To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the age of consent for lawful sexual intercourse in each of the countries in the European Community.

The following table sets out what I understand to be the ages at which, provided that there is mutual consent and no special provisions apply—see footnotes—persons may legally engage in heterosexual and homosexual sexual acts in each EC country.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what vetting procedures are in place on the staff of Group 4 who will be involved in the transportation of prisoners to Birkenhead Crown court; and if Group 4 will be responsible for the transportation of prisoners irrespective of their offence.

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 Horne Department when he will announce his decision concerning restructuring of the coroner service for Greater Manchester.

Following local consultation, my right hon. and learned Friend has decided not to proceed with a proposal to make an order under section 4(1) of the Coroners Act 1988 to restructure the coroners district in Greater Manchester. The present four coroners districts will therefore continue unaltered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the future of the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory; and if he will make a statement.

On the basis of a review initiated by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Home Office, I have concluded that the Metropolitan police forensic science laboratory should merge with the forensic science service to form a national organisation serving all police forces in England and Wales through seven regional operational laboratories; that direct charging for forensic science services should be extended to include services currently provided by MPFSL; and that the Metropolitan police and the City of London police should be untied from their reliance on the MPFSL as sole provider of these services. There will of course continue to be a Metropolitan laboratory.These changes will ensure that arrangements for providing forensic science support to the criminal justice system will be the same throughout England and Wales. The merger will ensure that strong forensic science support continues to be made available to the Metropolitan police and the City of London police. Both FSS and MPFSL have traditions of excellence in the provision of forensic science support to the criminal justice system. Within an enlarged agency they will maintain and build upon already high standards of forensic science support to crime investigation in London while ensuring the continued development of effective and efficient forensic science provision throughout England and Wales; characterised by its high quality, clear impartiality and availability equally to police, prosecution and defence.The worldwide reputations which the MPFSL and FSS have established will be enhanced by bringing them together. International standing is especially important at a time when developments in forensic science are increasingly being brokered across national boundaries and overseas markets are opening up.I intend that the MPFSL and FSS should merge with effect from 1 April 1996. Merger will be preceded by a transitional period, beginning on 1 April 1995, during which the director general of the FSS will manage MPFSL on behalf of the commissioner, and prepare, with MPFSL and FSS staff, and with the concurrence of the commissioner and the Home Office, detailed plans for the changes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been diagnosed as mentally ill in each year since 1979; and how many of these have been transferred to NHS facilities.

[holding answer 8 January 1995]: 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 President of the Board of Trade what are his latest estimates of the expenditure on all external consultants, including management consultants, for each year since 1987, in 1994 prices, for his Department and its agencies; and what are the quantified annual cost savings which such expenditure has resulted in.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: Disaggregated information on the basis requested is not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Industry and Consumer Affairs on 13 March 1990, Official Report, column 173, which showed the fees paid by the Department of Trade and Industry for general consultancies in the years 1984 to 1989, and to the answer given by my hon. Friend the then Under-Secretary of State for Consumer Affairs on 1 May 1991, Official Report, columns 219–20,which gave the corresponding figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91. Since 1986–87, programme-related consultancy work has been funded from within programme budgets. The fees for general consultancy work for the years 1990–91 to 1993–94 are given in the following table:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much high-level waste is currently stored at Sellafield; and how much of this has been vitrified.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: This is an operational matter for British Nuclear Fuels plc.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what unforeseen technical problems have been experienced by BNFL in the commissioning of THORP; and what are their safety implications.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: This is a management matter for BNFL. The commissioning programme for THORP is being implemented subject to the appropriate regulatory requirements.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is his Department's response to the cancellation of two German reprocessing contracts for THORP; how the cancellation of these contracts will affect the projected profits from the plant; and if he will ensure that the Touche Ross report commissioned by BNFL is made public to allow verification of the projected profits from THORP.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: These are commercial matters for the company. The two German reprocessing contracts which were cancelled related to business for the second 10 years of THORP's operation. I understand from BNFL that they do not affect the baseload operations of THORP arid hence its profitability during itS first 10 years of operation. The projected profits from THORP were set out in the document published by the company entitled, "The economic and commercial justification for THORP'', copies of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the current operational status of THORP.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: This is an operational matter for BNFL.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what research projects have been commissioned by Nirex on geology since 1990; and if he will state their cost, research departments and staff and their publication dates.

[holding answer 9 February 1995]: This is a matter for the management of UK Nirex Ltd. Nirex has published a wide variety of reports on its activities.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make it his policy to extend the powers of the electricity regulator to include the examination of directors' and chairmen's pay rises, pension contributions and share options.

[holding answer 6 February 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 7 February 1995, Official Report, column 139.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress the Government are making in their review of procurement procedures following the Latham report on the construction industry's contractual arrangements.

The multi-departmental scrutiny of Government construction procurement began on 28 November 1994, as announced in the news release of that date. Completion of the scrutiny is expected by early spring 1995. It is normal practice for efficiency scrutiny reports to be published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those public bodies for which he retains departmental responsibility; which of these bodies have been identified as suitable for placing in the private sector; and by when it is expected each of these bodies will enter the private sector.

Information on most of the public bodies for which I am responsible is given in "Public Bodies 1994", HMSO, which is available in the Library of the House.In addition to those listed, I retain departmental responsibility for the following:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for introducing major programmes of insulation in Wales; and what assessment he has made of the impact of insulation on atmospheric pollution.

The home energy efficiency scheme runs on a United Kingdom basis and is a major programme for home insulation for those in receipt of a state retirement pension and low incomes.I have made no assessment of the impact of insulation on atmospheric pollution. This is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 30 January, Official Report, column 538, if his consent was sought for the development agreement between Associated British Ports and the Cardiff Bay development corporation in March 1991; what assessment he has made of the contributions Associated British Ports would have made to the infrastructure costs of Cardiff Bay developmentcorporation if the previous arrangement of 11 May 1989 had remained in place; and whether the measurement of the appropriate level of development to be undertaken by Associated British Ports related exclusively to the level of private sector development attracted.

These questions relate to operational matters to which the chief executive will respond, as indicated in my answer of 7 February 1995, Official Report, column 151.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation about its contract with N. M. Rothschilds and Son Ltd.; between which dates Rothschilds was retained as financial consultants to Cardiff Bay development corporation; and if he will list its principal duties during this period.

I understand the contract ceased in 1990. The issues raised are operational and the chief executive will write to the hon. Member. I have had no discussions with the chairman about Rothschilds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales on what date the Welsh Development Agency signed the joint venture agreement with Associated British Ports, South Glamorgan county council and the Vale of Glamorgan district council for the urban regeneration project of Number One Dock, Barry.

The redevelopment of land at Number One Dock, Barry is the subject of an agreement between Associated British Ports and the Welsh Development Agency signed on 31 March 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many accidents occurred between cyclists and pedestrians in Wales; and how many prosecutions took place for cycling on the footway, in each of the last five years.

The number of accidents between cyclists and pedestrians and the number of prosecutions for cycling on the footway in Wales are given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of United Kingdom state pension expenditure is formed by state expenditure on old-age pensions for pensioners resident in Wales in (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

The information is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many self-employed people (a) failed to qualify for a retirement pension and (b) qualified for only a reduced pension, due to an inadequate insurance record for each of the last 30 years.

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Social Security what are the current contribution conditions for (a) unemployment benefit, (b) sickness benefit and (c) the retirement pension; and if he will list how these conditions have changed in the last 30 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the current contribution conditions of the state earnings-related scheme; and if he will list the changes in these conditions since the inception of the scheme.

Entitlement to state earnings-related pension arises where the earnings factor' derived from national insurance contributions paid in respect of 1978–79 or any later tax year exceeds 52 times the lower earnings limit for payment of national insurance contributions in the final relevant year²

Note 1—the earnings factor is the amount of earnings on which class 1 national insurance contributions have been paid in a given tax year. Class 2 and 3 national insurance contributions are treated as earnings at the weekly lower earnings limit. Where the year in question is earlier than the final relevant year, the earnings factor is revalued in line with subsequent growth in national average earnings.

Note 2—the final relevant year is the last complete tax year before that in which state pension age is reached or, if earlier, death occurs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many divorced or separated women received (a) a full and (b) a partial retirement pension on the record of their previous partners for each of the last 30 years.

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what have been the savings in public expenditure resulting from changes to the state earnings-related pension scheme since 1979.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will publish figures similar to those in table 2 of Cm 2714 on the Pensions Bill showing the estimated financial effect on the national insurance fund assuming a common retirement age of 63 years;(2) if he will publish figures similar to those in table 1 of Cm 2714 on the Pensions Bill 1994 giving an estimate of the costs of national insurance benefits assuming a common retirement age of 63 years.

The tables published in the Government Actuary's report, Cm 2714, have been produced to support the financial effects of the proposals in the Pensions Bill. Several options for the equalisation of state pension age have been examined and estimates of their financial effects published in the consultation documents, "Options for Equality in State Pension Age", Cm 1723, and the White Paper, "Equality in State Pension Age", Cm 2420, copies of which are held in the Library. These are the most recent figures available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the members of the DSS employers panel and the organisations they represent, indicating which members of the panel are representatives of small businesses.

The current members of the Department of Social Security's employers panel are:

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful appeals have been made regarding habitual residence.

The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people by standard English region, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are currently in receipt of housing benefit as a consequence of being in receipt of income support.

The information for Great Britain is set out in the table. I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for figures covering Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were statemented in each year from 1992 to the latest year for which figures are available.

In England, the number of pupils reported as receiving statements of special educational need for the first time in calendar years 1992 and 1993 was 34,037 and 38,292, respectively. Information for the calendar year 1994 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many children were statemented in England as requiring special educational treatment in each year from 1965 to 1976 inclusive.

The number of pupils in England and Wales newly assessed during the calendar years 1965 to 1976 inclusive as needing special educational treatment was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the expected increase in the school population in September 1995 (a) nationally and (b) by individual local education authority.

Projections of the school population related to January of the academic year. The total school population in England is projected to increase by 116,000 full-time equivalents between January 1995 and January 1996. Projections at local education authority level are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what she is doing to improve the teaching of mathematics in primary schools.

The Government are committed to higher standards and higher quality teaching in mathematics. The most important force for improvement is the national curriculum, which has established demanding expectations for both teachers and pupils. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools has confirmed that the national curriculum is rapidly helping to improve the standard of mathematics teaching in primary schools. The revised' national curriculum for mathematics has increased emphasis on arithmetic skills, particularly in the primary years. For the first time, pupils' progress in relation to the national standards is being rigorously monitored through national assessments and tests. The schools inspectorate confirms that these assessments and tests are contributing to higher standards.The Government have also been instrumental in establishing a number of 20-day training courses designed to improve primary school teachers' mathematical knowledge. The cost of sending teachers on these courses is supported by the Government with specific grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which local education authorities have school reorganisation or closure proposals under consideration by her Department; and how many places will be removed by each authority as a result of their proposals.

The following table shows the local education authorities which have school reorganisation proposals published under sections 12 and 13 of the Education Act 1980 currently with the Department. Not all such proposals involve the removal of school places. Where they do, the aggregate number of places that would be removed if the proposals were approved is shown in the table. Where there are no statutory objections, and the proposals are not called in by the Secretary of State, proposals in respect of county schools fall to be decided by the local education authority.

To ask the Prime Minister hat response he is giving to the report on famine in Iraq sent to him by Mr. Riad-el-Taher about his recent visit to Baghdad.

The recent communication has been noted by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy that an ad hoc tribunal should be set up by the United Nations Security Council to try those accused of the Lockerbie bombing; and what representations he has had in this regard.

No. It is clear from resolution 883 that the United Nations Security Council envisages trial only before the appropriate United Kingdom or United States court.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she was informed of the West Midlands regional health authority's wish to divest itself of its management services division; what reasons were given; what was her response; what time scales for the privatisation were discussed or agreed between the authority and herself for the privatisation of the management services division; and what safeguards for staff affected by the privatisation of the management services division were discussed with her.

The decision to proceed with the management buyout of the management services division, the time scale and the detailed provisions for the buy-out were matters for the West Midlands regional health authority. The proposal was in line with Government policy for streamlining regional structures as set out in the White Paper, "Working for Patients" and later reinforced by executive letter EL(MB)(89)59 issued in March 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the measures being taken to reduce or control prescription of antibiotics by general practitioners.

General practitioners are encouraged to prescribe effectively including the most appropriate use of antibiotics. Doctors regularly receive information on prescribing matters through a wide range of medical publications funded by the Department and are further supported in rational prescribing by professional prescribing advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current position of the private finance initiative proposal submitted by the Princess Margaret hospital in Swindon; and when a decision on this matter is expected.

In November 1994, six shortlisted companies were issued with an information memorandum. Initial responses were received on 23 January 1995 from five companies and are currently being evaluated. Detailed proposals will be developed in the spring. A decision is expected in July 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has undertaken into the connection between car exhaust fumes and the incidence of asthma among (a) adults and (b) children in the last three years.

Relevant research studies undertaken on correlations between atmospheric pollution and the incidence of asthma and respiratory illnesses, with funding through the Department of Health centrally commissioned programme, are:

Health Effects of the Nitrogen Dioxide Episode in London, December 1991—St. George's Hospital Medical School;

Modified National Study of Health and Growth, which includes the prevalence of asthma in children—United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St. Thomas's;

Middlesbrough Childhood Asthma study—University of Teeside.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were treated for (a) asthma and (b) bronchial complaints in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years.

From "Morbidity Statistics from General Practice" it is estimated that during the year 1991–92 there were 2,049,000 patients treated for asthma, and 3,905,000 treated for bronchitis¹. Figures are not available for the other years requested. For in-patients the number of finished consultant episodes, ordinary admissions and day cases, are shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the results of her inquiry into small children's homes; and if she will consider extending the provisions of the Children Act 1989 to such homes.

I expect the report of the social services^. inspectorate study of small children's homes to be submitted to me within the next few months.Provisions in the Children Act 1989, and in regulations made under that Act, already apply to such homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children in each family health services authority area were suffering from higher than expected levels of radioactive polonium 210 in their teeth in the latest available year; and what were the figures for (a) five years and (b) 10 years ago.

This information is not available. However, preliminary findings from a recent study funded by the Department reported elevated levels of polonium-210—a naturally occurring radionuclide—in the teeth of children living within 10 km of some motorways in the United Kingdom as reported in The Lancet on 4 February 1995. The study did not provide evidence that these levels are in any way sufficient to imply a risk to health. The Government are currently considering the options for further research in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for health how many complaints were (a) made and (b) sustained against (i) fundholding general practitioners and (ii) other general practitioners by family health services authority for each year since 1991.

The available information is published annually in "Health and Personal Social Services Statistics", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what circumstances non-qualified pharmacists are permitted to dispense prescriptions in (a) chemists' shops and (b) general practitioner practices.

The Medicines Act 1968 allows prescription-only medicines and medicines not on the general sales list—pharmacy only—dispensed in retail pharmacies to be supplied only by or under the supervision of a qualified pharmacist. General practitioner practice staff may dispense prescriptions where

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner practices had (a) a dispensing pharmacy in each of the last five years and (b) a dispensing pharmacy on site.

The number of general practitioner practices authorised to provide pharmaceutical services in England in each of the last five years is:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioner fundholding practices had a dispensing pharmacy on site in each of the last four years.

At April 1994, 352 general practitioner fundholding practices were authorised to provide pharmaceutical services. Information is not available centrally on whether the dispensing facilities are sited on practice premises or elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to answer the question from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield of 26 January, relating to the West Midlands regional health authority.

I have replied to the hon. Member today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many council homes in the Bolton district council area are currently empty and available to meet housing needs; and what percentage this is of total stock.

The latest information held by my Department relates to dwellings vacant on 1 April 1994 when Bolton metropolitan district council reported a total of 120 council dwellings which were either vacant and available for letting immediately or after minor repairs; this represents 0.52 per cent. of its total stock. The data comes from its 1994 housing investment programme—HIP1—return, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to monitor (a) mine water pollution and (b) methane emissions from abandoned mine workings in County Durham; and if he will make a statement.

The National Rivers Authority monitors the quality of water discharged both from pumping stations operated by the Coal Authority at recently abandoned mines, and from mines in parts of the; Durham coalfield where mining ceased many years ago I am not aware of any monitoring of methane emissions from abandoned mines.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list all test bore holes sunk in (a) County Durham and (b) Northumberland fur each year from 1990 to monitor mine water flows.

Details of boreholes constructed by the National Rivers Authority in County Durharn are listed in the table. No boreholes have been drilled in Northumberland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost of sinking the test bore hole at Warden Law, County Durham.

The Warden Law borehole, drilled by the National Rivers Authority, cost £28,358.62.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of revenue support grant which is allowed for the upkeep of parks and gardens in the standard spending assessment.

Standard spending assessments are the Government's view of what local authorities need to spend to provide a standard level of service and form the basis of paying revenue support grant. Revenue support grant is not earmarked for any specific purpose. It is for local authorities themselves to chose how much of their resources to spend on the upkeep of parks and gardens.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer on 2 February, Official Report, column 762–63, how much was paid to each of the firms of consultants listed for work done for his Department in (a) 1992–93 and (b) 1993–94; and if he will specify the nature of the work undertaken for each payment.

The total amount paid to the consultants listed is shown in the table. To separate the amounts paid to each, including separation into financial years, would reveal the cost of some individual contracts and thus breach commercial confidentiality.The nature of the work undertaken by each of the consultants employed in 1992–94 specifically in connection with the Department's market testing programme is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much has been spent by each urban development corporation on acquiring land and buildings since their inception; how much has been received by each for the sale of land and buildings; and what is the latest valuation of their land holdings.

[holding answer 8 February 1995]: Expenditure and receipts in respect of the acquisition and sale of land and buildings for each urban development corporation from inception until 31 March 1994, are given in the table. The value of development assets, which comprise both land and buildings at the lower of cost or net realisable value, are given as at 31 March 1994. The expenditure figures include purchase of land for use on infrastructure projects, for open space and for environmental improvements. Such expenditure is part of the regeneration remit of UDSs, but is unlikely of itself to produce receipts. It is therefore misleading to make a comparison between expenditure and receipts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to compensate for the extra cost of electricity generation arising from increased heavy fuel oil excise duty.

The most effective ways of keeping energy costs down is through the promotion of competition and the pursuit of efficiency in the production, transmission and use of electricity. The Government will continue to encourage both efficiency and competition.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his assessment of the effect on future: electricity prices in Northern Ireland of a 50 per cent. increase in heavy fuel oil duty.

I am informed by Northern Ireland Electricity plc that a 50 per cent. increase in excise duty on heavy fuel oil would increase electricity prices in Northern Ireland by about 1 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make representations to have the extra heavy fuel oil excise duty set aside or if he will make available some additional transitional relief until such time as over dependence on heavy fuel oil is replaced by natural gas.

No. The decision to increase the level of excise duty on heavy fuel oil which was announced in the Chancellor's Budget statement in November is in line with the Government's commitment to deliver healthy public finances as quickly as possible and to keep electricity prices in check through the encouragement of competition and the pursuit of efficiency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will consider increasing transitional relief to compensate for compliance with United Kingdom and EU policy on power station emissions and additional costs incurred through meeting alternative energy targets contained within the non-fossil fuel obligation.

No. The transitional relief scheme was introduced to give industry time to adjust to the application of cost-reflective pricing following privatisation and it will have served that purpose by the time it ends on 31 March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the importance to the Northern Ireland economy of keeping electricity prices in Northern Ireland at levels attractive to incoming industry and commerce and competitive for existing industry with electricity prices in Great Britain.

The price of electricity is one of a number of factors which is taken into account by incoming industry when considering Northern Ireland as a potential investment location. There is no evidence that potential inward investors choose between Northern Ireland and Great Britain solely on the basis of comparative electricity prices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the cases of contagious epididymitis in each year since 1985.

There have been no cases of contagious epididymitis in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people currently earn (a) less than £1.50 an hour, (b) between £1.50 and £2.00 an hour, (c) between £2.00 and £2.50 an hour, (d) between £2.50 and £3.00 an hour, (e) between £3.00 and £3.50 an hour and (f) between £3.50 and £4.00 an hour.

Information on hourly earnings in Northern Ireland is available only from the new earning survey and relates to the proportion of employees within each earnings band. The latest available figures are for April 1994 and are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of European Commissioners and the cost of their cabinets in (a) 1971, (b) 1981 and (c) 1991; and what is the estimated cost for 1995.

There were nine members of the European Commission in 1971, 14 in 1981 and 17 in 1991. When Austria, Finland and Sweden joined the Union on 1 January this year, the number of Commissioners became 20. On the question of cost, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer that my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave him on 13 January, Official Report, column 213.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what was the absenteeism rate for the Natural Resources Institute in each year since 1991.

[pursuant to his reply 24 January. 1995, c.103]: The chief executive of the Natural Resources Institute, Mr. Anthony Beattie, has now written providing details of staff sick leave.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he is giving to the report on famine in Iraq sent to him by Mr. Riad-el-Taher about his recent visit to Baghdad.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to his identical question today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) at which hospitals in Scotland cochlear implants are available for young children;(2) what restrictions apply to Crosshouse hospital carrying out further cochlear implants in the rest of the current financial year;(3) when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Clydebank and Milngavie of 20 December relating to operations for cochlear implants;(4) how many staff in Crosshouse hospital are skilled in conducting cochlear implants;(5) if he will make a statement about the consequences for young deaf children of delaying cochlear implant operations;(6) if he will make more funds available for cochlear implants in Scotland during the current financial year;(7) how many children are on the waiting list for cochlear implants in Scotland;(8) how many children have had cochlear implant operations postponed because of financial restrictions at Crosshouse hospital this year;(9) how many cochlear implant operations have been carried out at Crosshouse hospital in each month of the current financial year; and how many operations are projected for the remaining months of this financial year;(10) what proposals he has to increase the budget for cochlear implants at Crosshouse hospital in the next financial year; and what assessment he has made of the correlation between increases in funding and the number of operations performed.

Paediatric cochlear implantation is at present centrally funded as a national specialist service and is provided at Crosshouse hospital, Kilmarnock which is part of the North Ayrshire and Arran NHS trust. Funding in 1994–95 has enabled five paediatric operations to be carried out. The service is provided by a multi-disciplinary team led by a consultant ear, nose and throat surgeon.There are currently five children on the waiting list for cochlear implantation. No child on the waiting list has been given a date for operation in the current financial year which has subsequently been postponed. The waiting list is prioritised according to who needs treatment most urgently. A recent Medical Research Council evaluation study has indicated that, in general terms, cochlear implantation has favourable outcomes up to the age of seven years.Provision of cochlear implantation services in Scotland is currently under review and future funding requirements will be identified following consideration of the MRC evaluation of cochlear implantation and the paediatric cochlear implantation needs assessment. Both are to be published shortly.The following operations have been carried out in the current financial year. No further operations are expected to take place in the remainder of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the expenditure proposed for 1994–95 and 1995–96 by Scottish Homes in the categories (a) headquarters administration in Edinburgh, (b) publicity and publications, (c) regional office costs, (d) seed corn funding for housing associations set up to purchase Scottish Homes housing stock, (e) other funds for housing. associations set up to purchase Scottish Homes housing stock and (f) other expenditure not directly for the interest and repayment of loans for house building or the maintenance of housing stock.

The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member.