To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what purchasing contracts for health and social services boards were finalised by the Eastern health and social services board for the financial year 1994–95; what are the amounts involved; and with whom the contracts were made.

The amounts involved in Eastern health and social services boards purchasing contracts for 1994–95 are shown below:

Provider	Finalised amount
Eastern board area
Belfast City Hospital Trust	£38.975 M
Royal Group of Hospitals Trust	£47.197 M
Mater Infirmorum Hospital Trust	£11.740 M
Ulster, North Down and Ards Hospitals Trust	£38.147 M
Green Park Trust	£19.890 M
Down Lisburn Trust	£56.504 M
South and East Belfast Community Trust	£57.873 M
North and West Belfast Community Trust	£47.757 M
North Down and Ards Community Trust	£24.583 M
Eastern Ambulance Service Trust	£4.885 M
CROSS BOUNDARY FLOW CONTRACTS
Southern board area
Craigavon Area Hospital Group Trust	£405,727
	Extra contractual
Craigavon and Banbridge Community Trust	referral
Armagh and Dungannon	£21,494
Newry and Mourne Trust	£223,125
Western board area
Altnagelvin	Not finalised
	Extra contractual
Omagh and Fermanagh	referral
Northern board area
United Hospitals	Not finalised
Causeway	£102,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will institute an inquiry into the number of head teachers and other teachers suspended from schools in Cheshire in the last 12 months, and the schools involved.

As a result of concerns expressed recently about allegations against teachers, the Department is currently preparing a survey of all local education authorities to find out the number of teachers who have been suspended as a result of allegations involving pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will review the information published in Statistical Bulletin 24/93 regarding teachers' responsibilities and pay scales, tables 9 to 12 and paragraphs 16 to 24, in order to identify whether women teachers in secondary schools which were grant maintained at the time of the survey appear to have had promotion prospects better than, the same as, or worse than women teachers in otherwise comparable local authority schools; what factors other than differences in experience and career break patterns account for any observed differences in pay scales between men and women teachers in grant-maintained schools; and if he will make a statement.

There are only relatively few self-governing grant-maintained schools in this survey, and they may not necessarily be representative of self-governing schools as a whole in this respect. However, the survey data show that women had a somewhat higher proportion of senior posts in these schools than in secondary schools as a whole.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his policy towards the promotion of equal opportunities for teachers employed in grant-maintained schools; and what arrangements he has made for monitoring known or possible inequalities between men and women teachers regarding their responsibilities and pay.

The governing bodies of self-governing grant-maintained schools must comply with the provisions of equal opportunities legislation which apply to them as employers. There are no specific arrangements for monitoring inequalities between men and women teachers: however, the Department collects and publishes statistical data on teachers' pay scales and positions of responsibility from time to time, and the School Teachers Review Body may examine such aspects of teachers' conditions of employment if it sees fit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what goals he has set for the employment of women teachers in posts of responsibility in grant-maintained schools; what relevant advice or guidance he has given to the governing bodies of grant-maintained schools; and what progress is being made towards his goals.

It is not for my right hon. Friend to set such goals; appointments of teachers to posts of responsibility are a matter for the governing body of the school. The Department's guide on education law for governors of self-governing grant-maintained schools refers to the requirements of equal opportunities legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

The Department currently has in use 100 portable telephones, at a total annual rental of £27,000 plus call charges, and 66 pagers, at a total annual running cost of £26,300. The portable telephones may be used in cars if a hands-free mount is fitted. It is not feasible to quote a separate figure for car telephones. Portable telephones and pagers are issued to key personnel in the Department who may need to be contacted urgently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he plans to publish his Department's circular of guidance on sex education in schools.

My right hon. Friend is publishing the circular today. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs to his Department in (a) providing legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

The Office of Public Service and Science has not incurred any legal costs in respect of evidence submitted to the Scott inquiry. Legal costs relating to my own evidence have been borne by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. I attended three sessions of the inquiry and was accompanied by my grade 5 private secretary. Records have not, however, been kept of the total amount of time spent by officials in preparing for, and attending, the inquiry and the cost of staff time is not therefore quantifiable. I prepared my witness statement myself during the recess.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has completed an evaluation of the charterline pilot scheme.

I have completed an evaluation of the charterline pilot scheme which ended on 31 March 1994. The pilot study has shown that people need more information about how to contact their public services. A number of proposals to meet this need have been identified during the charterline pilot. We are using the charterline database to work with the Royal Mail to produce a series of directories which will help people to contact their public services. We are also working similarly with BT and Thomson Directories. I do not propose therefore to continue the charterline service. In addition, we are working with organisations providing local services to produce information posters which will display helpline numbers and local information. We will continue to give priority to assisting others, such as the BBC, to develop their own helplines.In line with the provisions of the code of practice on access to Government information, copies of the evaluation report and the research conducted before and during the pilot study have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. A copy of the evaluation report has been sent to each public service organisation participating in the pilot study.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was written off in the Property Services Agency accounts in 1992–93; broken down by (a) customer name and (b) amount; and which sums are still being pursued.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 29 April, Official Report, column 354 for the details of the write-offs in the PSA services 1992–93 appropriation accounts. Of the total customer debt of £76.6 million outstanding at the end of the 1992–93, £6.9 million is still being pursued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to ensure that, when advice on fire safety and fire precautions is no longer provided to Departments by the Department of the Environment, all Government Departments will continue to obtain professional advice on these matters.

Individual Departments remain responsible for protecting against fire hazards the buildings that they occupy. It is for them to decide on the extent and the source of professional advice for particular buildings. My Department will, however, continue to provide central guidance on fire safety protection standards for Government buildings and on procedures for the management of fire safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

My Department currently uses 139 portable telephones, costing £44,000 per annum for line rental; 428 pagers and electronic bleepers, which cost £20,000 per annum to rent; and 15 car telephones, costing £5,000 per annum for line rental.My Department is also responsible for 34 car telephones and two pagers and electronic bleepers which are fitted in the pool cars and associated maintenance vehicles operated by the Government car service. The annual rental for this equipment is £11,000.The equipment is allocated to business units and not specifically to individual officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if an urban development corporation, arm's-length city challenge company, a housing action trust or the Urban Regeneration Agency may bid for the uncommitted non ring-fenced proportion of the single regeneration budget for 1995–96 and 1996–97.

Paragraph 44 of the bidding guidance for the single regeneration budget for 1995–96, copies of which are in the Library of the House, explains that English Partnerships—the Urban Regeneration Agency—urban development corporations and housing action trusts may join with other partners in promoting a bid for uncommitted resources from the single regeneration budget. Similarly, city challenge companies may take part in bids and, as paragraph 29 of the guidance makes clear, existing city challenge partnerships might in some cases form the basis for initiatives supported by the budget. Arrangements for the budget for 1996–97, including those relating to any uncommitted proportion of the budget, will be finalised in the light of the public expenditure settlement later in the year.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee (1) if he will institute an experiment directed to enabling hon. Members to receive E-mail from constituents similar to that currently being undertaken by the United States House of Representatives;(2) if he will make a statement on the feasibility of connecting the Parliamentary Data and Video Network to the Internet.

The Information Committee has reported on the Parliamentary Video and Data Network —PDVN—pilot project in its first report, "The Provision of a Parliamentary Data and Video Network", HC237 of the present Session. If the House approves the establishment of a permanent Parliamentary Data and Video Network as proposed in the report, the Information Committee intends to undertake an inquiry into future additional services which might be made available to Members on the PDVN.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the Committee stage of the Sale and Supply of Goods Bill were drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

None.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many amendments for consideration at the Report stage of the Civil Rights (Disabled Persons) Bill have been drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Those amendments tabled on Tuesday 3 May 1994 were drafted by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. Those tabled on Wednesday 4 May 1994 were not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the amount of maintenance and track renewal work to be carried out in the financial year 1994–95 on the west coast main line.

The funds available to Railtrack this year for maintenance and track renewal are similar to 1993–94 levels. Railtrack is committed to maintaining the west coast main line in the steady state until work on upgrading starts in mid-1995. The amount of work to be carried out this year should therefore be broadly similar to that in 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will implement the plan for investment in the west coast railway as set out by the west midlands regional rail forum; and if he will make a statement.

The feasibility study on the modernisation of the west coast main line currently being undertaken jointly by Railtrack and WCML Development Co. Ltd. will examine a range of investment options. The contract for the work on the line will be let in early 1995 and the work itself is expected to commence in mid-1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the west coast main line will be modernised; by whom; and at what cost.

My right hon. Friend announced on 1 December that, following a feasibility study by a private sector consortium working with Railtrack, a competition will be held early next year for the contract to design, build and maintain the improvements to the line. That remains the timetable. The feasibility study is under way. Work is expected to start in mid-1995 and to take eight to 10 years. The cost has been estimated at between £400 million and £600 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the criteria for allocating rolling stock by the three proposed leasing companies.

There will be a number of criteria. The most important are the suitability of rolling stock to the route and to meet the service specified by the Franchising Director. The final allocation of stock will be a matter for negotiation between the rolling stock company and the passenger train operator.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much investment he estimates will be required to prepare the rail network for privatisation.

Investment in the rail network has been geared to the maintenance and improvement of service standards and has been running at historically high levels in recent. years. Investment levels of around £3 billion announced last November for the three years from 1994–95 continue to support these objectives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when assistant chief driving examiners in the Driving Standards Agency were made equivalent in grade to senior executive officers; when the agency made this decision; when the appropriate trade unions were consulted; what powers within the agency's framework document were invoked to make this decision; and if senior executive officers will be eligible for assistant chief driving examiner posts.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Driving Standards Agency under its chief executive, Dr. John Ford. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has reached a decision on the night flying restrictions to apply at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted from 23 October 1994; and if he will make a statement.

The proposals that I published on 10 November 1993 for revised night flying restrictions

Winter	Movements Limit	Quota	Summer	Movements Limit	Quota
Heathrow
1994–95	2,550	5,000	1995	3,250	7,000
1995–96	2,550	5,000	1996	3,250	7,000
1996–97	2,550	5,000	1997	3,250	7,000
1997–98	2,550	5,000	1998	3,250	7,000
Gatwick
1994–95	3,000	6,820	1995	8,050	9,550
1995–96	3,750	6,820	1996	9,100	9,550
1996–97	4,500	6,820	1997	10,150	9,550
1997–98	5,250	6,820	1998	11,200	9,550
Stansted
1994–95	4,640	3,000	1995	6,750	4,200
1995–96	4,820	3,000	1996	7,000	4,200
1996–97	5,000	3,000	1997	7,000	4,200
1997–98	5,000	3,000	1998	7,000	4,200

The quotas for Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted remain as I announced on 6 July 1993. The movements limits for Heathrow and Gatwick are as proposed in the November 1993 consultation. The Stansted movements limits that I am announcing for the first three seasons are slightly lower than those proposed, as was the movement limit for this summer announced on 1 February. I also confirm that the movements limits and quotas for Stansted have been set in the light of the present limit of 78,000 passenger air transport movements—ATM. I will review both the movements limits and the quotas if Parliament should approve an increase in the Stansted ATM limit before summer 1998.The 10 per cent. end-of-season flexibility, with penalty for excess thereafter, will apply, as proposed, to the movements limits as well as to the quotas. The arrangements for dispensation also continue to apply. Experience of operating under the guidelines published on 6 July 1993 has shown the need for some minor amendments. These do not change the circumstances in covered the arrangements for the 1994 summer season and those to apply from winter 1994–95 until the end of the summer 1998 season. We acknowledged the need for an early decision on the 1994 summer season by separating the proposals in the consultation paper and our conclusions for that season were announced by my hon. Friend, and my noble Friend on 1 February. The summer season commenced on 27 March and continues until 23 October. The conclusions that I am announcing today apply to the following four years.Our November consultation paper proposed that there should be a movements limit for each airport with the quota system based on the noise certification of aircraft also applying as a supplementary control. An alternative approach was also set out which would dispense with the need for quotas but impose subsidiary limits on movements by the noisier types of aircraft. As in respect of summer 1994, the responses for the following four years showed very little support for this alternative approach. I have therefore concluded that the night restrictions should continue to be in the form of movements limits supplemented by quotas. The classification of aircraft according to the quota count system, the hours of the night restrictions and the night quota period will remain as I announced on 6 July 1993.The night-time movements limits and quotas for each airport for each season will be:—which a dispensation might be considered but provide some further clarification for operators. I have placed a copy of the revised guidelines in the Library.I have given careful consideration to the responses from people living around the three airports, the local authorities, environmental groups and local organisations and other representative bodies. I have also given careful consideration to the responses from airlines, aviation bodies and other user organisations. In general, the responses were more polarised than hitherto, reflecting not just the particular interests of those putting them forward but also, I am sure, the length of time for which we have been debating the issues. My aim is still to strike a fair balance between the different interests: to protect local people from excessive aircraft noise at night without unnecessarily impeding the airline industry. The movements limits and quotas that I have announced today for the three airports should achieve this. However, as explained in the November 1993 consultation paper, there are difficulties in setting appropriate movements limits several years ahead. I therefore confirm that, as proposed, the Government will be prepared to consider adjustments to the movements limits prior to 1998 in the light of advice from the airport consultative committees.I fully acknowledge that aircraft noise at night may disturb the sleep of some people near airports and that it is a matter of concern to many others who fear that they might be disturbed. However, a complete ban on night flights could not be justified. For many years, it has been the Government's policy to allow night operations to continue while seeking to ensure that eventually all such operations would be carried out by quiet types of aircraft. In my announcement on 6 July last year I drew attention to the great strides that had been made by the industry in phasing out older, noisier aircraft and to the regulations to ensure the phasing out between 1995 and 2002 of what are now described as the noisier chapter 2 jets. Those are aircraft once regarded as quiet.The arrangements that I have confirmed today continue the policy of encouraging the use of the most modern and quietest types of aircraft. This will permit some increase in movements provided that the quietest types of aircraft are used but the noise quotas will keep overall night noise levels well below those for summer 1988 at Heathrow and Gatwick. The movements limits provide overall control on the number of movements at night. I understand the worries expressed by local people that substantial growth of the number of movements, irrespective of the noise performance of the aircraft concerned, might bring additional disturbance from the ground operations associated with those aircraft. I therefore indicated in the November 1993 consultation paper that we were considering whether to initiate a new study into ground noise at airports at night to see whether further measures of amelioration or control might be appropriate. This has been generally welcomed. I therefore confirm that I have asked my officials to consider further with BAA plc, which is responsible for measures to control ground noise at Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the scope and form that such a study might take, arid to present proposals to me by the end of this year.I also confirm that the monitoring and reporting arrangements announced on 6 July 1993 and 1 February 1994 are under way. These are being overseen by the Department's aircraft noise monitoring advisory committee and comprise

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of (a) northbound and (b) southbound traffic on the A34–A5 corridor parallel to the proposed Birmingham northern relief road is long distance; and what is the total amount of traffic on the Birmingham northern relief road that is expected to be long distance in 1996 and 2011.

The question relates to matters which are the responsibility of the Highways Agency; the chief executive will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of motorway in England and Wales were coned off in (a) October 1992 and (b) March 1994.

[holding answer 3 May 1994]: This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. The chief executive has written to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by his Department.

No private detective agencies are used by the Treasury. Information relating to the use of security companies was included in the answer that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave to the hon. Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) on 21 April 1994, Official Report, columns 596–97.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he is considering to the coinage system.

I have asked the Royal Mint to undertake a public consultation exercise on the possible introduction of a £2 coin for general circulation and also on whether the 50p coin should be replaced with a smaller coin.The Royal Mint will consult as widely as possible and will seek the views of the general public as well as those of special interest groups and major coin users.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

The Treasury currently uses 23 mobile telephones, 71 pagers and electronic bleepers and seven car telephones. The total annual operating cost of this equipment is £20,300 excluding VAT and telephone call costs.The mobile telephones are mainly used in the offices of Ministers and senior officials. The pagers and bleepers are provided to some staff whose jobs regularly take them out of their offices but who need to be contactable, for example, computer support personnel or office services staff.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the total cost in 1994–95 of relief from capital gains tax for (a) retirement relief, (b) holdover relief for gifts, (c) relief for trading losses against capital gains, (d) indexation allowance and rebasing to March 1982, (e) exemption of first £5,800 of gains of individuals and first £2,900 of gains of trustees and (f) gains accrued but unrealised at death.

[holding answer 28 April 1994]: Provisional estimates for the costs of the reliefs, allowances and exemptions for 1994–95 are given in the table.

	Cost for 1994–95 (£ million)
a. Retirement relief	65
b. Holdover relief for gifts	50
c. Relief for trading losses against capital gains	85

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the total value and (b) the number of estates, notified for probate in the latest available year where the net estate was valued at £1 million or over and no inheritance tax was paid.

[holding answer 29 April 1994]: Exemption from inheritance tax applies to certain transfers, for example between husband and wife and to charities. Relief is also allowed in respect of certain agricultural property and business assets in order that family farms and businesses can be passed on.Provisional estimates for estates applying for grants of representation where death occurred in the financial year 1990–91, and where the net estate was valued at £1 million or over are given below. Figures for more recent years are not available.

	Number
Number of estates applying for grants of representation	743
Number of estates not taxed	226
Total net estate value of estates not taxed (£ million)	490

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown), Official Report, 15 March 1991, columns 700–1, on capital transfer tax and inheritance tax.

[holding answer 29 April 1994]: Latest available estimates for capital transfer and inheritance tax for 1993–94 and 1994–95 are as follows:

	Estimate
Reduction, compared with indexed 1978–79 regime is:
Total liability (£ million)
1993–94	770
1994–95	820
Average liability1 (£)
1993–94	11,400
1994–95	11,800
Taxpayer numbers (thousands)
Indexed regime
1993–94	68
1994–95	69

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list by region the number of cases of tuberculosis in deer in each year since 1985.

There has been one notified outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in deer in Wales since 1985. It occurred in Dyfed in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a comparable table of the standards of each GCSE examining board covering pupils in Wales.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement concerning concessionary travel for pensioners in Wales.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the building of sheltered housing in Alyn and Deeside.

I expect Housing for Wales and the local authority to ensure that an adequate supply of sheltered housing is available. Housing for Wales plans, to complete six category 1 units for elderly people during 1994–95; the local authorities' plans are set out in their "Housing Strategy Operational Plan", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will meet community and town councils and tenants' associations in Alyn and Deeside to discuss investment to combat damp and cold conditions and defective doors and windows.

Such investment is a matter for the district council which determines local priorities within the resources that it has available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with health trusts in Clwyd concerning acute beds in hospitals.

Welsh Office health department officials have met the Wrexham Maelor NHS trust about its proposals for estate rationalisation on the Wrexham Maelor hospital site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans his Department has (a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information which the public may wish to have access to and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.

My Department is considering the use of the Internet and other electronic services initially for the transmission to non-media outlets of press notices. The possibility of including other departmental information would be considered after this first stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has had regarding wind farms in Wales; what is the nature of these representations; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1991, I have received 91 representations in favour of wind farm developments, two of which included petitions with 10 and 60 signatures respectively, and 291 representations against developments, one of which included a petition with 879 signatures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific proposals he has to reduce the incidence of sheep scab in Welsh flocks; and if he will make a statement.

A number of representations have been made calling for the Government to impose statutory controls in respect of sheep scab. However, this is a disease which can be controlled readily by individual farmers, who are well aware of the preventive measures and procedures needed to deal with it. The Agriculture Departments have produced a guidance leaflet on how to safeguard against sheep scab and what to do if the disease is suspected. Veterinary field staff will also continue to watch for welfare problems at markets and on-farm and will be alert for cases of distress caused by sheep scab. We shall not hesitate to press for suitable action to be taken under animal welfare legislation against those who cause serious welfare problems by not dealing promptly and satisfactorily with outbreaks of sheep scab in their flocks.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the guidance to the Health and Safety Commission on the exercise of its responsibilities for co-ordinating certain nuclear safety research programmes will be revised.

I wrote to the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission recently agreeing a revision to the guidelines issued originally by the Secretary of State for Energy in 1989. The guidelines have been expanded to include research relevant to any activity or process associated with operation or decommissioning of nuclear power systems on a United Kingdom licensed site. Other changes take account of the changes in the status of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority, European Union procurement rules and departmental responsibilities.A copy of the revised guidelines has been placed in the Library of the House. Copies have also been sent to Her Majesty's chief inspector of nuclear installations, and the chairmen of Nuclear Electric plc, British Nuclear Fuels plc, and Scottish Nuclear Ltd.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress made to date in creating a national strategic technology acquisition plan.

[holding answer 3 May 1994]: The Government adopted the technology priorities of the aviation committee's national strategic technology acquisition plan for civil aeronautics in July 1993. This plan is important in helping to identify and prioritise the research effort that may need to be taken in industry and through publicly funded programmes—and to bring about better complementarity and relevance of the latter including DTI, defence, science base and Community programmes. DTI has just completed a number of pilot exercises which are being evaluated.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to protect the consumer against the setting up of unrepresentative or bogus trade associations.

	All specialties		Acute sector		Surgical acute
Year	Average length of stay	Percentage day cases	Average length of stay	Percentage day cases	Average length of stay	Percentage day cases
1989–90	18.5	13.5	6.2	16.6	5.4	21.1
1990–911	15.6	14.4	6.0	17.7	4.8	22.7
1991–922	13.0	16.6	5.7	20.4	5.0	25.8
1 Provisional.
2 Preliminary estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the NHS trusts that came into effect from April 1993 which have held no meetings of the board in public.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that the Under-Secretary of State my right hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) gave him on 25 April at columns 65–66. No public meeting is required for such trusts before 30 September 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the names and full-time occupations of all the non-executive directors appointed to health trusts in South Yorkshire.

[holding answer 4 May 1994]: No, the consumer is already protected by a wide range of legislation such as the Trade Description Act 1968, the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Sale of Goods Act 1979 which, among other things, provide remedy against misleading or false representation in the supply of goods and services.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list every urban policy initiative that has been instituted or operated since 1979, the date that each scheme began operating, where appropriate the date that the scheme ceased operating and the funds available on an annual basis under each scheme.

[holding answer 3 May 1994]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 5 May, Official Report, column 608.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average length of stay in hospital for (a) all patients and (b) patients in surgical specialties in each year since 1988–89.

The average length of stay figure relates to in-patients who use a hospital bed for at least one night. They exclude day cases, although procedures previously requiring a short stay in hospital are increasingly undertaken on a day basis. The proportion of finished consultant episodes which were day cases is also shown in the table.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 17 January at column 385. The following amendments apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average cost of an out-patient appointment in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

The average cost of an out-patient appointment in 1991–92 was £54.18. The figure is derived from the annual financial returns completed by health authorities and national health service trusts. It includes overheads and capital charges. Information for earlier years was not collected on a comparable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what communication she had with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill regarding the publication of Professor La Fontaine's report on ritual abuse; when this communication took place; when the report was made available to the Press; and if she will make a statement;(2) what is her timetable for the publication of Professor Jean La Fontaine's report on ritual abuse; and if she will make a statement;(3) what considerations led to the selection of an anthropologist to produce a report on ritual abuse; and if she will make a statement.

A report of the main findings of Professor La Fontaine's survey into the extent and nature of organised and ritual abuse will be published shortly. Publication of her full academic book is expected in the autumn.Professor La Fontaine's application was one of a number received. It was selected on the basis of scientific merit in the normal way, through independent anonymised peer review and consideration by the Department of Health child care research liaison group, which includes a number of independent academic and social service advisers.Professor La Fontaine's report has not been made available to the press. Communication on this issue was by parliamentary question and answer, and I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 29 March at column

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for changing the regulations in respect of the explanation provided to patients who are de-registered by general practitioners.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the total expenditure by (a) NHS mists, (b) regional health authorities, (c) district health authorities and (d) family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS service providers in 1992–93 and 1993–94;(2) what was the total expenditure by NHS trusts, regional and district health authorities and family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS providers in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

The total expenditure by national health service trusts, regional health authorities, district health authorities and family health services authorities on purchase of health care from non-NHS providers in 1992–93 is shown in the table. Provisional figures for expenditure in the year 1993–94 will be available in December 1994.

Purchaser	£000
NHS trusts	45,436
Regional health authorities	21,421
District health authorities	187,335
Family health services authorities	13,127

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to ensure that the medical colleges implement her recommendations on changes to specialist medical training.

In December 1993, I announced the Government's acceptance of the recommendations in the report of the working group on specialist medical training "Hospital Doctors: Training for the Future". The work needed by medical royal colleges, postgraduate deans, the General Medical Council and national health service managers to ensure successful implementation of the report's recommendations is under way. All medical royal colleges have made substantial progress in their commitment to develop curricula for structured training programmes by July this year. Copies of the report are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by her Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

There are 500 portable telephones, some of which are car telephones, and 460 pagers in use in the Department. The annual operating cost of this equipment is approximately £412,000. Authorised users, who are mainly medical, scientific, professional and managerial staff, represent fewer than one in five of the departmental total. These facilities are required to enable them to maintain necessary contact with the Department and the national health service when travelling or while out of normal working hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which regional health authorities have completed the checks on patients implanted with Siemens pacemaker leads 1010T, 1050T and Prototype 93.

The Department has not sought information from regional health authorities. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman of individual RHAs for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to close Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hackney.

East London and the City health authority is at present undertaking public consultation on proposals for the future of hospital services for children in east London. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mrs. Frances Heidensohn, chairman of the authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether journalists were present at the visit to the ambulance service on 28 April by the Under-Secretary of State for Health, the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville).

No, the press was not informed of the visit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list each hospital, general practitioner practice or other where health workers are employed, visited by her and members of her Ministerial team since 1 April; and which such sites it is intended to visit before 9 June.

Health Ministers have visited the following establishments since 1 April:

• Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, Enfield, Middlesex
• Dulwich Medical Centre, East Dulwich
• Dr. Grey's Hospital, Elgin
• East Grinstead Health Clinic, East Grinstead
• Enfield Community Care NHS Trust, Enfield, Middlesex
• Farnham Road Hospital, Guildford, Surrey
• General Practitioner's Surgery, Kingston Upon Thames
• General Practitioner's Surgery, Nottingham
• Hayward House Hospice, City Hospital, Nottingham
• Heathlands Project, Guildford, Surrey
• Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust, Uxbridge, Middlesex
• Hurst Health Centre, Walthamstow, London
• London Ambulance Service, Waterloo
• MeathHome Mental Illness Project, Godalming, Surrey
• MENCAP, Stallington Hospital, Stafford
• Princess Royal Hospital, Haywards Heath
• Skene Nursing Home, Elgin
• Whipps Cross Hospital, Leytonstone, London
• General Practitioner's Surgery, Peterborough
• Peterborough Hospitals, NHS Trust
• Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust
• Guy's and St. Thomas's NHS Trust

Ministers will continue to make regular visits to national health service establishments in performing their official duties. A number of these visits are arranged at short notice and it is not possible to provide a comprehensive list of future visits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will publish the report of the 1993 social services inspectorate inspection of the youth treatment service and the second annual report of the youth treatment service group; and if she will make a statement.

Copies of these reports have been placed in the Library today. I have accepted the recommendations in both reports and have asked the chief executive of the youth treatment service to implement them as soon as possible. This requirement is included in the "1994–95 Service Annual Plan for the YTS", a copy of which has also been placed in the Library today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has any proposals to establish a national register for psychotherapists; and if she will make a statement.

We support self-regulation by the profession and have welcomed the initiatives taken by the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapy and the British Confederation of Psychotherapists to establish their own registers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will seek from her United States counterpart the information he holds about the dangers of lumpectomies; and if she will make a statement.

Decisions on treatment protocols for breast disease are matters for the professions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is her estimate of the number of general practitioner referrals for hospital treatment who are waiting to get on the waiting list for first appointments in the Dewsbury and Huddersfield area;(2) how many people are waiting for their first out-patient appointment with a consultant in

There are no waiting lists for first out-patient appointments and no information is held centrally on the time taken between a general practitioner referral and first appointment. The hon. Member may wish to contact the local hospitals for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the minimum recommended frequency of visits by home helps/care assistants to people having been assessed as needing social care support in their own homes.

The amount of support will depend on the assessed need of each individual.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether contracts with National Health Service trusts constitute contracts with the independent sector for the purpose of community care special transitional grant.

Yes. The conditions attached to the special transitional grant define the independent sector as a body which is not owned, controlled or managed by a local authority.

To ask the Attorney-General what have been the costs to his Departments of (a) providing legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

The following costs have been identified:

	£
(a) and (b)	18,700
(c)	143
(d)	1,240
1 It has proved impractical to allocate costs to (a) and (b) separately.

The amounts in (a), (b) and (c) do not include the costs of staff in the Treasury Solicitor's Department which have been charged to client departments or the costs of staff who have provided legal advice within my departments in the normal course of their duties.

To ask the Prime Minister when. Her Majesty's Government introduced the practice of not commenting on the policies of other friendly Governments; and if he will list those Governments Her Majesty's Government regard as friendly.

Year	Number of applicants	Independent consultants	Firm of consultants	Other	Referred to committee	Granted unconditionally	Granted subject to conditions
1986	2	—	—	2	1	1	1
1987	3	—	—	3	3	3	—
1988	6	—	—	6	6	—	6
1989	3	1	—	2	1	3	—
1990	5	—	1	4	3	4	1
1991	7	—	1	6	5	7	—
11992	2	1	1	—	—	2	—
1993	5	2	2	1	—	5	—
1 In 1992 the Cabinet Office took on responsibility for the science functions of the former DES and the Treasury businesses (Her Majesty's Stationery Office; Central Office of Information; Chessington Computer Centre; and the CCTA.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan to discuss matters of interest to Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 5 May 1994]: I hope to meet the Prime Minister of Pakistan again later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales have been diagnosed in each of the past five years as having tuberculosis; in how many cases the disease was judged to be in its infectious stage; in how many cases it is judged that infection took place in custody; and if he will make a statement about the Prison Service's policy in this regard.

I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) on 31 March, Official Report, column 908.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list each hospital, general practitioner practice or other national health service site (a) he has visited since 1 April and (b) which he plans to visit before 9 June.

I have made one visit, to Basildon hospital on Tuesday 5 April. No other visits are planned before 9 June.

To ask the Prime Minister how many civil servants in his Department applied in each year since 1986 through the business appointments system to take up an outside appointment (a) as an independent consultant, (b) in a firm of consultants and (c) in other employment; how many were referred to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and how many were granted.

[holding answer 3 May 1994]: The information for the areas covered by the Cabinet Office and the Office of Public Service and Science votes is set out in the table.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of prisoners currently in prison who would qualify for release should the Home Secretary choose to exercise the powers of executive release granted to him by the Criminal Justice Act 1992.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department has powers under section 32 of the Criminal Justice Act 1982 to order that persons who are serving a sentence of imprisonment, other than imprisonment for life or an offence detailed in schedule 1 to the Act, may be released earlier, but not more than six months earlier, than they would otherwise be so released.Provisional information on the population at the end of December 1993 shows that if the Home Secretary were to invoke such powers up to about 9,000 prisoners would be eligible for release.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Stasic Chrenowski, also known as Stanislaw Chrzanowski, a resident in the United Kingdom, is being investigated by the police for wartime Nazi crimes against humanity; what is the current state of the investigation; and if the information which has come into the public domain has been referred to the appropriate unit of the police who are investigating these wartime crimes.

The investigation of allegations against possible war criminals living in England and Wales is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police war crime unit. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on any case which may be the subject of an on-going police investigation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on other prisoners have occurred in each of the past five years.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice is given on security to staff escorting pregnant prisoners to and from court and to and from hospital facilities;(2) if he will now review security procedures applicable to women giving birth while in prison custody; and if he will make a statement;

[holding answer 4 May 1994]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prison auxiliaries and civilian grades have been employed at each prison establishment in each of the last five years;(2) what is the proportion of

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the costs to his Department of providing (a) legal advice to witnesses appearing before the Scott inquiry, (b) drawing up evidence to be submitted to the Scott inquiry, (c) officials and legal advisers attending the Scott inquiry and (d) other related costs.

The cost to MOD of providing legal advice to witnesses giving evidence to Lord Justice Scott's inquiry has still largely to be determined. Some bills have yet to be submitted and others are still receiving consideration within my Department. The known cost of legal advisers attending the inquiry on behalf of the MOD witnesses currently stands at £12,000. Sixty-six current and former MOD officials and Ministers have been asked to give written or oral evidence to the inquiry. They have given this evidence on a personal basis and have not been supervised by the Department in its preparation. There is therefore no central record of the time spent or cost incurred in the provision of such evidence; serving MOD officials prepared and gave their evidence as part of their official duties. The direct central cost of the provision of evidence and information from MOD to the inquiry is estimated to be £128,000, which represents the cost of the inquiry liaison unit within MOD and the costs of photocopying and general presentation of the information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what consideration he has given to employing ex-service personnel to replace Ministry of Defence police and civilian guards; and if he will make a statement;(2) what consideration he has given to the future financing of the Ministry of Defence police;(3) what plans he has to introduce performance-related pay for Ministry of Defence police;(4) what assessment he has made of the current performance of the Ministry of Defence police;(5) what plans he has to change the arrangements for control of Ministry of Defence police operations; and if he will make a statement;(6) what plans he has to reduce the capability of the Ministry of Defence police to deploy armed officers; and if he will make a statement.

As indicated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, West (Sir J. Spicer) on 15 December 1993, Official Report, columns 738–39, a wide-ranging review is being carried out into the future role, aims, objectives, structure and pay of the Ministry of Defence police. This review, which is continuing, has been closely co-ordinated with the defence costs study. Formal recommendations have yet to be put to Ministers.The MDP fulfils its current duties with a very high level of professionalism and my Department has no plans to change the arrangements for control of MOD police operations. MDP will continue to be funded by my Department at levels consistent with the requirements for its services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the total number of courses run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, over the past two years; how many people have participated; and from which (a) services and (b) countries they came.

Over the past two years, 120 courses have been run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich. There have been 2,183 participants on these courses, including 61 representatives from 30 foreign and Commonwealth countries. United Kingdom participants were from all three services, together with civilians and contractors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is his estimate of the costs involved in closing the Royal Naval college at Greenwich and relocating the staff college to Camberley, including the costs of redundancy and relocation expenses, and of meeting the delapidation obligations at the premises currently occupied by the Royal Naval college;(2) what is the estimate of the potential savings to his Department which could be achieved by closing the Royal Naval college at Greenwich, taking into account the redundancy and relocation expenses

I have given no formal consideration to these issues. Staff training in all three services has, however, been looked at as part of the defence costs study, but no decisions have yet been made by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are currently employed by his Department at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich (a) in the supervision and management of the college, (b) in teaching, study and related research activities and (c) in the provision of ancillary and support services.

The figures requested are as follows:

	Number
Supervision and Management	30
Teaching, Study and related Research	99
Ancillary/Support Services	1118
1 Departmental staff plus approximately 150 civilian contract support staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the (a) direct and (b) indirect benefit to the United Kingdom of the attendance of overseas service personnel at courses run at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich.

The direct benefit of overseas personnel attending courses at the Royal Naval college, Greenwich is the generation of valuable receipts; around £500,000 being generated during financial year 1993–94. The presence of international officers on courses run by the college also broadens the experience and understanding of all United Kingdom course members. The indirect benefits include the fostering and strengthening of our defence relations with friendly and allied countries through the useful exchanges of ideas and views with officers from other countries' armed forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy in respect of the provision of ships for the British amphibious capability; and when it is expected that orders will be placed for one or more new landing platform docks.

The Government have made it clear in the past, including in the recently published "Statement on the Defence Estimates", that they recognise the importance of an effective amphibious capabililty, and are currently making a sizeable investment in this area as a result. Progress continues on the design and construction of the landing platform helicopter, which we ordered last May. Responses to the invitation to tender for the ship life extension programme for the first of the three older landing ships logistics, RFA Sir Bedivere, are currently being evaluated. The project definition studies for the landing platform dock replacement—LPD(R)—have now been completed, and the results are being examined. We hope to be in a position to make a decision on the issue of an invitation to tender for the design and build of the first of class—LPD(R)01—later this year. Subject to the successful outcome of the competition, we would expect an order to follow during the course of next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the use of private detective agencies and security companies by his Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones), on 3 May, Official Report, column 474, about private detective agencies.It is my Department's practice to employ private security companies to guard establishments where it is considered to be appropriate and cost-effective to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what funds have been allocated within the Defence Research Agency to the setting up of dual-use technology centres; and what is now the programme of inauguration of such centres, and their location.

This is a matter delegated to the Defence Research Agency under its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to reply direct to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rules exist regarding the wearing of medals by members of Her Majesty's armed forces which were awarded for participation in (a) UN missions in the former Yugoslavia and (b) EC missions in the former Yugoslavia.

Members of the British armed forces who meet the qualifying criteria for the United Nations medal or the European Community monitoring mission medal for service in the former Yugoslavia, may accept and wear these awards. The medals should be worn after all official British awards and medals approved by the sovereign.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the terms of the agreement between Turkey and Israel about the supply of water from Turkey to the Gaza strip for the needs of Palestinians; and if he will send congratulations to both parties on this contribution to the peace process.

We understand that when the Israeli Foreign Minister visited Turkey in April, water was one of the main topics of discussion. It was agreed that Israel should join the Manavgat water project. However, we are not aware of any agreement between Israel and Turkey to supply water from Turkey to the Gaza strip.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many (a) portable telephones, (b) pagers and electronic bleepers and (c) car telephones are currently used by his Department; what are the annual costs of operating this equipment; and to which personnel it is made available.

The number of portable telephones, pagers, electronic bleepers and car telephones presently used by the diplomatic and aid wings of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and associated annual operating costs are as follows:

FCO (Diplomatic and Aid Wings)	FY 1993–94 £
(a) 174 portable telephones	58,663
(b) 260 pagers and electronic bleepers	44,842
(c) 3 fixed car telephones	1,032
Total	104,537

Mobile telephones and pagers are issued to Ministers, the permanent under-secretary, assistant under-secretary of state and private offices on demand; heads of department for use by duty officers; information and emergency aid department; and any officer who can justify an official need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has had from the Indian Government about their attempts to reduce the number of child workers; and if he will make a statement.

We have not recently discussed this issue bilaterally with the Indian Government. We have urged all United Nations member states to abide by the programme of action for the elimination of the exploitation of child labour, which was agreed in 1993 by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, of which India is a member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposal has been put forward for Lloyd's Register of London to verify the enforcement of sanctions against Iraq through Aqaba; and how this relates to the lifting of the siege on Aqaba.

We welcome the Jordanian proposal to replace the multinational interception force —MIF—in the Gulf of Aqaba with land-based personnel from Lloyd's Register. The task of the onshore inspection regime will be the same as that of the MIF: to prevent breaches of the sanctions regime imposed on Iraq by the United Nations. Until Iraq satisfies the terms of all relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, we will continue to lend full support to efforts to enforce sanctions against that country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reasons were given by the Serbian Government in Belgrade for forbidding a British delegation, including representatives from his Department, from visiting Kosovo; and what was the purpose of the visit.

No British delegation containing representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been forbidden to visit Kosovo. My right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office was in Kosovo yesterday during his visit to the Balkans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans his Department has (a) to utilise the Internet, (b) to make available on the Internet press releases and other departmental information which the public may wish to have access to and (c) to use the Internet as a means of increasing the openness of his Department.

The Internet is being considered as both a communications and publishing mechanism for the dissemination of material originating from the FCO. A number of different links to the Internet, both in the diplomatic and aid wings, have already been installed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the International Atomic Energy Agency has yet received full co-operation from North Korea in its request to sample and analyse fuel at the Yongbyon nuclear reactor.

North Korea has yet to agree to the IAEA' s request to be allowed to inspect the refuelling of its reactor at Yongbyon and to ensure that the fuel rods are put under seal pending future analysis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the agreement between Hamas and Fatah Hawks in the Gaza strip; and what are its implications for the middle east peace process.