To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of fundholding practices have exceeded their allocated budget in each of the last three years in the county of Warwickshire and have had to seek new resources from the health authority. [27302]

The numbers of fundholders in Warwickshire who have exceeded their allocated budgets over the last three years are shown in the table.

	Total number of fundholding practices	Number of fundholding practices exceeding their budgets	Number of fundholding practices exceeding their budgets by over 5 per cent.
1992–93	9	1	0
1993–94	21	4	2
1994–951	26	213	5
Notes:
1 Provisional information.
2 Eight have an overspend of less than 1 per cent, and the highest overspend is around 7.4 per cent. A number of practices have made savings of over 10 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to ensure that people aged over 60 years with epilepsy receive treatment from specialists in neurology rather than from geriatricians; [27766](2) if she will provide details of her Department's planned expenditure on the provision of epilepsy services in the current financial year, in cash terms and as

The treatment of epilepsy is a matter for clinicians, who decide on specific treatment for each individual patient based on that patient's medical history.Information on expenditure on the provision of epilepsy services is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list all disabled living centres in England and Wales; and how much her Department contributes to each of their budgets. [27768]

A list of all the disabled living centres is not available centrally. The Government support the work of the disabled living centres by providing funding to their representative national organisation, the Disabled Living Centres Council—£108,000 in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will publish the findings of the National Blood Authority consequent to its consultations on proposals it has made for changes in the organisation of its service. [27876]

The National Blood Authority will make its final recommendations shortly. A copy of the authority's proposals will be placed in the Library when published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been (a) the total number of admissions, (b) the number of emergency and urgent admissions and (c)(b) as a percentage of (a) for each year since 1988–89. [27537]

The information is shown in the table:

Emergency admissions as a total of waiting list, booked, planned and emergency admissions
Finished consultant episodes		Thousands
	(a) Total episodes	(b) Episodes, emergency admission	(b) as percentage of (a)
1988–89	6,830	3,302	48
1989–90	7,085	3,423	47
1990–91	7,082	3,452	49
1991–92	7,504	3,457	46
1992–93	7,873	3,641	46
1993–94	8,287	3,833	46

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reports of adverse reactions have been referred to the Committee on Safety of Medicines in respect of products containing phenobarbitone in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [27573]

The tables shows the number of reports of adverse reactions received by the Committee on Safety of Medicines in respect of products containing phenobarbitone for each of the last five years. A report of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Other factors, including the underlying disease of the patient or other drugs taken by the patient, may be contributing.

Year	Number of reports
1990	4
1991	0
1992	2
1993	1
1994	2

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prescriptions for products containing phenobarbitone have been written for people with epilepsy in each of the last five years for which figures are available. [27574]

Information about the use of phenobarbitone products is contained in the table. It is not possible, however, from central data to identify the clinical conditions for which the drug has been prescribed.

Prescription items dispensed containing phenobarbitone, England, 1990 to 1994
Thousands
Chemical entity	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994
Phenobarbitone	547.8	543.9	513.0	480.5	453.0
Phenobarbitone and Phenytoin	0.2	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
Phenobarbitone Sodium	0.6	2.6	2.1	0.5	1.2
Total	548.6	546.5	515.1	481.0	454.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the results of the DNA analysis undertaken by the Forensic Science Service of tissue samples allegedly taken from a patient who died in Manchester allegedly of AIDS in 1959, which were provided to it by Central Manchester Healthcare Trust and Professor David Ho of New York. [27816]

Tests are under way on the tissue samples at the Home Office laboratory at Wetherby. It is hoped that the results will be available shortly. The hon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many beds there are in intensive care units in Leeds infirmary, St. James' hospital, Leeds, Pinderfields hospital, Wakefield. [27819]

This is a matter for the Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. John Greetham, chairman of Northern and Yorkshire regional health authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the estimated expenditure for 1995 for producing information on infant and young child feeding (a) for families and (b) those involved in the field of infant and young nutrition. [27928]

As a wide range of organisations may produce such materials, I am unable to estimate expenditure.The Department of Health spent £53,000 in producing materials in support of this year's National Breastfeeding Awareness Week held last month. We contributed £50,000 towards the costs of the "Invest in Breast" training programme produced jointly by the Royal College of Midwives and Health Visitors Association which was launched on 25 May. We provided some £55,000 in 1994–95, under the section 64 grant aid programme, to the three voluntary groups concerned with informing and supporting mothers about breastfeeding.The Health Education Authority expended £475,000 in 1994–95 on materials—leaflets and such popular books as "Birth to Five" and "The Pregnancy Book"—which provide information on breastfeeding and other aspects of infant and young child feeding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations are in place covering the distribution of bounty packs to nursing mothers in hospital. [27929]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 5 April at columns 1211–12. National health service units decide locally whether they wish to permit the distribution of bounty packs and similar packs to new mothers in their care. The packs and their contents must comply with the relevant provisions on advertising and promotion of baby milks in the Infant Formula and Follow-on Formula Regulations 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to publish the evaluation of the homeless mentally ill initiative's clinical teams. [28848]

The report, "The Homeless Mentally Ill Initiative—An Evaluation of Four Clinical Teams", is being published today and copies are available in the Library. I am grateful to Professor Craig and his colleagues for their work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the amount of grant aid given by her Department to (a) the hyperactive children's support group and (b) other voluntary organisations concerned with the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder for each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement. [26581]

The hyperactive children's support group received grant aid from the Department of £7,000 each

Finished consultant episodes (ordinary admissions and day cases combined) 1988–89 to 1993–94 Mental Disorders
RHAs	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94
England	294,327	306,077	302,042	302,378	313,186	315,378
Northern	22,841	22,228	22,852	22,017	22,814	22,877
Yorkshire	21,628	22,152	24,095	20,391	24,342	24,985
Trent	28,415	28,369	31,183	32,032	32,268	31,602
East Anglian	11,454	11,936	11,890	10,452	12,471	11,525
North West Thames	19,484	24,206	17,461	17,568	18,482	19,373
North East Thames	21,294	20,451	20,581	20,807	21,792	22,436
South East Thames	21,033	19,447	19,540	18,501	19,394	19,463
South West Thames	20,063	19,858	20,218	20,929	20,680	21,313
Wessex	18,445	18,788	19,607	21,829	18,348	19,324
Oxford	10,860	11,122	11,718	11,156	12,711	12,383
South Western	24,871	25,627	24,182	23,306	25,548	26,340
West Midlands	30,800	34,801	31,562	36,539	35,824	35,447
Mersey	15,768	17,795	17,935	17,770	18,369	17,541
North Western	25,474	27,204	26,391	26,136	26,608	27,171
SHAs	1,897	2,093	2,827	2,945	3,535	3,598

year from 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1995. The grant has been renewed at an amount totalling £19,000 over three years beginning on 1 April 1995. We make no other grants to organisations dealing exclusively with the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fundholders there are in the county of Cumbria. [27797]

From April 1995, there have been 16 fundholding practices in Cumbria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the cost in cash to health authorities in Cumbria with particular reference to the budget of the West Cumbria Health Trust arising out of individual general practices acquiring fundholding status. [27798]

Fundholding general practitioners, like health authority purchasers, are allocated their patients' fair share of national health service resources based on need. It is for NHS trusts to respond to the requirements of purchasers so that services for patients are improved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much is being spent promoting the current year's hospital league tables to the editors of regional newspapers. [28000]

Money is not being spent on promoting the league tables. Regional editors are being given the option of receiving the material in hard copy or disk format. They have also been invited to a briefing on the arrangements for publishing the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were discharged from mental hospitals in each region in each of the last 10 years. [27966]

The number of finished consultant episodes—ordinary admissions and day cases combined—from national health service hospitals in England by main diagnosis of mental disorder and by region of treatment is shown in the table. Data prior to April 1988 are not on a comparable basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which district auditors have yet to submit audited returns of expenditure by local authorities of the 1993–94 special transitional grant. [27967]

None. All the audited returns detailing community care spending in 1993–94 have now been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on home care services by each authority in each of the last 10 years, expressed in 1995 prices. [28026]

The information, expressed in 1994–95 prices, will be placed in the Library. These figures should be treated with caution as local authorities differ from year to year in their treatment of administrative and other overhead costs. Year-on-year variations may also reflect changes in types of home care service and changes of contract. New guidelines for future social services accounting have been drawn up by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the local authorities, which should result in greater consistency of reporting. Estimates have had to be made for some years for Greenwich, Hackney, Lambeth, Newham, Berkshire, Ealing, Harringey, Sheffield, Manchester and Wakefield.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been made available to Kirklees metropolitan council for alteration and adaptations for 1995–96 to residents' homes to allow them to stay longer in their own homes rather than in residential care; and what were the figures in each of the last 10 years. [27856]

Expenditure by Kirklees metropolitan council up to 1993–94, the latest year available, is shown in the table.

Personal social services gross expenditure on adaptations to homes—Kirklees metropolitan council
Year	£000s
1986–87	100
1987–88	107
1988–89	100
1989–90	150
1990–91	393
1991–92	210
1992–93	82
1993–94	502

Information from annual revenue outturn forms (R03) completed by the local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sanctions can be applied against a contractor for failing to comply fully with the specifications of a contract awarded to it by an NHS trust hospital following the market testing process. [28383]

This depends on the terms of the contract, and on the nature of the failure to meet specified requirements. Minor or occasional failures would normally be resolved in discussion. In more serious and continuing cases sanctions might include premature termination of contract, withholding of payments pending satisfactory meeting of work requirements, or legal action for breach of contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 applied to the contracting out and sub-contracting out of the estates department by the Royal Liverpool University hospital; and what stipulation the contract awarded made in respect of the provision of a pension scheme for those employees transferred. [28385]

I understand that the award of the contract was on the basis that staff would transfer to the new contractor under the provisions of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981. Pension scheme benefits for old age, invalidity and widowhood are explicitly excluded from the transfer arrangements, but the two parties to the contract have ensured accrued pension rights are fully protected and that the new employer's pension arrangements are based on the same employers contribution as the previous national health service scheme. The Royal Liverpool University hospital took legal advice that the transfer accorded fully with all statutory responsibilities under United Kingdom and European law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received concerning the guidelines and procedures followed by the Royal Liverpool University hospital NHS trust in contracting out its estates department to Mowlem and the subsequent sub-contracting out of the department of Lorne Stewart. [28382]

I have received representations from two hon. Members on behalf of individual constituents whose employment transferred as a result of the award of contract in this case. I am satisfied that the parties concerned have made every effort to meet all liabilities arising under United Kingdom and European law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) men and (b) women have been employed within the national health service in the London borough of Southwark as part of the South East London health authority in each of the last five years. [28352]

The information is not available centrally in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will state the defined interest or repayment terms on the interest bearing debt and public dividend capital of (a) Newham Healthcare NHS Trust and (b) the Royal Hospitals of St. Bartholomew's, Royal London, and London Chest Hospital Trust together with their respective payments for the years 1975–76 in respect of (i) 6 per cent. of their origination capital debt, (ii) interest and repayment of their interest-bearing debt and (iii) public dividend capital, stating the purpose of each type of payment. [28380]

The two national health service trusts in question were established as at 1 April 1994. Information is therefore only available for 1994–95.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the use of Baytril in farm animals and the incidence of bacterial resistance in humans; and if she will make a statement on the subject. [26783]

I have been asked to reply.No specific research has been commissioned into the use of Baytril in farm animals. The Veterinary Products Committee keeps the development of antibiotic resistance in humans and animals under close review. It has recently confirmed, in the light of the latest information, that no change in current licensing policy is required: new antibiotics should not necessarily be precluded from therapeutic use in animals, but their prophylactic use should be discouraged. The committee will continue to consider each case on its merits.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to train sufficient scientists in methods relating to the identification of species to enable the United Kingdom to fulfil obligations under the biodiversity convention; and what assessment has been made of the shortage of taxonomists. [26328]

In line with the convention, the Darwin initiative is funding about 30 projects relating to taxonomy costing over £3 million. Those projects involve the training of over 400 developing country scientists.Responsibility for assessing and meeting the UK's needs more generally rests primarily with the scientific community in universities, institutions such as the natural history museum, and the research councils. The Natural Environment Research Council launched an initiative in 1992 to revitalise taxonomic research and training relevant to the environmental sciences, and currently supports students, fellows, and projects in the field. I understand that Edinburgh university and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh have introduced an MSc "Biodiversity and Taxonomy in Plants" which has proved successful in attracting students from home and abroad as well as research council support. The UK Systematics Forum, funded by the Office of Science and Technology, now brings together members from across the country to investigate, among other things, ways of increasing the opportunities for training systematists.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures Her Majesty's Government have taken to implement the recommendations of Lord Dainton's report on biological taxonomy. [26331]

The Government's response Cm 2243 to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee report on systematic biology research was published in June 1993. Since then, the Office of Science and Technology has set up the UK Systematics Forum and commissioned an independent review of the UK's microbial culture collections.The Natural Environment Research Council, through its initiative in taxonomy research and training, is currently funding six research fellowships over a five-year period at a total cost of just over £1 million. These fellowships are eligible for associated research grants, for which a further £665,000 has been committed over the same period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his letter DH/94/M/1078 to the hon. Member for Linlithgow of 7 December 1994, what is the outcome of his investigation into the desirability of oral scientific histories. [26327]

I agree that the history of science can be enriched by oral scientific histories.Investigations have established that a number of bodies are engaged in making such histories, including the Royal College of Physicians, the British Library, the Physiological Society and the Biochemical Society. BBC television has some recorded interviews with Nobel Laureates and other scientists who have made a significant contribution across many fields. I have asked the Office of Science and Technology to pursue the issue of oral scientific histories further with the national sound archive of the British Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expected publication date for the Treasury's summer economic forecast. [24495]

[pursuant to his answer, 18 May 1995, c. 307]: The Treasury's summer economic forecast will be published on 28 June 1995. Copies will be available from the Vote Office at 11 am on that day.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made as to how much public sector investment will change over the next three years, as measured by public sector asset creation; and if he will estimate by how much public sector investment has changed in real terms since 1989–90. [27882]

The latest available public sector investment figures are published in table 1.7 of the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96". These cover outturn and plans from 1989–90 to 1997–98 in real and cash terms. In addition, the private finance initiative will harness private sector resources leading to more and better infrastructure projects and improved services.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new income tax payers recorded in the past two years were previously non-income tax payers of pension age. [27589]

[holding answer 9 June 1995]: There are about 200,000 fewer taxpayers aged over 65 in 1995–96 than there would have been if the 1993–94 tax regime had been indexed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the categories of goods and services which currently bear value added tax at the rate of 17.5 per cent. together with the annual revenue yield from each of the listed categories. [28142]

[holding answer 12 June 1995]: VAT legislation does not identify separate categories of goods and services on which VAT is chargeable at 17.5 per cent. but specifies that it should be charged on any supply of goods or services in the United Kingdom made by a taxable person in the course or furtherance of a business, except for supplies of fuel and power for domestic or charity use which are chargeable at 8 per cent., and the zero rates and exemptions listed in schedules 8 and 9 to the Value Added Tax Act 1994.It is not possible to provide figures for the revenue yield from each individual category of expenditure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the operation of the additional personal allowance for married men with an incapacitated wife. [28344]

All personal allowances will be kept under review in the run-up to the Budget. In general, the Government believe that it is better to help both men and women with incapacitated spouses through the social security systems rather than through tax reliefs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Customs and Excise, in examining dried flowers entering Britain, differentiate those specimens collected from the wild and those originating from proven sustainable sources. [26337]

There are no restrictions on the importation of the dried flowers currently traded, whether wild taken or not, and customs does not, therefore, seek to make such a differentiation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the level of take-home pay in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) other EC countries; and if he will list the evidence on which such figures are based. [26487]

Taking into account the cost of living, estimated average take-home pay for an unmarried UK production worker, under Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development definitions, is higher than in all other EU countries, except Luxembourg. Average take-home pay plus child benefit—or the equivalent in other countries—for a married couple with two children is also higher in the UK than in other EU countries except Luxembourg, Belgium and the former West Germany. These comparisons are based on figures published in "The Tax/Benefit Position of Production Workers Annual Report 1990–1993", OECD 1994, adjusted using purchasing power parity exchange rates, also published by OECD.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will undertake an investigation into the leaking of sections of the Scott inquiry report; and if he will publish the terms of reference of the investigation; how it will be conducted; and by whom. [28379]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) on 12 June, Official Report, column 374.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 June. [26744]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 13 June 1995. [26745]

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what records exist of the mortality levels and cancer incidence in British nuclear test participants present at Grapple Y. [26663]

Personnel present during the test codenamed Grapple Y were among more than 20,000 British nuclear test veterans for whom mortality statistics were collated by the National Radiological Protection Board. The NRPB studies found no overall excess of mortality or incidence of cancer among test participants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the National Radiological Protection Board has undertaken a study into the incidence of cancer in the children of nuclear test participants in the 1950s and 1960s. [26667]

No such study has been undertaken. Studies by the National Radiological Protection Board have shown no overall excess of death or cancer among British test participants. There is therefore no reason to expect an excess of death or cancer among their children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if personnel involved in the decontamination of HMS Tracker were included in the National Radiological Protection Board studies into British nuclear test participants. [26749]

Our records indicate that some decontamination work was carried out by the crew of HMS Tracker before the ship had returned to the UK. The ship's crew were included in the National Radiological Protection Board studies. We have been unable to trace any records of decontamination work that may have been carried out following the ship's return to the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the National Radiological Protection Board study into the effects of nuclear tests upon service personnel took into account potential variations arising from (a) whether tests were of fission or fusion, (b) detonation yields, (c) location of tests, (d) duration of service in test areas and (e) the number of tests witnessed by each individual. [26665]

The studies undertaken by the National Radiological Protection Board looked at cancer among test participants for each of the operations that comprised the atmospheric test programme. This examined tests of different types, yields and locations. For no operation was there a statistically significant excess of cancer deaths. Analyses were performed of those groups with the potential for radiation exposure and of those with recorded external doses, as well as the duties undertaken by participants who subsequently developed leukaemia or multiple myeloma.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mortality statistics are held by the National Radiological Protection Board for personnel serving on HMS Tracker during British nuclear tests. [26661]

Personnel serving on HMS Tracker during the nuclear tests for which that ship was deployed in a support role were among more than 20,000 British nuclear test veterans for whom mortality statistics were collated by the National Radiological Protection Board. The NRPB studies found no overall excess of mortality among test veterans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence why Mr. Andrew Dickson of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, a British nuclear test participant, received two body scans from the National Radiological Protection Board. [26668]

That is a matter between Mr. Dickson and the National Radiological Protection Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how British nuclear test participants, not issued with film badges, have been monitored for potential radioactivity. [26690]

Film badges were issued only to those personnel who were considered likely to receive a measurable dose of radiation during the tests. It was considered unnecessary to monitor those who were not issued with film badges, as they would not have been exposed to significant levels of radiation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations have been conducted into the incidence of cataracts in service personnel attending British nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s. [26666]

As more radiation exposure would be required to produce an excess of cataracts in the population than to produce an excess of cancer, and as the National Radiological Protection Board studies have shown no excess of cancer among British nuclear test veterans, no specific study of cataract incidence has been undertaken for my Department. I understand, however, that the NRPB is itself conducting a small study in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent information he has received on the discovery of anthrax-contaminated seed stocks in the Irish sea. [26700]

My Department is unaware of any anthrax-contaminated seed stocks being discovered in the Irish sea.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the cost to date in (a) rent loss, (b) security patrols, (c) boarding up, (d) depreciation and (e) vandalism in respect of empty accommodation for families and single persons at HMS Royal Arthur. [26848]

HMS Royal Arthur was previously used as a training establishment for naval petty officers and the only permanent accommodation was in the wardroom. There was no family accommodation on the site. The site is at present being sold subject to contract. To date, there has been no loss of rent, and no additional costs arising from security patrols; the site has not been boarded up; no assessment has been made of depreciation; and only minimal costs have been incurred as a result of damage by vandals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 20 April, Official Report, column 856, when the investigation into the low flying incident over Barnoldswick and Earby in January are likely to be completed. [26958]

The RAF police have now completed their investigation. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State wrote to the hon. Member on 7 June 1995 setting out their conclusions. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost by year for the last three years for the RAF's twice-weekly VCIO service between Brize Norton and Washington, USA. [27395]

The approximate costs of operating the VCIO service between Brize Norton and Washington, Dulles airport, for the last three financial years are as follows:

Financial year	Cost £
1994–95	6,200,000
1993–94	5,900,000
1992–93	5,500,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all naval exercises in United Kingdom waters in each of the last five years; which of these were in the Clyde or off the coast of south-west Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [27384]

Details of naval exercises in United Kingdom waters are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, during the last 12 months there have been 23 exercises in the Clyde and off the coast of south-west Scotland involving a combination of ships, submarines and aircraft taking part in continuation sea training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent proposals have been considered for the use of areas in the firth of Clyde and upper Loch Fyne for minefield practice; what discussions are planned with fishing organisations on these proposals; and if he will make a statement. [27383]

Mine countermeasures actively in the Clyde area is planned to increase later this year following the move from Rosyth to Faslane of the third mine countermeasures squadron and the small ships operational training staff. A series of constructive discussions with fishing organisations on the location of this activity has been held, and further talks are due to take place later this month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list all tri-service exercises in the United Kingdom mainland in each of the last five years; and which of these were located in part in south-west Scotland. [27835]

The MOD plans to conduct one major tri-service exercise each year under a series title of "Purple". The exercise may or may not be conducted wholly in the United Kingdom. Exercises follow a four-year cycle of three command post exercises or CPXs followed by a full live exercise in the fourth year. The live exercise in the period, exercise Purple Monarch, 1992, was reduced to a command post exercise following the Gulf war and was conducted in southern England and Gibraltar.On a small scale, but also planned and conducted on a tri-service basis for specialist units, is a series of exercises termed Minibus. This series again follows a four-year cycle. The live exercise in the period was held in 1994 and the geographic area used included parts of south-west Scotland. Also planned and executed in 1994 was a bi-service amphibious exercise Royal Dawn—which included a landing phase by Royal Marines on the Isle of Lewis.The annual tri-service Purple exercises for the five-year period were:

Year	Exercise	Description
1991	Purple Victory	CPX
1992	Purple Monarch	Live exercise planned but CPX conducted
1993	Purpose Horizon	CPX
1994	Purple Nova	CPX
1995	Purple Zodiac	CPX

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the journeys that vehicle registration number 16 AY 51 has made in the last 12 months, with dates; from what location the journey started; what was the location of its destination; and what cargo it was carrying. [28246]

It is not our policy to disclose details of particular military movements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many units of accommodation have been sold by his Department since April 1993. [27559]

Between 1 April 1993 and 31 March 1995 my Department sold 2,925 dwellings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of reconstructing the Park street territorial army barracks, Cardiff and the date on which construction (a) commenced and (b) was completed. [28310]

The Park street territorial army barracks in Cardiff was reconstructed between March 1993 and July 1994 at a total cost of £2,041,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 7 June, Official Report, column 193, if he will consider substituting a Royal Naval Reserve vessel as the guard ship at the Dartmouth royal regatta in place of a ship from the Royal Navy. [28458]

Following a major review of the RNR nearly two years ago, we concluded that the River class minesweepers then operated by them were no longer required, given the changed operational circumstances following the end of the cold war, and advances in mine warfare and technology. Accordingly, these vessels were withdrawn and RNR personnel now go to sea in all types of RN ships where they are employed alongside regular personnel in appropriate duties. The RNR no longer has any vessels of its own; therefore, it will not be possible for one to be sent to the Dartmouth royal regatta.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the legal services ombudsman intends to publish his fourth annual report. [28621]

The legal services ombudsman will tomorrow publish his fourth annual report, and copies will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department on how many occasions since 1970 the Crown has claimed ownership of state papers held privately. [26969]

The Crown made a claim of ownership of such papers in legal proceedings in relation to the Churchill papers. Information is not collated or available centrally where more informal action has been taken.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make it his policy to allow Queen's counsel a choice between uttering an oath or making a declaration to match the procedure followed by hon. Members. [27204]

Only in Northern Ireland are newly-appointed Queen's counsel required to take an oath of allegiance. The matter is therefore one for the Supreme court authorities, in consultation with the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland, on whose advice my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland acts in these matters.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department who has discretion to modify the requirements of the oath and declaration required of Queen's counsel. [27206]

When in November 1972 the form of the declaration made by Queen's counsel in England and Wales was last modified, Her Majesty approved the Lord Chancellor's recommendation made with the agreement of the treasures of the four inns of court and the chairman of the General Council of the Bar.The form of the declaration made upon admission to the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland is governed by the faculty regulations. Any amendment would require the approval of the Lord President of the Court of Session.Any modification to the oath and declaration for Queen's counsel of Northern Ireland would be made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the exercise of the royal prerogative. He would be advised on the matter by the Supreme Court authorities after consultation with the General Council of the Bar of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if the oath and declaration required of Queen's counsel are identical throughout the United Kingdom and Commonwealth. [27205]

In England and Wales a declaration is made by newly appointed Queen's counsel in the following terms:

"I [A.B.] do sincerely promise and declare that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and all whom I may lawfully be called upon to serve in the office of one of Her Majesty's Counsel learned in the Law according to the best of my skill and understanding".

In Scotland, advocates make a declaration of allegiance when they are admitted to the faculty of advocates. The declaration, commonly known as the oath of allegiance, is made in the following terms:

To ask the parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what is the amount of legal aid awarded to Kasim Mohamed Bacchus; and if he will make a statement about this award of legal aid; [26982](2) what plans he has to investigate the award of legal aid to Kasim Mohamed Bacchus. [26931]

A legal aid certificate was issued in favour of Mr. Bacchus on 13 April 1995 to cover contested matrimonial proceedings. The granting of legal aid in this case is now under investigation by the Legal Aid Board. No payments have been made from the legal aid fund to date.If it is found that an assisted person has failed to disclose his true financial position, the legal aid certificate may be revoked. In those circumstances, the Legal Aid Board would be entitled to recover its costs in full. With regard to this particular case, I have received a full report from the chief executive of the Legal Aid Board. Because of the confidentiality provisions of the Legal Aid Act 1988, I cannot disclose further details of the information. I am, however, satisfied that the matters which were of concern to the trial judge have been fully investigated and that appropriate action will be taken.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the costs of legal aid paid to each defendant in the case of the Crown v. Abraham, Allen and Henderson; and how much was contributed by or recovered from each defendant. [27173]

Details of the legal aid payments made to lawyers acting on behalf of the three defendants, and the amounts recovered from each defendant, are as follows:

Defendant	Legal aid costs excluding VAT £	Amount recovered £
Abraham	124,541	546
Allen	122,112	52
Henderson	232,375	5,000

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) what powers he has to monitor the issuing of search warrants by magistrates; and how many representations he has received from the public in the last year concerning the issuing of search warrants; [27168](2) what percentage of police applications for search warrants is refused by magistrates; and what instructions and guidance are given to magistrates on how they should exercise their powers and responsibilities when requested for search warrants. [27167]

Statistics on the number of search warrants issued or refused are not recorded centrally. Individual cases are for magistrates to decide, and it is not for the Government to seek to advise them on the exercise of their judicial discretion. Home Office circular 88/1985 contained guidance on the statutory provisions for search warrants under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and was copied to the magistrates courts. I am not aware of any representations from the public about the issue of such warrants.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the statutory instrument which passed into law during 1994 which both implement EC measures and impose fines or other penalties together with the reference number of the EC measures concerned.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his answer of 24 May, Official Report, column 647, on the value of the Churchill archive (1) if he will disclose the identity of the dealer in the field of antiquarian books who provided an independent valuation. [26977](2) if he will place in the Library the valuation report on the Churchill archive; [26960](3) what consideration the national heritage memorial fund gave to taking second and third opinions of the monetary value of the papers. [26959]

These are matters for the national heritage memorial fund, which is an independent body. I have asked the chairman to write to the hon. Member and to place copies of his letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what local and other employment opportunities he expects to be consequent upon the £2 million expenditure to save the Ealing film studios; and if he will make a statement. [27992]

It is too early to say precisely what employment opportunities will become available because the new owner of Ealing film studios, the National Film and Television School, is still in the process of considering how best to use the complex in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the work force in the east midlands is engaged in temporary work; and how that compares with the record of other EU countries. [26517]

The latest results from the labour force survey indicate that 6 per cent. of workers in the east midlands are engaged in temporary work. The share of temporary employment in Britain is among the lowest in the EC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assistance his Department is giving to encourage job opportunities in areas run down by mine closures; and if he will make a statement. [26718]

The Government's sound economic policies are the best way to create jobs. But, in addition, the Government have provided a £200 million special measures package for areas affected by pit closures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current strike record in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Germany; and what were the figures in 1979. [26719]

In 1979, the UK lost 29.5 million days, over 50 times Germany's total 0.5 million. In 1993, the United Kingdom and Germany each lost 600,000 days to labour disputes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what recent representations he has received from the hotel industry about the social chapter. [26720]

The Government's rejection of the social chapter is strongly supported by all sections of British industry, because of the damage it would have done to the UK economy and to jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the relationship between (a) educational and training qualifications and (b) unemployment. [26722]

Unemployment rates are lower among people who have qualifications.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what, at the latest possible date, are the total figures for the unemployed in the United Kingdom; and what the figures were in June 1979. [26485]

On the consistent, seasonally adjusted basis there were 2,327,900 people claiming unemployment-related benefits in April 1995 compared with 1,067,400 in June 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the effects of the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance in Nottinghamshire. [26723]

Jobseeker's allowance will help focus the efforts of unemployed people to find jobs and will provide incentives for them to get back to work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what monitoring he is doing of age discrimination in employment. [26724]

Age discrimination in the work place is well documented, as are the benefits of recruiting and retaining older workers—I refer the hon. Member, for example, to the Employment Gazette, April 1995, a copy of which is available in the Library. The campaign for older workers continues through voluntary means to persuade employers not to restrict jobs to a particular age group. I propose, through the advisory group on older workers, to evaluate the success of the campaign in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has assessed the success of the "Too Old, Who Says?" campaign; and if he will make a statement. [26479]

The success of the campaign for older workers is continually being assessed. There are encouraging signs that an increasing number of employers are reviewing age restrictions, and consequently providing greater numbers of job opportunities open to older workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on works councils. [26478]

Works councils are one of the many forms of voluntary employee involvement practices used by employers in the UK.The Government are firmly committed to the principle of employers informing and, where appropriate, consulting their employees about matters which affect them. But we believe that, to be successful, employee involvement must always be voluntary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on inactivity rates. [26480]

Inactivity rates in the UK are low, and activity rates are high, compared to other EU countries. Our activity rate is higher than any of the other main EU countries, and higher than most of the rest, the exceptions being Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the effect of high non-wage labour costs on employment prospects. [26481]

Non-wage labour costs are lower in the United Kingdom than in most countries of the European Union. They contribute substantially to unit costs and therefore to the ability of a business to remain competitive and employ people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what information he has received from his officials in respect of the earnings surveys on the Isle of Wight. [26482]

The published information from the regular earnings surveys is limited by the small size of the Isle of Wight population. The results of the new earnings surveys show that average weekly earnings in April 1994 were: £291 for full-time men; £237 for full-time women and £86 for part-time women.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people have been placed into work by the Employment Service in the past 12 years; and if he will make a statement. [26483]

Over the 12 years to December 1994 there were 20.9 million job placements in Great Britain by the Employment Service, and its predecessor the Manpower Services Commission. In 1995–96, I am asking the ES to place a record 1.9 million people into work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the receivers of South Thames TEC. [26484]

Employment Department officials meet regularly with the receiver.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what initiatives are being pursued to combat the problem of youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement. [26486]

The Government guarantee a training place to all 16 and 17-year-olds not in education or employment. Modern apprenticeships, which aim to increase the number of young people training to higher levels, will add to the comprehensive range of education and training initiatives already available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to discuss statutory employment rights with trade unions. [24952]

I met the general secretary of the MSF last November. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Minister of State and I have each met the general secretary of the TUC on separate occasions this year. I will shortly be meeting the hon. Member and a group of Rolls-Royce convenors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers leaving the work-related further education programme as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all. [27528]

None. The work-related further education programme funded developments in further education institutions to improve responsiveness to the needs of employers and individuals. There was no element of direct support for individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people attended and left the work-related further education scheme in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme. [27454]

None. The work-related further education programme funded developments in further education institutions to improve responsiveness to the needs of employers and individuals. There was no element of direct support for individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people attended and left the technical and vocational education initiative in each year of its operation, including those who left before the completion of the scheme. [27453]

The technical and vocational education initiative is a national programme through which local education authorities introduce a range of measures in schools and colleges to help prepare young people aged 14 to 19 for working life. It is institutions, rather than individuals, which take part in the initiative; students do not "attend" or "leave" the programme. However, it is possible to estimate the number of students directly affected by TVEI funding.Figures are shown in the following table:

Academic year	Number of students (thousands)
1983–84	4
1984–85	19
1985–86	38
1986–87	62
1987–88	117
1988–89	335
1989–90	592
1990–91	895
1991–92	1,053
1992–93	1,278
1993–94	1,281
1994–95	1,007

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the numbers leaving the technical and vocational education initiative as an actual number and as a percentage of total leavers for each year of its operation, including those who left before completion of the scheme; if he will indicate those who went into work, those who went into further employment schemes and those who became unemployed; and, of these, if he will list the type and level of qualification each leaver obtained, including those who failed to obtain any qualification at all. [27527]

The technical and vocational education initiative is a national programme through which local education authorities introduce a range of measures in schools and colleges to help prepare young people aged 14 to 19 for working life. It is institutions, rather than individuals, which take part in the initiative, therefore information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table using data from the 1994 new earnings survey relating to former wages council industries in the format of tables 30 to 53 of the 1933 new earnings survey, part B. [27243]

[holding answer 9 June 1995]: As information on whether employees would have been covered by a wages board or council was not recorded by the 1994 new earnings survey, it is not possible to provide the requested tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many (a) decisions, (b) disallowances and (c) warning letters, were issued in each region and Great Britain as a whole in each quarter since April 1990 in respect of those actively seeking employment. [28118]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.