and Wales, 1992
ICD¹	1992
033
Whooping cough	10·3
034
Scarlet fever	101·7
055
Measles	34·5
133·0
Scabies	310·9
480–486
Pneumonia and pneumonitis	173·9
511
Pleurisy	152·8
¹ICD (International Classification of Diseases) 9th revision.

Private Health Insurance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of persons with private health insurance for each year since 1990.

The available information is shown in the table:

United Kingdom
Year	Number
1991	7,432,703
1992	6,976,870

Source: Figures compiled by the Association of British Insurers to which figures for the Post Office and Civil Service Sanitorium Society have been added.

Toxoplasmosis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking to promote awareness of the dangers of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy and the preventative measures available.

Advice on the risks from toxoplasmosis is included in the Health Education Authority's "Pregnancy Book"—which is provided for women who attend antenatal clinics—and, together with other conditions, in the Department of Health's leaflet "While you are pregnant: Safe eating and how to avoid infection from food and animals", copies of which are available in the Library. Women should be given copies of the leaflet as soon as their pregnancy is confirmed and it is available from antenatal clinics, maternity units and general practitioners practices. Doctors and midwives may also give the leaflet to women who are planning to become mothers.The Department also gives a grant of £10,000 per year to the Toxoplasmosis Trust under section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

"Help Us To Help You" Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the "Help Us to Help You" initiative; and what savings have so far been made as a result of this campaign.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to her on 18 June 1993, at column 744. There have been no further costs since that date.

Freedom Of Speech

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visitors regarding freedom of speech in the NHS.

We received a comprehensive and generally supportive submission from the United Kingdom Central Council during the consultation period on the management executive's "Guidance for staff on relations with the public and the media". Two further representations were received after the publication of the guidance addressing particular points of detail.

Private Practices

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what figures her Department collects related to private practice in the NHS.

The Department collects the following data on private patients in the national health service:

(i) for in-patients, details of hospital episodes for all specialties.

(ii) for out-patients, numbers of attendances at clinics for all specialties.

(iii) income from private in-patients.

(iv) income from private out-patients.

Nhs Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list for each year since 1979, at 1993 prices (a) total NHS expenditure and (b) proceeds from prescription charges.

The information is shown in the table.

	NHS gross expenditure adjusted by the GDP 1993–94 prices £ million	Proceeds from prescription charges adjusted by the GDP 1993–94 prices £ million
1978–79	18,717	69
1979–80	19,061	95
1980–81	20,987	147
1981–82	21,458	164
1982–83	21,841	182
1983–84	22,159	186
1984–85	22,689	194
1985–86	22,748	195
1986–87	23,761	219
1987–88	24,821	222
1988–89	25,862	233
1989–90	26,049	233
1990–91	26,982	235
1991–92	28,743	231
1992–93	30,342	250
1993–94	²30,732	²267
¹Information on income from the very limited number of items which attract a hospital prescription charge is not available centrally.
²Figures for the current financial year are estimates.

Private Patient Income

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 18 February, Official Report, column 1037, if she will itemise, by district, the amount of private patient income received by NHS trusts in each of the last five years.

Information is not available in the form requested. For private patient income received by national health service trusts I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 7 February at column 43.

Merit Awards

To ask the Secretry of State for Health what criteria are used in in the award of merit awards.

The criteria for awards are set out in the leaflet "Consultants' Distinction Awards", copies of which are available in the Library.

Stanley Royd Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 17 February, Official Report, columns 932–33, how many official meetings have taken place between Wakefield metropolitan district council social services department and (a) the Wakefield health authority and (b) the Pontefract and Wakefield community trust to discuss the closure of Stanley Royd hospital between the original announcement of the closure and 22 February.

This is a matter for Wakefield health authority and the Wakefield and Pontefract community trust.

Functions Analysis Groups

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) when the functions analysis groups will report; and whether their findings will be made public;

(2) if she will list the role and the membership of each of the functions analysis groups established as part of the national health service functions and manpower review.

Twelve functions groups have been set up to look in detail at the future functions of national health service central management, as part of the implementation of the "Managing the New NHS" changes announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 21 October 1993. Information about the membership and terms of reference of the groups has been placed in the Library.The functions groups have been asked to produce final reports by 1 April 1994 and a summary of their findings will be made available.

Overseas Visitor Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer to the hon. Member for Bradford, North (Mr. Rooney) of 31 January, Official Report, column 539, what was the total private income of the national health service from overseas visitors under section 121 of the National Health Service Act 1977 in 1991–92 and 1992–93 in each region, special health authority and individual trust.

Overseas visitors charged under section 121 of the National Health Service Act 1977 are charged as national health service patients and not private patients. The available information is shown in the tables. Figures for trusts are not available centrally.

£ thousands
Region	1991–92	1992–93
Northern	168	100
Yorkshire	106	67
Trent	143	45
East Anglian	130	180
North West Thames	722	963
North East Thames	178	141
South East Thames	312	416
South West Thames	180	248
Wessex	113	145
Oxford	319	334
South Western	148	42
West Midlands	189	153
Mersey	74	8
North Western	74	121

Source: Receipts and Payments returns of health authorities (England).

Notes: Figures for 1992–93 are provisional.

£000s
Special health authority	1991–92	1992–93
Hospitals for Sick Children	0	0
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery	0	0
Moorfields Eye Hospital	0	0
The Bethlem Royal and Maudsley Hospital	0	24
The Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospitals	0	0
The Royal Marsden Hospital	1	0·7
Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Hospitals	25	26
The Eastman Dental Hospital	0	0

Source: Receipts and Payments returns of health authorities (England).

Note: Figures for 1992–93 are provisional.

Drug Misuse

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to provide a co-ordinated strategic lead from her Department on building community partnerships to tackle drug misuse;(2) what is her response to the recommendation concerning investment in infrastructure to co-ordinate drug misuse policy made in the report commissioned by her Department from Roger Howard Associates;(3) when she plans to publish the report "Across the Divide: Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse";(4) whether the report "Across the Divide: Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse", was amended between January and April 1993; and whether she will make a statement.

The United Kingdom Government are committed to tackling every aspect of the drugs problem. On 16 December, Official Report, column 780, my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary announced the setting up of a central drugs co-ordination unit which will review our strategy across Government to help to ensure policies are well co-ordinated both at national and local level.The report by Roger Howard Associates—"Across The Divide—Building Community Partnerships to Tackle Drug Misuse"—was published on 23 February. It is being distributed to health and local authorities and other interested agencies. It contains advice and recommendations for improving collaboration among local agencies to tackle the serious problem of drugs misuse. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

Analysis by numbers and level of awards within regions
	A+	A	B	C	Total
Female at 31 December 1993
Northern	—	1	2	29	32
Yorkshire	—	3	3	18	24
Trent	1	2	8	24	35
East Anglia	—	—	5	13	18
North West Thames	1	10	13	44	68
North East Thames	2	6	19	76	103
South East Thames	1	6	10	41	58
South West Thames	—	2	8	46	56
SHAs	3	6	13	26	48
Wessex	—	—	4	17	21
Oxford	—	5	5	17	27
South Western	—	2	4	12	18
West Midlands	—	4	9	30	43
Mersey	—	1	6	12	19
North Western	—	1	9	24	34
Totals	8	44	118	421	591
Male at 31 December 1993
Northern	8	31	100	201	340
Yorkshire	10	36	103	224	373
Trent	15	46	118	285	464
East Anglia	12	27	65	129	233
North West Thames	17	62	103	225	407
North East Thames	23	85	147	313	568
South East Thames	21	53	117	285	476
South West Thames	9	30	96	166	301
SHAs	33	84	106	130	353
Wessex	3	30	70	171	274
Oxford	14	43	62	154	273
South Western	6	26	98	177	307
West Midlands	6	63	111	305	485
Mersey	9	32	62	143	246
North Western	12	38	109	266	425
Totals	190	645	1,395	3,074	5,304

The report touches on questions of national co-ordination which, together with its recommendations on local action, will be considered by the central drugs co-ordination unit. The remit of the study was, however, local and regional collaboration and the early draft of the report was revised to reflect this.

Amenity Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 4 February, Official Report, column 976, what percentage of hospitals for each region, special health authority and trust charge for amenity beds; and what price variations exist regionally.

The availability and charges made for amenity beds are matters for local decision. Charges should represent the notional cost of the additional privacy of a single room or small ward.

Merit Awards

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the value and number of the merit awards given to men and to women in each of the regional health authority areas in England.

Information on the numbers of distinction awards for male and female national health service consultants by region and by level of award is shown in the tables. The value of each level of award payable to a whole time consultant, as at 1 April 1993, is A+, £47,200; A, £34,775; B, £19,875; C, £9,935.

Note: Where a consultant holds a contract in more than one region he or she may be counted under each but only once in the total.

Staff Guidance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the guidance for staff on relations with the public and media will cover private sector health providers operating under contracts from GP fundholders or health authorities; and whether staff employed by national health service contractors are covered by the guidance.

The guidance is directed at national health service staff but anyone working in the national health service is expected to comply with national health service standards of conduct particularly the obligation to safeguard patient confidentiality at all times.

Church Commissioners

Gilt Stripping

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, to what extent in money terms gilt stripping activity is currently being undertaken by the commissioners; and if the commissioners will make it their policy that money from these sales is used to replenish the capital account to prevent further capital erosion of the commissioners' assets.

The income from coupon trading—or "gilt stripping"—in 1993 was £13.6 million. The amount to be generated in 1994 and ensuing years is still to be determined in the light of income requirements. Until these are brought in line with expenditure, the capital cannot be replenished. The commissioners have accepted the recommendations of the Lambeth Group concerning the need to preserve their capital in real terms, and coupon trading will be phased out as soon as possible.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, what agreement the commissioners have reached with their auditors on how they should treat for book-keeping purposes their gilt stripping activities, following the evidence given to the Social Security Committee.

The commissoners have recently obtained counsel's opinion on their methods of accounting for capital and income. They have been advised that coupon trading—or "gilt stripping"—does not constitute a breach of trust if it is carried out with a view to balancing the investment strategy as a whole and compensating for a low yield on other investments with a greater potential for capital growth. In those circumstances, the whole of the income thus generated may correctly rank as income in their accounts.The coupon trading activities are part of the policy recently given publicity in the press, namely that the cuts in the commissioners' allocations shall not be at so fast a rate that they will risk short-term, but irreversible, damage to the Church, while at the same time maintaining, so far as is possible, the integrity of the commissioners' portfolio.The commissioners are discussing this matter with their auditors, whose opinion will be given in the context of the annual report and accounts taken as a whole. The commissioners cannot anticipate that opinion before the accounts and audit have been completed.The amount of income generated by coupon trading will continue to be disclosed in the commissioners' annual report and accounts.

Volume 238: debated on Friday 25 February 1994

Written Answers To Questions

Lord Chancellor's Department

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