Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 28 June 1995

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30841]

Spending by the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, did not change during 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative. Savings will be achieved in 1995–96 if better value for money can be secured under the PFI; it is not possible to forecast the impact on employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30840]

No schemes were approved under the private finance initiative in the FCO, including the Overseas Development Administration, during 1994–95. The FCO faces special considerations beyond its control (e.g. legal requirements overseas) and it is not yet possible to estimate the numbers or value of capital projects to which the PFI can be applied in 1995–96. Currently two overseas building projects are at the feasibility stage and expressions of interest have been invited for PFI options in up to five projects within the FCO's communications strategy. The projects have been under assessment as PFI schemes for less than six months.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30882]

A total of £138 million and £149 million in 1994–95 and 1995–96 respectively.

Common Agriculture Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the reform of the common agriculture policy to permit the further enlargement of the European Union requires amendment of articles 38 to 47 of the EC treaty will be reviewed as part of the 1996 intergovernmental conference. [31264]

No. Reform of the CAP is possible without treaty amendments, as the 1992 MacSharry reforms showed. We will continue to press in the appropriate fora for the further reform of the CAP needed to permit EU enlargement.

Un Troops

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries where troops under United Nations authority are currently stationed, including in each case the numbers and nationalities of the troops involved. [30762]

There are currently 16 UN operations, involving the deployment of over 64,000 troops from 84 countries. A full list of troop contributions to current United Nations peacekeeping operations has been placed in the House of Commons Library.

Inter-Parliamentary Union

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the initiative of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in placing the topic of co-operation between the United Nations and the IPU on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations. [30943]

We broadly welcome closer co-operation between the United Nations and the Inter-Parliamentary Union. We will carefully consider the draft resolution which Senegal has requested to be included in the next session of the General Assembly.

Nuclear Testing

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the French Government concerning its resumption of nuclear testing in the Pacific. [31085]

None. We have, however, close contacts with the French Government on a wide range of defence questions, including nuclear matters, and they are aware of our views.

Un Conference On Women

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the adequacy of arrangements for the participation of non-governmental organisations in the United Nations fourth international conference on women. [31086]

The Chinese authorities have accepted the criteria for arrangements at the conference set by the NGO facilitating committee. We are concerned that facilities should be consistent with those provided at other UN conferences and will continue to monitor progress made by the Chinese to meet their commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations concerning the Chinese Government's one child policy he made to the UN in connection with the choice of venue for the UN conference on women. [28948]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: None. Peking was chosen in accordance with the UN practice that the venue of the world conference on women should rotate geographically. The Chinese Government are fully aware of UK concerns about their family planning policy and its implementation.

Gibraltar

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list all the EC directives that he is asking the Gibraltar Government to implement. [31088]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Fife, North-East (Mr. Campbell) on 27 June 1995, Official Report, column 543.

Kashmir

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussion he has had with the Indian Government to ensure that the International Red Cross and similar organisations are allowed free and unrestricted entry into the Indian-occupied area of Kashmir to administer help and aid to people in need of such services; and if he will make a statement. [31098]

This is a subject that we have discussed regularly with the Indian Government. We welcome the signing of the memorandum of understanding on 22 June between the Indian Government and the ICRC, which will allow the latter to operate in Jammu and Kashmir.

Diplomats

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which British ambassadors or high commissioners use Rolls Royce cars in connection with their official duties overseas; and what was the cost of purchasing and operating such vehicles in each of the last five years. [28319]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: Rolls-Royce cars are in use at British diplomatic missions in:

Bonn
Paris
Tokyo
Washington
Brasilia
New York UKRep
Peking
Riyadh
Canberra

Purchasing and Operating Costs

1990–91: 31.221
1991–92: 37,085
1992–93: 96.846
1993–94: 133,317
1994–95: 191.804

These figures include the cost of discreetly armoured vehicles whose conversion and running costs are far higher than those of normal cars. They also include the cost of cars no longer in use in Pretoria and Moscow.

Treasury

Bank Of England

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Bristol; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30329](2) what is the annual cost for recreational facilities for staff at the Bank of England. [30200](3) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Birmingham; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30328](4) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Newcastle; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30198](5) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Manchester; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs; [30197](6) what is the annual cost of operating the Roehampton recreational and sporting area of the Bank of England; [30201](7) what is the annual cost of catering and hospitality

(a) in the governor's and deputy governor's departments and (b) in the whole of the Bank of England; [30329]

(8) what is the annual cost of operating the regional office of the Bank of England in Leeds; and what proportion of those costs is staffing costs. [30199]

The annual operating expenses of the bank's branches are £8.6 million, of which £6.4 million relates to staff. The expenses of recreational facilities for staff at the Bank of England, including the Roehampton sports centre, and of catering and hospitality, are not separately available. The bank's total operating expenses in 1994–95 were £238 million, of which £140 million related to staff.

Scotch Whisky

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the change in the amount of scotch whisky released for sale since the rise in duty imposed on spirits in the 1994 mini-budget, and on the loss to the Revenue. [30035]

The figures relating to spirits consumption since the increase in the rate of duty following the Budget should be read in the context of the cyclical nature of spirits sales. Little significance can be read into off season figures. The main season for spirits sales is the Christmas period, and the industry had a good Christmas in 1994. There was a greatly increased level of activity during late 1994 when the industry, quite understandably, took advantage of the delay between the announcement of the increase and the date of implementation to make substantial clearances during December.

Prices Increases

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the non-food items listed in table 3 of the "CSO First Release" (95)91 in rank order of price increase since (a) May 1994 and (b) August 1992 indicating which increases he classifies as inflationary; and what is the basis for this classification. [30004]

The information requested is given in the tables. Any increases over 12 months in the retail prices index component indices contributes to the all items' 12 monthly rate of inflation.

(a) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding food ranked by percentage increases May 1994 to May 1995
Section	Percentage change over May 1994 to May 1995	Rank
Mortgage interest payments	19	1
Cigarettes	7	2
Petrol and oil	7	3
Personal services	6	4
Canteen meals	6	5
Other tobacco	6	6
Water and other charges	6	7
Rent	6	8
Council Tax/Rates	6	9
Household consumables	6	10
Wines and spirits on sales	5	11
Entertainment and other recreation	5	12
Furniture	5	13
Rail fares	5	14
Pet care	5	15
Beer on sales	5	16
Chemists goods	5	17
Take-away and snacks	4	18
Beer	4	19
Furnishings	4	20
Restaurant meals	4	21
Wines and spirits	3	22
Bus and coach fares	3	23
Domestic services	3	24
Other clothing	3	25
Wines and spirits off sales	2	26
Other household equipment	2	27
Television licences and rentals	2	28
Dwelling insurance and ground rent	2	29
Repairs and maintenance charges	2	30
Beer off sales	2	31
DIY materials	2	32
Gas	2	33
Children's outerwear	2	34
Maintenance of motor vehicles	2	35
UK holidays	1	36
Fees and subscriptions	1	37
Foreign holidays	1	38
Books and newspapers	1	39
Purchase of motor vehicles	1	40
Other travel costs	1	41
Postage	1	42
Footwear	0	43
Men's outerwear	0	44
Electrical appliances	0	45
Electricity	0	46
Coal and solid fuels	0	47
Gardening products	0	48
Tapes and discs	0	49
Women's outerwear	-1	50
Toys photographic and sport goods	-1	51
Vehicle tax and insurance	-2	52
Telephones telemessages etc.	-3	53

(a) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding food ranked by percentage increases May 1994 to May 1995
Section	Percentage change over May 1994 to May 1995	Rank
Oil and other fuel	-4	54
Personal articles	-5	55
Audio-visual equipment	-5	56

Notes:

1. Percentage changes for individual sections are given rounded to integers, reflecting the reduced accuracy of these disaggregated indices.

2. Information for the Depreciation section is not available.

(b) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding Food Ranked by percentage increases August 1992 to May 1995
Section	Percentage change over August 1992 to May 1995	Rank
Cigarettes	24	1
Water and other charges	23	2
Other tobacco	21	3
Petrol and oil	20	4
Entertainment and other recreation	20	5
Rent	20	6
Canteen meals	19	7
Rail fares	17	8
Personal services	15	9
Vehicle tax and insurance	14	10
Take-aways and snacks	13	11
Beer on sales	12	12
Wines and spirits on sales	12	13
Restaurant meals	12	14
Beer	11	15
Pet care	11	16
Oil and other fuel	11	17
Chemists goods	11	18
Domestic services	11	19
Coal and solid fuels	11	20
Bus and coach fares	10	21
Other clothing	9	22
Maintenance of motor vehicles	9	23
Fees and subscriptions	9	24
Wines and spirits	8	25
Repairs and maintenance charges	7	26
Household consumables	7	27
Footwear	6	28
Furnishings	6	29
Postage	6	30
Furniture	6	31
Books and newspapers	6	32
Gas	6	33
Other travel costs	6	34
Other household equipment	5	35
Men's outerwear	5	36
Wines and spirits off sales	5	37
Children's outerwear	5	38
Personal articles	5	39
Women's outerwear	5	40
Beer off sales	4	41
Electricity	3	42
Tapes and discs	3	43
Gardening products	3	44
Purchase of motor vehicles	2	45
DIY materials	2	46
Television licences and rentals	2	47
Electrical appliances	1	48
Toys photographic and sport goods	0	49
Dwelling insurance and ground rent	0	50
Council Tax/Rates	-1	51

(b) Retail Prices Index: Sections excluding Food Ranked by percentage increases August 1992 to May 1995
Section	Percentage change over August 1992 to May 1995	Rank
Mortgage interest payments	-2	52
Telephones telemessages etc.	-7	53
Audio-visual equipment	-10	54

Notes:

1. Percentage changes for individual sections are given rounded to integers, reflecting the reduced accuracy of these disaggregrated indices.

2. Information for the Foreign Holidays, UK Holidays and Depreciation sections is not available.

Customs And Excise Information Systems

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to privatise, contractorise or give agency status to the VAT computer facilities at Shoeburyness and Southend-on-Sea. [30511]

There are no plans to privatise the Customs and Excise information systems facility at Shoeburyness and Southend-on-Sea or to give it full agency status.The system development and service delivery aspects of the organisation were recently market tested. The in-house team was awarded the resulting service agreements because they demonstrated best value for money. The division that provides these services, and other functions in addition to those recently market tested, is an executive unit, in accordance with the Department's next steps strategy, but full agency status is not considered appropriate.

Psbr

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public sector borrowing requirement from 1965–66 to 1994–95 (a) in cash terms, (b) adjusted for inflation and (c) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [30796]

The following table sets out the information requested.

Public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) in cash terms, real terms (1993–94 = 100) and as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)
	PSBR in cash terms £ billion	PSBR in real terms¹£ billion	PSBR as a percentage of GDP
1965–66	0.9	9.5	2.6
1966–67	1.1	10.9	3.0
1967–68	2.0	18.8	5.0
1968–69	0.4	3.2	0.8
1969–70	-0.6	-5.1	-1.3
1970–71	0.8	6.0	1.5
1971–72	1.0	6.9	1.7
1972–73	2.4	16.0	3.7
1973–74	4.3	26.8	5.9
1974–75	8.0	41.2	9.1
1975–76	10.3	42.1	9.4
1976–77	8.3	29.9	6.5
1977–78	5.4	17.1	3.6
1978–79	9.2	26.3	5.4
1979–80	9.9	24.4	4.9
1980–81	12.5	26.0	5.4

Public sector borrowing requirement (PSBR) in cash terms, real terms (1993–94 = 100) and as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP)
	PSBR in cash terms £ billion	PSBR in real terms ¹ £ billion	PSBR as a percentage of GDP
1981–82	8.6	16.3	3.4
1982–83	8.9	15.7	3.2
1983–84	9.7	16.3	3.2
1984–85	10.1	16.3	3.1
1985–86	5.6	8.6	1.6
1986–87	3.6	5.3	0.9
1987–88	-3.4	-4.8	-0.8
1988–89	-14.7	-19.3	-3.1
1989–90	-7.9	-9.8	-1.5
1990–91	-0.4	-0.5	-0.1
1991–92	13.9	14.9	2.4
1992–93	36.2	37.3	6.0
1993–94	45.4	45.4	7.1
1994–95	35.3	34.6	5.2
¹ Real terms figures calculated using the GDP deflator.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 21 June, Official Report, column 262, what considerations underlie the change of his objective for fiscal policy from the policy of bringing the public sector borrowing requirement back to balance over the medium term, as set out in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96"; to the policy of bringing the PSBR back towards balance, as set out in his answer; and if he will make a statement. [31250]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: There has been no change in the Government's fiscal objective. The answer of 21 June repeats what my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor said in his Mansion house speech on 14 June.

National Lottery

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if grants made through funds derived from the national lottery are classified as public expenditure. [30997]

These grants are classified as general Government expenditure in the national accounts. However, as my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor announced on 22 June, the grants are to be excluded from the definition of the public spending objective as well as from the public expenditure control total.

Open Government

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the reply to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) Official Report, 19 June, columns 7–8 on the Customs and Excise open government policy, to whom notice 950 has been circulated; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [31149]

Notice 950 has been circulated to all Customs and Excise's open government contact points, inquiry offices and advice centres, and to the independent adjudicator's office and the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Midwives' Allowances

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which allowances paid to midwives are tax deductible; what changes to the rules governing the deduction of tax from midwives' allowances have been made over the last year; and if she will make a statement. [30264]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: Generally, any allowances paid to midwives are taxable in the same way as allowances paid to any other employee or office holder. The corollary is that midwives may claim certain tax deductions in connection with the performance of their duties, in the same way as employees and office holders generally. There have been no changes in the last year to the statutory rules governing the deduction of tax from midwives' allowances. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind he may like to write to me, and I shall be happy to look into it.

Hotels (Vat)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the current relevant level of VAT levied by hotels in each of the European Union countries in respect of (a) accommodation and (b) food purchase. [30499]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The VAT rates applied in European Union member states to hotel accommodation and meals are shown in the table:

VAT on Hotel Accommodation and Meals in the EU
Country	Hotel accommodation Percentage	Hotel meals Percentage
Austria	10	20
Belgium	6	20.5
Denmark	25	25
Finland	22	22
France	5.5	18.6
Germany	15	15
Greece	8	8
Ireland	12.5	12.5
Italy¹	9	9
Luxembourg	15	15
Netherlands	6	17.5
Portugal²	5	17
Spain	7	7
Sweden	12	21
UK³	17.5	17.5
Notes:
¹ The standard rate of 19 per cent. applies in both instances to luxury hotels.
² Lower rates of 4 per cent. and 13 per cent. respectively apply in Madeira and the Azores Archipelagoes.
³ A rate of 5 per cent. applies to hotel accommodation in the Isle of Man.

Competitiveness

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of the Government's monetary and exchange rate policies since 1968 on the competitiveness of United Kingdom manufacturers relative to those of the EC 15 measured in terms of relative unit values. [29975]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: It is not possible to isolate with any confidence the effects on competitiveness stemming from monetary and exchange rate policies. However, the Government's commitment to deliver permanently low inflation will provide a stable climate within which British manufacturing can compete successfully, in both world and domestic markets.

Prosperity

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has on the extent to which Britain's prosperity depends on EU membership. [31107]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 21 April 1995, Official Report, column 295, in response to a very similar question from my hon. Friend.

Education

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the expected capital spending figure for her Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30885]

The figures requested are given:

£ million
Capital expenditure DFE and OFSTED	1994–95	1995–96
Central Government's own expenditure	694	735
Local Authorities	708	n/a

Notes:

1. Capital expenditure is given on a national accounts basis.

2. For 1995–96, a functional split of local authority capital spending is not available as the allocation of spending between services is a matter for determination by individual local authorities.

Source:

Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96, Cm 2821.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30849](2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over

(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30848]

All expenditure on the staffing and work of the private finance units both in this Department and at the funding councils have been contained within the resources already available for education spending. In 1994–95 this Department published its booklet "Education means business" about private finance in education. The total cost of designing and printing the 50,000 copies was £101,000 with estimated distribution costs of about £19,000 for the 1994–95 financial year. The Department is setting up a full-time private finance unit which will cost approximately £150,000 in the current financial year.The Department does not, in general, directly fund education institutions. Resources for the higher and further education sectors, grant-maintained schools and maintained schools are distributed by the funding councils and the local education authorities respectively. Although a great deal of private sector activity takes place in the higher and further education sectors, at present neither the Higher Education Funding Council nor the Further Education Funding Council collect the information requested. The Department is encouraging joint ventures between local authorities, schools and the private sector; legislative measures which came into effect on 1 April 1995 provide additional flexibilities for this area. Information about what has been achieved already by local education authorities and what is currently under consideration is not available centrally.

Higher Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the total number of school leavers entering higher education for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement. [31147]

Information on the numbers of young entrants to full-time HE is as follows:

Full-time and sandwich home-domiciled undergraduate entrants to English FE and HE institutions
Thousands
	Entrants aged¹
Academic year	18 years and under	19 years
1989–90	73.3	41.3
1990–91	78.0	48.5
1991–92	85.9	55.7
1992–93	97.1	60.4
1993–94	102.7	61.3
Note:
¹ Ages at 31 August during the academic year.

Sources:

"University Statistics", volume 1, 1989–90 to 1993–94; "Statistics of Education, Further and Higher Education", 1989–90 to 1993–94.

Information on the numbers who entered full-time HE directly on leaving school is not readily available. In some cases, progression to HE will be direct from FE or tertiary college, and some students will enter after a year abroad or other sabbatical.

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will make a statement on the assistance provided by the Department to help local authorities to provide nursery places where there is a demand by parents. [30763]

At present, it is for local education authorities to determine their spending priorities including the level of pre-school education at the schools they maintain. My right hon. Friend will announce soon how the Prime Minister's commitment to provide, over time, a pre-school place for all four-year-olds whose parents wish to take it up will he fulfilled.

English Test

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if the key stage 3 English tests were carried out and marked according to new Department guidelines; and if she will make a statement. [31150]

There is no hard evidence yet of a systematic problem with the marking of the English tests for 14-year-olds.The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, which is responsible for developing the tests and organising the marking, has taken a number of steps to ensure that the system is robust and reliable; tests and the marking instructions were trialled extensively in schools; all the external markers were trained to national standards; and there were quality checks in place during marking process.If schools are not satisfied with the results their pupils received, there is a procedure for requesting a re-mark which schools should use.

Head Teachers' Pay

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will list by local education authority area the average salary of the head teachers in each of the last four years in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools in the (i) local education sector and (ii) grant- maintained sector. [30700]

The table shows the average salary of head teachers in all maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools for the most recent years available. The average salary is derived from information provided by local authorities and grant-maintained school primarily for pensions purpose. Information may be incomplete in some cases.Separate figures for grant maintained schools are shown only at national level. This is to avoid both the disclosure of individual head teacher's salaries and the potential for distortion of average salaries where few head teachers are present. For the same reasons, some average salaries are not shown in the smaller LEA areas.Head teachers are paid on 51-point pay spine with ranges of points from different sizes of schools. There is no automatic progression up the spine, but a governing body may appoint a head teacher at a point above the minimum of the range, and may move the head teacher as far along the spine as they think appropriate.Average salary includes allowances such as London allowance.

Average salary of full-time head teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sectors. Salary as at 31 March of each year shown.
	1990		1991		1992		1993
	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary
Corporation of London	n/a	n/a	¹—	n/a	¹—	n/a	¹—	n/a
Camden	n/a	n/a	24,230	34,416	26,673	38,385	28,645	41,600
Greenwich	n/a	n/a	24,177	33,361	26,927	37,845	29,094	¹—
Hackney	n/a	n/a	23,777	33,892	26,635	37,291	28,597	39,986
Hammersmith	n/a	n/a	23,612	¹—	26,366	¹—	28,655	¹—
Islington	n/a	n/a	23,754	30,954	27,264	35,215	29,158	36,872
Kensington and Chelsea	n/a	n/a	23,676	¹—	26,180	¹—	31,364	¹—
Lambeth	n/a	n/a	24,009	29,935	27,578	35,233	29,897	36,638
Lewisham	n/a	n/a	24,283	31,596	27,191	35,072	29,626	37,444
Southwark	n/a	n/a	24,113	30,801	27,318	34,782	29,553	38,443
Tower Hamlets	n/a	n/a	24,818	33,803	28,682	38,801	31,247	41,283
Wandsworth	n/a	n/a	23,482	33,966	26,657	¹—	28,879	¹—
Westminster	n/a	n/a	25,883	¹—	29,674	¹—	32,275	¹—
ILEA	21,022	28,496	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Barking	21,327	31,043	23,716	34,417	27,376	40,909	29,873	43,343
Barnet	20,596	29,025	22,906	32,715	26,066	36,968	28,252	40,992
Bexley	21,031	28,672	23,178	32,261	26,154	36,377	28,348	39,679
Brent	21,778	28,964	25,383	32,690	29,784	36,952	32,109	39,597
Bromley	20,961	28,834	23,020	32,518	26,450	38,919	28,734	n/a
Croydon	20,783	28,705	22,816	31,454	26,129	36,128	28,194	38,744
Ealing	21,552	31,604	23,809	34,329	26,797	38,776	28,988	n/a
Enfield	21,319	27,212	24,800	31,877	27,785	36,435	30,367	39,649
Haringey	20,954	29,684	23,708	33,568	26,654	37,528	28,715	41,822
Harrow	21,686	26,558	23,903	30,365	28,285	35,089	30,479	38,183
Havering	21,043	29,073	23,126	31,891	26,514	35,863	28,696	39,075
Hillingdon	20,761	29,265	22,806	32,101	26,536	36,643	29,074	40,842
Hounslow	21,136	29,570	23,351	32,551	26,542	37,049	28,522	41,412
Kingston upon Thames	20,674	¹—	22,795	¹—	25,801	¹—	28,192	¹—
Merton	21,493	25,787	24,086	30,398	27,835	34,397	30,222	36,855
Newham	21,634	29,856	24,006	32,606	27,204	37,512	29,383	40,406
Redbridge	21,393	28,329	24,228	31,577	27,566	36,626	30,116	39,850
Richmond upon Thames	20,635	27,971	22,708	¹—	25,664	¹—	28,133	¹—
Sutton	20,942	27,554	23,098	31,245	26,465	35,474	29,010	38,849
Waltham Forest	21,260	27,000	23,375	29,918	26,426	34,007	28,648	36,640
Birmingham	20,314	26,295	22,309	29,226	25,323	33,881	27,334	35,810
Coventry	20,014	29,166	21,945	32,962	25,611	37,189	28,011	40,001
Dudley	20,599	25,629	22,678	28,736	25,571	32,289	27,601	35,498
Sandwell	19,769	26,022	21,878	28,408	24,816	32,054	27,086	34,437
Solihull	20,171	26,572	22,126	28,815	25,492	33,922	27,663	37,451
Walsall	19,716	26,353	21,692	28,757	24,663	32,137	26,779	35,128
Wolverhampton	19,525	26,275	21,472	28,812	24,632	33,221	26,534	36,025
Knowsley	19,804	28,049	21,971	31,288	24,878	35,137	26,756	37,155
Liverpool	19,470	25,858	21,556	28,565	24,409	32,184	26,443	35,133
St. Helens	19,621	29,049	21,551	31,700	24,537	36,357	26,658	38,061
Sefton	19,785	28,122	21,939	31,635	25,292	35,808	27,339	37,949
Wirral	20,093	27,522	22,234	30,945	25,031	35,515	26,991	38,506
Bolton	19,531	29,252	21,493	32,527	24,548	36,771	26,519	38,483
Bury	19,452	26,945	21,419	29,320	24,208	33,565	26,098	35,784
Manchester	19,864	27,386	21,947	30,116	25,066	35,178	27,583	37,653
Oldham	19,556	27,822	21,659	31,060	24,465	34,167	26,374	37,061
Rochdale	19,794	26,330	21,756	30,048	24,667	32,752	26,672	36,181
Salford	19,629	26,445	21,437	28,450	24,056	33,365	26,082	35,971
Stockport	19,445	27,667	21,522	31,230	24,499	35,882	26,402	38,948
Tameside	19,722	27,238	21,683	29,703	24,512	33,417	26,381	36,028
Trafford	19,599	25,747	21,566	29,058	24,478	33,416	26,312	36,502
Wigan	19,749	26,166	21,757	28,922	24,550	32,797	26,498	35,398
Barnsley	19,205	26,599	21,177	29,462	24,097	34,188	25,954	36,184
Doncaster	19,513	25,208	21,429	27,554	24,213	30,918	26,140	33,222
Rotherham	19,404	28,503	21,366	31,076	24,134	34,805	25,856	37,415
Sheffield	19,828	27,767	21,835	30,268	24,669	34,790	26,803	37,395
Bradford	19,503	23,304	21,481	25,669	24,326	28,925	26,232	31,158
Calderdale	19,363	26,065	21,363	29,115	24,136	32,659	25,815	35,609
Kirklees	19,362	26,025	21,330	28,935	24,047	32,506	25,844	35,275
Leeds	19,669	24,037	21,634	26,420	24,404	29,742	26,420	36,526
Wakefield	19,346	24,628	21,246	27,012	23,979	30,379	25,768	33,129
Gateshead	19,439	27,019	21,382	30,210	24,136	34,689	25,983	37,499
Newcastle upon Tyne	19,844	25,905	21,827	28,094	24,526	32,360	26,393	35,427
North Tyneside	19,634	23,844	21,654	26,015	24,373	29,674	26,241	32,557
South Tyneside	19,292	27,484	21,294	31,238	24,216	35,541	26,322	37,559
Sunderland	19,812	28,838	21,788	31,590	24,748	35,303	26,662	37,926

Average salary of full-time head teachers in the maintained nursery, primary and secondary school sectors. Salary as at 31 March of each year shown.
	1990		1991		1992		1993
	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary	Nursery and primary	Secondary
Isles of Scilly	¹—	¹—	¹—	n/a	¹—	n/a	1__	n/a
Avon	19,403	26,817	21,377	29,636	24,133	32,919	26,008	35,466
Bedfordshire	19,051	24,655	21,097	27,096	24,107	30,684	26,058	33,590
Berkshire	19,548	25,021	21,724	28,222	24,750	32,784	26,761	35,399
Buckinghamshire	19,415	25,982	21,383	29,383	24,293	33,245	26,383	36,114
Cambridgeshire	19,381	26,992	21,384	30,380	24,141	36,484	26,051	38,957
Cheshire	19,242	27,945	21,275	31,304	24,450	35,647	26,452	38,907
Cleveland	20,033	27,057	22,133	29,414	24,922	33,681	26,810	36,374
Cornwall	18,739	24,710	20,792	26,868	23,516	30,305	25,407	33,175
Cumbria	18,585	26,322	20,482	28,178	23,196	31,744	25,010	34,361
Derbyshire	19,114	27,527	21,092	30,421	23,838	34,366	25,625	37,465
Devon	18,962	27,599	21,011	30,906	23,971	35,317	26,018	39,635
Dorset	19,254	25,509	21,333	28,285	23,985	32,409	25,884	35,455
Durham	18,975	28,079	20,902	31,092	23,576	35,102	25,345	38,009
East Sussex	19,369	28,557	21,420	31,722	24,676	35,865	27,028	39,026
Essex	19,621	27,245	21,725	29,619	24,961	34,685	27,114	38,551
Gloucestershire	18,926	26,347	20,899	30,157	23,560	34,110	25,562	36,523
Hampshire	19,555	28,211	21,614	31,761	24,814	36,232	26,986	39,037
Hereford and Worcester	18,933	24,770	20,995	27,483	23,931	31,485	25,792	34,007
Hertfordshire	19,444	27,410	21,401	30,277	24,428	33,942	26,658	36,791
Humberside	19,489	27,668	21,469	30,492	24,288	34,136	26,194	36,743
Isle of Wight	18,764	22,917	20,668	25,101	23,355	28,023	25,209	31,176
Kent	19,408	26,814	21,740	30,381	25,035	35,141	27,241	38,583
Lancashire	19,225	27,256	21,165	30,223	23,913	34,103	25,772	36,538
Leicestershire	19,727	27,434	21,706	29,769	24,647	33,434	26,765	36,898
Lincolnshire	18,828	24,923	21,073	29,087	23,910	33,076	26,048	36,000
Norfolk	18,840	25,423	20,814	28,022	23,569	31,324	25,443	34,842
North Yorkshire	18,624	25,508	20,826	28,198	23,313	31,743	25,080	34,548
Northamptonshire	19,109	25,272	21,014	28,470	23,720	32,377	25,596	35,259
Northumberland	18,789	23,765	20,702	25,949	23,276	29,435	25,049	31,608
Nottinghamshire	19,396	26,850	21,420	30,065	24,585	34,130	26,533	35,949
Oxfordshire	18,948	25,082	20,967	28,294	23,935	31,949	25,958	34,312
Shropshire	18,852	24,485	20,757	26,515	23,445	30,144	25,488	33,577
Somerset	18,747	25,820	20,727	29,324	23,409	33,883	25,313	35,626
Staffordshire	19,351	25,955	21,310	28,757	24,368	32,805	26,279	35,292
Suffolk	18,968	24,607	20,898	27,397	23,888	31,463	25,716	34,027
Surrey	19,750	27,132	21,856	29,998	25,053	33,901	27,120	36,947
Warwickshire	19,239	26,424	21,181	28,916	23,885	32,243	25,689	34,916
West Sussex	19,417	28,794	21,375	32,344	24,622	37,346	26,848	40,352
Wiltshire	19,001	25,993	21,114	28,753	23,719	32,058	25,474	35,110
England	19,521	26,540	19,814	27,865	24,561	33,513	26,573	36,464
Of which
LEA	19,521	26,533	21,538	29,462	24,561	33,416	26,565	36,212
GM	¹—	28,190	¹—	32,330	24,695	37,448	28,729	40,360
Note:
¹ Average salary not shown because of small numbers of head teachers.

n/a = not applicable.

Source:

Database of Teacher Records.

National Heritage

Royal Palaces

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when he will make available to the House the annual report on the maintenance of the occupied royal palaces. [31721]

I have today placed in the library copies of the annual report and accounts on the grant-in-aid for the maintenance of the occupied royal palaces in England, as promised in the Government's response to the 40th report of the Committee of Public Accounts. The annual report shows a significant reduction in the grant-in-aid since responsibility was transferred from the Department of the Environment to the royal household in 1991. The report also shows a continuation of the record of success which has already been noted by the Committee of Public Accounts.

Galleries And Museums

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has on the current level of admissions to national galleries and museums. [30981]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: I list forecasts for the number of visits to the national museums and galleries in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. More accurate figures for 1994–95 for the English and Welsh national museums and galleries will be available in July.

	Number of visits in 1993–94 (million)	Forecast number of visits in 1994–95 (million)
England
British Museum	6.03	6.32
Imperial War Museum	1.19	1.23
National Gallery	4.02	4.00
National Maritime Museum	0.53	0.54
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside	1.34	1.38
National Portrait Gallery	0.79	0.85
Natural History Museum	1.74	1.54
National Museum of Science and Industry	2.67	2.48
Tate Gallery	2.75	2.80
Victoria and Albert Musemum	1.58	1.60
Wallace Collection	0.15	0.16
Northern Ireland
Ulster Folk and Transport Museum	0.18	¹0.19
Ulster Museum	0.18	¹0.26
Scotland
National Gallery of Scotland	0.76	¹0.89
National Museums of Scotland	1.09	¹1.52

Regional breakdown of lottery awards made
	Sport	Arts	Heritage	Mill. Com	Charities	Total
England
North West	28	11	2	0	0	41
North East	16	2	1	0	0	19
Yorkshire	29	7	3	0	0	39
Eastern	27	7	3	0	0	37
East Midlands	30	7	1	0	0	38
West Midlands	19	2	1	0	0	22
South West	49	5	4	0	0	58
South East	70	17	4	0	0	91
Total	268	58	19	0	0	345
Scotland	34	20	4	0	0	58
Wales	23	18	2	0	0	43
Northern Ireland	28	11	1	0	0	40
Total	353	107	26	0	0	486

Lord Chancellor's Department

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date and how many jobs have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30837]

	Number of visits in 1993–94 (million)	Forecast number of visits in 1994–95 (million)
Wales
National Museums and Galleries of Wales	0.96	0.87
¹ These are actual figures. It is not possible to identify the number of visits to the Royal Armouries because at present it forms part of the Tower of London.

National Lottery

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) how many grants have been provided from the income arising from the national lottery; and if he will state the number of these within each region of the United Kingdom; [30016](2) what payments have been made to charities and good causes from the income arising from

(a) the national lottery and (b) the associated scratch cards; and what proportion of the income such payments represent. [30029]

[holding answer 22 June 1995]: The national lottery distribution fund receives a payment from Camelot Group plc each week relation to the sale of both on-line and instant win tickets. A total of £673 million has been raised for the five good causes since the national lottery began in November last year. Of this, £95.5 million— per cent., has been awarded to 486 projects. The awards are listed according to region.

For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, there was no change in spending in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative, nor is there likely to be any change in 1995–96. No schemes have been approved to date. There has been no transfer of employment from the public to the private sector since the launch of the private finance initiative in November 1992.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30836]

For the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office, no schemes were approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative. It is possible that one will be approved in the current financial year, though its value cannot be quantified accurately at the present time. Five schemes are being considered currently, but their value cannot yet be quantified accurately. Of those five schemes three have been under consideration and in the assessment process for over six months and two for less than six months.

Civil Service (Retirement Packages)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, column 232, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on grounds of efficiency. [29281]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be forgone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been 11 departures on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. Details are as follows:

£
	Immediate lump sum compensation	Annual pension from age 60 (rate per annum)	Superannuation lump sum payable at age 60
1990–91	14,088.18	2,437.65	7,344.57
1991–92	—	—	—
1992–93	9,207.96	1,969.84	5,926.71
1993–94	2,682.34	771.39	2,314.71
1994–95	104,846.97	19,629.52	59,060.55

Capital Spending

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30879]

Expenditure on capital in 199495 was £142,000,000. The latest budget figure—forecast of expenditure for 1995–96—is £108,000,000. The figures include expenditure by the Court Service Agency and the Public Trust Office Agency.Local authority capital expenditure on magistrates' courts was £56,000,000 in 1994–95. The latest local authority budget figure for 1995–96 is £74,000,000. The Lord Chancellor's Department pays grants to local authorities at a rate of 80 per cent. of approved expenditure of magistrates' courts.

House Of Commons

Bicycles

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what steps are being taken to improve access and facilities for storage for the bicycles of hon. Members, staff and visitors in the Palace of Westminster.

Racks are provided under cover for 12 bicycles in Star Chamber Court, for 32 bicycles in the colonnade in New Palace Yard, and for 15 bicycles in the 1 Cannon Row courtyard, for the use of hon. Members and staff. There are racks for a further 12 bicycles in the store at the exit to the underground car park. In random checks, the Serjeant at Arms has always found spare capacity available among the existing racks.There are no plans to increase the number, or to provide facilities for the storage of visitors' bicycles.

Prime Minister

Information Technology Security

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government services if he will describe the liaison arrangements between the security services and GCHQ which ensure consistency of advice to Government Departments; who is the Minister responsible for such arrangements; what liaison arrangements with the CCTA relate to the implementation of IT security policy; and if he will make a statement. [29773]

Responsibility for co-ordinating policy and advice on IT security in government rests with an inter-departmental committee chaired by the Cabinet Office. The Foreign Secretary the Home Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster have responsibility for the work of GCHQ, the Security Service and CCTA respectively. Specialists in all three organisations work closely together.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government Departments, if he will authorise detailed responses to parliamentary questions concerning the resources, and deployment of resources expended by the security services and GCHQ, which relate to the provision of IT security advice to Government Departments; if such responses do not jeopardise national security. [29772]

It has been the policy of successive Governments not to provide information in response to parliamentary questions on the operation of the security and intelligence agencies.

To ask the Prime Minster, pursuant to paragraph 5 of the report by the National Audit Office into IT security in Government Departments, if he has taken legal advice as to whether the functions of the security services in GCHQ which relate to the provisions of IT security advice to Government Departments are consistent with the functions outlined in the Security Service Act 1989 and Intelligence Services Act 1994; and if he will make a statement. [29771]

Preventing the unauthorised disclosure of information held on Government computer systems is an important element in the protection of national security, and as such falls within the terms of the Security Service Act 1989 and the Intelligence Services Act 1994.

Environment

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved; [30844](2) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30845]

The Department of the Environment and its sponsored bodies attracted around £4 million in private investment in support of its programmes in 1994–95 and expects to lever-in a similar amount in 1995–96. This will assist the delivery of a very large number of projects, most notably ones relating to housing, inner cities and regeneration. Moreover, regulations to encourage and facilitate private finance initiative schemes in the local authority sector were implemented by the Government with effect from 1 April 1995 and further PFI-related legislative changes for local authorities are imminent. It is not practicable for the Department to collect detailed information on each project being advanced under private financing arrangements. There have been no changes in the Department's spending directly attributable to the PFI.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30883]

My Department's total capital expenditure for 1994–95 is expected to be £4,488,000,000. This includes central Government's own expenditure, and capital expenditure by local authorities and public corporations, on a national accounts basis. The latest estimate for 1995–96 is £1,767,000,000. This excludes local government spending, for which a departmental breakdown is not yet available. These figures are the latest published, and appear in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96", Cm 2821.

Housing Corporation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the finance management and policy review of the Housing Corporation. [31650]

On 14 December 1994 I informed the House that as part of the Government's programme of regular five-yearly finance management and policy reviews—FMPRs—of non-departmental public bodies, my Department would be carrying out a review of the Housing Corporation in 1995.The prior options stage of the FMPR has been completed, and I have placed a copy of the report in the Library.The purpose of the prior options stage was to assess whether the corporation's functions remained necessary for the achievement of the Government's policies, and whether there was scope for privatising, contracting out or transferring all or part of its functions to another body.The Government's White Paper, "Our Future Homes", indicates the Government's commitment to a social rented sector, and sets out the Government's plans to enable a wider range of landlords to provide social rented housing, alongside housing associations. Systems for allocating Government subsidy, monitoring the provision of dwellings and overseeing the operation of social landlords therefore continue to be needed. Against this background, the Government accept the prior options review conclusions, that the Housing Corporation should continue to be responsible for the funding and regulation of housing associations in England; that the corporation should take on responsibility for payment of grant to and supervision of the proposed new social landlords, including landlords receiving transferred local authority stock; and that non-departmental public body status remains appropriate to the corporation's functions.The review also recommends that the Housing Association tenants' ombudsman service should be put on a statutory footing. As announced in the Housing White Paper, the Government accept this, and my Department will be consulting shortly on detailed proposals for legislation.The Housing Corporation accepts and will take forward a number of other operational recommendations in the report. In particular, it will review the work it does on promotion of housing associations and focus it further on promoting the efficient and effective use of housing resources; develop improved liaison with county councils on care in the community and other issues; and confine its future monitoring of housing associations' employment practices to matters in relation to which the corporation has a statutory duty, under the Race Relations Act 1976; and expose a number of activities to competition from the private sector, where this is found to be relevant.The review identifies a number of particular issues to be examined in the second stage of the FMPR, including the corporation's approach to registration and regulation in the context of the prospective introduction of new social landlords; the procedures for the appointment of corporation board members and for dealing with potential conflict of interest arising from board members' involvement in other housing-related activities; arrangements for liaison between the corporation and Government regional offices; and the scope for contracting out or market testing support services within the corporation.I am grateful for contributions received in the course of the review from the local authority associations, the Chartered Institute of Housing, the National Federation of Housing Associations, individual housing associations, and many other bodies and individuals. The report contains a list of the contributions. Copies of individual contributions are available through the DOE central library.The review has underlined the importance of the corporation's work, and the effective way it is carried out. This is greatly to the credit of the staff of the corporation and to the chairman and members of the board, and I should like to place on record the Government's gratitude for this.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the board of the Housing Corporation. [31651]

Three members of the board of the Housing Corporation are due to retire in the next few months—the right Rev. Wilfred Wood, Mrs. Stella Clarke and Mr. David Cochrane, after nine, seven and 12 years of service respectively. I am extremely grateful to them for the energy and abilities which they have brought to the corporation.In appointing new members to the board, I wish to be able to consider the widest possible range of candidates. I should, therefore, welcome nominations and expressions of interest in being appointed to these posts.The Housing Corporation is responsible for the funding and regulation of over 2,000 registered housing associations, and has an annual budget of some £1,750 million. Membership of the corporation board calls for ability and judgment of the highest level. In making these appointments, I particularly wish to consider candidates with expertise also in the fields of urban regeneration, regulatory or other quasi-judicial processes, special needs housing, or academic study of housing issues. I will consider candidates with or without previous involvement in a housing association.

Bedfordshire County Council

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has decided to take against Bedforshire county council following the notice served on them last year for anti-competitive behaviour in awarding a school and welfare catering contract in-house. [31857]

On 8 November 1994, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, served a notice under section 13 of the Local Government Act 1988 on Bedfordshire county council, setting out his view that the authority had acted anti-competitively during a competition for school and welfare catering work.My right hon. Friend has given careful consideration to the response to that notice and has today given the authority a direction under section 14 of the Act which requires it to retender its school and welfare catering work by 1 September 1996. Its direct service organisation will be limited to undertaking 70 per cent. of the total value of the work and it must seek the Secretary of State's consent before it assigns it any of the work in-house.Bedfordshire awarded six contracts for school and welfare catering to its direct service organisation when it had received substantially lower bids for them from a private company. In the Secretary of State's view it did not have well-founded reasons for doing so.

European Pollution Directives

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made, or has been supplied to him by the local authority associations, of the effect on local authority services and local government finance of European directives dealing with bathing water and with clean air and emissions; and if he will make a statement. [30999]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The framework directive on ambient air quality assessment and management will have no direct effect on local authority services and local government finance. The effects of the subsequent daughter directives will be assessed when the proposals are adopted.The directives on bathing waters and on integrated pollution prevention and control may entail a slight increase in existing co-ordination or provision of information functions for the local authorities. No assessment of these functions has been supplied by the local authority associations.

Ozone Air Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has conducted into which people suffer discomfort when ozone levels exceed 90 parts per billion; and if he will make a statement. [31033]

I have been asked to reply.In 1991 the Department of Health advisory group on the medical aspects of air pollution episodes undertook a detailed review of the effects of ozone on health. Its report was published and is available in the Library.

Wales

Mrs A Griffin

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will establish a public inquiry to ascertain the factors underlying the refusal to treat the two children of Mrs. A. Griffin whose case is currently before his Department at the Breakspear hospital. [30164]

This remains a matter for Clwyd district health authority. The authority is undertaking an investigation under independent chairmanship into the conduct of the officers concerned with the referral requested by Mrs. Griffin. I understand that Clwyd district health authority has made an offer to Mrs. Griffin, for an independent paediatrician appointment through an NHS consultant of her choice. That offer remains open.

Prescription Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the revenue raised through prescription charges in Wales during (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [29585]

The information for 1994–95 is not available. Figures for 1991–92 to 1993–94 are as follows:

Financial year	Total income from charge(£000s)
1991–92	13.372
1992–93	14.706
1993–94	16.008

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30871]

Consistent with the figures shown in table 1.7 of Cm 2821, the estimated outturn for 1994–95 for public sector capital expenditure within Welsh Office responsibilities is £1,433 million. This total includes an estimate of aggregate local authority capital spending; as explained in paragraph 1.9 of Cm 2821 no equivalent estimate is available for 1995–96. Excluding local authority spending, planned public sector capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £702 million.

Accident And Emergency Services

To as the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he proposes to commence the statutory decision making procedure for determining the future of accident and emergency services in the Cardiff area; [31260](2) what notification he has been given by South Glamorgan health authority of its disagreement with Cardiff community health council regarding the proposed switch of accident and emergency services from the Cardiff royal infirmary to the University hospital of Wales; [31262](3) what public consultation he expects to carry out before reaching his decision concerning the future of accident and emergency services for Cardiff; and how long he estimates it will take him to announce his verdict; [31261](4) what consultation's he has had with the chairman of South Glamorgan health authority concerning its failure to agree with Cardiff community health council about proposals for future accident and emergency services for Cardiff. [31263]

The future of accident and emergency services at the Cardiff royal infirmary is a matter for South Glamorgan health authority at this stage. Although the health authority has kept this Department closely in touch with developments, including the position of Cardiff Community health council and the independent review of accident and emergency provision in Cardiff, the matter has not been discussed with the chairman of the health authority at ministerial level.If the authority and the community health council are unable to agree on the way ahead, the proposals will be submitted to the Secretary of State for decision. If this happens, the Secretary of State's decision will be announced as quickly as possible, taking into account all the views presented.

Home Department

Immigration Controls

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if people detained at immigration controls are now offered refreshments; [30769](2) what has been the percentage change in the number of complaints against the immigration service from young travellers over the last five years; [30770](3) what documentation is now required for a young traveller to be allowed entry into the United Kingdom; [30771](4) if the review of complaint statistics for immigration service complaints has been completed; and what categories now replace the category of complaints that gave other reasons; [30772](5) what progress has been made to improve the provision of interpreters for the immigration service: [30773](6) what representations he has received alleging that black British citizens are facing lengthy delays at immigration controls; [30774](7) what action he proposes to prevent black citizens being discriminated against at immigration control points; [30775](8) what discussions have taken place between the immigration service and ports and airports to improve holding and interview areas; and what were the results; [30776](9) what figures he has regarding the number and proportion of

(a) black and (b) white citizens who experienced substantial delay at immigration control points. [30777]

I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of that letter in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30835]

Capital spending in the Home Office did not change in 1994–95, nor is it expected to do so in 1995–96, as a result of the private finance initiative. In these two years my Department will have incurred no contractual payments associated with service delivery. Staff resources allocated specifically to overseeing and developing the initiative cost approximately £100,000 per annum.All Home Office capital expenditure proposals are examined to see if better value for money could be obtained through the private finance route. However, at present all Home Office schemes that have reached detailed consideration for private finance are additional to, not a substitute for, existing public capital provision.It is not possible to assess how many jobs have been created so far in the private sector in response to the private finance initiative. However, in addition to those that will be created in construction of capital assets—for which public finance would not have been available-preliminary estimates suggest that around 1,000 operational long-term jobs could result from current private finance schemes. As these projects are new facilities, it is not envisaged that public sector jobs will be lost.

Probation Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library copies of responses to his consultation document on the recruitment and training of probation officers. [30818]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 6 June, Official Report, column 125.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30834]

No private finance initiative contracts were approved in 1994–95. Planning took place on eight projects expected to be approved in 1995–96. These are projects estimated to have a capital value of approximately £150 million.All capital schemes are now considered for private finance. Eight further schemes are currently receiving more detailed consideration. The value is likely to be of the order of £1 billion.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30880]

The Home Office, including Charity Commission capital expenditure is published in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", Cm 2821. For 1994–95 the total figure recorded is £622 million. This includes local authority and Charity Commission expenditure. Planned central Government capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £369 million. There are no published figures for local authority capital expenditure.

Hackney Council

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what considerations underlie his decision to decline to allow Hackney council to interview Ms Jill Arnfield as part of an enquiry to identify an individual or individuals who have broken the law; [31228](2) when his Department was informed by Hackney council that names and other information concerning council employees were unlawfully removed from council payroll records; and if he will publish the minutes of that meeting; [31229](3) how Ms Jill Arnfield of the immigration and nationality division of the Home Office came to be in possession of details of employees of Hackney council; [31230](4) for what reasons Ms Arnfield asked the Benefits Agency to carry out checks on employees of Hackney council; upon what evidence or allegations this request was made; what instructions she gave as to how widely this request was to be made known; and for what reasons; [31231](5) what is his Department's policy on co-operation with Hackney council's investigation of alleged unlawful acts in relation to information from the council's payroll records; and what is the reason for this policy; [31232](6) when information concerning employees of Hackney council was passed to his Department; who supplied the information; what steps the Home Office took to inform the council that it had received the information and for what reasons; and what lawful authority the Home Office had to act on the information. [31233]

Ms Arnfield is one of a number of immigration officers employed in the enforcement directorate of the immigration service. One of her main tasks is to investigate allegations and information, from whatever source, about persons who may be working and/or residing in this country illegally. All information alleging breaches of the immigration laws is thoroughly researched both within the Department and with other agencies and is discounted wherever it is possible to identify the person(s) concerned as being lawfully resident here.A number of allegations about persons from abroad working illegally at Hackney council have been received from various sources over a long period. It would not be appropriate to disclose these sources publicly, but the immigration service has never received a computer disk containing details of Hackney employees. Where it has been established that the subject(s) of the information was illegally in the United Kingdom, the council has been informed. So far, eight council employees—three finance officers, two teachers, an estate manager, a personnel officer and a cook—have been served with either notice of illegal entry or notice of intention to deport and three others were dismissed by the council after the immigration service asked to interview them.Discussion have taken place between representatives from Hackney council and members of the immigration service and a further meeting scheduled for 28 June has been postponed at the council's request. At a meeting on 10 March, the assistant chief finance officer of Hackney council suggested that an inquiry into an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act 1984 concerning the unauthorised release of details of Hackney council employees was being considered. The draft minutes of this meeting were circulated to Hackney council on 17 March for approval, but the council has not responded.Alleged breaches of council security are for the local authority to pursue with the police and/or the Data Protection Registrar.The general question of disclosure of sources of information made available to the immigration service is a matter for the Home Office. In these circumstances, it has been made clear that the Home Office would be happy to respond to any written inquiries but not to allow individual immigration officers to be interviewed about matters which go beyond their responsibilities.

Burglaries

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the nature of the information retrieval system used by the Metropolitan police to record burglaries; if information on burglaries is retrievable for (a) individual addresses, (b) persons or organisations burgled and (c) date of burglary; and if the information on crimes reported to individual police stations is recorded on a central database. [30950]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police currently use two systems for recording crime information. The first is a paper based, manual system, and the second, which is replacing the first, is the crime reporting and information system, which is computerised. Information about individual addresses, names of persons or organisations involved and date of incident is retrievable on both systems at local level. Certain details of reported crimes are forwarded to a central database for statistical purposes, but as this database does not contain personal information, retrieval is not possible centrally.

Metropolitan Police (Race Relations)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what force-wide strategy the Metropolitan police have for community and race relations training; what progress has been made in implementing this strategy especially at local level; to what extent and in what ways contributors from local minority ethnic communities are involved in such training; and what use is currently made by the Metropolitan police of the services of his Department's funded specialist support unit. [30723]

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that, to date, 73 police trainers and 13 training managers have attended the six-week course on these subjects at the Home Office specialist support unit and that a further nine officers have attended the condensed version of the course, enabling them to assist the trainers. Focused training sessions are held at the recruit school in Hendon, involving ethnic community representatives. In addition to this, local training is often organised at divisional or area level, involving members of local minority ethnic communities.

Police Training

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) civilians and (b) lay contributors are currently employed or were used in the last four trainers' courses at the central planning and training unit; what subject areas they covered; and what was their ethnicity. [30722]

The last four trainers' courses held at the central planning and training unit were led by eight directors of study, one of whom was a white civilian. These courses are designed to train police officers to act as trainers generally but also include elements of equal opportunities and community and race relations training. In exploring these issues, 15 ethnic minority police officers were used as members of discussion groups or panels.

Wheelclamping

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 6 June, Official Report, column 134, if he will introduce legislation to permit local authorities in areas affected by the activities of unscrupulous wheelclampers to introduce byelaws to ban or regulate their activities. [30440]

Byelaws are generally used to regulate behaviour in public places and cannot apply to private land without the consent of the landowner. In the context of wheelclamping, therefore, byelaws are unlikely to provide an effective means of regulation.

Post-Natal Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are given to magistrates concerning imprisoning women who have just given birth. [30384]

The Government do not issue guidelines to the courts as to how they should use their discretion in dealing with individual cases. The Magistrates Association does issue guidelines to its members, but we are not aware that the association has provided any advice on the treatment of women who have just given birth.

Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in-house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29417]

In the Prison Service, three new-built prisons and half the prisoner escort services have been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid since 1992 under the "Competing for Quality" initiative. This reflected a policy decision that such activities should in future be carried out by the private sector and consequently in-house bids were not invited. In-house bids were not prevented by any absence of expertise. The Prison Service intends to pursue this policy by contracting out further new-build prisons and the four remaining geographical areas of prisoner escort services; again in-house bids will not be invited.

Estate management in the Forensic Science Service has been contracted out to the private sector without an in-house bid. No such bid for this work was made, but, if one had been, it would have been considered on the same basis as bids from external contractors.

The United Kingdom Passport Agency has invited outline proposals from service providers, including travel agents, banks and the Post Office with a view to these outlets receiving and checking completed passport applications. The aim is to enhance customer choice and convenience.

As I announced in response to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge (Sir M. Shersby) on 8 February, Official Report, columns 254–55, a decision about the future management of the police national computer will be taken about the middle of 1996 when the likely nature, size and scope of the proposed new computer system is clearer.

Elsewhere in the Home Office, activities reviewed under the "Competing for Quality" initiative have been contracted out to the private sector only where an external bidder has won in competition with the in-house team. "Competing for Quality" reviews are in progress or are planned across a range of functions, but there are at present no plans to contract out any further functions of the non-prisons Home Office without the in-house team having had the opportunity to bid for the work against the private sector.

Organised Crime

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what form the November 1993 recommendation of the European ad hoc working group on organised crime for an annual report on the scale and trends of organised crime was fulfilled in respect of 1994; and how the information relating to the United Kingdom was compiled. [30053]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted a situation report on organised crime in the European Union in 1993 at its meeting on 9 and 10 March 1995. This confidential report was prepared for Ministers by the German presidency of the European Union drugs and organised crime working group on the basis of member states' responses to a presidency questionnaire.The United Kingdom contribution was compiled by the Home Office in consultation with the national criminal intelligence service. HM Customs and Excise and the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Victims Charter

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to update the victims charter; and when he will do so. [27275]

[holding answer 8 June 1995]: We are hoping to publish a charter-style statement of service standards for victims of crime later this year.

Confiscation Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update the figures on sums ordered to be confiscated and sums realised, given in his answer to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers) of 1 February, Official Report, column 679, to include the figures for 1994–95. [30056]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested will not be available until the Autumn 1995.

Overseas Development Administration

Arms Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the oral statement by the Minister of State, the hon. Member for Eddisbury (Mr. Goodlad), of 19 June, Official Report, column 93, if he will now meet representatives of the World Development Movement to discuss the basis of its allegations regarding alleged links between aid and arms sales. [30536]

I have no plans at present to meet World Development Movement representatives. Allegations regarding links between aid and arms sales are completely unfounded. Senior ODA officials met WDM representatives on 21 June to discuss recent WDM work on development issues. Discussions were useful and productive, and part of the process through which non-governmental organisations and the ODA regularly discuss help to the developing world.

Trade And Industry

Exports

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the results of the consultations that his Department has undertaken with the private sector about barriers to United Kingdom exports.

I set out in this year's competitiveness White Paper a new strategy for tackling barriers erected by other countries to our exports. Dossiers on 20 of our major markets have now been completed, and I have placed copies in the Library of the House. Copies are also being sent to the trade associations that have contributed to the study, and will be available from my Department on request. Dossiers on our other top markets will also be drawn up.

Telecommunications Council

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Telecommunications Council on 13 June.

The Commission made a presentation on progress within the Commission on drawing up a draft legislative framework for the single market in postal services, and undertook to produce proposals by July. The presidency adopted conclusions on the principles of terminal dues for the delivery of international mail, although there was no agreement at this stage within the Council.The Council agreed a resolution on a future regulatory framework for telecommunications, necessary to implement the full liberalisation of network infrastructure and services by 1 January 1998, agreed in principle at the last Council on 17 November 1994. A resolution on policy in the mobile and personal communications sector was also agreed.The Council also agreed a common position on the resubmitted directive applying open network provision to voice telephony. In addition, the Commission reported to the Council on the amendments made by the European Parliament at its second reading to the Council's 22 December 1994 common position on a directive on standards for digital television. The draft directive was referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further discussion.Following a short debate, the Council agreed conclusions on a draft Commission directive on the use of cable television networks for the provision of telecoms services already liberalised by the CommunityThe Commission made representations on the progress of multilateral negotiations on basic telecommunications, and on its communication on the status and implementation of Commission directive 90/338/EEC on competition in the markets for telecoms services. There was also a Commission presentation and a short debate on a Commission communication on a methodology for implementation of the information society application areas identified by the Bangemann group, and a draft proposals for a decision on guidelines for the development of telecoms Trans-European networks.No formal vote was taken at this Council.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the minutes of the meeting of the Council of Telecoms Ministers in the week beginning 12 June. [30243]

The minutes of the Telecommunications Council have not yet been produced. The outcome of the Telecommunications Council is summarised in the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Beckenham (Mr. Merchant) and the Council secretariat press release giving an account of it has been deposited in the Library of the House. The procedures set down in Council decision 93/731/EC—printed in the Official Journal of 31 December 1993 also deposited in the Library of the House—provide for public access to Council documents. The hon. Member may request access to the minutes from the Council secretariat.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30820]

My Department has a number of major exercises underway which will involve the use of private sector finance in the delivery of services. Private finance is being used in the refurbishment of 1 Victoria street and the Radiocommunications Agency's relocation to docklands initiated in 1993–94 and 1994–95 respectively. No specifically PFI projects were approved during 1994–95. Procedures have recently been introduced to consider PFI for all DTI's capital projects but it is too early to estimate the number or value which may be approved in 1995–96. My Department is also pursuing a major programme of privatisation and contracting out involving almost all the executive agencies, which themselves account for around half of my Department.

Offshore Installations

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the findings of his Department's oil and gas abandonment review body on the issue of the disposal of redundant installations; and if he will make a statement. [31251]

The work of the review body is reflected in a consultation document entitled, "Guidance Notes for Industry—Abandonment of Offshore Installations and Pipelines under the Petroleum Act 1987" which was published by my Department on 4 May 1995. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.

Solar Technology

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what studies have been undertaken on the potential for deploying solar photovoltaic technology and/or solar water heating on (a) Government buildings and (b) other public sector-buildings. [30081]

No studies have been carried out specifically into the potential for solar technologies on Government or public sector buildings, although general potential resource estimates have been made. The potential for photovoltaics has been investigated by the University of Northumbria and published in ETSU S/1365; the potential for solar water heating has been investigated by Halcrow Gilbert Associates and published in ETSU S/1337. Copies of both publications are being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimates his Department has made of the maximum potential contribution to the United Kingdom's energy requirements from (a) solar photovoltaic technology and (b) solar water heating. [30080]

Technical resource estimates, for photovoltaics and solar water heating were published in "New and Renewable Energy, future prospects for the UK", Energy Paper 62;"An Assessment of Renewable Energy for the UK (R.62)"; and "An Appraisal of UK Energy Research, Development Demonstration and Dissemination"—Energy Paper 61. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Nuclear Holding Company

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Untied Kingdom nuclear holding company will be properly constituted and established in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [31257]

The new nuclear holding company will be established to a timetable which will enable the Government to secure the privatisation of the United Kingdom's advanced gas-cooled reactor and pressurised water reactor stations during 1996.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade who is to be appointed chief executive of the new United Kingdom nuclear holding company; and if he will make a statement. [31256]

Further appointments to the new nuclear holding company will be announced in due course.

Magnox

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the reason underpinning the estimate of a 10 per cent. saving in total Magnox liability costs in the table setting out Magnox liabilities in his Departmental press notice P/95/310; [31119](2) what discount rate was adopted to calculate the present value of the net cash receipts for further operations in the table on Magnox liabilities issued in his Departmental press notice P/95/310 of 9 May; and what is the justification for its use. [31120]

The decision to assume a 10 per cent. figure for potential savings in the costs of Magnox liabilities was taken in the light of the views of advisers—KPMG—who looked at the specific question of nuclear liabilities for the nuclear review.A discount rate of 3.5 per cent. was used to calculate the present value of net cash receipts for further Magnox operations, and is based on the current yield from 25 year index-linked gilts.

Nigeria

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much money Nigeria owes to the Export Credits Guarantee Department; which steps are being taken to recover this money; and what action is being taken to prevent further losses. [30435]

Amounts due to ECGD have been rescheduled under bilateral agreements between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Nigeria signed under the auspices of the Paris Club. This is the normal mechanism for the recovery of sovereign debt. Since 1986 three agreements have been signed with Nigeria. Nigeria is currently in substantial arrears under these agreements. The total amount outstanding, excluding delay interest, is £2.3 billion. The Paris Club collectively, and individual creditors including HM Government, continue to press Nigeria to adopt policies aimed at economic reform and to regularise its relations with the international financial institutions. Sustained economic reform is regarded as the best method of promoting economic growth which in turn will allow Nigeria to meet its obligations under these agreements.The debts covered by these agreements relate to contracts signed before 1 October 1985. ECGD has been off cover for new medium term business since 1 February 1984.

Bmarc

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his oral statement of 13 June, Official Report, column 595–97, on what date his Department made available to Customs and Excise all the information which emerged from its inquiry into possible breaches of export control offences by BMARC. [29260]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: Information which emerged from our researches into BMARC export licences was passed to Customs and Excise as and when it became available over a period between late April and early June.

Civil Service Retirement Packages

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 2 May, Official Report, column 132, if he will provide comparable details on civil service early retirement packages on the ground of inefficiency. [29295]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: Inefficiency is a ground for dismissal. An immediate lump sum payment of up to two years' salary may be made where a Department judges payment of compensation to be appropriate. Where compensation is agreed and the person dismissed is over age 55, this may be foregone in favour of immediate payment of the accrued superannuation benefits which would otherwise be preserved for payment at retiring age. There have been six departures from the Department of established staff on inefficiency grounds in the past five financial years. None received an early retirement package, although five officers were awarded immediate compensation, totalling £30,890. There is one award pending. Details are as follows:

	Number of cases	Total compensation £
1990–91	1	86
1991–92	1	21,212
1993–94	3	9,592
1994–95	1	¹—
¹ Pending.

Domestic Housing Market

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of retail sales and manufacturing output is attributable to the domestic housing market. [30416]

I have been asked to reply.Information detailing annual retail sales is published in the CSO "Business Monitor SDA25—Retailing". In 1992 the percentage of retail turnover attributed to sales of furniture, domestic appliances and other household goods was 16.8 per cent.The percentage of manufacturing output attributable to the domestic housing market is unavailable.

Transport

A1

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) when he expects to announce starting dates for the three dualling schemes on the A1 between Morpeth and Alnwick as set out in the roads programme; [30620](2) when he expects consultants to be appointed to prepare for work on the Morpeth-Lanehead section of the A1. [30619]

Dualling of the section between Hitchcroft and Cawledge is due to start this year.A decision to proceed with dualling between Willowburn and Denwick was published on 5 June. Additional design work will be required to comply with the inspectors' report.The dualling proposals for Morpeth to Lanehead are in the early stages of preparation and will be taken forward as quickly as resources permit.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30873]

The Department of Transport's capital spending figure for 1994–95 on a national accounts basis is expected to be £5,106 million. The latest capital budget figure available for 1995–96 is £3,592 million, excluding local authority capital which is a matter for determination by individual local authorities.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered, and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) 6 months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30822]

The information is as follows:

Schemes approved 1994–95
Schemes	Value £million
Northern Line trains	400

Expected to be approved 1995–96
Schemes	Estimated value (£ million)
Channel Tunnel Rail Link	2,700 (Q4 1992 prices)
DBFOs	500
Croydon Tramlink	160
Midland Metro Line 1	150

Schemes under consideration
Schemes	Estimated value (£ million)
Crossrail	2,800
Thameslink 2000	Under assessment
East London Line extension	83
WCML signaling	50
Leeds Supertram	95
LT global revenue strategy	75
LUL power supplies	120
LUL track repair maintenance machine	0.5
Manchester Metrolink extension to Salford Quays	100
New Scottish ATC Centre	200
Oceanic Flight Data Processing System	25

The wide diversity of scheme types and their expected procurement routes mean that figures for the length of time they have been under consideration could not be provided on a consistent basis. However, the average length of time taken to progress schemes so far approved from invitation to tender to award of contract was 16 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport by how much has Government spending changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30823]

There is no direct correlation between Government spending in a given year and the level of private capital levered in through the private finance initiative. Information on the employment consequences of private finance schemes is not available.

Buses

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been made to the traffic commissioners with regard to bus companies failing to fulfil their established timetables; which companies have been involved; and in which areas of the country. [30858]

The information is not available in the form requested.

A3

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what assessment he has made of (a) the justification and (b) the management of restrictions to traffic during the last five years by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford; [30803]

(2) what assurances have been received by his Department from (a) the Highways Agency, (b) the county council and (c) other bodies of free passage for vehicles during the next three years when the current roadworks on the A3 where it bypasses Guildford are completed; [30806]

(3) what estimate his Department has made of the economic cost in the last five years to businesses in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area of delays caused by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford; [30805]

(4) during how many days in the last five years has free passage for vehicles been restricted by roadworks on the A3 as it bypasses Guildford. [30807]

These are operational matters for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Peter Griffiths, dated 18 June 1995:

The Minister for Railways and Roads, Mr John Watts, has asked me to write to you in reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions about roadworks on the A3 at Guildford.

The works that have been carried out on the A3 over the past 5 years have been necessary because much of this 20–30 year old and heavily used road has reached the end of its design life and therefore requires urgent attention. Left too long, structural damage would have occurred and would have been much more costly and difficult to rectify.

Restrictions to traffic during the works have been necessary in the interests of both the workforce and road users. I am satisfied that the restrictions have been managed as efficiently as possible bearing in mind the difficulty of operation on this busy road.

No assessment has been made of the economic cost of these works on businesses in Portsmouth.

Data showing daily lane restrictions on the A3 in the Guildford area for the past 5 years is not available. However, major maintenance was undertaken between Burpham and Wisley during the period November 1993—May 1994 and between Abbotswood and the A31, work started in January this year and is due for completion in July. In addition, some lane restrictions and local diversions were necessary for about six weeks last Summer whilst temporary supports for the A31 bridge over the A3 were put in place.

The Agency has given no assurance that there will be no further roadworks on the A3 in the vicinity of Guildford over the next 3 years. Major maintenance is planned next year between Burpham and Abbotswood. Strengthening work is also planned for around the end of this year on the bridge which carries the A3 southbound slip road to the A31 Hogs Back, although we do not expect this to cause undue disruption to A3 traffic.

When the A3 roadworks are complete we do not expect the road to require major maintenance for another 15–20 years from completion of each section. Some routine maintenance will of course be required from time to time, but this can be dealt with at off-peak periods with little disruption to traffic.

I hope this is helpful.

London Fort William Sleeper

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations have been received by (a) his Department, (b) the Rail Regulator and (c) the Office of the Passenger Rail Franchising Director in support of the retention of the London-Fort William sleeper. [31087]

The Department of Transport has received 178 representations in support of retention of the Fort William sleeper. A number of letters to the Department of Transport were also transferred to Opraf for reply. Opraf has received 875 representations, including letters transferred by the Department of Transport. The Rail Regulator has received 1,525.

Rail Fares

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to limit increases by private operators in the rail system in cases where he assesses increases to be unjustified; and if he will make it his policy to cap future increases to the rate of inflation. [30652]

The franchising director proposes to limit annual increases in key rail fares to retail prices index for three years from 1 January 1996 and to RPI -1 per cent. for the subsequent four years.

Unlicensed Trucks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent results have been obtained from checks for unlicensed trucks; and if he will now consider introducing measures to seize unlicensed operators' trucks. [30732]

We have no reliable estimate of the number of vehicles operated illegally. A special series of roadside checks by the vehicle inspectorate in 1993 indicated that up to 9 per cent. of vehicles checked were not on an operator's licence. In a similar exercise in 1994 in the south-east, 7 per cent. of vehicles checked were suspected of being operated illegally outside the operator licensing system. However, these exercises, as is normal for such checks, were targeted on areas where offenders were thought most likely to be and vehicles stopped were also those thought most likely to be offending. These figures cannot, therefore, be taken as representative of the commercial vehicle population as a whole.In a recent cross-check of goods vehicles involved in accidents recorded by the police, no operator's licence could be traced for 24 per cent. of the vehicles. But this figure also cannot be taken as representative as the total included many vehicles below the limit for operator licensing, and also others exempt from operator licensing for another reason. It may also include vehicles "on the margin", that is, being used legally under the arrangements whereby operators have up to one month to notify licensing authorities of newly acquired vehicles.We are currently looking at ways to obtain a better indication of the extent of the problem. We are also keeping under review a number of possible new measures against illegal operations, including impounding of vehicles.

Port And Harbour Police

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities are legally empowered to establish or operate ports or harbour police; and what is the statutory basis for each force. [30093]

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Rail Track Closures

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many miles of rail track were closed in each year since 1980; and what percentage this represented of the total track network in each year. [30451]

Information on miles of track closed since 1980 is not available.

Ferry Evacuations

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 15 June, Official Report, column 614, what is the difference in procedure for passengers embarking on to survival crafts from roll-on roll-off ferries and catamarans. [30302]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: This is an operational matter for the Marine Safety Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from R. M. Bradley to Mr. Paul Flynn, dated 28 June 1995:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about differences in evacuation procedure between roll-on-roll-off ferries and catamarans.

The evacuation procedures for passengers embarking into survival craft are governed by the systems in place. For roll-on-roll-off ferries, the main systems are davit launched liferafts or lifeboats, or marine evacuation systems. On some vessels, overside ladders may also be used to reach inflated liferafts if access cannot be gained directly from lower decks.

In the case of catamarans, the same options are available, but, due to lower deck levels, it is unlikely that davit launched liferafts or lifeboats would be used.

A40-M40 Link

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce the start date and the completion date of the work on the A40–M40 link between Shepherd's Bush and Ealing Acton. [31152]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: This is a operational matter for the Highways Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. Clive Soley, dated 28 June 1995:

As you know, the Minister for Transport in London, Mr. Steven Norris, has asked me to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Secretary of State for Transport, when he expects to announce the start date and the completion date of the work on the A40/M40 link between Shepherd's Bush and Ealing Acton.

We have assumed you are referring to the improvements of the A40 trunk road at Gypsy Corner in the London Borough of Hounslow and at Western Circus in the London Borough of Ealing. These schemes are expected to start in 1996 and take 30 months to complete.

Until tenders are received and have been assessed, it will not be possible to announce a more exact start date.

Road Construction

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies his Department has made into the possibility of using channel tunnel construction methods to build roads in urban areas; and if he will make a statement. [30958]

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

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Marshall, dated 28 June 1995:

Mr. John Watts has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the possibility of using Channel Tunnel construction methods for building roads in urban areas.

The notable success of the civil engineering construction on the UK side of the Channel Tunnel project included the performance of the full-face boring machines that were used to excavate and line the main running tunnels and the service tunnel that link the UK with mainland Europe, the construction of a huge underground cross-over chamber by means of excavation and ground support techniques known as the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM) and extensive cut and cover construction at the terminals. The full-face boring machine techniques and cut and cover construction are well established and already used to construct urban roads where appropriate.

NATM is a relatively new, very flexible and economic form of tunnelling that promises to be of particular benefit in the construction of the comparatively short lengths of tunnel required in most urban developments (i.e. less than 1 km long). The technique has been a topic of research and development commissioned by the Agency. NATM has already been adopted for two recently constructed twin trunk road tunnels (A20 Round Hill 390 m and A27 Southwick 490 m) both of which were constructed in chalk. Experience gained from studies carried out at both of these projects has shown that NATM could be well suited to the demands of underground construction in urban areas. Work is continuing to justify this assumption.

Defence

Duke Of York's Royal Military School

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what key targets have been set for the Duke of York's Royal Military School in 1995–96. [31905]

The key targets for the Duke of York's Royal Military School in 1995–96 are as follows:

Curriculum

To achieve at least 98 per cent. of GCSE passes at grades A to G in August 1995. To achieve at least five GCSE passes at grades A to C for 74 per cent. of pupils in August 1995. To achieve 85 per cent. of A-level passes at grades A to E in August 1995. To achieve 3 A-level passes at grades A to E for 80 per cent. of candidates in August 1995. To achieve 20 per cent. of A-level passes at grades A and B in August 1995. To achieve 100 per cent. award rate for BTEC national diploma courses in August 1995. To implement key stage 3 modifications to national curriculum programmes of study by September 1995. To achieve places in higher education for 70 per cent. of sixth form leavers by October 1995. To extend staff appraisal of all teaching staff in a two-year cycle by September 1995.

Pastoral

To ensure Marlborough house is prepared as a girls' senior house by September 1995. To ensure Kitchener house is prepared as a boys' senior house by September 1995. To expand involvement of girls in representative games by September 1995. To develop a school concert band—on-going.

Finance and Administration

To reduce pupil per capita costs to £11,081—at 1994 prices—by April 1996. To generate income of £400,000 by April 1996. To introduce phase 2 of new pupil billing system by September 1995.

Review

To assist MOD with agency review during 1995. To achieve 200 applicants for September 1996 intake by April 1996. To update school prospectus and poster by July 1995.

Territorial Army

To ask the Secretary for Defence if he will make a statement on senior appointments in the Territorial Army. [31904]

Territorial Army officers regularly command TA units at lieutenant colonel level and there are at present 39 TA officers at colonel level in staff appointments. At brigadier level, there is currently one dedicated TA post at Headquarters Land Command. Following consultation with senior military advisers, we intend that in future suitably qualified TA officers should have the opportunity to be considered for a range of staff and certain command appointments at brigadier level. Specifically, and subject to the availability of candidates of the appropriate calibre, we shall be establishing a post of brigadier (TA) development and doctrine within the Army's directorate of development and doctrine from 1996, to be filled by a TA officer. We also intend, probably from 1997, and subject again to the availability of suitable candidates, that the post of director reserve forces and cadets in the central staff of the Ministry of Defence, currently filled by a regular officer, should be filled by a one-star officer from the volunteer reserves of one of the three services.I know that this will be welcomed by all reservists as further evidence of our commitment to the reserve forces.

Departmental Property

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library a list of the sites of his Ministry's residential properties in the counties of (a) Dorset, (b) Hampshire, (c) Isle of Wight, (d) Berkshire and (e) Wiltshire; and if he will give for each site both the total number of properties and the number which are currently unoccupied. [30220]

As at 31 March, my Department owned the following properties in the areas shown:

	Stock	Vacancies
Dorset	1,631	327
Hampshire	8,880	1,162
Isle of Wight	1	0
Berkshire	1,625	303
Wiltshire	6,819	1,103

Of the vacant properties, 86 in Dorset, 25 in Hampshire, 72 in Berkshire and 168 in Wiltshire were in the process of being sold. Many of the vacant properties were undergoing or awaiting major maintenance work, held for unit deployments, already allotted to families due to move in shortly or formed part of the management margin needed to ensure that accommodation is available for entitled service families.Information on individual sites is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Royal Navy Trainees

To ask the Secretary of State of Defence if he will outline the sequence of events that occurred on 15 June involving two Royal Navy sea helicopters which dropped and later collected a party of Royal Navy trainees at the China Fleet Club, Saltash; what was the training purpose of this exercise; what the total cost involved; how long the Royal Navy trainees stayed at the club; what they did there; and if he will make a statement. [30017]

RN Sea King aircraft of 848 squadron based at RNAS Yeovilton are used for the training of operational aircrew. Two of these aircraft were tasked to carry out operational training on 15 June involving low level navigation and formation flying.To enhance the training value, the opportunity was taken to load the aircraft to operational all-up-weight with a group of off-duty maintenance ratings. These individuals were dropped at the China Fleet Club in Saltash from where they were retrieved five hours later by aircraft with different crews who were also carrying out operational training. No additional cost to public funds were incurred as a result of these individuals being transported.

Insurance

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the application of personal insurance schemes for military personnel who are killed or injured on or while travelling in military property. [30603]

It is a matter for individuals as to whether they take out insurance and what company, policy and level of cover they choose. My Department will refund a proportion of a life premium loading for hazardous duty. Application to travelling in military property would depend on the terms and conditions of the insurance policy chosen by the individual.

Isle Of Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what military personnel were present on the Isle of Lewis on 20 June; whether any were members of the special forces; and if the presence of any military personnel was connected to the attempt to dump the Brent Spar at sea. [30696]

The following military personnel were present on the Isle of Lewis on 20 June:

Elements of the Territorial Army company based in Stornoway.
The permanent RAF detachment based at RAF Stornoway.
Personnel manning the permanent RAF transmitter station at Aird Uig.
Personnel from the sub-aqua clubs at RAF Lyneham an RAF Leuchars, carrying out adventurous training.

None of these personnel was connected in any way with the disposal operation for the Brent Spar oil platform.

French Nuclear Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the French decision to resume nuclear testing for the successful negotiation of a comprehensive test ban treaty. [30518]

The decision by France to undertake a short programme of tests before signature of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty is not incompatible with the goal of an indefinite CTBT. The Government believe that it should be possible to conclude negotiations on such a treaty by the end of 1996 and will continue to work actively for that end. All the nuclear weapons states—including France—have expressed similar sentiments.

Research And Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his budget for the current financial year for industrial research and development. [30523]

This year, we plan to spend some £630 million on research and £1.6 billion on development, the greater part of the latter being with industry. The annual publication "UK Defence Statistics" analyses expenditure by recipient sectors over recent years. The 1995 edition is planned for publication this July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the figures at current prices for Government-funded defence research and development over each of the last 10 years. [31258]

The figures at constant 1993–94 prices for Government-funded defence research and development based on table 3.2 of "Forward Look 95" are as follows:

Year	Total amount £million
1985–86	2900.5
1986–87	2847.2
1987–88	2802.4
1988–89	2584.4
1989–90	2632.6
1990–91	2462.2
1991–92	2372.2
1992–93	2139.0
1993–94	2299.0
1994–95¹	2431.4
¹ Estimate only.

These figures update those previously published in "UK Defence Statistics 1994" by retrospectively applying to the earlier years' statistical—including Frascati—adjustments made in 1992–93 and 1993–94.

Trident

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give a breakdown of the estimated lifetime decommissioning costs of (a) Trident and (b) Polaris. [30624]

As part of an exercise to determine the lifetime operating and support costs, the comprehensive costs of both decommissioning and eventual disposal of the Trident submarines were estimated—at 1992–93 prices—at £150 million. No revision of this estimate has been made pending greater experience of Trident operations. Although no similar estimates are available for the Polaris submarines, the approximate decommissioning cost—covering defuelling, decommissioning and lay-up preparations—of HMS Revenge, the one Polaris submarine fully to have undergone this process, was £18.7 million. The cost does not include the costs of final disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his latest estimate of the costs of the Trident works programme at Faslane and Coalport. [30645]

The latest estimate of the cost of the Trident works programme, including projects at the Clyde submarine base, Faslane, and the royal naval armament depot, Coulport, is £1.956 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent (a) inflation and (b) the exchange rate have been taken into account in estimating the current costs of the Trident programme. [30622]

The current estimate of the cost of the Trident programme, where past expenditure is included at the prices and exchange rates incurred, with future spend expressed at today's prices and exchange rates, is £9,770 million. With past expenditure revalued to current levels, the current Trident cost estimate is £11,682 million, which also takes into account inflation and exchange rate variations since the original 1981 estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action (a) has been taken and (b) is proposed to be taken against individuals as a result of cost overruns of the Trident works programme; and if he will make a statement. [30623]

The original 1984 estimates for the Trident works programme were based on the best advice available at the time. The subsequent increase in costs is much regretted, but neither the Ministry of Defence's own internal review nor the Comptroller and Auditor-General's report suggested any culpability by individuals which would warrant disciplinary action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the estimated original cost of all the works at AWE Aldermaston for the Trident programme; and what are the present estimated costs of these works. [30643]

The information is not readily available in the format requested. However, the current estimated total of the major programme of capital works at AWE Aldermaston which includes work in support of Trident is £1.2 billion compared to the original estimate of £974 million at 1987 economic conditions.

Devonport Nuclear Refit Facility

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the concerns that the nuclear installations inspectorate have expressed over the siting and construction of the new works at the Devonport nuclear refit yard. [30631]

Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate has expressed no concerns over the siting or construction of the new works at Devonport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence in what circumstances construction would take place in respect of the new Trident refit facility at Devonport, before a design has been agreed with all regulatory bodies, including the nuclear installations inspectorate. [30628]

Construction will not commence until both Her Majesty's nuclear installations inspectorate and the MOD nuclear safety authority are satisfied that the proposed design is safe and meets all the current standards and regulations.

Mutual Defence Agreement

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many times employees of the Atomic Weapons Establishment have travelled to the United States under the auspices of (a) the 1958 mutual defence agreement and (b) the Trident sales agreement in each of the last five years. [30630]

The following table gives the number of occasions on which one or more employees of the Atomic Weapons Establishment have travelled to the United States under the aegis of the 1958 mutual defence agreement in each of the last five financial years.

Financial years	Visits
1990–91	110
1991–92	129
1992–93	127
1993–94	129
1994–95	136

These figures include visits on duties relating to the Trident sales agreement as these are invariably arranged through 1958 agreement channels.

Explosives And Propellants

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the explosives, propellants and related products agreement with Royal Ordnance. [30507]

The explosives, propellants and related end products agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Royal Ordnance plc—now the Royal Ordnance division of British Aerospace Defence Ltd.—was signed on 28 July 1988. Under EPREP, the Ministry of Defence had to purchase 80 per cent. of its requirements for certain natures of ammunition and explosives from Royal Ordnance during the five-year period from 1 April 1988 to 31 March 1993.The agreement was part of the arrangements for the sale of the Royal Ordnance factories to British Aerospace. The guarantee of a core work load over the five-year period assisted in establishing the newly privatised company as an efficient competitor and provided a guaranteed source of supply to the Ministry of Defence during what would otherwise have been a period of instability.The value of the orders placed with Royal Ordnance under the EPREP agreement was £560 million and covered over 40 types of ammunition.

Bmarc

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date General Donald Isles passed a copy of the BMARC contract agreement for naval guns for Chartered Industries Singapore to his Department. [30089]

In the absence of any specific HEALTH information, my Department is unable to find any trace of such a contract being passed to it.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30888]

The present estimated capital spending for defence for 1994–95 is £759 million for central Government's own expenditure and £46 million for public corporations' expenditure. The planned capital spending for defence in 1995–96 is £110 million for central Government's own expenditure and £42 million for public corporations' expenditure.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30853](2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over

(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30852]

The Ministry of Defence is fully committed to the private finance initiative and is actively pursuing potential opportunities. To this end, we have identified a range of prospects with potential for private finance including a number of PFI "Pathfinder" projects in areas such as information technology, works and logistics. It would be premature at this stage to attempt to predict spending or the impact on employment, which will be determined by the development of individual projects.

Attack Helicopters

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he had made of the financial cost of attack helicopter marinisation; and if he will make a statement. [31259]

The ability to sustain continuous operations in a harsh maritime environment was not a requirement of the attack helicopter competition invitation to tender. However, bidders were asked a range of questions designed to establish their contender's ability to operate occasionally from ships in support of amphibious operations, together with costs for a number of specific modifications. Their responses have been considered together with many other factors as part of the overall assessment process. It would not be appropriate to comment on the details of individual bids.

Health

School Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses there were in each of the last five years. [30420]

The information is shown in the table.

School nursing staff (excluding agency), England 1989–1993 as at 30 September each year
	Whole-time equivalents
1989	2,440
1990	2,510
1991	2,460
1992	2,440
1993	2,470

Source:

PD(STATS)B Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Note:

Figures are rounded to the nearest ten whole-time equivalent.

Gp Fundholding

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the average expenditure per fundholding practice on purchasing care from the private sector in each year since 1990–91. [30436]

The first wave of fundholders took responsibility for their own budgets on 1 April 1991. The average expenditure per fundholding practice on purchasing care from non-national health service providers is shown in the table.

	Number of fundholding practices	Expenditure on health-care from non-NHS providers per GP fundholding practice £000s
1991–92	306	12
1992–93	587	22
1993–94	1,235	24

Notes:

The figures for 1993–94 are provisional: the summarised accounts for 1993–94 are subject to audit by the National Audit Office.

Prescriptions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June, Official Report, columns 209–10, in respect of discrepancies in answers on prescriptions if she will make a statement on the steps she has taken to eliminate such errors; what are the implications that the corrected information will have on her assessment of the level of fraud in the NHS; and what are the differences between the data she placed in the Library on 15 June and the information provided to the Chester and Ellesmere Port community health council which make the latter commercial-in-confidence. [31049]

The Department is reviewing internal procedures and use of the database package to minimise the risk of such errors reoccurring. The data supplied to the Chester and Ellesmere Port community health council have not been used within the Department and so have no implications for any other analyses.The information provided to the community health council included details of the numbers of prescription items and net ingredient cost for each preparation, which are considered to be commercial-in-confidence. The data placed in the Library on 15 June included only the names of the preparations, in alphabetical order.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate for the cost of administering the present prescription and exemption charges system in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement. [29584]

The available information for England is shown in the table.

Administration cost of the National Health Service prescription system¹and the prescription charge exemption and remission arrangements in England in 1994–95
Item	Cost £ Million
Purchase of prescription forms for supply to doctors and dentists²	1.3
Pricing of prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists, appliance contractors and doctors³	28.0
Operation of the NHS Low Income Scheme in England and Wales³	5.2
Total	34.5
Notes:
¹ Excludes fees paid to doctors, dentists and pharmacists for professional services and expenditure on the drugs bill.
² Expenditure by Family Health Services Authorities. Other FHSA administration costs associated with the NHS prescription system and the charge exemption and remission arrangements are not separately identified.
³ Expenditure by the Prescription Pricing Authority. The costs of operating the NHS Low Income Scheme in England and Wales are not separately identified. The scheme provides remission of prescription charges and help with other NHS costs to eligible claimants and their dependents.

Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the revenue raised through prescription charges in the United Kingdom in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if she will make statement. [29586]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 9 December 1994 at column 397. Figures for 1994–95 are not yet available. Information relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the cost of prescription charges since 1965 indicating the figure as a percentage of (a) average earnings, (b) the cost of living, (c) basic state pensions and (d) taxable pensions. [30501]

Prescription charges since 1965 are shown in the table. Details of average gross weekly earnings are contained in the "New Earnings Survey", a copy of which is in the Library. Everyone of state retirement pension age is entitled to free prescriptions, as are people of working age on low incomes who qualify for full remission of charges under the national health service low income scheme. In 1994, about 83 per cent. of prescribed items were dispensed free of charge compared with some 42 per cent. in 1968 when prescription charges were reinstated.

Prescription charges at 1 April 1965–1995
Year	Prescription charges £
1965	0.00
1966	0.00
1967	0.00
1968	0.00
1969	0.13
1970	0.13
1971	0.20
1972	0.20
1973	0.20
1974	0.20
1975	0.20
1976	0.20
1977	0.20
1978	0.20
1979	0.20
1980	0.70
1981	1.00
1982	1.30
1983	1.40
1984	1.60
1985	2.00
1986	2.20
1987	2.40
1988	2.60
1989	2.80
1990	3.05
1991	3.40
1992	3.75
1993	4.25
1994	4.75
1995	5.25

Waiting Times Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on the waiting list initiative in total, by region, in the NHS sector and the private sector in each of the last five years; and how many patients have been treated in the NHS and private sectors under the waiting list initiative, by region and in total. [30767]

The central waiting times fund operated from 1987–88 to 1993–94 during which time the number of patients waiting more than one year for treatment fell from 209,440 to 64,508, and has since fallen further to 31,635. The table shows allocations from the fund to regional health authorities. Information is not available centrally on spending of these funds between the national health service and the private sector, or on the number of patients treated in the NHS and the private sector under the waiting times initiative.

£ thousands
	Allocations
	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	Total
Northern	1,737	1,798	1,665	2,216	3,002	10,418
Yorkshire	2,538	2,017	2,178	2,659	3,562	12,954
Trent	2,489	2,923	2,779	3,307	3,988	15,486
East Anglian	1,327	1,135	2,099	1,846	1,939	8,346
North West Thames	2,428	1,690	2,768	3,549	5,230	15,665
North East Thames	3,400	3,808	4,769	3,169	4,083	19,229
South East Thames	2,653	2,738	3,909	3,562	5,220	18,082
South West Thames	1,674	2,138	2,938	2,332	3,172	12,254
Wessex	1,518	2,024	2,217	2,317	2,875	10,951
Oxford	992	1,638	1,733	2,056	2,604	9,023
South Western	1,665	1,546	2,137	2,773	3,537	11,658
West Midlands	3,250	4,472	4,440	3,424	4,780	20,366
Mersey	1,925	1,515	2,300	2,272	2,579	10,591
North Western	2,407	2,860	2,735	3,344	4,311	15,657
Total	30,003	32,302	38,667	38,826	50,882	190,680

North West Regional Health Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received from the British Medical Association relating to the impact of the waiting list initiative on clinical care in the North West regional health authority; and if she will make a statement. [30768]

None.

Press And Public Relations Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on press and public relations by (a) the NHS Executive, (b) regional offices, (c) regional health authorities, (d) district health authorities, (e) family health service authorities and (f) trusts in each of the last five years; and how many press and public relations officers were employed by (a) to (f). [30783]

I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 3 May, Official Report, column 241. Information about the costs of press and public relations in the national health services is not available centrally.

Nhs Communications

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action is being taken to improve the standard of communications in the NHS; and if she will make a statement. [31821]

The National Health Service Executive's business plan for 1995–96, copies of which are available in the Library, reflects the priority now given to improving communications in the NHS. Improved communications will assist the accountability of the NHS to those it serves. It will now also enhance responsiveness to patients and ensure that the NHS is better able to promote good health. The NHS Executive is taking action both to improve its own communications and to encourage best practice within the service.The executive has taken steps to improve the quality of information it supplies to both the NHS and the public. The volume of publications issued is being reduced and printed communications are being targeted more precisely to ensure resources are used to best effect. Information is now supplied through:

regular briefings on service developments for NHS staff;
a guide to the NHS for the public;
quarterly reviews of the most up to date performance data;
annual reports; and
more clearly targeted newsletters including "NHS Magazine".

The NHS Executive has ceased production of six NHS newsletters and is seeking a more cost-effective approach. The new quarterly "NHS Magazine" replaced an old monthly publication and its production costs are met in part by advertising. The magazine is projected to cost £130,000 in its first year, against an estimated annual saving of £227,000 from discontinued publications.

The executive is working with the NHS to develop measurable standards for communication to improve the clarity and accessibility of information for the public. Such standards would ensure a consistent approach to communication throughout the NHS. It is also working on training and development packages opportunities covering NHS communications. These explain the benefits to be gained from promoting open communications with staff and include material on the importance of clear, jargon-free communication. The executive is working closely, where appropriate, with other health organisations, such as the National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts, on projects to develop higher standards in NHS communications.

Health Service Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will express health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product for (i) 1990–91, 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95; and if she will make a statement. [29587]

National health service expenditure in the United Kingdom as a whole has increased from the equivalent of 4.7 per cent. of gross domestic product in 1978–79 to 5.3 per cent. in 1990–91, 5.9 per cent. in 1993–94 and an estiamted 5.8 per cent. in 1994–95.

Medical Cost Inflation

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June, Official Report, column 206, on medical cost inflation, what are her estimates of the inflation rate for the hospital and community health services for each year from 1979–80 to 1992–93; and what components of national health service spending are covered by this inflation measure. [31056]

Estimates for hospital and community health services inflation are shown in the table. The inflation measure covers HCHS expenditure on staffing and the purchase of goods and services.

HCHS inflation 1979–80 to 1992–93
Year	HCHS inflation estimate
1979–80	20.5
1980–81	28.0
1981–82	8.2
1982–83	6.5
1983–84	5.1
1984–85	5.8
1985–86	4.9
1986–87	7.0
1987–88	8.5
1988–89	10.6
1989–90	6.3
1990–91	8.7
1991–92	10.1
1992–93	6.9

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expected capital spending figure for her Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30881]

The information is shown in the table.

Capital expenditure^{1 2}
£ million
	1994–95 estimated outturn	1995–96 plan
Public Corporations³	1,582	1,702
Central Government's own expenditure⁴	318	120
Total	1,900	1,822
Notes:
¹ These figures are consistent with the Statistical Supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96, Cm 2821.
² Figures are not available for local authority capital expenditure in 1995–96. Estimated outturn for 1994–95 is £165 million.
³ NHS trusts and the Medicines Control Agency.
⁴ Includes health authorities.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much Government spending has changed in 199495 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30843]

Capital made available as a result of the private finance initiative is additional to publicly-funded capital. I refer the hon. Member is to the reply I have the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 2 May at cols 175–76 for information on spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 on the National Health Service Executive private finance unit.Information on numbers of public and private sector jobs affected by the private finance initiative in the NHS is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30842]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 24 May at column 594, for the available information.

Health Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 June, Official Report, column 205, on health expenditure, if she will specify the monetary sum relating to local authorities' new community care responsibilities for 1996–97, which is at present held in the Department of the Environment's local government programme. [31057]

A sum of £2,256 million is at present held in the Department of Environment's local government programme for local authorities' new community care responsibilities for 1996–97. Part of this sum will form the special transitional grant for 1996–97 and will be transferred to this Department's programme. The amount is not yet decided.

Health And Housing Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on which dates in the last three years she has met her ministerial colleagues responsible for housing to discuss the co-ordination of the Government's health and housing policies; and if she will make a statement. [31027]

Ministers in the Department of Health hold frequent meetings with Ministers in other Government Departments to discuss a variety of matters, which will sometimes include health and housing.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Phytoestrogens

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the approved levels of oestrogen and phytoestrogen in food and drinks given to babies and toddlers. [29990]

There are no United Kingdom advisory limits or regulations controlling levels of phytoestrogens in foods specially prepared for infants and toddlers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research has been (a) started and (b) completed on phytoestrogen in soya milk following the 1992 recommendations of the Committee of Toxicity on Foodstuffs. [29993]

Two MAFF-funded studies are currently in progress. These studies include an analysis of soya milk and infant formula. In addition, a surveillance project measuring levels of oestrogens in the diets of infants, toddlers and young children will start shortly. None of these projects has been completed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what levels of oestrogen or phytoestrogen are normally found in soya-based cooking oil and spread. [29997]

Information available to the Ministry indicates that phytoestrogens are not present in soya-based cooking oil and spread.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what monitoring his Department undertakes on the levels of oestrogenic chemicals in food; and what is the budget and total full-time staff for this study. [30541]

Several chemicals claimed to have oestrogenic properties are included in MAFF's food chemical surveillance programme. It is not possible to separate out the costs and staff allocated to this group of chemicals.

Sheep Dips

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what representations were made to him or to farming organisations by the French authorities before benzene hectochlorine sheep dip was banned in the United Kingdom; and if such dip is currently used in France; [30273](2) if he will make a statement on the circumstances which led him to ban the sheep dip containing benzene hectochlorine. [30274]

Following expressions of concern from the French authorities in the 1980s, about levels of lindane residues in sheep meat, United Kingdom manufacturers ceased to use benzene hexachloride in treatments for sheep scab. The decision to make this change was taken by the manufacturers; there has not been a ban. I am not aware if benzene hexachloride is still used in France.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice, in view of the report entitled "CULS 50/93, Diazinon: post-Dipping Exposure in Humans", he gives to those handling sheep which have been dipped with this compound; for how long after dipping this advice applies; and when this advice was issued. [30269]

Advice on various aspects of using sheep dips, including the handling of sheep that have been dipped with diazinon, or with any other organophosphorus product, is contained in the free leaflet AS29, available from the Health and Safety Executive. This leaflet, which was sent to sheep farmers in 1994, includes advice to observe the label withdrawal periods for the product used. It also advises that it is good practice not to shear sheep for three months after dipping.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he takes to ensure that sheep are effectively dipped against scab, with particular reference to a repeat treatment at a specific time after the first dipping. [30275]

All treatments for sheep scab must be approved by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate under the provisions of the Marketing Authorisations for Veterinary Medicinal Products Regulations 1994, S.I. 1994/3142. As part of the authorisation process, consideration is given to the safety quality and efficacy of the product. The instructions, including any necessity for repeat applications, are clearly printed on the containers and should always be carefully followed. Most sheep scab treatments do not require repeat applications.General advice on dealing with sheep scab is given in the Ministry's current publicity leaflet—PB 1927—which advises consulting a veterinary surgeon if farmers are in doubt about treatments. Advice on dipping procedures is given in the leaflet "Sheep Dipping"—AS29—available from the Health and Safety Executive.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has that particular working conditions, weather conditions, and existing medical conditions among those handling sheep which are, or have been, dipped with organophosphorus compounds, exacerbate reactions to exposure to the compounds; and if he will make as statement on the particular advice he gives in these circumstances. [30268]

Information on reported suspected adverse reactions is collected by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate but details provided on individual reports vary inequality and would be very unlikely to lead to any meaningful conclusions. Extracting the specific information requested could not in any case be done readily.Leaflet AS 29 (rev), "Sheep dipping", issued by the Health and Safety Executive includes the joint advice of the HSE, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Department of the Environment to those involved in sheep dipping on protecting their health.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what advice he has issued to those shearing sheep, regarding shearing within (a) one week (b) two weeks and (c) up to five weeks after dipping. [30276]

The leaflet "Sheep Dipping"—(AS29)—which was sent to sheep farmers in 1994, includes the advice that

"It is good practice not to shear sheep for three months after dipping."

The leaflet, which is available from the Health and Safety Executive, gives advice on various aspects of sheep dipping. It was prepared jointly by the Health and Safety Executive, the Veterinary Medicines Directorate and the Department of the Environment.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research he has evaluated, and what (a) representations or (b) claims he has received suggesting that there is a link between the numbers of suicides among farmers and the mental and physical effects of reactions to exposure to organophosphate sheep dips. [30272]

I am aware that a recent report by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys on suicide deaths in England and Wales, 1982–92 indicates that farmers are among the occupational groups with the highest rate of suicide. The reasons for this are not clear, but factors such as access to the means of suicide, firearms for example, and physical and social isolation are likely to play a part.

Anti-Androgens

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is undertaking on anti-androgens in food. [30538]

The Department is not carrying out any specific research on anti-androgens in food.

Nutritional Labelling

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what additional nutritional labelling regulations have been made since 1991. [30544]

The Food Labelling (Amendment) Regulations 1994, S.I. 1994 No. 804, implemented EC directive 90/496 on nutritional labelling for foodstuffs. These regulations set out the format for nutrition labelling when given and require it to be given if a claim is made on the label about a particular nutrient.

Ddt

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the approved level of DDT in food; and what checks are undertaken on the levels of DDT in imported foods. [30540]

Maximum residue levels for DDT in a wide range of foodstuffs are included in schedule 2, part 2, to the Pesticides (Maximum Residues Levels in Crops, Food and Feeding Stuffs) Regulations 1994. Generally, the MRL is 0.05 mg/kg. As part of the Govenment's food surveillance programme for pesticide residues, imported foodstuffs are checked selectively for residues of DDT. The results of this programme are published annually in reports of the working party on pesticide residues, copies of which are available from HMSO.

Organic-Based Fertilisers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is being funded into organic based fertilisers. [30543]

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be spending around £1 million in 1995–96 on research on organic-based fertilisers. The main emphasis of this work is to improve our understanding of the behaviour of the nitrogen and phosphorus in animal manures and to develop practical methods and improved recommendations to enable farmers better to utilise the fertiliser value of manures.The project titles, contractors and estimated costs for 1995–96 are as follows:

On-farm monitoring of nitrate leaching from organic rotations Elm Farm Research Centre
£54,000
Phosphorous losses to surface water following organic manure applications to agricultural land
ADAS
£36,000
Phosphate loss from drained clay soils receiving organic manures
ADAS
£65,000
Use of injectors and low trajectory spreaders
ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
£47,000
To improve guidelines on waste management practices which will minimise the short and long term risk of nitrate leaching from animal manures applied to land
ADAS
£103,000
Improving the conservation of nitrogen during storage of slurries and manures
Silsoe Research Institute
£65,000
Grassland manuring: Nitrogen loss and efficiency from use of organic manures
ADAS
£124,000
Nitrogen losses from organic manures
ADAS
£66,000
Nitrogen losses from drained clay soils receiving organic manures
ADAS
£19,000
Effective utilisation of animal manures in fertilising forage
Levington Agriculture
£44,000
Development of user-friendly systems for on-farm estimation of the available nitrogen content in solid manures and slurries
ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
£26,000
Utilisation of slurry on grazed and silage areas during the growing season
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
£51,000
Nitrate leaching from livestock manures
Harper Adams Agricultural College
£54,000
Improved prediction of nitrogen availability and losses following land application of organic manures
ADAS
£20,000
Development and evaluation of a rapid paper test strip method for determining the nitrogen supplying power of slurries and manures
Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
£25,000

Improved precision of manure and slurry application
ADAS
£20,000
Improved precision of manure application
Silsoe Research Institute
£65,000
Fate of nitrogen from organic manures
ADAS/Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research
£61,000
Effect of organic manures on medium-term N cycling and nitrate leaching
ADAS
£93,000

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is also spending about £1 million every year, in England and Wales, on a programme of research and development into economic and practical questions concerned with organic agriculture and horticulture.

Genetically Modified Organisms

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 13 June, Official Report, column 511, if he will list foods cleared for sale in the United Kingdom produced using genetically modified organisms. [30535]

Ministers have accepted the advice of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes and cleared, on food safety grounds, a genetically modified baker's yeast; three chymosin enzymes; used in cheese production, derived from GM micro-organisms; a GM brewer's yeast; tomato paste from a GM tomato; processed food products derived from a GM soya bean; and two oils derived from GM oilseed rapes. To our knowledge, only the chymosins are currently in commercial use.

Capital Spending

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30889]

The Ministry's expected capital figures—as published in the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96 Cm 2821"—are £118 million for 1994–95 and £144 million for 1995–96. The 1994–95 figure includes net receipts of £22 million from local authorities, but there is no equivalent figure available for 1995–96 and the totals for the two years are not comparable.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30857]

The Ministry's spending in 1994–95 was not affected by the private finance initiative. The position may be similar in 1995–96. No schemes have yet been approved and as a consequence no jobs have been created or lost as a result of the private finance initiative.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30856]

No schemes have been approved to date under the private finance initiative and it is thought unlikely that any will reach the approval stage in 1995–96.The whole of the Ministry's capital expenditure is currently being assessed for its possible application to the private finance initiative with eight schemes being considered. An estimate of the value of the schemes is difficult to make as there are often several private finance and other options for each scheme. Two of the schemes under consideration have been in the assessment process for between six and 12 months.

Adas

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has reached any conclusions as to the future of the ADAS agency; and if he will make a statement. [31861]

The Secretary of State and I have now agreed that a number of ADAS's functions are suitable for privatisation. We have however concluded that certain of the non-research and development functions that ADAS carries out for MAFF and Welsh Office—about two thirds of this work in all, including most of that in connection with the agri-environment schemes—should remain in the public sector. We have accordingly agreed to prepare for eventual privatisation a body which comprises all the ADAS commercial consultancy services, its laboratory services and the remainder of the non-research and development work performed for Departments. As to the present ADAS research centres, ownership of the sites and their facilities and arrangements for future access to both by the privatised body will be further considered. We expect, however, that the privatised body would continue to manage a proportion of our Departments' existing programmes at those sites.ADAS has met all its financial targets since it was launched as an agency. We have concluded that the precise timing for privatisation of such a body should be determined in the light of continuing improvements in its financial performance, particularly as regards its commercial consultancy services. We have accordingly decided that ADAS will be required to recover 100 per cent. of its costs for advisory services in 1996–97 through charges to its commercial customers. If this and other objectives are met in 1996–97, we shall proceed to privatisation in the course of 1997. We do not exclude an earlier disposal if the agency's performance warrants it.A management team has indicated that it would be interested in preparing a management and employee buy-out of a business similar to that described above. We welcome this signal from the agency's staff of their confidence in its future but will, of course, consider all bids that may be forthcoming for that business or for parts of it.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what performance targets he has set for ADAS for 1995–96. [31860]

The Secretary of State and I have decided that for 1995–96, ADAS will be asked to recover 73 per cent. of its costs for advisory services through charges to commercial customers; the balance will be met by my Department. The other financial, efficiency and service delivery targets for ADAS for 1995–96 will be:

to achieve full cost recovery from all other work;
to reduce the total cost per hour in contract delivery in real terms by 2 per cent.:
to maintain average debtor days at or better than 55 days:
to meet 90 per cent. of Research and Development project milestones;
to continue to achieve customer satisfaction as measured by customer surveys.

Salmon

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action the Government are taking to implement the recommendations in the Salmon Advisory Committee's report "The Run Timing of Salmon". [31942]

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State and I have carefully studied the Salmon Advisory Committee's report. In our view, it makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the factors that determine the age at which salmon return to their native rivers to spawn and of the various possible reasons for the recent decline in the number of early running, spring salmon that spend more than one winter at sea. The report concludes that changes in environmental conditions in the sea are likely to be a major factor in the current low abundance of spring fish, but that it is also likely that heavy selective exploitation of older sea-age classes and early running fish is implicated.The report makes a number of recommendations. The majority of these are for further research, and the fisheries departments will take particular account of the SAC's views when reviewing their existing research programmes on salmon and commissioning further research.The report also recommends that consideration be given to protection, and perhaps enhancement, of early running fish, particularly in stocks where spring runs have suffered the most acute decline. Actions that it suggests might be appropriate include protection, rehabilitation and development of habitat; additional control of exploitation in both commercial and sport fisheries; and protection of stocks from illegal fishing. It further recommends that for such fisheries management action should be undertaken on a river-by-river basis.My right hon. Friends and I are drawing these recommendations for management action to the attention of the National Rivers Authority and the district salmon fisheries boards in Scotland and, asking them, in particular, to consider urgently whether, and if so what, action is needed to conserve the runs of spring fish in the fisheries for which they are responsible. We will take full account of the SAC's views in considering any proposals for further action that they make.In this context, I am asking the National Rivers Authority to reconsider the recommendation, in the report on salmon net fisheries presented to Parliament in 1991, that the opening date for the drift net fisheries of Northumbria and Yorkshire should be postponed until 1 May so as to reduce the level of exploitation of spring running salmon. The NRA decided not to implement this recommendation, on the grounds that any action on spring fish needed to be part of a wider programme embracing rod and net fisheries in both England and Scotland. In the light of the Salmon Advisory Committee's report, and in the expectation that appropriate action will be taken in other fisheries, there is now an opportunity for a postponement of the opening of the drift netting season until I May to form part of such a wider programme.

Barley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantity of barley has been sold to Spain for pigfeed and other purposes from intervention stocks in each of the past three years for which figures are available. [30487]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The information requested is not available. United Kingdom intervention barley sold onto the Community market can go to any member state; barley for export must go to third country.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at what figure below the intervention price available to United Kingdom pig farmers barley from intervention stocks is being sold to Spain. [30488]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The sale of UK intervention barley to Spain will be by tender starting on 29 June. Tenderers will bid to buy grain out of intervention and ship it to a store in Spain. They will he required to cover transportation and shipping costs—excluding the cost of transferring grain from UK intervention stores to the nominated port of exit which will on this occasion be met by the ELT. It is not possible to predict the cost at which barley will be resold onto the Spanish market which is a commercial decision for the Spanish trade.

Sows

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ask the Farm Animal Welfare Council to investigate claims of welfare advantages for sows confined to sow stalls for the first 35 days. [31015]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: Claims of welfare advantages for sows confined to sow stalls for the first 35 days of pregnancy have not been supported by scientific evidence. I see no basis therefore on which the Farm Animal Welfare Council could be asked to investigate them further.

Eastern European Fishing Fleets

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the honourable Member for Great Grimsby, (Mr. Mitchell) of 25 May, Official Report, column 684–85, (1) what changes he expects to make to the common fisheries policy when the entry of (a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia begin negotiations for entry into the EU; [28919](2) what benefits he expects to come to the British fishing fleet when

(a) Poland, (b) Hungary, (c) the Czech Republic, (d) Slovakia, (e) Romania, (f) Bulgaria, (g) Slovenia, (h) Lithuania, (i) Latvia and (j) Estonia are admitted to the common fisheries policy. [28918]

[holding answer 19 June 1995]: All the countries listed, with the exception of Slovenia, have signed Europe agreements with the EU—Slovenia's has been negotiated and is now awaiting signature). These agreements contain the prospect of eventual EU accession. Only Poland and Hungary have formally applied to join the EU although a number of other central European states have indicated their wish to follow suit by the end of 1995.It is too early to say when any of these countries will join the EU, nor is it yet possible to predict what changes may be made to the common fisheries policy or what benefits there would be to the British fishing fleet consequent upon their joining. In any negotiations on changes to the common fisheries policy consequent upon the accession of further countries to the EU, we will have uppermost in our minds the interest of the UK fishing industry.

Attorney-General

Roger Levitt Case

To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he consulted Mr. David Cocks QC on the wording of his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 December 1993, Official Report, columns 332–33; and if the specific wording of the answer was given prior approval by (a) Mr. George Staple and (b) the Solicitor-General; [30375](2) whom he consulted on the wording of the answer before giving answers to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) on 9 December 1993,

Official Report, columns 332–33 on the case of Roger Levitt. [30397]

The wording of my answer on 9 December 1993 to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South was prepared on the basis of information provided by the Serious Fraud Office. The specific wording was checked for accuracy by the case controller at the Serious Fraud Office and by leading counsel for the prosecution, Mr. David Cocks QC, but not by the director of the Serious Fraud Office personally. The answer was shown to the Lord Chief Justice, who did not ask for any change, so that he could see how references to the trial judge and the question of sentence were being handled. It was cleared by the Solicitor-General.

To ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions a person has been convicted of misleading FIMBRA; and on each occasion what was the sentence imposed for that charge. [30374]

In the case of R v. Levitt the misleading of FIMBRA was pleaded as a particular to the count of fraudulent trading, as set out more fully in my answer to question No. 30405. The misleading of FIMBRA can give rise to a variety of offences. No central record is kept of such convictions and a complete check would involve disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East (Mr. Anderson) 19 June 1995, Official Report, columns 68–70, what other discussions took place between the director of the Serious Fraud Office and counsel for the prosecution of Roger Levitt before 22 November 1993; in what circumstances; what was their content and place; and if he will place the notes or records of those discussions in the Library. [30398]

The director of the Serious Fraud Office and counsel discussed aspects of the case other than possible pleas at conferences on 24 February 1993 at 5 King's Bench Walk and 8 June 1993 and 19 November 1993, both at the Serious Fraud Office. It is not my practice to disclose the content of such discussions which concerned the general conduct of the case. To do so would be prejudicial to the proper administration of justice.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will place in the Library copies of the record or notes of meetings or conversations between the Serious Fraud Office and prosecution counsel in the case of Roger Levitt between September 1993 and 27 November 1993 which refer to (a) possible pleas to be entered by Levitt and (b) possible sentence which might arise from those pleas. [30399]

Neither the Serious Fraud Office nor prosecuting counsel has any record or notes as to the substance of meetings or conversations with counsel referring to these matters. There is a worksheet prepared by junior prosecuting counsel, Mr. Jonathan Fisher, for cost purposes which merely lists "conf with SFO re: pleas" on 5 November 1993 among other matters.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) if he will list the dates on which he was informed that his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) of 9 December 1993, Official Report, columns 323–33, may not have been full or correct in all particulars; by whom he was so informed and in what form; what action he took as a result of being so informed; and when he took it; [30400](2) when he was informed that authorised plea discussions described in his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, (Mr. Anderson) of 19 June,

Official Report, columns 68–70, had taken place; when he initiated inquiries to ascertain what discussions had taken place on pleas in respect of Mr. Roger Levitt; what has been the outcome of those enquiries; and if he will make a statement; [30409]

(3) whom he consulted before giving his reply to the hon. Member for Swansea, East of 19 June 1995, columns 68–70, on the case of Roger Levitt; and when; [30410]

(4) what information he received from Mr. Jonathan Goldberg QC in respect of his answer to the hon. Member for Hendon, South on 17 December 1993, Official Report, columns 1054–46; what account he took of it in his answer to the hon. Member on 16 December, Official Report, column 1049; what action he took in response to the representations of Mr. Goldberg; and when he took it. [70411]

Mr. Jonathan Goldberg QC copied to me a letter from himself dated 13 December 1993 to Mr. David Cocks QC in which he suggested that my answers on 9 December 1993 to my hon. Friend the member for Hendon, South (Mr. Marshall) were misleading as the result of the information provided to me by prosecuting counsel and/or the Serious Fraud Office. The letter was considered with the Deputy Director of the SFO, the case controller and prosecuting counsel at a meeting chaired by my hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor General on 16 December 1993 to consider the terms of answers subsequently given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South on 17 December 1993. He was assured by prosecuting counsel and representatives of the Serious Fraud Office that the answers given on 9 December and the answers to be given were accurate and not misleading.The fact that there were differences of view between the prosecution and defence about the case was referred to incidently but unspecifically at a meeting which I had with My hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South, on the conduct and outcome of the case generally on 12 January 1994.Mr. Goldberg wrote a further letter on 21 February 1994 again asserting that prosecuting counsel had offered a plea deal prior to the case being opened before the jury which was only marginally less favourable than the plea Mr. Levitt finally entered. He enclosed copies of letters to him written by other defence counsel in the case in the context of a complaint under consideration by the professional conduct committee of the Bar Council. I replied to Mr. Goldberg, saying that the correspondence confirmed the degree of difference between counsel in the case but that the Law Officers were not in a position to resolve those differences. Nor, although it was helpful to be kept informed, would it be right for them to try to do so, particularly since the matter was being considered by the professional conduct committee.On 31 May 1995 my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, South wrote to me and drew attention to the programmes on BBC Radio 5 on plea bargaining. In that letter and at a subsequent meeting with me and the Solicitor-General on 6 June 1995 he asked that I re-examine the replies given to him on 9 December 1993. In the light of that letter and meeting, and a question tabled by the hon. Member for Swansea, East and media reports, the Serious Fraud Office and prosecuting counsel were asked to re-examine the events that led up to Mr. Levitt's plea. My hon. and learned friend the Solicitor-General chaired further meetings on 12 June, 14 June and 15 June with the director and other members of the SPTO, prosecuting counsel and my own officials. Following the meeting on 12 June the Solicitor-General asked to see the SFO files and counsel's notebooks for the period I to 22 November 1993. The SFO files were sent to my office on the evening of 13 June under cover of a letter from the deputy director. The Solicitor-General was given the notebooks of Mr. Cocks and junior prosecuting counsel's—Mr. Fisher's—worksheet during 14 June and the notebooks of both prosecuting junior counsel on 23 June. The Solicitor-General examined the material supplied but, with the exception of the worksheet to which I refer in my answer to question No. 30399, and Mr. Cock's note of the mitigation advanced on behalf of Mr. Reed could find no reference to possible pleas.Following his appearance before the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee the director considered in detail with prosecuting counsel and the case controller the letter from the solicitor for Mr. Levitt—Mr. Goldkorn—to his client, which had been handed to him during his appearance He also recovered his diary from storage and from that it was apparent that a meeting had taken place at the SFO at 8.45am on 5 November 1993 between prosecuting counsel and the director and the case controller. The deputy director's letter referred to this meeting and the possibility that pleas had been discussed between prosecuting counsel and the director of the SFO. Mr. Cocks and the director spoke to my office about his on 14 June prior to the meeting later that day. At that meeting the director explained that it had become apparent that a meeting had taken place on 5 November 1993. As was set out in my written answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East given on 15 June,

Official Report, 19 June 1995, columns 68–70, the joint recollection of all present was that the director had been then informed of possible pleas which leading counsel for the Crown advised should, in the event that they were tendered, be accepted. I was informed of the 5 November 1993 meeting on 14 June 1995 and joined the 15 June meeting. Prosecuting counsel and the director of the SFO confirmed to me personally that the terms of the proposed answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East were accurate.

To ask the Attorney-General what were the fees paid to each prosecution counsel by the Crown in respect of the trial of Rover Levitt; and at what hourly rate. [30401]

Fees inclusive of VAT and excluding expenses, paid to prosecution counsel were as follows:

	£
Leading counsel	128,639.88
Junior counsel	155,890.73
Second junior counsel	165,118.71
Total	449,649.32

Hourly and daily rates as shown in the following table agreed for each stage of the case and were increased in annual reviews on the dates shown in the left-hand column.

Date of engagement or annual review	Pre transfer (up to 15 April 1992)	Post transfer (from 16 April 1992)	Daily rate
Leading counsel
15 March 1991	150	165	600
15 March 1992	161	177	642
15 March 1993	—	183	662
Junior counsel
15 March 1991	90	100	300
15 March 1992	96	107	321
15 March 1993	—	110	331
Second junior counsel
15 March 1991	60	66	165
15 March 1992	64	71	177
15 March 1993	—	74	182

My answer of 23 May 1995 to the hon. Member for Wallsend (Mr. Byers), Official Report, column 520, stated that the fees paid to leading counsel in this case were earned from January 1991 and amounted to £137,405. Mr. Cocks was in fact formally instructed on 15 March 1991 and the amount given in my previous answer erroneously included a payment relating to another case. The total amount paid to Mr. Cocks is as set out in the table.

To ask the Attorney-General what inquiries he made about the availability of Mr. David Cocks in relation to the trial of Mr. Roger Levitt; what account was taken of the probable length of the trial if contested; and what assessment he has made as to the availability of Mr. Cocks in respect of a contested trial. [30402]

The prosecution was brought by the Serious Fraud Office. I am informed by the Serious Fraud Office that it formally instructed Mr. David Cocks QC on 15 March 1991 on the basis that he would advise in relation to the Levitt case and subsequently conduct any proceedings which the director of the SFO decided to institute. The terms on which prosecuting counsel are instructed by the SFO require them to give a high degree of priority to the conduct of the case. The estimated length of any trial varied, but Mr. Cocks was at all stages expected to be available to conduct a contested trial. The SFO was at no stage given any reason to doubt his availability for as long as was necessary and Mr. Cocks has assured me that he was indeed available to conduct the trial for as long as necessary.

To ask the Attorney-General (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East of 19 June, Official Report, columns 68–70, on discussions between counsel for the Crown and for Roger Levitt, precisely what pleas were in issue at each discussion and specifically when the Crown decided for the purposes of discussions or plea that it was appropriate for Levitt not to admit to actual theft by himself; [30403](2) what indications as to the acceptability of possible pleas had been made by the defence to the Crown before the judge discussed sentence on Mr. Roger Levitt on 22 November 1993. [30407]

In June 1992 counsel for Mr. Reed approached leading counsel for the Crown, Mr. David Cocks QC, with an offer of a plea of guilty by Mr. Reed to the offence of fraudulent trading involving the failure to invest funds in accordance with investors' instructions and the sending of false investor valuations. This approach was repeated on a number of occasions. On each occasion Mr. Cocks said the plea would not be acceptable.Shortly before 2 November 1993, leading counsel for Mr. Price approached Mr. Cocks and asked whether the Crown would be prepared to accept a plea to fraudulent trading on the basis of the FIMBRA particular from Mr. Levitt, Mr. Reed and Mr. McNamara. Mr. Cocks said that, if such discussions were to be pursued, they must involve counsel for all the defendants. On 2 November 1993 Mr. Cocks told counsel for all the defendants that the proposed pleas were insufficient but that if Mr. Levitt and Mr. Reed would plead guilty to the FIMBRA particular of fraudulent trading and "something sensible" on the investor side such as counts 3 and 5 of the indictment—specimen counts of sending false valuations to investors, he thought that serious consideration would be given to such an approach. On 4 November there were further discussions between counsel, other than counsel for Mr. Levitt, about possible pleas. In a discussion believed to have taken place on 5 November Mr. Cocks repeated to leading counsel for Mr. Levitt—Mr. Goldberg—what he had said about possible pleas on 2 November but no such indication of a plea was forthcoming. There was further discussion arising from the suggestion made by leading counsel for Mr. Price when both junior prosecuting counsel spoke to Mr. Goldberg, and his junior, on 9 November 1993 and said that although they had no firm instructions, if Mr. Levitt offered to plead guilty to the false investor valuations not as separate counts but as particulars of fraudulent trading, as well as pleading guilty to the particular alleging the deception of FIMBRA, this might be acceptable to the Crown. Mr. Goldberg informed Mr. Cocks on 11 November 1993 that Mr. Levitt would not be offered a plea of guilty to any part of the indictment.The trial thereafter proceeded and I refer the hon. Member to my answer to question No. 30405.On Sunday 21 November 1993 junior counsel for Mr. Levitt telephoned first junior prosecuting counsel and said that Mr. Levitt was considering entering a plea of guilty on the FIMBRA part of the fraudulent trading count, on the strict understanding that all other counts would be left on the file. Mr. Fisher replied that prosecuting counsel would need to have a conference with the SFO. About half an hour later junior counsel for Mr. Levitt again telephoned Mr. Fisher and said that she had forgotten to mention that, if the plea was acceptable to the Crown, Mr. Goldberg would seek to seek to see the trial judge to ask for an indication as to sentence.On Monday 22 November 1993 Mr. Goldberg made his offer in writing to Mr. Cocks of the plea that was finally entered. He wrote that if the offer was acceptable to the Crown he was instructed to seek an indication from the trial judge on sentence and that Mr. Levitt would then decide what to do.There were no counts of theft against Mr. Levitt included in the indictment.

To ask the Attorney-General what charges and how many were originally brought against Mr. Roger Levitt; what was the sequence of events by which (a) their number and (b) their gravity was reduced; if he will give the date on which each charge was dropped; and what assessment he has made as to the extent to which the sequence of events conformed to the highest standards of conducting cases. [30405]

The proceedings against Mr. Levitt were transferred to Southwark crown court on 15 April 1992 on the basis of 62 charges, consisting of five charges of conspiracy to defraud and 56 substantive offences of dishonesty, including certain charges of theft, relating to private investors or institutions, and a further charge of fraudulent trading which was intended to embrace all aspects of the alleged fraudulent conduct. Most of these charges were alternatives.When the indictment was preferred it was necessary to reduce the number of charges to facilitate presentation of the case to the jury. The indictment, signed on 12 June 1992, contained 22 counts. Count 1 alleging fraudulent trading by TLG Ltd. was fully particularised and included a particular alleging:

"producing and causing to be produced to officers of FIMBRA documents, viz: a profit and loss schedule of income, schedules and a balance sheet, fee notes, invoices, letters, and minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors of Levitt Group (Holdings) plc, which were false, misleading and deceptive in that they purported to show that fees of £20,738,321 had been received by Levitt Group Limited as a result of personal advisory work carried out by the said ROGER JOSEPH LEVITT during the 18 month period to 30 June 1990."

Counts 2 to 5 related to investor funds prior to the period of fraudulent trading and comprised two specimen counts, 2 and 4 of obtaining investors' funds by deception and two specimen counts, 3 and 5, of false accounting in relation to false valuations sent to investors. Count 6 alleged the dishonest obtaining of funds from an investor during the period of fraudulent trading. The remaining counts of 7 to 22 were alternatives to count 1 and involved the sale of shares and options, the obtaining of loans by Mr. Levitt and misleading FIMBRA.

After the indictment had been preferred the Court of Appeal on 28 July 1992 gave guidance in Blue Arrow about the drafting of indictments in serious fraud cases. This caused the prosecution during the preparatory hearing held between 23 and 25 February 1993 to seek to clarify further the issues for the jury by relying on the count of fraudulent trading alone and reducing the number of particulars specified in that count. Counts 2 to 5—the specimen investor counts relating to the period which preceded the alleged fraudulent trading—were severed so as to be the subject of a separate trial. The allegations particularised in counts 6 to 22 formed part of the allegations particularised in count 1. On 25 February 1993 the trial judge ruled that count 1 was

"properly drawn and fairly represents the thrust of the criminality alleged by the Crown"

On 19 May 1993, following an application by Mr. Goldberg, the trial judge ruled inadmissible on count- 1 the evidence of the dishonest way in which the moneys drip-fed into TLG Ltd. by Mr. Levitt had been obtained. I am informed by prosecuting counsel that Mr. Goldberg's application was presented on the clear understanding that Mr. Levitt would not place in issue the circumstances in which the money was obtained and that the trial of Mr. Levitt proceeded on this basis.

After Mr. Cocks had opened the case for the prosecution Mr. Goldberg made an opening speech on 15 November 1993 in the course of which he asserted that the funds drip-fed into TLG Ltd by Mr. Levitt were his own money. The Crown applied to discharge the jury on the basis that Mr. Goldberg had misled them and undermined the basis of the earlier rulings in the case. The trial Judge declined the application. He said that the Mr. Goldberg's opening speech had

"largely subverted the necessary and acknowledged basis of my earlier rulings"

and had

"gravely misrepresented the true position".

The Crown intended to renew its application to discharge the jury on 22 November 1993, and notice of this intention was communicated to the defence on 19 November 1993. This application was not made because on 22 November 1993 Mr. Levitt offered to plead guilty to count 1 of the indictment on the basis that he would admit the particular of the indictment alleging that he had misled FIMBRA. The acceptability of that plea was discussed by prosecuting counsel with the director of the Serious Fraud Office the same day. Counsel advised that the plea should be accepted having taken account of all the circumstances. The director instructed counsel to accept this plea.

It is the duty of the SFO as an independent prosecuting authority to act with the due diligence and complete propriety. It is the duty of prosecuting counsel to act as ministers of justice and to conduct the case in accordance with their proper professional judgment, having regard to all the circumstances. I am satisfied that they did so.

To ask the Attorney-General on what date and in what circumstances it was communicated to Queen's Counsel for the Crown or his junior that Mr. Roger Levitt would agree to plead only to a charge which would result in a non-custodial sentence. [30406]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Swansea, East given on 15 June 1995, Official Report, 19 June 1995, columns 68–70. I have been consistently assured by prosecuting counsel that there was no such communication.

To ask the Attorney-General, what assessment he has made of whether the reported comments of Queen's counsel for the Crown after the Mr. Roger Levitt trial in respect of (a) the hearing of fraud cases by judges and (b) the sentence passed on the defendant were appropriate for a Crown prosecutor; and if he will make a statement. [30408]

Such issues are governed by the code of conduct for the Bar of England and Wales. Counsel appearing for the Crown are not subject to any special restrictions.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Attorney-General (1) by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative; [30855](2) how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over

(a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30854]

The private finance initiative is considered as one of the options for all major capital projects in the Departments for which I am responsible. Expenditure plans within those Departments for 1994–95 and 1995–96 have not been affected by the private finance initiative. No proposals to award contracts under the initiative have been submitted for approval. The question of effects on employment does not therefore arise.

Capital Spending

To ask the Attorney General what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30887]

The information is given in the table.

£ Thousand
	Capital expenditure 1994–95	Planned capital expenditure 1995–96
Crown prosecution service	5,000	4,000
Treasury solicitor's department	600	600
Serious Fraud Office	400	400

Crown Prosecution Service

To ask the Attorney-General how many cases were dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service in the last year where successful private prosecutions have subsequently been brought forward. [28317]

[holding answer 14 June 1995]: Since the information sought by the hon. Member is not separately recorded, senior staff in the Crown Prosecution Service who might reasonably be expected to recall cases coming within the terms of the hon. Member's question were asked to identify them. The answer cannot be regarded as definitive, but they have been unable to identify any successful private prosecution which arose from a case in which discontinuance had been effected during the past year.

Treasury Counsel

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 451, how much each Treasury counsel retained for civil work received in fees from public funds in 1994–95; of the Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court, how many received between (i) £250,000 to £300.000, (ii) £300,000 to £350,000, (iii) £350,000 to £400,000, (iv) £400,000, to £500,000, (v) in excess of £500,000 from the Crown Prosecution Service for financial year 1994–95.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 June 1995, c. 260]: The figures given for fees paid to Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court by the Crown Prosecution Service are being checked and a revised table will be made available as soon as possible. However, contrary to the original information provided by the Crown Prosecution Service as set out in the table of 21 June, it is clear from information that has since been made available to me that no Treasury counsel based at the central criminal court received more than £400,000 in payments from the Crown Prosecution Service during the financial year 1994–95.

Church Commissioners

Report And Accounts

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, to which hon. Members the Church Commissioners' annual report and accounts have been distributed.

The Church Commissioners' 1994 report and accounts have been sent to the Secretary of State for the Home Department as directed by the Church Commissioners Measure 1947. Copies have also been sent to all hon. Members.

Northern Ireland

Dundonald Primary School

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were enrolled in Dundonald primary school in each of the past five years; how many applicants were refused places at the school in each of these years; what plans there are to increase the size of the school; and if he will make a statement about the future facilities for primary school education in the Dundonald area. [30534]

The information is as follows:

Year	Number of pupils enrolled	Number of applicants refused places
1990–91	530 (January 1990)	n/a
1991–92	537 (January 1991)	n/a
1992–93	558 (October 1992)	None
1993–94	563 (October 1993)	14
1994–95	547 (October 1994)	5

Provision of controlled primary schools places in Dundonald is the responsibility of the South-Eastern education and library board. I understand that the board has no plans to increase the size of Dundonald primary school at present but it is reviewing demand for primary school places in the Dundonald area and is monitoring residential development and planning applications for residential development as part of its consideration of future primary school provision.

Health And Social Services Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 25 May 1995, Official Report, column 756, if he will outline the procedure for awarding tenders for contracts in health and personal social services. [30439]

In selecting tenderers for a particular service HPSS bodies first seek expressions of interest by advertising the intention to invite tenders in the local, national or trade press and where appropriate the Official Journal of the European Community. All companies responding to these advertisements are then subjected to vetting procedures which have regard not only to financial viability, technical competence and performance elsewhere but also list for future reference the size of a particular company and the volume of business it is capable of discharging. This is to ensure that contractors are not invited to tender for contracts they are unable to deliver.Where a potential contractor is proposing to use his own plant and equipment the vetting procedure requires that these be checked to ensure that there is sufficient capacity and that such facilities are adequate to cope with the workload which will be placed on them or that any necessary upgrading will be undertakenA list of potential contractors who satisfy the above criteria is then submitted to the HPSS Management Executive for approval. Tenders can be invited only from potential contractors who have been approved by the HPSS Management Executive.In-house teams are not required to go through these vetting procedures.

Education Building Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland further to his press notice of 8 February, how much of the £63 million building programme for education will be spent directly on construction. [30516]

An estimated £45.3 million will be spent directly on construction work.

Deprivation

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the 55 electoral wards which were recently designated as deprived according to the study undertaken by the university of Manchester. [30602]

The university of Manchester study ranked all Northern Ireland electoral wards on measures of multiple deprivation. However, the study did not classify individual wards as deprived or non-deprived.

Education And Library Boards

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what changes he has made in his policy on a reduction from five education and library boards to four such boards since the publication of the document, "Accountability through Partnerships." [30455]

There is no record of a document called "Accountability through Partnerships" but the document "Educational Administration in Northern Ireland" published in 1993, to which we presume that the hon. Member refers, contained a number of options for change to the present arrangements for educational administration and analysed the advantages and disadvantages of a rationalisation of the present five-board system.Following consultation on that document, all these options were reappraised and the Government have been consulting on a proposal that the number of education and library boards should be reduced from five to four. The consultation period has recently ended and the Government will wish to take account of all comments received before making any final decision.

Health Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent research his Department has commissioned in respect of a health survey for Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [30476]

A departmentally commissioned report on a "Survey Strategy for the Health and Personal Social Services (1994–2004)" was published in January 1994 and recommended the commissioning of a regular regional survey of health and social well-being. The Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland, has accepted that there should be a survey at approximately three-yearly intervals and planning is under way for an initial survey in early 1996.

Enler House, Ballybeen

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents there are in Enler house, Ballybeen; if new residents are being accepted; what proposals there are for the future use of the building; and if he will make a statement. [30600]

The last resident left Enler house on 15 June 1995 and no new residents are being accepted. Discussions have taken place between the Department of Health and Social Services and Dundonald Community Projects on the future use of the building and DCP has been offered a licence to use the premises as a community resource centre for a three-month period pending further negotiations. At this time the DCP is considering the terms of the licence and are expected to occupy the premises.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30877]

I refer the hon. Member to table 12.4 of the Government's "Expenditure Plans 1995–96 to 1997–98", Cm 2816, a copy of which is in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30829]

Planned Government spending has not changed as a result of the private finance initiative in either 1994–95 or 1995–96. Information on jobs created or lost in the public sector as a consequence of the PFI is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30828]

No schemes were approved for 1994–95. A number of areas, including two pilot projects covering sewage treatment plants in the Water Executive with an estimated value of £20 million to £25 million are under consideration in Northern Ireland. It is too early, however, to put a total value on these projects. On average, these schemes have been under consideration for 12 months.

Community Attitudes Survey

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to publish the second community attitudes survey report, "A Continuous Survey of Public Attitudes and Views on Crime, Law and Order, Policing and Security Issues", for the period November 1993 to October 1994 and if he will make a statement. [31858]

I have today arranged for a copy of the full report to be placed in the Library. The report details results from field work completed between November 1993 and October 1994 involving a representative sample of adults aged 16 and over living in Northern Ireland. As most of the survey was conducted before the declaration of the two paramilitary ceasefires in August and October 1994, many of the results reflect the security situation in Northern Ireland before the ceasefire. A third round of the survey, which omits a number of questions on security matters which have ceased to be relevant following the ceasefire, is currently underway.Among the key findings of the survey are:

The majority of people believe that crime, particularly crime against the person, is relatively uncommon in their area and that they are unlikely to be a victim. In particular, 90 per cent. believed that it was unlikely, that they would be a victim of terrorist violence.

The majority of people consider that the police are polite (81 per cent.) helpful (78 per cent.) and fair (72 per cent.) In each of these aspects Protestants gave higher ratings than Catholics. (Protestants: polite 83 per cent; helpful 81 per cent.; fair 77 per cent.—Catholics: polite 78 per cent.; helpful 75 per cent;. fair 63 per cent.) Taking everything into account, most (77 per cent.) thought that the police in their area did a good job, while fewer than one in 10 (9 per cent.) thought that they did a poor job.

Almost one third (30 per cent.) of respondents had not heard of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland. More than half of those who had heard of PANI (56 per cent.) thought it to be part of the police. Protestants tended to be better informed than Catholics.

Over one third of respondents (35 per cent.) did not know who was responsible for looking into complaints made against the police. The preferred means (63 per cent.) of making a complaint about a police officer was by contacting the local police station. This was by far the most favoured means for both Protestants (68 per cent.) and Catholics (54 per cent.)

While most respondents (63 per cent.: Protestants, 68 per cent.; Catholics, 57 per cent.) believe the police try equally hard to recruit from both sections of the community, most (57 per cent. Protestants, 48 per cent.; Catholic, 72 per cent.) thought there were too few Catholic members of the police. The most common reason given for Catholics not joining the force was fear of intimidation or attack on them or their relatives.

The great majority (93 per cent.) disagreed with the use of force or violence by paramilitary groups, either for political ends or in retaliation for attacks by other paramilitaries. Only 3 to 4 per cent. agreed that it was justifiable.

Most people considered the police to be polite (80 per cent.) and fair (77 per cent.) in dealing with the security situation. As before, Protestants gave a higher rating than Catholics. The Army as also considered by most to be polite (70 per cent.) and fair (68 per cent.), again with higher ratings form Protestants.

Ninety-two per cent. of respondents felt is was important to understand the way in which the courts work, although only 33 per cent. felt they did understand.

Seventy-five per cent. expressed confidence in the criminal justice system, although nine out of ten agreed that miscarriages of justice could occur.

Almost 70 per cent. of respondents felt that penalties handed out by courts should be stiffer that at present although Protestants felt this more strongly (82 per cent.) than Catholics (48 per cent.). Almost four in ten thought that those sentenced to life imprisonment should spend the rest of their lives in prison (Protestants; 46 per cent., Catholics; 28 per cent.).

Foyle Bridge

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average volume of traffic on the Craigavon and Foyle bridges in Londonderry has been per day since the Foyle bridge was built. [23659]

The estimated average daily traffic flow on the two bridges for each year since the Foyle bridge was opened to traffic are as follows:

Year	Craigavon Bridge vehicle per day	Foyle Bridge
1994	32,519	16,213
1993	30,920	17,570
1992	29,910	16,700
1991	28,810	15,240
1990	27,820	13,500
1989	26,450	13,670
1988	25,630	11,350
1987	25,740	11,160
1986	25,900	10,700
1985	26,300	10,200
1984	26,410	9,560

Socialist Workers Movement Posters

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the Government's policy with regard to the removal of fly posters put up by the Socialist Workers movement and others on main thoroughfares in Belfast. [23660]

The Department has no specific policy with regard to fly posting by the Socialist Workers movement or other individual groups. Where sufficient evidence is established current policy allows enforcement proceedings to be taken against any group or individual responsible.I am concerned generally about the impact of fly posting, not only in Belfast but elsewhere in Northern Ireland, and propose to review current policy and practice. I will write further to the right hon. Gentleman in due course.

Duchy Of Lancaster

Information Leaks

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list all the inquiries into all forms of information leaks from Government Departments, agencies and public bodies which have taken place since 1989, giving (a) the nature of the leak, (b) the duration of the leak inquiry, (c) the cost of the leak inquiry, (d) the result of the leak inquiry and (e) the number of individuals against whom action was taken as a result of the leak inquiry. [30819]

No.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30851]

The 1994–95 expenditure of the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science, HMSO and the Central Office of Information did not change as a result of the private finance initiative. The same is likely to be true in 1995–96. Although no schemes within the scope of my responsibilities have been approved under the initiative to date, the involvement of private finance is explored wherever possible.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30850]

The Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science, HMSO and COI did not approve any schemes under the private finance initiative in 1994–95; and it is unlikely that any will be approved in 1995–96. However, the involvement of private finance is explored wherever possible. Two schemes are currently being considered, with a total expected value of at least £10 million. Both have been in the assessment process for less than two months.

Capital Spending

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30886]

Figures for capital spending in 1994–95 and 1995–96 for the Cabinet Office, including the Office of Public Service and Science and executive agencies, are as follows:

	1994–95 Provisional outturn £'000	1995–96 Estimate £'000
Cabinet Office (including OPSS)	12,060	8,010
OPSS Executive Agencies	2,290	2,530
Science¹	152,500	135,800
COI	630	600
	1994	1995
	Actual	Estimate
	£'000	£'000
HMSO²	8,340	18,560
Notes:
¹ Covers capital spending by the Research Councils.
² HMSO's figures are based on their accounting year 1 January—31 December.

Scotland

Tree Diseases

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what research is taking place into tree diseases and their cause. [29390]

The Forestry Commission carries out a wide range of research into all aspects of tree health, including the status and biology of disease organisms and insect pests, in order to assess risk and, where appropriate, to develop strategies for control.

New Town Development Corporation

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the effect on inward investment to Scotland of the closure of the new town development corporation. [29391]

In July 1993 my right hon. Friend set up a task force to consider the impact on inward investment of the wind-up of the new town development corporations. The issues examined by this task force included the continued availability within the new towns of suitable properties for inward investors, the marketing of the new towns to prospective inward investors and the aftercare of existing investors.Appropriate steps have been taken in the light of the task force's work to ensure that the momentum of inward investment in the new towns is maintained.

Water And Sewerage

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve the water and sewerage systems serving Scotland. [29392]

The Government have introduced a number of regulations relating to the quality of water to be supplied and the standards to be met by sewage discharges. These are The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations 1990 and The Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994. It is for the regional and islands councils, and from April 1996 the new water authorities, to bring forward programmes of works to comply with the prescribed standards in specified timescales. Progress is monitored by the Scottish Office.

Manufacturing Exports

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is planning to help increase the capacity of Scottish manufacturing industry to expand exports to the European market; and if he will make a statement. [29393]

Scottish manufactured exports are breaking all records. This clearly indicates that the opportunities presented by a competitive currency, low interest rates and stable low inflation have been grasped by Scottish industry.Over the last two years Scottish manufactured exports have risen by almost 30 per cent. to reach their highest-ever level of £11.5 billion. Exports to Western Europe account for some 65 per cent. of that figure. Later in the year, I hope to launch a Scottish export strategy which will help focus efforts to further increase Scotland's manufactured exports.

Unemployment

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet the Scottish Trades Union Council to discuss employment and unemployment. [29394]

My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the Scottish TUC from time to time to discuss a range of matters concerning the Scottish economy. The next meeting is being planned for July.

Torry Food Science Laboratory

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met trade union representatives from the Torry food science laboratory to discuss alternative proposals to closure. [29395]

As the staff of the Tony food science laboratory are employed by the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food it would not be appropriate for me to meet their trade union representatives. However, my officials are involved in current discussions with the Aberdeen Research Consortium which is preparing proposals for alternatives to the relocation of Tony's work to York.

Housing Expenditure

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish Office expenditure was spent on housing in (a) 1978–79 and (b) 1994–95. [29396]

Expenditure on all housing including subsidies as a percentage of the Secretary of State's total net programme was 15.8 per cent. in 1978–79 compared with 4.9 per cent. in 1994–95; but such comparisons are misleading, since transfers of responsibility to the Secretary of State have significantly increased the overall size of the Scotland programme sine 1978–97. Support through subsidies has reduced and is principally provided through housing benefit which is now £834 million. Receipts applied to the programme have increased substantially, enabling total capital investment in housing last year to be greater than in 197897 in real terms.

St Andrew's College, Bearsden

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the job losses at St. Andrew's college, Bearsden, by 1998–99; and what factors will contribute to their losses. [29397]

The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council is responsible for the allocation of funds to higher education institutions in Scotland. It has asked St. Andrew's college of education to draw up plans relevant to its future funding. It is premature to speculate on what the outcome will be, whether in terms of jobs or otherwise, until the college has submitted its plans and SHEFC has had the opportunity to consider these.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will place in the Library those documents, produced by his Department, relating to staffing and quality standards for courses at St. Andrew's college, Bearsden. [30470]

My Department produces no documents directly related to staffing and quality standards in the teacher education sector. The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council published on 20 June its "Report of a Quality Assessment in Teacher Education" covering, among other institutions, St. Andrew's college. A copy of this has been placed in the Library.

Road Safety

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve road safety in Scotland. [29398]

The Scottish Office is taking forward a number of road safety initiatives covering engineering, education, publicity and enforcement which are designed to contribute towards achievement of the Government's target for reducing casualities by one-third by the year 2000. These include measures to reduce vehicle speeds, to encourage more responsible driving and to lessen the accident risk to vulnerable road users.

Social Issues

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet representatives of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss social issues in Scotland. [29399]

My right hon. Friend meets COSLA routinely as part of the normal consultation on local government finance matters. Other topics are on occasion raised at such meetings, but my right hon. Friend presently has no plans to discuss specifically social issues with the convention.

Further Education Colleges

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what meetings he has had with representatives of Scottish further education colleges about their budgets; and if he will make a statement. [29400]

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the Employers' Association for Scottish Further Education Colleges, the Association of Principals of Colleges and the Association for Colleges on 5 June to discuss a number of issues of interest to Scottish colleges of further education. The wide ranging discussion covered funding. My right hon. Friend congratulated the sector on its efficiency gains and emphasised the need for close control of public expenditure. He suggested that FE colleges should continue to explore the opportunities offered by the private finance initiative. Officials in the Scottish Office education department have been asked to continue to liaise with representatives of the sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial guidance he gives to the boards of colleges of further education about financial information (a) is available to the public or (b) is confidential. [30209]

Further education colleges are required to publish an annual report, which may be either combined with or separate from their annual accounts. One of the obligations of colleges' charitable status registration is that annual accounts should be made available to anyone who requests them.No guidance has been issued to colleges of further education regarding the publication of financial information which they should consider confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which colleges of further education in Scotland have financial deficits; and what action they are taking to remove these deficits. [30207]

The latest available audited annual accounts are for the financial year 199394. In that year the following five colleges showed a deficit balance on income and expenditure account reserve:

The Barony College
James Watt College of Further and Higher Education

Motherwell College
North Glasgow College
Stevenson College

The colleges are examining all areas of expenditure to identify possible savings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will keep central statistics of the number of further education college staff who will be made redundant this year. [30204]

No. Staffing numbers and levels are the responsibility of the board of management of each college.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial support he has given to each further education college in Scotland in this financial year; and what was each college's budget for the last year. [30208]

Table A indicates the grant support provided to Scottish colleges of further education in 1995–96 by my right hon. Friend. In addition, a further £2.7 million is available to colleges to assist in the restructuring of college staff in 1995–96. Table B provides college budgeted gross expenditure, including all income, for 1994–95.

Table A
	Grant support £
Aberdeen College	13,547,850
Angus College	3,317,583
Anniesland College	4,221,847
Ayr College	4,882,025
Banff and Buchan College of Further Education	3,332,900
The Barony College	1,569,850
Bell College of Technology	5,870,227
Borders College	4,016,053
Cambuslang College	4,168,630
Cardonald College	7,041,675
Central College of Commerce	4,748,578
Clackmannan College of Further Education	2,500,315
Clydebank College	7,276,418
Coatbridge College	3,793,381
Cumbernauld College	2,856,666
Dumfries and Galloway College	5,347,452
Dundee College	10,787,243
Elmwood College	3,170,133
Falkirk College of Technology	8,344,238
Fife College of Further and Higher Education	7,631,275
Glasgow College of Building and Printing	5,972,191
Glasgow College of Food Technology	3,697,425
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies	4,030,127
Glenrothes College	5,070,135
Inverness College	6,578,400
James Watt College of Further and Higher Education	7,843,488
Jewel and Esk Valley College	7,642,868
John Wheatley College	3,667,525
Kilmarnock College	5,382,855
Langside College	7,032,661
Lauder College	5,329,375
Lews Castle College	2,481,389
Moray College	5,078,738
Motherwell College	7,323,203
North Glasgow College	6,461,706
Oatridge Agricultural College	2,258,026
Perth College	5,812,713
Reid Ken-College	8,422,413
Stevenson College	10,206,838

Table A
	Grant support £
Stow College	4,521,435
Telford College	13,189,850
Thurso College	3,134,648
West Lothian College	5,222,427
Total	244,784,775

Table B
	Total expenditure £
Aberdeen College	18,813,000
Angus College	3,877,415
Anniesland College	5,045,000
Ayr College	6,580,191
Banff and Buchan College of Further Education	3,622,826
The Barony College	2,099,600
Bell College of Technology	9,743,546
Borders College	4,837,500
Cambuslang College	5,255,000
Cardonald College	8,441,500
Central College of Commerce	6,609,000
Clackmannan College of Further Education	3,189,860
Clydebank College	8,805,735
Coatbridge College	4,896,917
Cumbernauld College	3,406,803
Dumfries and Galloway College	6,527,947
Dundee College	14,259,090
Elmwood College	4,337,770
Falkirk College of Technology	10,759,850
Fife College of Further and Higher Education	10,575,000
Glasgow College of Building and Printing	9,272,060
Glasgow College of Food Technology	5,115,788
Glasgow College of Nautical Studies	5,838,736
Glenrothes College	6,870,562
Inverness College	8,996,312
James Watt College of Further and Higher Education	9,611,100
Jewel and Esk College	11,375,000
John Wheatley College	3,511,350
Kilmarnock College	6,215,304
Langside College	7,420,930
Lauder College	7,285,019
Lews Castle College	2,719,799
Moray College	6,218,000
Motherwell College	9,344,731
North Glasgow College	8,266,277
Oatridge Agricultural College	3,634,407
Perth College	7,794,710
Reid Kerr College	9,426,455
Stevenson College	13,315,895
Stow College	5,992,517
Telford College	16,837,564
Thurso College	3,232,098
West Lothian College	6,882,263
Total	316,860,427

European Regional Fund

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value of grants that Scotland has received from the European regional fund since the fund's inception. [29401]

Since the inception of the European regional development fund in 1975, Scotland has benefited from awards totalling almost £1.5 billion.

Whisky

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of Scottish Enterprise to discuss domestic sales of Scotch whisky. [29402]

My right hon. Friend and I maintain close and regular contact with Scottish Enterprise on a wide range of economic issues.

Owner-Occupation

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the level of owner-occupation in Scotland. [29403]

At the end of December 1994, the owner-occupation level in Scotland reached 57 per cent., compared with 35 per cent. in 1979. This shows that the Government's policies have significantly increased the level of home ownership in Scotland and extended choice to many people who would otherwise have had to continue renting.

Gibraltar Island Games

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many islands of Scotland will be represented at the island games in Gibraltar this July; and what support competitors are receiving from Her Majesty's Government. [29404]

Scotland will be represented by competitors from the Orkney and Shetland islands. All competing teams pay to participate in the island games. There is no central Government funding.

Electricity Industry

34.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met the chairman of Scottish Nuclear to discuss the future of the electricity industry. [29405]

My right hon. Friend meets the chairman of Scottish Nuclear, Mr. James Hann, from time to time to discuss a range of matters concerning the company.

Flood Prevention

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to meet Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to discuss future plans for flood prevention in those areas previously affected by flooding. [29406]

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State meets COSLA regularly when a range of issues may be discussed. The next meeting will be on 24 July.

Manufacturing Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the Scottish manufacturing industry. [29370]

My right hon. Friend meets representatives of the Scottish TUC from time to time to discuss a range of matters, including the Scottish manufacturing industry. The next meeting is scheduled for July.

A-Level Science

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total uptake of A-level science subjects at schools and colleges for each year since 1987. [30216]

In Scotland students are generally presented for the Scottish certificate of education at higher level rather than for A-levels. Data on students at further education colleges is not held in a form that would identify those students studying A-level science subjects. The uptake of A-level science subjects in Scottish education authority secondary schools is collected biennially in the September school census. Similar data are not collected for independent schools. The uptake shown in the census is as follows:

Year	Pupils
1987	309
1989	198
1991	158
1993	118

Clydebank College

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how large is the financial deficit of Clydebank college; and how it was incurred. [30206]

The latest available audited annual accounts are for financial year 1993–94 and show a surplus retained in the income and expenditure reserve of £54,000.Clydebank college's expenditure exceeded income for the year by £132,000 after charging depreciation on the value of the land and buildings transferred from its local authority. This depreciation amounted to £186,000 and was met from a revaluation reserve leaving the surplus of £54,000 retained.

Catholic Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what projections he has made of the demographic trends in attendance at Catholic schools over the next 10 years. [30468]

My right hon. Friend makes no separate projections of pupil numbers at Roman Catholic schools.

Green Tourism

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what initiatives his Department has undertaken to encourage green tourism in the highlands and islands. [30447]

The Scottish tourism co-ordinating group which I chair and on which the Scottish Office industry department is represented has produced the strategic plan for Scottish tourism, which identifies green tourism as a source of opportunity for the Scottish tourism industry. The co-ordinating group has also set up the tourism and environment task force, which has provided detailed guidance for tourism operators. The task force is overseeing a number of local pilot projects looking at various aspects of environmentally sustainable tourism. Around half of these projects are in the highlands and islands.

Highlands And Islands Airports Ltd

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what weight he will give to public opinion as expressed during the consultation process on the future of Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd; [30449](2) what plans he has to publish the views of all those consulted on the future arrangements for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. [30450]

Consultants are being appointed to carry out the study of options for the involvement of the private sector in Highlands and Islands Airports. As part of their work the consultants will need to consult interested parties; but the primary purpose of their work is not to conduct a consultation process. I am sure that views expressed by them will take into account in preparing their report; but there is no presumption that the report will include a full statement of all views expressed to them. No decision has yet been taken on whether or not to publish material arising out of the study.

Firearms Incident

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions Her Majesty's Government made representations to the police in relation to a firearms incident involving Mr. Stefan Kock in Scotland in January 1990. [30506]

Strathclyde police have received no representations from any Government Department in relation to this incident.

Teachers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers he estimated were necessary for Catholic (a) secondary and (b) primary schools in Scotland; and how many (i) BEd and (ii) PGCE students were estimated to be necessary in each of the last 10 years. [30498]

The annual estimates of future teacher requirements, including the requirements of Catholic schools, are based upon information relating to the schools sector as a whole. It is for the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to determine the allocation of funded places to individual teacher education institutions.

Roads

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what economic and social improvements he foresees by the de-trunking of roads in Argyll and Bute. [30448]

The de-trunking of the A816 Lochgilphead-Oban and the A828 Connel-Ballachulish are part of a wider review of the Scottish trunk road network. Benefits of this review will be to ensure the high-quality access required by commerce and industry, tourism and agriculture in each of the new unitary authorities and to provide an efficient and effective trunk road network serving Scotland well into the next century.Where responsibility for management and maintenance of routes is transferred to local roads authorities future priorities will be set in the context of local needs, which should help ensure that local economic and social benefits are maximised.

Catholic Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are in each year group in catholic schools in Scotland. [30469]

The latest available information is given in the table:

Number of pupils in education authority Roman Catholic primary and secondary schools by year stage, September 1994¹
Primary stage	Primary schools	Secondary stage	Secondary schools
P1-P7	²78,251	S1-S6	53,184
P1	11,025	S1	10,346
P2	11,442	S2	10,553
P3	11,367	S3	10,897
P4	11,349	S4	10,171
P5	11,343	S5	7,486
P6	10,921	S6	3,731
P7	10,802	—	—
¹ Provisional.
² Includes a small number of pupils in separate classes for learning difficulties.

Emergency Telephones

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to improve emergency telephone facilities for motorists whose vehicles break down on Scotland's trunk road system; and if he will make a statement. [30957]

The Scottish Office industry department has no plans to provide emergency telephone facilities on all purpose trunk roads. The emergency telephones on motorways in the Glasgow area are being upgraded as part of a larger contract to enhance and extend driver information and control.

Legal Aid

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the implementation of the legal aid system in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [29374]

My right hon. Friend is considering what proposals might be brought forward to improve the arrangements for legal aid in Scotland, in the light of the policy and financial management review of the Legal Aid Board which has recently been completed. I am also taking account of the proposals of my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor to improve the system in England and Wales.

Non-Domestic Rates

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the number of unoccupied properties in each islands and district council area which are now liable for non-domestic rates as a result of the implementation of the Non-Domestic Rates (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 1995. [31054]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate his Department has made of the revenue from non-domestic rates accruing in each district and islands council area in Scotland as a result of the implementation of the Non-Domestic Rates (Unoccupied Property) (Scotland) Regulations 1995 in the financial year 1995–96. [31055]

It is estimated that the additional rates income due to changes in unoccupied property relief will be £23.5 million in 1995–96. This was taken fully into account in determining the level of unified business rate for 1995–96, so there is no additional burden on business ratepayers in aggregate as a result of this measure. A further breakdown by local authority is not available.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30876]

Consistent with table 1.7 of the statistical supplement to the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96" (Cm 2821), the total expected capital spending figure for 1994–95 for the Scottish Office and associated departments is £2,291 million.The latest budget figure for planned capital expenditure excluding local authorities for 1995–96 is £1,301 million. As explained in paragraph 1.9 of the statistical supplement there are no figures available for later years for total planned local authority capital expenditure, therefore the figures for 1994–95 and 1995–96 are not comparable.

Housing, East Kilbride

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the transfer of East Kilbride's housing stock to alternative landlords. [29371]

We are pleased that nearly nine out of 10 tenants took the opportunity to vote for their successor landlord in the ballot held by East Kilbride development corporation. Subject to satisfactory conclusion of negotiations on the final purchase price, the homes will transfer to East Kilbride district council towards the end of this year.

Lord Advocate

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions the Lord Advocate has held with his Swiss counterpart about the investigation of potentially criminal matters affecting both countries. [29380]

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Advocate has not had any recent discussions with his Swiss counterpart.

Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage of university-polytechnic students entitled to (a) full maintenance grant and (b) no maintenance grant in each year since 1979. [30360]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested is set out in the table. It covers all Scottish domiciled award holders attending full-time courses of higher education.

Academic year	Percentage of applicants receiving full maintenance grant	Percentage of applicants receiving no maintenance grant
1979–80	38.2	9.3
1980–81	39.9	7.0
1981–82	38.6	7.7
1982–83	34.6	9.3
1983–84	34.3	10.6
1984–85	34.1	17.3
1985–86	34.6	22.7
1986–87	36.4	23.8
1987–88	35.9	26.6
1988–89	36.1	26.4
1989–90	35.7	26.8
1990–91	35.4	27.9
1991–92	38.7	26.2
1992–93	40.9	25.1
1993–94	43.0	24.1
1994–95¹	44.2	25.1
¹ Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will list the changes to university and polytechnic student maintenance grant entitlement since 1974; [30359](2) what has been the value of full university student grant for each year since 1974–75 prices. [30357]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested in relation to Scottish domiciled students is set out in the table.

Year¹	Maintenance grant²	1994–95 prices³	Student loan⁴	1994 prices⁵
1974–75	605	3,056	n/a	—
1975–76	740	2,944.9	n/a	—
1976–77	875	3,041.4	n/a	—
1977–78	1,010	3,033.4	n/a	—
1978–79	1,100	3,062.1	n/a	—
1979–80	1,245	2,995.5	n/a	—
1980–81	1,430	2,996.7	n/a	—
1981–82	1,535	2,874.5	n/a	—
1982–83	1,595	2,783.4	n/a	—
1983–84	1,660	2,752.7	n/a	—
1984–85	1,725	2,752.6	n/a	—

Year ¹	Maintenance grant ²	1994–95 prices ³	Student loan ⁴	1994 prices ³
1985–86	1,775	2,682.7	n/a	—
1986–87	1,846	2,697.6	n/a	—
1987–88	1,915	2,703.4	n/a	—
1988–89	1,990	2,671.2	n/a	—
1989–90	2,090	2,650.5	n/a	—
1990–91	2,200	2,548.8	420	486.6
1991–92	2,200	2,411.7	580	635.8
1992–93	2,200	2,318.6	715	753.5
1993–94	2,200	2,245	800	816.4
1994–95	1,975	1,975	1,150	1,150
¹ The figures relate to academic years September-August.² The rate used is the maximum rate payable to a student who lives outwith the parental home other than in London during term-time with no allowance for parental or other contributions.
³ 1994–95 prices have been calculated using the Retail Prices Index for the appropriate financial year.
⁴ With effect from academic year 1990–91 student maintenance support was provided by a combination of grant and loan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the university-polytechnic total student population for each year from 1974–75; and what it will be in each year to 1998–99. [30361]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The full-time equivalent number of students studying higher education courses in higher education institutions in Scotland, for the years 1980–81 to 1994–95 is given in the table:

Full-time equivalent number of students studying Higher Education courses at Higher Education Institutions in Scotland
Year	Number
1980–81	70,663
1981–82	71,945
1982–83	72,115
1983–84	74,042
1984–85	74,454
1985–86	76,058
1986–87	77,791
1987–88	78,495
1988–89	80,831
1989–90	85,238
1990–91	91,699
1991–92	100,066
1992–93	109,679
1993–94	116,668
1994–95¹	122,152
¹ Provisional.

Information about the student population in the years before 1980–81 is not readily available.My right hon. Friend set out the number of places he expects to be eligible for funding by SHEFC in the years 1995–96 to 1997–98 in "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814). These are set out in the table. These figures are not comparable with those in the table above as they exclude overseas students and include students following courses of further education at the HEIs funded by SHEFC, and do not include students and the Scottish agriculture college.

Full-time equivalent places at SHEFC—funded Higher Education Institutions
Year	Number
1995–96	118,200
1996–97	118,000
1997–98	119,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the drop-out rate for university and polytechnic courses in each year since 1979. [30311]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: Comprehensive information on rates of non-completion by students studying at Scottish higher education institutions has not been collected centrally in previous years. The Higher Education Statistics agency will be collecting the information in future, commencing with the current academic year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his estimate of the annual cost of providing the full maintenance grant to all university students; [30315](2) what would be the annual cost of paying

(a) all fees for and (b) the full maintenance grant to, all part time university students. [30314]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The cost in either case would depend upon the decisions taken about eligible courses, their duration, the fee payable, the level of maintenance grant, and the account to be taken of the personal circumstances of potentially eligible students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimates of the staff-student ratio at universities and their forerunners in each year from 1974–75 to 1997–98. [30355]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The student-staff ratio at universities previously funded by the Universities Funding Council, for the years 1985–86 to 1993–94, is shown in the table:

Student staff ratio at universities in Scotland¹
Year
1985–86	7.3
1986–87	7.1
1987–88	7.2
1988–89	7.4
1989–90	7.4
1990–91	7.6
1991–92	8.0
1992–93	8.7
1993–94	9.1
Source:
University Statistics Volume 3.
¹ The student/staff ratio was calculated by comparing full-time equivalent students against full-time equivalent staff.

Information for the years prior to 1985–86 and after 1993–94 is not readily available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average cost to the Exchequer of each student in university education for each year since 1984–85, broken down by (a) maintenance grant, (b) fees and (c) other. [30363]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: Not all the information is available in the form requested. The table sets out the average cost of student maintenance and tuition fee payments for Scottish domiciled students up to academic year 1993–94, the latest period for which complete figures are available.

Academic year	Average maintenance cost (including loan) £	Average tuition fee £
1984–85	¹1,101	538
1985–86	1,041	557
1986–87	1,086	568
1987–88	1,097	583
1988–89	1,157	618
1989–90	1,210	650
1990–91	²1,662	³1,567
1991–92	²l,902	³2,219
1992–93	²2,088	³2,327
1993–94	²2,251	³2,074
¹ The information provided for the period 1984–85 to 1988–89 is not strictly comparable with that for the period 1989–90 to 1993–94 due to minor changes in recording procedures.
² Includes student loan payments at the appropriate average rate.
³ The changes in average fee payments over the later years reflect shifts in the balance of funding tuition costs as between institutional grant-in-aid and individual tuition fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what would be the cost of reducing the level of university fees paid by non-European Community country students to the fee levels paid by students from European Community countries. [30317]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: Fee levels for students from non European Union countries are set by higher education institutions themselves at their discretion. Information on these levels is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total Government expenditure on university and polytechnic maintenance grants for each year since 1974–75 in 1994 prices. [30358]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information requested in respect of Scottish domiciled award-holders for academic year 1980–81 onwards is set out in the table. Information for early years is not readily available in this form.

Academic Year	Maintenance Expenditure £ million	1994–95 prices
1980–81	60.63	127.1
1981–82	64.93	121.6
1982–83	65.27	113.9
1983–84	68.27	113.2
1984–85	64.07	102.2
1985–86	60.98	92.2
1986–87	63.21	92.4
1987–88	64.78	91.5
1988–89	71.22	95.6
1989–90	79.70	101.1
1990–91	90.13	104.4
1991–92	110.52	121/2

Academic Year	Maintenance Expenditure £ million	1994–95 prices
1992–93	128.67	135.6
1993–94	150.55	153.6
1994–95 (provisional)	148.56	148.6

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the cost in the current year of restoring the value of the student maintenance grant to its real 1979 level. [30362]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: In view of the major changes made to the student support system in the intervening period, including the introduction of student loans in 1990, the cost would very much depend on whether or not these changes were to be reserved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the number of students in higher education in the year 2000. [30312]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: There is no such estimate at present. My right hon. Friend's latest expenditure plans, for the financial years up to 1997–98, are set out in the Department's report, "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average level of student loan for university students in 1994–95. [30316]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The average level of loan for all borrowers throughout the United Kingdom in academic year 1993–94, the latest year for which data are available, was £736. Separate figures for university students are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is his estimate of the (a) average cost and (b) marginal cost of university students in 1995–96. [30404]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council estimates that the average recurrent cost per student place at the Scottish higher education institutions it funds will be £4,019 in the academic year 1995–96. This calculation takes account of SHEFC recurrent grant for teaching and estimated tuition fees, but takes no account of SHEFC funding for research or capital purposes.It is estimated that the average costs of maintenance paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland for Scottish domiciled students in higher education in 1995–96 will be £1,500 per student.Estimates of marginal costs per student for 1995–96 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of university students with a student loan, in each year from 1987–88 to 1997–98. [30318]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The information is not readily available in the format requested. The Students Loans Company Ltd. first issued loans in the academic year 1990–91. The total numbers of loans issued in each academic year to students in higher education throughout the United Kingdom are:

1990–91 180,000
1991–92 261,000
1992–93 345,000
1993–94 430,000

The latest forecast figure for 1994–95 is 525,000The forecast figures for future years which underlie the Supply Estimates are:

1995–96: 672,000
1996–97: 731,000
1997–98: 768,000

Universities

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the backlog of building repair and maintenance work at universities. [30356]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: Condition surveys of accommodation of the higher education institutions in Scotland conducted in 1992–93 identified some £280 million of expenditure, including building repair and maintenance, which would be required to bring the buildings up to a standard compatible with their original use and value. Decisions on the urgency and priority of work are a matter for individual institutions to determine in the light of their changing needs and resources.The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council has contributed an additional £16 million over the past two years towards the cost of essential health and safety work in institutions. The amount of building repair and maintenance work funded from other capital and recurrent grants allocated by formula, or from institutions' other sources of income are determined by the institutions themselves. The institutions are expected to contribute to the costs of major building projects which are supported with capital grant to SHEFC.

Council Houses

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of land in Scotland is covered by council housing or houses purchased from the council; what percentage of this land has a feudal superior other than the local authority; and how many houses are on land that has a feudal superior other than the local authority. [30663]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value, in current prices, of council houses bought in Scotland since the right-to-buy legislation was introduced; and how many council houses have been purchased from local authorities since the right-to-buy legislation was introduced. [30665]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: The estimated total value before discount of local authority dwellings in Scotland sold under right-to-buy legislation up to the end of 1994 at 1994 prices, calculated using the dwelling prices index, is £7,580.8 million. A total of 228,791 local authority dwellings were sold under right-to-buy legislation up to the end of 1994. These figures include a small number of voluntary sales.

Tourism

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total financial earnings to the Scottish economy by (a) domestic, (b) EU and (c) international tourism in each of the past five years. [30493]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The information is as follows:

	Domestic	£ million EU	Other International
1990	1,035	176	375
1991	1,190	203	298
1992	1,220	246	372
1993	1,420	238	427
1994	1,310	245	450

Note:

Figures are compiled from the International Passenger Survey (for overseas visitors) and from the United Kingdom Tourism Survey (for domestic visitors).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what current funding is made by his Department to the promotion of tourism in Scotland; and if he will list the Scottish office contribution for each of the past five years. [30494]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: Funding provided by the Scottish Office Industry Department to the Scottish tourist board for the promotion of tourism in Scotland is as follows:

Financial year	Expenditure £ million (cash)
1990–91	12.3
1991–92	12.8
1992–93	13.6
1993–94	13.7
1994–95	17.5

Note:

Total expenditure shown, which incudes salary and administration costs, is provided by the Scottish Office industry department to the Scottish tourist board, for the discharge of its statutory function of promoting Scotland as a tourist destination, both within the UK and overseas, and encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure.

Higher Education Funding Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the request made by the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council to universities and colleges that their governing bodies should make contingency plans for action in the event of unforeseen and highly adverse financial circumstances; and what plans he has to ensure that the universities continue to enjoy adequate secure funding. [30532]

[holding answer 26 June 1995]: The Scottish Higher Education Funding Council advises my right hon. Friend on the needs of the higher education institutions in Scotland. The council's advice is taken into account in the annual public expenditure survey.Contingency plans to deal with adverse circumstances are a standard element of good management practice. It is up to the council to decide what information it requires from institutions.Plans for funding of the higher education institutions in Scotland up to the 1997–98 financial year were set out in the Departmental Report, "Serving Scotland's Needs" (Cm 2814).

Employment

Health And Safety Executive

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what money was spent by the Health and Safety Executive in the period 1 April 1994 to 1 April 1995 on refurbishing or re-equipping its offices; and what consideration was given to employing more staff instead. [29223]

The Health and Safety Executive spent £5.2 million in the last financial year 1994–95 on refurbishing or re-equipping its offices, £3.1 million of which was spent on relocating to the new HSE headquarters in London. A significant part of the £3.1 million was spent on project management, switchboard and ancillary equipment, mail handling and distribution systems, fire and security protection, and furniture and storage units. This type of expenditure is periodically necessary to meet business needs for existing and anticipated staffing levels.HSE's resources are allocated against agreed aims and priorities to achieve efficiency and value of money.

Health And Safety Executive

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how often the Health and Safety Executive has met to oversee the safety of nuclear weapons and military production or propulsion matters since 1992; if he will list the specific areas covered; and if he will place in the Library copies of unclassified versions of any reports, guidance or recommendations produced by the executive arising from these meetings. [31062]

Since 1992 the Health and Safety Executive has discussed health and safety matters relating to activities at the Atomic Weapons Establishment premises during seven of its regular programmed meetings. Information on the specific areas covered in the course of those meetings is exempt from the code of practice on access to Government information (Exemption 2—Internal discussion and advice).Two unclassified documents relating to health and safety at Atomic Weapons Establishment premises, "The Management of Health and Safety at Atomic Weapons Establishment premises—A Review by the Health and Safety Executive Part 1—An overview" and "Part 2 Detailed Findings", are already available in the Library.

Training And Enterprise Councils

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he has taken to obtain a list of the companies used by Barnsley-Doncaster TEC who are members of the CBI; and if he will make a statement. [31091]

The information requested is not recorded by the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. TECs are private companies limited guarantee, funded by the Government to provide training which best meets the needs of the local community. TECs are free to decide with whom they contract, taking into account the needs of the local labour market.

Training For Work Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish the Coopers and Lybrand report on the training for work funding pilots. [31114]

The report was published last week. A copy has been placed in the Library.

Bottle Factory Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what research and findings his Department carried out into bronchial reactivity in bottle factory workers versus control subjects measured by methacholine challenge testing; and if he will make a statement. [31211]

The Health and Safety laboratory, an agency of the Health and Safety Executive, in collaboration with the division of respiratory medicine, University of Sheffield, is investigating a small group of bottle factory workers for respiratory illness. These workers are being compared with a group of locally-recruited control subjects. The results from this study are presently being evaluated.

Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the figures for those taking part in the training for work programme for the last three available years for (a) each of the standard regions of the United Kingdom and (b) the United Kingdom as a whole. [29347]

The information requested is given in the following tables. As training for work began only in April 1993, the March 1993 figures are for employment training and employment action. Information is not available by standard regions, so a combination of different regional definitions has been used.

Employment training and employment action—Number of people participating in the programmes—March 1993
Great Britain and Employment Service Regions	Employment training	Employment action
London and South East	29,000	9,500
South West	9,300	2,700
West Midlands	11,700	2,900
East Midlands	10,400	3,000
Yorkshire and Humberside	15,400	3,300

Employment training and employment action—Number of people participating in the programmes—March 1993
Great Britain and Employment Service Regions	Employment training	Employment action
North West	18,700	4,600
Northern	11,000	1,900
Wales	9,800	2,000
Scotland	15,500	3,400
Great Britain	134,700	33,400

Note:

The Great Britain total for Employment Training includes an estimate of those with employed status which is not included in regional figures.

Source:

Employment Service.

Table 2: Training for work Number of people participating in the programme
Great Britain and TEED regions	March 1994	March 1995
South East	8,600	7,400
London	20,900	15,700
Eastern	7,400	6,600
South West	11,000	7,400
West Midlands	13,800	10,600
East Midlands	9,400	7,800
Yorks and Humberside	19,000	13,400
Merseyside	6,900	8,600
North West	13,700	10,900
North East	13,600	10,400
Wales	8,700	8,600
Scotland	14,700	14,400
Great Britain	147,800	121,900

Source:

TEC Management Information returns, the Welsh Office, The Scottish Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make it his policy to introduce more flexibility into training for work programmes where trainees find it impossible to obtain sponsoring employers in sparsely populated rural areas. [29348]

Training for work is a very flexible programme and training and enterprise councils have a considerable discretion over its design and implementation. Where employer placements are harder to find, training may be delivered by other means, including training providers, project work and open or distance learning.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long they have been considered and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30846]

No schemes were approved under the private finance initiative in 1994–95. In the current financial year one scheme has been approved at a value of £2 million and a further five schemes are under consideration at a value of £5.3 million. Full approval of the completed project took over 12 months from the feasibility study to agreement of the contract. All projects currently under consideration have been in the assessment process for over six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30847]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him today in respect of the private finance initiative. One private finance initiative project has been approved within the Department to date. This project will avoid the need for capital expenditure of £10 million in 1995–96. No jobs will be lost as a consequence in the public sector. I have no information about the implications of the project for the size of the supplier's workforce.

Access To Work Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, what is the annual cost of the access to work programme; and for how many people it secures employment. [31224]

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.

Letter from M. E. G. Fodgen to Mr. Roger Berry, dated 28 June 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the annual cost of the Access to Work programme and for how many people it secures employment.

The Access to Work programme was introduced in June 1994 to provide support to help disabled people overcome work-related obstacles caused by their disability so that they are able to compete for and in employment on an equal basis with non-disabled colleagues.

In the first year of operation, Access to Work programme expenditure, including transitional and in-year expenditure from the previous schemes, was £15.7 million. Final statistical information on the number of people who received support will not be available until August, but interim figures show that over 7,500 disabled people were helped through Access to Work in the period, together with over 1,300 on transitional arrangements from previous schemes.

Monitoring information is not kept centrally on the number of unemployed people who received help and secured employment as a result. However, we are undertaking a review of Access to Work, and research to support the review will examine in detail the operation of the programme. A report of the research will be published in the normal way.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what are the target timescales for placing, assessment and counselling teams, dealing with a request for specific support under the access to work scheme; what percentage of cases were dealt with within this target-time; how this policy operates in respect of identification of particular need; and what percentage of people requesting specific types of support actually have their needs met. [30659](2) how many deaf and hard of hearing people have been provided with personal notetakers since the new employment support measures were introduced to cover this kind of support; what was the average time taken to provide assistance; and how many cases are outstanding. [30660]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: Responsibility for the subject of the questions has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 28 June 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how effectively Placing, Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTs) identify and provide support through the Access to Work programme and how many deaf and hearing people were helped by PACTs through this programme.

The Access to Work programme was introduced in June 1994 to provide support to help disabled people overcome work-related obstacles caused by their disability so that they are able to compete for and in employment on an equal basis with non-disabled colleagues.

PACTs work with disabled people to identify the specific help they need, taking specialist and technical advice when necessary. PACTs complete an action plan, which is agreed with the client, recording the details of the support the PACT will provide and specifying what the PACT is doing to provide it. I have set PACTs a target of completing action plans for 80% of Access to Work clients within 3 weeks of their applying. If the actual provision of the support is likely to take some time, PACTs seek alternative ways of helping the client.

Provisional figures for the period 6 June 1994 to March 1995 show that PACTs helped 2476 deaf and hard of hearing people through Access to Work. Some of these people will have had more than one disability. Help included the provision of aids and equipment, adaption of premises, assistance with fares to work and help at job interviews. Of these, 221 people specifically had the help at work of a support worker provided through the programme.

Local managers are responsible for monitoring the operation of Access to Work and for achieving the set targets. This level of detail of monitoring information is not kept centrally, and I cannot therefore say what percentage of applications are dealt with within the target time, or what percentage of applicants get what they ask for. However, we are undertaking a comprehensive review of Access to Work that will examine in detail the operation of the programme. The review will be completed by December and will be published in the normal way. Research to support the review is currently in the field with a first report due in September.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what additional resources are likely to be given to placing assessment and counselling teams in order to meet increased demand arising from the introduction of the current anti-discrimination legislation; what training is given to team members in respect of quality standards within their service; and how quality is monitored. [30661]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: 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.

Letter from M. E. G. Fogden to Mr. Ken Livingstone, dated 28 June 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent question about what additional resources are likely to be given to Placing Assessment and Counselling Teams (PACTs) in order to meet increased demand arising from the introduction of the current anti-discrimination legislation; the training given to team members in respect of quality standards within their service; and how quality is monitored.

On the future resourcing of PACTs, it might be helpful if I explain that the resource for PACTs, or any other part of ES, is subject to discussions within the current Public Expenditure Survey. Any changes in resources will not be known until the budget statement in November.

Turning to PACT training, Disability Employment Advisers (DEAs) undertake a programme of key skills training covering induction and basic disability service skills. The programme includes three weeks of centrally provided training in addition to individually structured induction and learning plans.

The Key Skills programme is supported by a Training and Development Record and Learning Support Officers to ensure that learning is validated and embedded into work practices. DEAs receive one to one coaching and mentoring from experienced staff in a range of disciplines: for example, from occupational psychologists and managers. Managers work closely with DEAs to enable them to perform to locally agreed standards. The programme is available for use by other PACT staff. All PACT staff are encouraged to acquire additional knowledge and skills and enhance existing skills in line with the ES commitment to Investors in People.

The quality of our specialist services for people with disabilities is monitored by line managers, by the annual customer satisfaction survey and by a more detailed satisfaction survey available locally specifically to support Access to Work, and by the ultimate success of PACTs in helping people to get or keep jobs.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer if those employed as a result of the access to work programme were in receipt of benefit instead of in work. [31223]

The information requested is not available. Any estimate of the benefit costs would require details of the personal circumstances of the individual concerned.

Employment Service

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when he last met the chief executive of the Employment Service to discuss the provision of employment services and programmes in rural areas; and if he will make a statement. [31053]

[holding answer 27 June 1995]: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State and I meet the chief executive of the Employment Service most weeks and we discuss a range of issues concerning Employment Service business. We regard the provision of Employment Service programmes and services in rural areas as a matter of great importance.

Social Security

Personal Pension Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to ensure that personal pension schemes allocate minimum contributions to investors' accounts without delay. [31859]

The Personal Pensions Schemes (Appropriate Schemes) Regulations 1988 require providers to ensure that national insurance minimum contributions received from the Department of Social Security are used to provide money purchase benefits for the individual investor. However, there is no requirement on them to do so within a set period of time. I have today laid before Parliament amendment regulations which require the rules of all appropriate personal pensions schemes to provide for the allocation of minimum contributions to individual investors' accounts within three months of receipt from this Department. The Occupational Pensions Board has decided to reinforce this requirement by a change in its own rules.

War Widows

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the predicted cost to public funds of the decision to award a war widow's pension to those who have since remarried and whose second husband is still alive. [31029]

The war widow's pension is withdrawn on re-marriage. Our intention is to restore the pension where the marriage has terminated as a result of the death of the husband, dissolution or annulment or when the parties have been judicially separated. The net cost is estimated at about £45 million in a full year.To award a war widow's pension to all those former war widows whose second, or subsequent, husband is still alive would cost an additional estimated £60 million in a full year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the predicted cost to public funds of the decision to award a war widow's pension to those who have since remarried but have been widowed again or are divorced. [31028]

The net full-year estimated cost is about £45 million.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by how much Government spending has changed in 1994–95 as a result of the private finance initiative; what is the estimated effect in 1995–96; how many jobs are to be created by schemes approved to date under the initiative and how many have been lost as a consequence in the public sector; and what is the forecast of transfer of employment from public to private sector over the last five years because of the initiative. [30833]

The administrative cost of taking forward the private finance initiative in this Department in 199495 is estimated at around £2 million. The estimated cost for 1995–96 is around £8 million. One contract has so far been awarded by the Department under the PFI at a cost estimated to be more than 30 per cent. cheaper than the public sector alternative. The award of this contract will result in 151 staff being transferred from public to private sector under the transfer of undertaking of pensions entitlement—TUPE—arrangements from 1 November this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many schemes and to what value have been approved in 1994–95 under the private finance initiative; what are the estimates for the current financial year; how many schemes are currently being considered and at what value; for how long have they been considered, and how many have been in the assessment process for over (a) six months and (b) 12 months; and what was the average length of time taken to assess schemes so far approved. [30832]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced the first award by this Department of a private finance initiative contract for the development and replacement of the national insurance recording system on 27 April this year. The total value of the project was estimated to be £150 million. Two further major schemes are being considered with an estimated combined value of £160 million. Both of these schemes have been in the process of assessment for more than six months but less than 12. PFI is an option that is considered for the whole of the Department's capital programme. A number of small schemes are in the initial stages of consideration and it is too early to provide a reliable estimate of their value. The time taken to assess the one scheme so far approved was 10 months.

Capital Spending

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the expected capital spending figure for his Department for 1994–95; and what is the latest budget figure. [30875]

The expected capital spending figures for this Department for 1994–95 is £317 million; planned capital expenditure for 1995–96 is £227 million.

Volume 262: debated on Wednesday 28 June 1995

Written Answers To Questions

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Private Finance Initiative

Capital Spending

Common Agriculture Policy

Un Troops

Inter-Parliamentary Union

Nuclear Testing

Un Conference On Women

Gibraltar

Kashmir

Diplomats

Treasury

Bank Of England

Scotch Whisky

Prices Increases

Customs And Excise Information Systems

Psbr

National Lottery

Open Government

Midwives' Allowances

Hotels (Vat)

Competitiveness

Prosperity

Education

Capital Spending

Private Finance Initiative

Higher Education

Nursery Education

English Test

Head Teachers' Pay

National Heritage

Royal Palaces

Galleries And Museums

Lord Chancellor's Department

Private Finance Initiative

National Lottery

Civil Service (Retirement Packages)

Capital Spending

House Of Commons

Bicycles

Prime Minister

Information Technology Security

Environment

Private Finance Initiative

Capital Spending

Housing Corporation

Bedfordshire County Council

European Pollution Directives

Ozone Air Pollution

Wales

Mrs A Griffin

Prescription Charges

Capital Spending

Accident And Emergency Services

Home Department

Immigration Controls

Private Finance Initiative

Probation Officers

Capital Spending

Hackney Council

Burglaries

Metropolitan Police (Race Relations)

Police Training

Wheelclamping

Post-Natal Prisoners

Privatisation

Organised Crime

Victims Charter

Confiscation Orders

Overseas Development Administration

Arms Sales

Trade And Industry

Exports

Telecommunications Council

Private Finance Initiative

Offshore Installations

Solar Technology