To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the result of his period of consultation on the landlord and tenant rights and duties paper concerning reform of the law of privity of contract; if he is now in a position to support an amended Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Bill containing the agreement made between the British Retail Consortium and the British Property Federation; and if he will make a statement. [20212]

Following a substantial response to the consultation in favour of the package, the Government will support such a Bill, provided that the principal change concerning controls over assignment of leases will not apply to purely residential tenancies or to farm business tenancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were on (a) YT/youth credits and (b) modern apprenticeships (i) on average in 1994 and (ii) at the last date for which figures are available. [19938]

On average in 1994, there were 280,400 people on youth training, including youth credits, in Great Britain. In January 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 287,100 people on YT, including youth credits, in Great Britain.As modern apprenticeship prototypes did not begin until September 1994, it is not possible to give an average figure for 1994. As at 7 April 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, according to training and enterprise council estimates 1,393 young people had started modern apprenticeships in the 17 prototype TECs in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number and percentage of YT trainees who currently have employed status. [19940]

In the period April to December 1994, 38 per cent. of those leaving youth training in England and Wales had employed status at the time they left. As this figure is estimated from incomplete information, it is possible to give only the percentage of employed status leavers, not the actual number.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what the National Council for Vocational Qualifications has cost to run in each year of its existence. [19944]

The National Council of Vocational Qualifications is funded through its co-sponsoring Departments of Employment, Education, Wales and Northern Ireland and from other sources—primarily national vocational qualification fees payable by awarding bodies and subscriptions to the national database of vocational qualifications. Grant in aid funding, which has contributed towards NCVQ's operating costs has been provided since it was established in 1986 is shown in the following table:

Year	£
1986–87	520,000
1987–88	3,708,698
1988–89	3,750,000
1989–90	3,000,000
1990–91	2,621,000
1991–92	3,700,000
1992–93	3,900,000
1993–94	3,826,000
1994–95	1,928,000

Other funding has been provided to NCVQ by the Employment Department and the Department for Education for specific activities to support Government activities. Details of NCVQ's other income are set out in the council's annual reports and accounts, copies of which are available in the Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19345]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: For a statement of Government policy on the preparation and publication of compliance cost assessments, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Corporate Affairs on 19 April 1995, Official Report, columns 189–90.Proposals from the Health and Safety Executive are accompanied by cost-benefit analyses rather than CCAs. CBAs compare the costs of compliance, both to the employer and to the economy, with the expected benefits of the measures proposed and include all the information required in a CCA. All CCAs and CBAs accompanying draft legislation are published. In the first three months of 1995, the Department has contributed to a CCA published by the Department of Social Security and two CBAs have been released into the public domain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19359]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Only two of the statutory instruments made by the Employment Department in the first three months of 1995 introduced new regulations. These revoked seven previous sets of regulations as well as specified provisions contained in one statute and nine other sets of regulations.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to overseas trade services to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee,

Registrations by rent officers 1988–1994 Percentage change on previous rent, unfurnished re-registrations
Private		Housing association
London per cent.		Rest of England per cent.	Year	London per cent.	Rest of England per cent.
18		18	1988	18	15
18		19	1989	19	16
20		23	1990	21	20
22		26	1991	23	22
23		26	1992	23	22
23		22	1993	21	20
22		19	11994	19	15

Rents are registered for a period of two years. The percentage on previous rent refer to this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many rent officer registrations have been referred (a) by the landlord and (b) by the tenant or another party to the rent assessment committee (i) in London and (ii) in the rest of England in each of the years from 1988 to 1994; and what proportion of these led to the fair rent being confirmed, increased or reduced by comparison with the rent officer's decision. [18715]

Information collected on referrals to rent assessment committees does not identify the applicant. Statistics on RAC decisions, including the proportion of cases where rents were reduced, confirmed or increased compared with the rent officer's determination, have been published quarterly in "Rent Officer Statistics" since 1990. Prior to this information was published half yearly arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 24 April to Friday 28 April 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average percentage increase in rent levels registered by rent officers (a) in London and (b) in the rest of England together with the comparable increases and decreases in (i) the retail price index and (ii) average house prices in each of the years from 1988 to 1994. [18780]

The available information is given in the tables:in "Statistical Notes for Rent Officers". Both these series are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce his conclusions on the recommendations of the Latham report. [19316]

I refer to the answer given to the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Gapes) on 5 April, Official Report, columns 1283–84. Further to that answer, a consultation document on proposals for legislation on liability and latent defects insurance was published on 12 April; we hope to publish a second consultation paper shortly on legislation to underpin Sir Michael's recommendations on fair construction contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the Latham report's proposal of standard contract documents for the construction industry. [19310]

We shall be consulting shortly on proposals for legislation to underpin Sir Michael Latham's recommendations on fair construction contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the interest receipts element in the all other services block of standard spending assessments for each district, borough and metropolitan council, including London, for the years 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96. [19829]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: A table containing the information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what interest receipts were earned by each district, borough and metropolitan council, including London, for 1993–94, separating the capital financing element from other receipts; and what are the budgeted estimates for interest receipts of these councils for 1994–95 and for 1995–96 where available. [19830]

Government office	Successful bids	Amount bid for (£)	Total bids	Total bid for (£)
South East	18	3,213,000	94	19,886,503
South West	18	2,079,000	93	11,796,000
West Midlands	21	3,086,800	56	10,212,000
Eastern	19	2,138,836	64	13,439,212
East Midlands	19	1,926,000	61	6,560,693
London	45	9,679,784	158	43,966,656
Yorkshire and Humbershire	21	2,712,000	37	5,233,251
Merseyside	5	762,000	22	3,396,461
North East	19	1,601,575	42	6,693,029
North West	35	2,801,000	127	14,954,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications were received in total by his Department for the housing partnership fund for 1995–96 for (a) energy efficiency projects, (b) the re-use of empty property and (c) flats over shops schemes; and what was the total amount bid in each case. [19889]

There were (a) 41 successful bids for energy efficiency schemes totalling £4,657,000, (b) 134 successful bids for re-use of empty property totalling £19,738,000 and (c) 39 successful bids for flats over shops schemes totalling £3,929,000. There is, of course, some overlap between these categories.Information on the numbers of applications for different types of schemes is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to raise at the forthcoming meeting of the Commission for Sustainable Development the rate of progress of Canada in meeting its target for carbon dioxide emissions in 2000. [19808]

None. The question of carbon dioxide emissions and climate change is not on the agenda for discussion at the CSD meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest estimate of uncollected community charge (a) nationally and (b) for each district council in Nottinghamshire. [19884]

The outstanding arrears of community charge in England as at 31 March 1994 were estimated to be £1,700 million, of which £217 million had been collected by December 1994. No data are yet available centrally on the amount of community charge written off between April and December 1994.

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: I have placed the available information in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications were received in total by his Department for the housing partnership fund for 1995–96 in each region of England; and what was the total amount bid for (a) by successful bids and (b) by all bidders in each region. [19888]

The information is provided in the table.Estimates of uncollected community charge for each local authority, including the district councils in Nottinghamshire, are published regularly by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy: figures for 31 March 1994 are available in its revenue collection statistics 1993–94 publication, a copy of which can be found in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets have been set for the Ordnance Survey executive agency in the year 1995–96. [20350]

The following performance targets have been set for Ordnance Survey in 1995–96.

1. To recover at least 80 per cent. of the total costs incurred by the agency.

2. To offer customers national coverage of Superplan by 31 December 1995.

3. To increase progressively the percentage of major detail which is surveyed and available to customers in the national topographic database so that, by the year 2000, 99 per cent. is available at any one time. The target for 1995–96 is 95 per cent.

4. In order to provide a quality supply service to customers, to dispatch products in response to valid orders as follows:

• 95 per cent. of Land-Line digital map units within six working days.
• 90 per cent. of small-scale maps within five working days.

5. To increase by 6 per cent. the annual revenue earned per member of staff employed.

These targets require further improvements on good performance by Ordnance Survey in previous years and recognise the importance of customers to the success of the agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps are being taken to appoint the chief executive of the proposed Environment Agency. [20810]

Now that the Environment Bill has received a Second Reading in the Commons, thereby indicating parliamentary support for the principle of the Bill, I have informed the environment agency advisory committee that it may start the recruitment of the chief executive of the proposed Environment Agency. The successful candidate will not be formally appointed chief executive until the Bill has received Royal Assent.Parliamentary approval to this expenditure will be sought in a summer supplementary estimate for the Department of the Environment's environmental protection and water vote—class VII, vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £55,000 will be met by repayable advances for the Contingencies Fund.This expenditure is required to meet the cost of recruiting the chief executive. Its urgency arises from the need to have the chief executive in place as soon as possible after Royal Assent to ensure that public funds are properly protected and to enable rapid progress with the establishment of the agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to issue a draft of the guidance to be provided to the Environment Agency on its objectives, including the contribution it is to make towards the achievement of sustainable development. [21032]

Together with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales, I am today issuing this draft guidance to inform debate on the Environment Bill. It expands on the draft outline scoping guidance issued by my right hon. Friend Lord Ullswater on 17 January 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations she has received on the new special educational needs code of practice; and if she intends to keep to the August 1995 deadline for the code of practice. [19883]

The code of practice came into effect in September 1994. It has been widely welcomed as reflecting existing best practice, although there are naturally concerns in some schools about the process of implementation. Schools are required to publish their special educational needs policy by 1 August 1995. There are no plans to extend this deadline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to her answers of 30 March, Official Report, column 718, on public bodies, when she intends to write to the hon. Member for Bath with the information requested. [19976]

A response to the question relating to the running costs of non-departmental public bodies sponsored by this Department was given to the hon. Member on 18 April 1995, Official Report, columns 50–52. Additional information is being obtained. I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested very shortly.

To ask the Prime Minister under whose auspices and at whose cost Dr. Martin Gilbert has been travelling on the Prime Minister's official visit to America. [18977]

The cost of Dr. Gilbert's journey was met by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much staff time, and at what estimated cost, was put into compiling the departmental annual report; and what were the figures for each year for which figures are available since 1990. [20181]

This information is not held centrally and could be made available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures the Department takes to assess the cost and staff implications of compiling material for the departmental annual report. [20182]

The compilation of material for the Cabinet Office departmental report involves, in many cases only briefly, a large number of staff throughout the Department, its agencies, HMSO and the Central Office of Information.No record is kept of the amount of time spent.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many metres of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purposes and the costs. [19848]

This information is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Government agencies there are at present. [20063]

There are currently 108 executive agencies established under the next steps programme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will place in the Library copies of each standard letter of guidance or set of instructions on issues of conflicts of interest arising from market-testing or contractorisation on the Government-owned, contractor-operated and Government-owned, Government-operated models. [20306]

Guidance is set out in paragraphs 6.10 to 6.12 and paragraph 6.16 of the Government's "Guide to Market Testing", which is available in the Library.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made to appoint advisers in connection with the privatisation of AEA Technology. [20813]

I am currently considering bids from financial and legal advisers in connection with the privatisation of AEA Technology. Appointments will be made shortly.Parliamentary approval to this new service is being sought in the main supply estimates 1995–96 for the Department of Trade and Industry vote; programmes and administration—class IV, vote 1. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £750,000 will be met by repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the EC Industry Council held in Luxembourg on 7 April. [20973]

I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting. The Council adopted three sets of conclusions: on industrial competitiveness, industrial co-operation with central and eastern Europe and high-technology industries. The meeting heard oral reports from the Commission on the implementation of competition policy in 1994 and on the monitoring of the six article 95 steel state aid decisions approved in December 1993. On the latter, I underline the importance of the conditions imposed by the Council being fulfilled and that we would want to look closely at the Commission's written report when it appears. The Commission gave a short oral report on the outcome of the G7 ministerial conference on the information society held in Brussels in February. Finally, there was a Commission presentation of its plans to establish common industry/research task forces within the Commission. No votes were taken on any of the issues on the agenda.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the guidance note dated 24 March 1995 from senior management to all staff at Companies House on conflicts of interest in the contractorisation process of Companies House. [20305]

I have placed in the Library of the House a copy of the guidance on conduct which has been drawn to the attention of Companies House staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the amount spent on entertaining by each Minister in the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [18967]

The information requested is listed and includes costs for VIP visits, official dinners and lunches and tea and coffee for visitors:

	£
Sir Patrick Mayhew	24,217
Mr. Michael Ancram	10,561
Sir J. Wheeler	8,528
Baroness Denton	9,942
Mr. M. Moss	4,645
Mr. T. Smith	2,367

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make it his policy that any money given to Northern Ireland by the United States will count as extra resources and that the Government will not give less money to Northern Ireland as a result. [19874]

That is Government policy. Money from the United States does not affect public expenditure levels in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of swine vesicular disease were reported each year since 1985. [19726]

None. There has never been a case of swine vesicular disease in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the outstanding amounts from the Government Loans Fund for each of the Northern Ireland district councils; and what is the cost per head of population. [19733]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: The Government Loans Fund was abolished by articles 7 to 15 of the Financial Provisions (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 and its functions were transferred to the Consolidated Fund for Northern Ireland. The amounts owed to the Consolidated Fund at the year ended 31 March 1994 in respect of Government loans by each of the district councils are set out in the table:

	£
Antrim borough council	4,408,035
Ards borough council	3,958,589
Armagh district council	4,853,541
Ballymena borough council	1,526,375
Ballymoney borough council	1,856,548
Banbridge district council	3,862,164
Belfast city council	15,449,088
Carrickfergus borough council	525,735
Castlereagh borough council	8,753,533

	£
Coleraine borough council	3,369,164
Cookstown district council	293,187
Craigavon borough council	2,652,632
Derry city council	13,359,039
Down district council	5,452,358
Dungannon district council	1,348,878
Fermanagh district council	1,268,524
Larne borough council	3,403,134
Limavady district council	1,798,610
Lisburn borough council	3,086,063
Magherafelt district council	955,183
Moyle district council	2,039,776
Newry and Mourne district council	12,673,242
Newtownabbey borough council	10,110,947
North Down borough council	10,711,612
Omagh district council	4,862,266
Strabane district council	3,716.344

This equates to approximately £79 per head of population of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19365]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: Forty-six rules and regulations were repealed by my right hon. and learned Friend in the first three months of 1995.One hundred and thirty-eight new rules and regulations were introduced during the same period including:14 which repealed earlier instruments or substituted a more favourable regime for business

	The Scottish Office		Scottish Prison Service		Scottish Record Office for Scotland		General Register Office for Scotland
	£	hrs	£	hrs	£	hrs	£	hrs
1994–95	3,227,331	504,735	288,728	42,379	36,480	6,021	32,736	4,264
1993–94	3,172,452	513,598	295,683	43,608	25,459	4,413	34,877	4,769
1992–93	3,296,869	547,691	272,469	41,661	67,896	11,931	43,951	6.021

The Scottish Office figures include all its agencies except the Scottish Prison Service. Individual information on these agencies cannot be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time.The total number of days lost through sickness in 1992 and 1993, figures for 1994 are not yet available, is as follows:

	The Scottish Office	Scottish Prison Service	Scottish Record Office for Scotland	General Register Office for Scotland
1993	64,890	68,850	1,303	2,976
1992	54,734	55,446	913	3,544

Again, the Scottish Office figures include all its agencies, except the Scottish Prison Service. Individual information on these agencies cannot be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time. Because of the variables involved in this calculation, it is not possible to give the monetary equivalent of days lost to sickness.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meters of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purposes and the costs. [19847]

[holding answer 19 April 1995]: The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland has bought 43.98 cu m of mahogany in the last five years, at a cost of £11,500, for use in the manufacture and repair of furniture. In line with existing policy, the use of mahogany is being reduced and it is now primarily purchased for repairs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years.

Information on the total number of hours overtime worked and the total amount paid in overtime is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom, in each of the last three years. [19652]

Information is not held separately for domestic and overseas travel or for individual agencies in the Scottish Office.The total subsistence allowance paid by the Scottish Office and its agencies in each of the last three years was as follows:

Year	£
1992–93	2,184,177
1993–94	3,675,067
1994–95	2,895,091

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19562]

Information on individual agencies and (b) and (c) cannot be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time.The total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials in the Scottish Office and its agencies—excluding prison officer grades in the Scottish Prison Service, where it could not be provided without disproportionate costs in staff time—who were required to relocate as part of their employment in each of the last three years was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated number of people aged over 17 years with glaucoma in Scotland. [19730]

Information on the prevalence of glaucoma is not held centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what quantified evidence he has on whether the United Kingdom would prosper outside the European Union. [19542]

Membership of the EU involves a balance of benefits and obligations, which cannot be quantified precisely. The benefits to the UK include increased bargaining power in world trade negotiations and the benefits from influencing the outcome of decisions taken at a Community level on a wide range of matters affecting our prosperity, including the single market and state aids.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the taxation of the life insurance business of friendly societies. [20814]

Regulations will be laid before the House shortly which will, among other things, clarify the treatment of expenses in arriving at the taxable profits of a friendly society writing life insurance business.Tax is charged on the investment income and gains referrable to such business, less the management expenses incurred by the society in the course of that business; but friendly societies enjoy an exemption from tax on the investment return from smaller policies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many metres of mahogany or products containing it his Department has bought in the last five years; and if he will list the purposes and the costs. [19837]

[holding answer 19 April 1995]: I regret that information prior to the financial year 1992–93 is not available.In the year 1992–93, the Treasury purchased some small tables with a mahogany veneer to a total value of less than £1,400. I am not aware of any such goods being purchased since. On 21 April 1993, the Treasury announced its environmental policy. This states that

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reductions are being made in the Home Office specialist support unit for training police officers in race and community relations matters; and if he will make a statement. [19512]

The specialist support unit is contracted out to an independent training consultancy, Equalities Associates. I understand that the company is considering a reduction of two training staff in the forthcoming contract year, commencing in July 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the performance of the Prison Service on escapes in 1994–95, including privately managed court escort services and prisons. [20812]

In 1994–95, the total number of escapes from prison and escorts outside prison, as a proportion of the average prison population, was 32 per cent. lower than 1993–94 and 49 per cent. lower than 1992–93, the last year before the Prison Service became an agency. The total of 202 escapes from prison and escorts in 1994–95 includes 15 from the privately managed court escort and custody service—compared with 26 in 1993–94 and one from the four contracted-out establishments.The rate of escapes continued to decline during 1994–95, and in the second half of the year—October 1994 to March 1995—the rate of escapes was 67 per cent. lower than the same period in 1992–93. In the period October 1994 to March 1995, there were only three escapes from the privately managed court escort and custody service—less than 10 per cent. of the number under the previous arrangements provided by the police and the Prison Service. In this period, there were no escapes from contracted-out prisons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received about the removal of basic privileges from 38 republican prisoners in prison in Britain; what representations he has received about such prisoners and visitors being stopped from talking in Irish; what instructions he or his officials have issued concerning these matters since 1 September 1994; and if he will make a statement. [17667]

[holding answer 3 April 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 Secretary of State for Transport if the Radyr bridge depot and yard was listed in the schedule of previously operational land transferred as surplus to railway requirements to Railtrack Property to be disposed of. [20307]

Radyr bridge depot and yard is owned by Railtrack PLC and is managed by Railtrack Property. The majority of the site is now surplus to operational requirements and Railtrack has recently decided to dispose of it, subject to access over the adjoining railway lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue further guidance to motorists on motorway lane discipline; and if he will make a statement. [19943]

Advice on good lane discipline is already contained in the "Highway Code" and the Driving Standards Agency's "Driving" manual. We take every opportunity to emphasise the need for good lane discipline. A controlled motorway experiment will start on the M25 next month with the use of variable speed limits and camera enforcement. We believe that this will have beneficial effect on lane discipline as the traffic flow will be smoothed with well-disciplined speeds and a consequent reduction in the number of lane changes. We shall be monitoring the effectiveness of the new measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19565]

The information is not available in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he hopes to be able to hold local exhibitions and meetings to explain the details of his new proposals for the M25 between junctions 12 and 16. [19241]

This is an operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people are employed at each of the British Rail civil engineering design offices in (a) Birmingham, (b) Croydon, (c) Glasgow, (d) Swindon and (e) York; how many bids in respect of each of these offices have been received by the BR vendor unit from organisations which wish to purchase them; and when he expects a decision on the bids will be made. [19751]

The number of staff currently employed at each of the civil engineering design offices is as follows:

	Number
a) Birmingham	119
b) Croydon	180
c) Glasgow	63
d) Swindon	140
e) York	160

The number of bids received for the design offices is commercially confidential.A decision on the bids will be made when negotiations are completed.

To ask the Secretary of for Transport how many rules and regulations he repealed in the first three months of 1995; and how many new rules and regulations were introduced in that period by way of statutory instruments, motions or orders. [19370]

Two rules and regulations were repealed in the first three months of 1995. In the same period, 17 rules and regulations were introduced—not including commencement orders, Orders in Council and instruments not subject to parliamentary procedure—of which:

two revoked earlier instruments or substituted a more favourable regime for business;

five implemented EU and other international obligations including measures to facilitate intermember state trade;

none facilitated privatisation and competition;

eight updated fees and charges or related to local legislation;

the remaining two are minor miscellaneous provisions which amend existing legislation and have no adverse impact on business.

Only two introduced new regulatory requirements which increased cost to business: the Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work) Regulations 1995 and the Road Vehicle (Construction & Use) (Amendment) Regulations 1995. Compliance cost assessments for both regulations have been placed in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what requirements there are for officials in his Department to introduce a compliance cost assessment for all rules and regulations coming before him and his Ministers; and how many compliance cost assessments have been issued in his Department in the first three months of this year. [19355]

[holding answer 18 April 1995]: In accordance with the guidance provided in the DTI publication "Checking the Cost to Business", my Department has agreed to produce compliance cost assessments for all rules and regulations which may have an impact on business. We have issued five CCAs in the first three months of this year, copies of which are in the Library.The reply given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 19 April,

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which local authorities in Wales have been identified by the Audit Commission as having a prima facie case against them of either corruption or maladministration; and if he will make a statement. [18877]

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what powers he has for the overruling of a valuation tribunal in setting a council tax band for a domestic property. [18969]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those health authorities or family health services authority, or health commissions in Wales where the level of community dental provision is being reduced and the level of salaried dental provision is being increased in 1995–96. [20311]

It is a matter for each health authority to determine, in the light of local circumstances, the appropriate level of community dental service provision for its area and information about this is not held centrally.

Family health services authorities can apply for permission to employ salaried dentists where and when they deem it necessary in accordance with local needs and circumstances. There are presently three salaried dentists in post in Wales. In addition, Dyfed family health services authority has recently been given permission to employ a second salaried dentist; Gwent family health services authority has approval in principle to appoint one; Gwynedd family health services authority has three vacant posts, and an application from Clwyd family health services authority is currently under consideration.On 5 April, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health announced the Government's plans for the reform of NHS dentistry following the consultation on the Green Paper "Improving NHS Dentistry". That announcement restated the Government's commitment to strengthen the safety net role of the community dental service to meet the needs of patients in areas of the country where there is difficulty obtaining NHS treatment under the general dental service.I have made available an extra £2.5 million to improve dental services in the community. Proposals from health authorities are currently under consideration by the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Wales disabled drivers assessment centre concerning the provision of a new integrated disabled drivers testing centre and test track; and if he will make a statement. [20310]

Welsh Office officials have discussed with the Wales disabled drivers assessment centre—in connection with Welsh Office grant support—its wish to relocate. These discussions are continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve the provision of cancer care services. [20811]

I have received the final report from the chief medical officers of England and Wales expert advisory groups on cancer "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services", which sets out a strategic framework for cancer services.I have accepted the recommendations in that report and a copy has been placed in the Library of the House.It is essential that all patients with cancer have access to high-quality, safe and effective care, and that health authorities in Wales should work together, and across their boundaries, to provide such care and support to patients, their carers and professionals involved in delivering that care.I am delighted that Professor Ian Cameron, provost of the University of Wales, college of medicine has agreed to lead an expert group to co-ordinate and support local action to implement the expert advisory group on cancer recommendations in Wales. I expect them to consult those affected and take local opinion into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the burial sites on land for chemical weapon munitions recovered during the First World War which are known to his Department; and what remedial action is taking place as planned to decontaminate these sites. [19333]

Bramley training area—formerly Bramley central ammunition depot—is the only MOD site where first world war chemical warfare munitions are known to have been buried. Following the discovery in 1987 of CW munitions buried there, munition recovery and clearance work was carried out. Work on further searches is currently being undertaken at other locations within the site. Any CW munitions located will be removed, rendered safe and transported to the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment, Porton Down for destruction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his oral answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 817–18, whether the figures he cites on future deployment of United Kingdom nuclear warheads include all existing categories of British land, sea and air-launched nuclear weapons presently deployed by the Untied Kingdom or allocated to NATO. [19335]

The figures cited are for the total number of Untied Kingdom nuclear weapons, excluding only any awaiting final dismantlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if, pursuant to his oral answer of 28 March, Official Report, columns 817–18, if he will specify on which year in the 1970s his figures for nuclear warhead capacity are based. [19334]

The figures are based on the point in the mid-1970s when United Kingdom nuclear force plans authorised in the 1960s were fully implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when Trident is expected to take up a sub-strategic nuclear role; and if he will make a statement. [19330]

I refer the hon. member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the City of Chester (Mr. Brandreth) on 4 April, Official Report, column 1097.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which hunts currently have a licence to hunt on Ministry of Defence land; and to which areas of land those licences apply. [18966]

The following hunts have been issued with licences by my Department for the 1994–95 hunting season in the areas shown:

Hunt	Area
The North Shropshire Hunt	Nesscliffe training area
The West Shropshire Hunt	Nesscliffe training area
The Tanatside Hunt	Nesscliffe training area
The Border Hunt	Otterburn training area
The West Percy Hunt	Otterburn training area
The Newcastle and District Beagles	Otterburn training area
The Tynedale Hunt	Albemarle barracks
The Bedale Hunt	Dry training area, Catterick
The West of Yore Hunt	Dry training area, Catterick
The Wensleydale Hunt	Bellerby, Catterick training area
The Zetland Hunt	Feldom training area
The Catterick Beagles	All parts of Catterick training area
The Blankey Hunt	Fulbeck and Beckingham training area

Hunt	Area
The Staff College and Royal Military Academy Drag Hunt	North East Hampshire and North West Surrey training area
The Windsor Forest Hunt	Aldershot Military lands and Surrey Commons training area
The Surrey Union Hunt	Aldershot Military lands and Surrey Commons training area
The Brecon Farmer's Hunt	Sennybridge Army Field training area
The Sennybridge Farmer's Hunt	Sennybridge Army Field training area
The Irfon and Towey Hunt	Sennybridge Army Field training area
The Glyn Celyn Beagles	Sennybridge Army Field training area
The Avon Vale Hunt	Salisbury Plain training area (West)
The Royal Artillery Hunt	Salisbury Plain training area (West)
The South and West Wiltshire Hunt	Salisbury Plain training area (West)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many naval (a) engineers, (b) nursing officers, (c) aircraft controllers, (d) accountants, (e) metallurgists, (f) architects and (g) clerical staff have lost their jobs in the last five years for which information is available; and if he will make a statement. [19160]

Although information is not available in the precise form requested, the number of Royal Naval and Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service personnel who were made redundant between 1 April 1990 and 31 December 1994 is as follows:

Engineer officers and ratings in the engineering branch of the Royal Navy (including metallurgists)—2,621

Supply and secretariat officers and ratings in the writer branch (which will include accountants and clerical staff) in the Royal Navy—236

Nursing officers and rating aircraft controllers in the QARNNS and Royal Navy—0

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is made for re-training those Navy personnel who have lost their jobs; and if he will make a statement. [19158]

Naval personnel who leave the service on redundancy are eligible for resettlement training and advice to help them prepare for, and find suitable employment in, civilian life. Typically, this includes: an interview to assess experience and qualifications, and consider future employment and training options; up to four week's pre-release training or individual resettlement preparation either at a tri-service resettlement centre or civilian college or university, or an attachment with a prospective employer; and a wide range of career and personal counselling. The individual may also register with the services' employment network which provides a computer-based job-matching service.We believe that resettlement services for members of the Royal Navy are comprehensive and effective and note that the independent review by Mr. Bett has made some recommendations in this area which will be studied carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of those naval personnel who have lost their jobs in the last five years have subsequently gained employment outside the service; what steps his Department takes to monitor the extent to which staff are re-employed elsewhere; and if he will make a statement. [19161]

Although information is not held in the form requested, tri-service surveys show that 80 per cent. of ex-service personnel are either in employment or retraining within three months of discharge.Surveys are conducted to evaluate the success of tri-service resettlement provision. These surveys include questions about employment gained. In addition, the Royal Navy has conducted its own study into attitudes and experiences of those who have recently left the service. More detailed and longer-term monitoring of leavers in all three service is being introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many students from Indonesia have visited the United Kingdom to receive training at United Kingdom military establishments in each year since 1990. [19745]

Although the UK has provided training for Indonesian students since 1990, details—including the numbers involved—are not normally disclosed as they are regarded as confidential between Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest assessment of the number of serving officers holding (a) five star, (b) four star, (c) three star, (d) two star and (e) one star rank for each of the NATO countries, together with his estimate of the total current serving personnel. [20273]

The information requested is not held in my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons a thesis on Soviet conventional air attack on the United Kingdom, written by Jonathan Moyle while studying at the department of international politics, university of Aberystwyth, remains classified information; whether a shortened version of this thesis is declassified; if he will specify the past involvement between his Department and Mr. Moyle; what information his Department has received concerning the events surrounding Mr. Moyle's death in 1990; and if he will make a statement. [19980]

There is only one version of the thesis and it is not classified. While conducting research for this thesis, Mr. Moyle had access to largely historical MOD material appropriate to the subject of his research. Mr. Moyle served in the RAF as a commissioned officer from August 1980 to April 1988, after which his connection with this Department ceased. it is for the Chilean authorities to investigate the circumstances of Mr. Moyle's death. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has co-operated with them fully from the outset.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussion his Department has had with its American counterparts concerning experiments conducted by the Pentagon and toxicology experts at the Duke university medical centre in America concerning the results of experiments carried out into alleged Gulf war syndrome. [19978]

My Department is aware of media reports of research undertaken by the Pentagon and Duke university, North Carolina, and has requested further information from the American authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors have led to the decision to delay the entry into service of HMS Vigilant until 1997. [19327]

The planned in service date of Vigilant has for some years been 1998. She remains on course to achieve that date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects AS90 howitzers to be refitted with a 52 calibre gun barrel; what difficulties have been encountered in trials with existing L17 practice rounds; what plans he has for procuring extended range ordnance for rebarrelled AS90 howitzers; and if he will make a statement. [18793]

We expect to issue shortly an invitation to tender to Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd. for the development and production of a 52 calibre ordnance for AS90. On current plans, this will lead to the first howitzers being covered to extended range ordnance before the end of the decade. Trials with a prototype 52 calibre barrel firing inert L17 rounds have resulted in some cases of "engraving" of the projectile when it has been fired at the maximum range. This is being addressed as part of the risk reduction work already in hand by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, column 504, if he will give (a) the original cost of items listed as held for two years, (b) the date when they were commissioned and (c) an estimate of their current value. [19283]

Further to my answer to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central, of 27 March 1995, Official Report, column 504, HMS Kent, a County class destroyer, was commissioned on 15 August 1963 and was last refitted more than 10 years ago prior to the Dockyard privatisation. The original cost was £16 million.HMS Jupiter and HMS Hermione, Leander class frigates, were commissioned on 9 August and 11 July 1969 respectively and were last refitted during 1986–87. Their original cost was £7 million each.The 120 mm Wombat anti-tank guns came into service in 1962. The 105 mm pack howitzers entered service in 1961–62. Records of the original cost of these two weapons, which are no longer in service, are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 30 November 1994 to the hon. Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Simpson), Official Report, columns 777–78, how many hours per week Mr. Charles Masefield is contracted to work for the Defence Export Services Organisation. [19434]

Mr. Charles Masefield's conditioned hours of work are 41 hours per week, for a five-day week, in accordance with the general conditions laid down for non-industrial civil servants. However, in order for Mr. Masefield to fulfil his role as Head of Defence Export Services he has, in practice, to work far in excess of these hours.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Ranger anti-personnel mines his Department possesses; when they were purchased; who they were purchased from; what was the total cost of the order; when they will need to be replaced; and if he will make a statement. [19983]

The stocks my Department possesses were purchased from Thorn EMI Electronics Ltd., between 1970 and 1983, but we no longer retain a record of their cost. The quantity of Ranger anti-personnel mines, held by my Department is classified. No decisions have been taken on replacements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if his Department will establish (a) an engineering study and (b) a cost analysis study of the feasibility of fitting self-destruct mechanisms to his Department's anti-personnel mines. [19984]

An engineering and costs analysis study of fitting self-destruct mechanisms to existing mines will take place when my Department next considers its future requirements and the most cost-effective way of meeting those requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he has given to the privatisation of his Department's travel business; and if he will make a statement. [20061]

The majority of MOD travel business is currently booked through the joint service travel centre which arranges flight bookings for MOD service and civilian personnel, their dependants and MOD contractors. Additionally, it arranges travel bookings by rail, ferry and through the channel tunnel.The JSTC has been subject to review on a number of occasions by independent consultancies which have compared the service it provides with those available in the commercial market place. It is currently being examined as a part of the wider defence costs study. This review is being undertaken by a firm of independent consultants and their remit, which is wide ranging, and encompasses not only air travel but the provision of support services such as car hire, hotel bookings and the procurement of visas and passports. Until the study has been completed, and its findings analysed it would be premature of me to speculate on the suitability of further privatisation measures in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made to his Department's travel business in the last five years. [20062]

The increased commitment by HMG to UN and out-of-area operations, such as the former republics of Yugoslavia and more recently Angola have placed heavy and persistent tasking levels on the RAF's fleet of transport aircraft. This pressure has resulted in my Department using commercial airlines for non operational airlift. This change of emphasis over recent years has resulted in the development of a sophisticated and cost-effective management approach in the commercial sector.The Ministry of Defence has sought to reduce the cost of travel by taking advantage of commercial services for routine trooping purposes and have recently concluded negotiations with commercial airlines on a variety of routes; including the far east, northern Europe and the north Atlantic. An example is the trooping requirement between the UK and Germany where because of the distances involved and the frequency of service small to medium-size civil airliners provide the most cost-effective solution, thereby releasing the larger ATF aircraft—Tristars and VC10s—to meet long-range or operational tasks.Use of commercial assets is also made for the movement of freight by road. This is achieved through the use of an enabling contract with a major freight carrier which also includes a requirement to support surges in movements arising from operational activity.A further change has arisen through the placing of contracts with self drive car hire companies, the use of which is funded by individual budget holders within the department. The use of this service continues to increase as budget holders seek the most cost-effective means of meeting their travel requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his Department's policy concerning the export of arms to Taiwan; and what changes there have been in arms export policy to Taiwan in the last five years. [19981]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), on 4 April 1995, Official Report, column 981.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the implications for regional security tensions if Britain exported arms to Taiwan. [19982]

Pursuant to the answer given on 4 April 1995 by the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), Official Report, column 981, the implications for regional security tensions of the supply of defence-related equipment and technology to Taiwan are considered case by case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Upholder submarines his Department has provided to Canada on extended loan; which submarines are on loan; what are the conditions of the loan; how much his Department is receiving from the Canadian Government; when the submarines first come into operational use with the Royal Navy; what was the total cost of each submarine; and for how long the submarines will be on loan. [19979]

Since the MOD's decision in 1992–93, announced in Command 2270, to withdraw the four Upholder class submarines from RN service we have offered them for sale or lease to friendly or allied countries. We are in discussion with the Canadian Department of National Defence but no decisions have been taken.The submarines of the Upholder class entered operational RN service as follows:

Submarine	Commissioning date
HMS Upholder	December 1990
HMS Unseen	July 1991
HMS Ursula	June 1992
HMS Unicorn	July 1993

The cost of the Upholder programme at 1993 prices is assessed at approximately £900 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total amount spent to date for management consultants working on his Department's privatisation plans for the royal dockyards at (a) Rosyth and (b) Devonport; when he expects to make an announcement concerning the privatisation of the dockyards; what consideration he has given to the future pension provisions of the workers currently employed at the two sites; and if he will make a statement. [19977]

During the period between 18 October 1993, when my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence announced our policy towards the future management of the royal dockyards, Official Report, 18 October 1993, columns 39–41, and 28 March 1995, payments made or outstanding specifically for management consultancy advice given in relation to the proposed privatisation of the dockyards totalled some £3.1 million. Costs attributable to one dockyard or the other cannot be separately identified. Further announcements on the future management of the royal dockyards will be made as and when appropriate, but it is likely to be some months before any final decisions are taken. Full account will be taken of all relevant personnel issues, including those relating to the management and operation of the established dockyard company pension schemes, and consultation will take place as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is currently taking to test Israeli unmanned surveillance aircraft as an alternative to the Phoenix project. [20060]

[Pursuant to his reply, 5 April 1995, Official Report, c. 1142]:, the Ministry of Defence has now agreed with GEC-Marconi Avionics an additional programme of work on Phoenix to resolve the remaining technical difficulties and to demonstrate satisfactory system performance. This work is expected to last about one year and, while it is in progress, we will examine potential alternative systems, in case it does not prove practicable to bring Phoenix up to an acceptable standard. Our examination of alternatives has already begun and will cover all systems, including Israeli ones, which are likely to provide a capability that comes reasonably close to the Army's requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her latest estimate of the number of units of temazepam which are sold in the United Kingdom each year from known manufacturers and suppliers; what is her latest estimate of the number of units of temazepam required for prescription under the national health service during the same period; and if she will make a statement. [19006]

Information on the total quantity of temazepam manufactured, held in stock, imported and exported in the United Kingdom is shown in table A. Information on total quantities dispensed in family health services authorities in England is shown in table B.

Table A: Summary of the 1993 annual returns for temazepam from Schedule 4 Authority holders under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985 in the UK (kilograms)
Quantity manufactured	Manufacturers' stocks at 31 December	Imports total	Exports total
970.200	923.039	4,505.314	1,815.770

Table B: Temazepam dispensing in the family health services authorities in England 1993 (thousands).
	Prescription items	Milligrams
Tablets	2,765.3	1,307,399.5
Capsules	3,765.9	2,066,427.8
Oral preparations	119.8	60,665.5
Total	6,650.9	3,434,493.7

Total dispensing in the English FHSAs was therefore 3,434.5 Kilograms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what rating London has for treatment and research in each of the last five years, relative to comparable centres in other countries. [19703]

Ratings of treatment and research are not undertaken annually in London or in other towns and cities elsewhere in the country. The most recent research review in London, 1993, confined itself to the work of the former postgraduate special health authorities. No formal ratings were issued as a result of that exercise but the report referred to the international quality of much of the research undertaken by these SHAs. A copy of the report is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to improve the provision of cancer care services. [10671]

I have received the final report from the chief medical officers' of England and Wales expert advisory group on cancer "A Policy Framework for Commissioning Cancer Services" which sets out a strategic framework for cancer services. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.I have accepted the recommendations in that report.They will provide the catalyst for change. They will, over time, build upon the excellent services already provided in many areas to ensure the delivery of a uniformly high level of cancer care based on a network of expertise covering primary care and secondary care, including the establishment of designated specialist cancer units and cancer centres.I look to the national health service to make determined progress in this direction, and welcome the fact that many health authorities are already beginning to plan their cancer services around these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has for changes in the cancer treatment services in London; with whom she has consulted on this subject; what proposals exist (a) for alterations to the present functioning of the Royal Marsden hospital and (b) its closure; and which matters relating to cancer treatment in the London region are to be the subject of public consultation. [19942]

Proposals for any major changes in the pattern of cancer services in London and for the necessary public consultation are drawn up by local health authorities in discussion with provider units. There are no proposals for changes, or for closures, at the Royal Marsden hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 28 March, Official Report, column 569, how many patients were waiting for treatment under one year in 1987 and at December 1994. [19810]

The information is shown in the table.

Patients waiting for inpatient or day case treatment
	Number waiting under a year	Total number awaiting admission	Proportion waiting under a year Per cent.
At 31 December 1987	662,469	873,130	75.9
At 31 December 1994	1,017,335	1,071,638	94.9

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for an ear, nose and throat appointment in each of the last five years. [19792]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research has been commissioned into whether foetuses feel pain while being aborted. [19746]

A report on the subject of sensory development in the human fetus was prepared for the Department in 1988 by Dr. Maria Fitzgerald. A copy was placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will give the Data Protection Registrar an undertaking that the NHS number will not be used for purposes not associated with health care; and if she will make a statement. [20041]

Such an undertaking has been given by the Department to the Office of the Data Protection Registrar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general and acute beds there were in each region in (a) 1993–94 and (b) 1994–95: [19811]

Regional tables showing the average daily number of available beds in the general and acute sector for 1993–94 are published in "Bed availability for England, Financial Year 1993/94", copies of which are available in the Library. Comparative information for 1994–95 is not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the (a) in-ear and (b) other hearing aids available on the NHS. [19789]

A list of hearing aids available from central contract on the national health service in England via NHS Supplies will be placed in the Library. Hearing aid centres are also free to purchase and supply any other type of hearing aid if considered clinically necessary. Details are not kept centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the average waiting time for a hearing aid clinic in each of the last five years. [19791]

This information is not held centrally, but, from April 1995, one of the new standards introduced under the patient's charter is nine out of 10 people can be expected to be seen within 13 weeks when they are referred by their GP to a hospital consultant; everyone is expected to be seen by 26 weeks.