Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Friday 8 December 1995

Environment

Environmental And Economic Policies

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the recent report by the European Commission on the effects of environmental and economic policies. [1169]

Much of the analysis and policy prescription in the European Commission report is in line with the views of Her Majesty's Government as set out in the UK's sustainable development strategy. In particular, the Government are committed to promoting the use of economic instruments where this is appropriate, though each case should be judged on its own merits. In the case of the landfill tax, the Government also adopted the principle of using a tax on pollution to reduce more distortionary taxes on employment. However, individual countries should in general be left to make their own choice of the most appropriate instrument to achieve their environmental goals.

Pigeons

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to the use of birds of prey to control feral pigeons in London. [4690]

Under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 my Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food issue annual general licences permitting authorised persons to kill or take 13 species of pest bird, including feral pigeons, for specified reasons using any method not prohibited by section 5 of the 1981 Act. It is a matter for the authorised persons to determine the most appropriate method of control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence or representations he has been sent about the extent of the pigeon problem in London; what are the implications for public health; what is his programme of control; and if he will make a statement. [4689]

My Department has regular correspondence on the subject of pigeon problems in urban areas.Under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, my Department issues an annual general licence permitting authorised persons to kill or take 13 species of pest bird, including feral pigeons, for purposes of preserving public health of public safety. Under part VI of the Public Health Act 1961, local authorities have a specific power to abate or mitigate any nuisance, annoyance or damage caused by the congregation of pigeons in any built-up area.

Dredging Licences

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conditions attached to dredging licences; what mechanisms will be employed to monitor compliance with conditions; when they will be made public; and if he will make a statement [4766]

Dredging licences are issued by the Crown Estate Commissioners. A prerequisite to the issue of a licence is a favourable Government view issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. Government views contain any conditions specified by the Government under which the extraction should be allowed to go ahead. These conditions are designed to ensure protection of the marine environment and to prevent coastal damage arising from the dredging operation. They also include monitoring requirements and the provision of monitoring data for consideration by the Crown Estate, this Department and the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.Letters containing Government views are issued to the Crown Estate, who include the conditions in their licences, and are copied to interested parties. They are available to the public. It would be for the Crown Estate Commissioners to decide whether to make licences public.

Public Car Parking Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what powers he has to prevent Tyne and Wear development corporation or any other public agency from spending money from their grant allocation on land reclamation to provide car parking spaces. [4702]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: Under section 138 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 the Secretary of State has powers to give directions to an urban development corporation for restricting the exercise of its powers or for requiring it to exercise those powers in a specified manner. The Secretary of State has similar powers in respect of English Partnerships.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to prevent Tyne and Wear development corporation or any other agency from spending money from their grant on reclaiming land to provide 1,400 car parking spaces as part of stage 2 of the development of the Wearmouth colliery site in Sunderland. [4707]

[holding answer given 7 December 1995]: No. Land reclamation is one of the prime functions of urban development corporations.The stage 2 development will proceed only if a suitable regeneration use can be found. It is a proper use of public money to pump prime private developments on difficult sites.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact the changes in the composition of the standard spending assessment formula for 1996–97 have had on the levels of standard spending assessment and total external support for (a) Buckinghamshire county council, (b) Aylesbury Vale district council, (c) Chiltern district council and (d) Wycombe district council; and if he will make a statement. [4698]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: Changes in proposed 1996–97 standard spending assessments and total external support for these authorities are shown in the table.The changes in SSAs reflect the SSA control totals shown in annex E to the draft local government finance report for 1996–97, and any proposed data and methodology changes.The changes in TES for individual authorities reflect changes in authorities' SSAs, their share of the proceeds of the national non-domestic rate, and any entitlement to SSA reduction grant.

Authority	£ million percentage change in SSA¹		£ million percentage change in TES
Buckinghamshire county council	+8.219	(+2.1)	+4.103	(+1.4)
Aylesbury vale district council	–0.721	(–5.4)	–0.045	(–5.0)
Chiltern district council	–0.136	(–1.9)	—0.052	(–1.3)
Wycombe district council	–0.819	(–5.8)	–0.359	(–3.6)
₁Compared with 1995–96 SSAs adjusted for changes in functions.

Local Government Reorganisation Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local government re-organisation orders covered by the financial provision referred to in his oral statement of 30 November 1995, Official Report, column 1333. [4703]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: Structure orders have been approved by Parliament for reorganisation in Avon, Cleveland, Humberside and North Yorkshire in 1996 and Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Derbyshire, Dorset, Durham, East Sussex, Hampshire, Staffordshire, and Wiltshire in 1997. Local authorities in these areas, and authorities in any other areas where future structure orders provide for reorganisation in 1997, will

£ million
Programme¹	Plans (1994)			Plans (1995)
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Housing and Construction
Housing Corporation	1,365	1,348	1,363	1,365	1,247	1,150
of which: Capital²	1,133	1,127	1,141	1,103	1,004	889
Rough Sleepers Initiative³	19	3	3	27	7	10
Other (revenue)	213	218	218	235	236	241
Sale of Housing Corporation loans (receipts less adjustments)	—	—	—	—	—489	—489
Housing Revenue Account Subsidy	4,121	4,005	3,967	4,102	3,834	3,684
Local Authority Credit Approvals	869	972	959	869	789	752
Private Sector Renewal	253	259	273	253	258	272
Large Scale Voluntary Transfers (including, in 1995 plans, Challenge Fund)⁴	31	89	139	5	60	170
Other Housing	114	95	85	115	121	90
of which: Section 73 Rough Sleepers Initiative³	4	3	3	4	11	12
Gypsy Site Grant	13	10	10	14	22	5
Housing Defects Grant	30	12	5	30	17	3
Rent Officers	34	35	35	34	36	37
Other	33	35	32	33	35	34
Construction	27	26	26	27	25	24
Housing and Construction sub-total	6,781	6,794	6,812	6,737	5,844	5,655

be eligible for assistance with transitional costs in 1996–97. I hope to make a more detailed statement on the timing of further structure orders soon.

Local Government Elections

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment with respect to those local authority areas which are still the subject of review by the Local Government Commission on what date he proposes that local elections be held for any authority that may be created; and on what date local authorities will take up their responsibilities. [4859]

For all those districts which are the subject of fresh reviews by the Local Government Commission, the timing of any structural change will depend on the commission's final recommendations and on the Government's response to those recommendations. Where there is to be reorganisation, it is our policy that there should be full elections to the future unitary authority the year before the transfer of responsibilities.

Departmental Spending Programmes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the individual name of, and total amount in cash terms planned to be spent on, each individual spending programme as a result of the Budget settlement 1994 and (b) the total amount in cash terms now planned to be spent on each of these individual programmes as a result of the Budget settlement 1995 (i) for each individual spending programme making up the broad spending headings contained in the table "Provision for Department of the Environment Programmes 1995–96 to 1997–98" in his Department's press release No. 668 and (ii) for each year from 1995–96 to 1997–98; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: The information requested is in the table which sets out spending plans announced at the time of the 1994 Budget and current plans for programme expenditure lines of £10 million and above. Detailed expenditure proposals for 1996–97 and beyond will be set out in my Department's main estimates and the 1996 annual report, to be published next March.

£ million
programme ¹	Plans (1994)			Plans (1995)
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98
Cities and Countryside
Urban Development Corporations/Docklands Light Railway	239	215	210	244	203	187
English Partnerships	212	222	222	210	210	210
Housing Action Trusts	90	90	90	90	89	89
Single Regeneration Budget Residual Programmes²	666	533	367	660	546	359
Single Regeneration Budget Challenge Fund	125	265	436	125	265	483
Sub Total SRB	1,332	1,324	1,324	1,329	1,313	1,328
Other Urban	2	1	1	2	2	2
New Town	–125	–185	–190	–125	–100	–190
European Regional Development Fund⁵	184	189	189	184	189	189
Country side	147	146	146	150	146	146
of which: Countryside Commission ⁶	42	41	40	42	40	39
English Nature	40	40	40	40	39	39
Rural Development Commission	36	37	39	38	39	39
National Parks	16	16	15	16	16	15
Other	13	12	12	13	12	12
Cities and Countryside sub total	1,540	1,476	1,470	1,540	1,550	1,474
Other Programmes
Environment Protection	97	89	89	100	206	203
of which: Environment Agency ⁷	5	0	0	5	121	122
Research	35	35	36	35	30	30
Recycling Credit Approvals	16	16	16	16	10	5
Contaminated Land Credit Approvals	13	13	13	14	16	18
Other	28	25	23	30	30	27
Water⁷	67	63	63	67	6	6
British Waterways Board	48	48	47	48	47	46
Energy Efficiency	115	115	115	135	122	114
of which: Energy Savings Trust	—	—	—	—	25	15
Home Energy Efficiency Scheme	86	87	87	106	73	75
Other	29	28	28	30	23	24
DOE Administration	230	242	237	227	239	195
Health and Safety Executive⁸	187	187	186	189	176	174
Property Holdings⁹	–276	–267	–285	–235	–236	–246
of which: QEII Conference Centre and other buildings	11	10	10	11	10	10
PSA Services	48	29	25	36	26	23
Ordnance Survey	15	10	12	15	9	10
OFWAT	8	8	8	8	9	10
Local Government (Non-Aggregate External Finance)	238	234	232	306	234	230
Other Programmes sub-total	591	572	544	1,143	1,084	1,020
Total DOE (to £10 million)	8,910	8,840	8,830	9,420	8,480	8,150
¹Figures in italics are not included in the overall total.
²1995 plans for 1995–96 and 1996–97 include a transfer of £19 million from Housing Corporation capital to SRB residual programmes, for city challenge projects.
³Resources for the rough sleepers initiative are split between the Housing Corporation and Other Housing. At this stage the split is provisional, as final plans will be made after a consultation exercise.
⁴Provision for 1995–96 is for transfer to the Department of Social Security to meet the housing benefit costs of Large Scale Voluntary transfers. The 1995 Plans are lower since most of the transfers for 1995–96 have already taken place.
⁵A transfer of ERDF resources to the Department of National Heritage, totalling £5 million in 1996–97 and £3 million in 1997–98, was agreed subsequent to DOE press release 688.
⁶A transfer of £13 million a year from 1996–97 not reflected in these figures is also proposed from the Countryside Commission to MAFF in respect of the countryside stewardship scheme.
⁷1995 plans for future years include the transfer of resources from the National Rivers Authority, waste regulation authorities, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution and certain DOE functions into the Environment Agency. It is also proposed to transfer £7 million a year from 1996–97 to MAFF in respect of the agency's fisheries functions. This transfer is not reflected in the table.
⁸Until July 1995 the Health and Safety Executive was part of the Department of Employment group.
⁹1995 plans include the transfer of most of the resources for property holdings to the Cabinet Office, excluding the QEII conference centre and certain other buildings.

Scotland

Forestry Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what criteria were employed in the selection of a new director general for the Forestry Commission. [3723]

The criteria used in selecting the new director general, including the qualities, experience and other attributes required, were set out in the leaflet, "Forestery Commission: Director General:Information for Applicants: B/2507", a copy of which has been Placed in the Library.

North Lanarkshire Council (Appointments)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whom he intends to appoint to conduct the inquiry into appointments made by Noruh Lanarkshire council and if he will make a statement. [5514]

Under the powers conferred on me by section 211 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 I have appointed Mr. D. I. K. MacLeod to conduct the inquiry. Mr. MacLeod, a senior partner in Shepherd and Wedderburn WS, is a highly respected member of the legal profession in Scotland and an accredited specialist in employment law.The formal terms of reference will be as follows:

"To inquire into the question as to whether North Lanarkshire Council have, in relation to their appointment of Chief Officers, failed to comply with the duty imposed on them by section 7 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to make appointments to paid office or employment on merit, and to report thereon."

The decision to establish this inquiry follows a number of complaints made to the Local Government Staff Commission (Scotland), which concluded that it was not able to give the council a clean bill of health.

The inquiry provides an opportunity to establish whether the complaints are justified and whether action such as re-running the appointment procedures is necessary. It is in the interests of all concerned that the matter should be resolved speedily but fairly and comprehensively and I have asked Mr. MacLeod to let me have his report by 31 January 1996.

Jobseeker's Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which firms of consultants were employed by his Department in connection with the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance [4587](2) what was the total amount paid by his Department to consultants in connection with the introduction of the jobseeker's allowance. [4582]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Social Security and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment are responsible for the jobseeker's allowance. No firms were employed and no moneys were paid by the Scottish Office.

Trade And Industry

Utility Industries (Mergers And Takeovers)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is (a) the average period and (b) the statutory minimum period within which the Directors General of Fair Trading, for Electricity Supply and for Water Services (i) receive and (ii) make recommendations with respect to the referring of proposed mergers and takeovers in the relevant industries to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. [5057.]

There are no statutory minimum periods for consideration of mergers laid down in the Fair Trading Act for considering mergers. The other matters raised by the hon. Member are for the regulatory bodies concerned. I am arranging for the Director General of Fair Trading to send a reply to the hon. Member, in consultation with the Director General for Water Services and Director General for Electricity Supply as appropriate.

Treasury

Finance Bill

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to publish the Finance Bill. [4963]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on 7 December 1995, column 332.

Self-Assessment

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the savings to his Department from the introduction of tax self-assessment. [2690]

Self-assessment is expected to produce net staff savings of £50 million per year as a result of streamlining existing procedures within the Inland Revenue. Services to taxpayers will be maintained.

Government Debt

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the annual interest bill paid on Government debt for each year since 1978. [4328]

Central Government net debt interest payments, which score in GGE(X), are shown in the table.

Central Government net debt interest payments
	£ million
1978–79	3,225
1979–80	4,453
1980–81	5,336
1981–82	6,172
1982–83	6,937
1983–84	8,391
1984–85	9,818
1985–86	10,389
1986–87	11,363
1987–88	11,977
1988–89	12,317
1989–90	12,195
1990–91	12,413
1991–92	11,500
1992–93	12,902
1993–94	14,845
1994–95	17,617

Coinage Changes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will announce the results of the Royal Mint's consultations about changes to the United Kingdom coinage. [4567]

In October 1994, the Royal Mint issued a consultation document seeking views about the possible introduction of a £2 coin for general circulation and on whether the existing 50p coin should be replaced by a smaller coin. In particular, the Royal Mint sought the views of those with special interests such as blind and elderly people and those who handle large amounts of coins and the manufacturers and users of coin-operated machines.Responses to the Mint showed strong support for the introduction of a £2 coin and also a preference for a smaller 50p coin. I have carefully considered these responses and have now decided to introduce a new smaller 50p coin and a general circulation £2 coin. The new coins will be issued towards the end of 1997.The new 50p coin will be smaller than the existing one but will be the same colour and shape. The £2 coin will be bicolour with a white centre and yellow outer ring. The precise specifications for the new coins will be issued early in the new year.

Overseas Development Administration

Montserrat

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request he has received for assistance because of renewed volcanic threats in Montserrat; and if he will make a statement. [4803]

These threats caused an orderly evacuation of 5,000 people to prepared sites in the north of the island on 1 and 2 December. There is a continuous dialogue between Her Majesty's Government, the Governor and the Government of Montserrat. As a result, some of the associated costs are being met by the Overseas Development Administration within the £3 million committed to monitoring, relief and evacuation preparedness initiatives since this emergency began in July.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Marketing

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of aid for marketing and processing by county in each of the last three years. [4742]

The available information is in the table. No awards were made in 1994.

EC processing and marketing grant:Awards announced 1993–1995 by counties in England
	1993 £	1994 £	1995 £
Avon	116,297	—	330,819
Bedfordshire	755,554	—	822,543
Cambridgeshire	410,255	—	1,859,759
Cheshire	37,666	—	128,177
Cleveland	298,296	—	—
Cornwall	187,200	—	127,190
Devon	1,054,824	—	71,225
Dorset	—	—	97,076
County Durham	—	—	144,000
Essex	—	—	82,166

EC processing and marketing grant:Awards announced 1993–1995 by counties in England
	1993 £	1994 £	1995 £
Gloucestershire	425,848	—	147,000
Hampshire	—	—	356,776
Hereford and Worcester	487,172	—	237,570
Humberside	421,860	—	368,317
Kent	—	—	660,616
Lancashire	—	—	1,421,069
Leicestershire	114,070	—	—
Lincolnshire	912,790	—	1,688,300
London	—	—	1,518,781
Manchester	425,610	—	76,712
Merseyside	—	—	49,356
West Midlands	—	—	522,900
Norfolk	105,814	—	502,624
Northamptonshire	454,500	—	94,500
Northumberland	—	—	258,900
Nottinghamshire	—	—	481,015
Oxfordshire	194,700	—	272,550
Shropshire	163,746	—	703,568
Somerset	1,099,529	—	384,593
Staffordshire	45,989	—	43,500
Suffolk	937,217	—	2,633,497
Surrey	—	—	46,560
East Sussex	109,300	—	450,000
West Sussex	142,500	—	—
Tyne and Wear	515,400	—	—
Warwickshire	—	—	40,500
North Yorkshire	398,586	—	185,746
South Yorkshire	368,400	—	39,000
West Yorkshire	202,500	—	1,131,460
Total	10,385,623	0	17,978,634

North Sea Dredging

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the dredging programme in the North sea, area 107; what proposals he has to ensure that full consultation takes place; what compensation is to be made available to the Lynn fishermen; what is the time scale for compensation; and if he will make a statement; [4765](2) what use is being made of the material being dredged from North sea, area 107; and if he will make a statement. [4767]

A Crown Estate licence to dredge area 107 was first granted in 1968. Under the Government view arrangements, the current uplift in the annual extraction limit for the area has been agreed for a period of four years. Material extracted under this variation may be used only to complete the initial major beach renourishment programme being undertaken by the National Rivers Authority from Mablethorpe to Skegness in order to reduce the risk of flooding to some 35,000 people. Extensive consultation with fisheries representatives took place before the variation was agreed.There is no provision for compensation, but in the Government view that we gave we made it clear that the consent was subject to a number of conditions which were designed to afford the maximum protection to fish stocks. Additionally, we required the dredgers to have a fisheries liaison officer aboard every vessel.

Spanish-Owned Fishing Vessels

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will make it his policy to require all Spanish-owned British-registered vessels eligible for compensation under the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 to land future catches at British ports as a condition of the compensation; [4950](2) how many claims for compensation he has received concerning the Merchant Shipping Act 1988; if he will list the vessels in respect of which those claims are made; from which ports they operate; and if they are currently fishing; [5051](3) what evidence he plans to request from Spanish vessels registered as British and claiming compensation for the time they were unable to fish. [5058]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave him on 6 December 1995, Official Report, columns 234–35.

Ministerial Visits

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many ministerial visits have been undertaken by each Minister in his Department between 6 July and 1 December; and how many and what percentage of these have involved the Minister travelling abroad. [4222]

[holding answer 6 December 1995]: My ministerial colleagues and I frequently undertake official engagements outside London, particularly in rural areas. We travel abroad as necessary to promote British interests overseas, including at Agriculture and Fisheries Councils.

Mobile Telephones

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many mobile telephones there are available in his Department for the use of Ministers. [4251]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: There are eight mobile telephones available within MAFF for the use of Ministers.

Wales

Statutory Instruments (Health Services)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all statutory instruments in respect of health services from his Department of the present Parliament [4055]

Ministers at the Welsh Office have made 61 statutory instruments in the present Parliament in respect of health services. Full details of those made to 31 December 1994 are shown in the annual volume of "Statutory Instruments", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. A list of statutory instruments made since 1 January 1995 will be placed in the Library of the House. Details of statutory instruments made in respect of health services in England and Wales are included in my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health's reply to the hon. Member today.

Council Tax

To ask the Secretary of State of Wales what is his estimate of the cost to the average council tax bill in Wales of an 11 per cent. increase in charges. [4294]

The average Welsh council tax per dwelling in 1995–96 is £330. An increase of 11 per cent. would add around £36.

Public Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Greenway) 4 December 1995, Official Report, column 2, if he will place in the Library the basis for his calculation of the estimates of Government expenditure per capita in Wales in (a) 1979–80 and (b) 1993–94 [5025]

The figure for 1993–94 was taken from table 7.6B of the statistical supplement to the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1995–96, Cm 2821. The figure for the per capita spend in Wales in 1979–80 was based on an amount —£1,138—taken from written answer provided by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 February 1995, Official Report, columns 608-18. This amount was brought to 1993–94 prices by the application of the latest GDP deflator at market prices. As I pointed out in my answer on 4 December, the figures for 1979–80 and 1993–94 are not directly comparable because of changes in the definition and coverage of identifiable territorial public expenditure.

Beaches

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what undertakings he has sought from Welsh Water as to the adherence of the company to the announced programme of capital expenditure in respect of the provision of 50 European blue flag beaches in Wales by the year 2000, and if he will make a statement. [4850]

I understand that Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water has committed itself to maintaining its capital programme. This includes the £38 million discretionary investment programme it announced earlier this year as well as the on-going five-year investment programme of £1 billion which is subjected to regulatory requirements.

Ministerial Adviser

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the requirements for candidates for the recent appointment for a political adviser to the Secretary of State; what factors determined whether this post was advertised; and if he will list the previous experience, the current pay and length of contract of the successful candidate. [4857]

With the approval of the Prime Minister and after interviewing a number of candidates I appointed Mr. Barnaby Towns personally as my special adviser.His salary has been negotiated individually and in relation to previous earnings and is confidential. It is on a salary spine of 34 points ranging from £19,503 to £67,609; appointments are non-pensionable and the salary reflects this.

The appointments of special advisers terminate in the circumstances set out in the model appointment letter for special advisers. A copy is in the Library of the House.

Departmental Press Notices

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library copies of all press notices issued by the Welsh Office on Tuesday 5 December. [4975]

As is our normal practice, copies of all press notices issued by the Welsh Office on Tuesday 5 December have been sent to the Library of the House.

General Medical Practitioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the general practitioner to population ratio in each health authority. [4929]

Information relating to the population per general medical practitioner in each family health service authority at 1 April 1995 is given in the following table:

FHSA	Population per GMP
Clwyd	1,807
Dyfed	1,587
Gwent	1,831
Gwynedd	1,484
Mid Glamorgan	1,809
Powys	1,382
South Glamorgan	1,659
West Glamorgan	1,767

Ministerial Visits

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 5 December 1995, Official Report, column 147, if he will name and give the address of each school and the date on which the relevant constituency hon. Member was informed. [4971]

The information is as follows:

Tongwynlais school, Tongwynlais
Birchgrove school, Cardiff
Whitchurch school, Cardiff

Young Enterprise Scheme

Cardiff high school, Cardiff
Stanwell school, Penarth
Woodland school, Cardiff

Notifications are as arranged since 1987.

Welsh Language

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will announce his conclusions on future responsibility for grants in support of the main non-statutory organisations which support the Welsh language. [5626]

My right hon. Friend and I have considered carefully the responses to the consultation paper circulated by the Welsh Office last May and have concluded that the Welsh Language Board should assume responsibility for most of these grants from 1997–98.

The four organisations supported by these grants—the Welsh Books Council, the Welsh nursery schools movement—Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin—the National Eisteddfod and the Welsh youth movement—Urdd Gobaith Cymru—all play significant roles in sustaining and developing the Welsh language and increasing the opportunities for its use in daily life in Wales. We consider it entirely appropriate for the Welsh Language Board, which was established by this Government to promote and facilitate the use of the Welsh language, to take on the responsibility for supporting these important organisations.

We have, however, been impressed by the argument put forward by the Welsh Books Council and others that support for the council's central function of promoting book publishing in Wales would not sit happily with the Welsh Language Board. The Welsh Books Council's core objectives include the encouragement of interest in English language books about Wales and support for authors and publishers in furtherance of this aim. As it would be impossible to disentangle support for non-Welsh books from the Welsh Books Council's central advisory service to Welsh language authors and publishers, we have been convinced that it would not be appropriate for the Welsh Language Board to assume responsibility for the council's core activities. We do, however, intend to transfer to the Welsh Language Board the responsibility for grant-aiding the Welsh Books Council to support individual publishers under the grants to publishers scheme, which is devoted to the production of Welsh language books.

National Heritage

Provincial Theatres

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action she is taking to safeguard the future of provincial theatres. [4725]

The development of policy in support of regional theatres is a matter for the Arts Council of England and the regional arts boards. The council is currently undertaking a review of publicly funded drama in England, and has recently completed an extensive process of consultation. Future funding proposals will be developed in due course, following the outcome of this review.

Bbc Transmission Facilities

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many representations she has received (a) in favour of and (b) against privatisation of BBC transmission facilities; and from whom. [3257]

Since the publication of our 1988 White Paper, "Broadcasting in the '90s: Competition, Choice and Quality", in which were stated our intention to separate the provision of television services from their delivery, a number of representations have been received, both for and against privatisation, but details are not recorded in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make it her policy to retain a golden share in BBC transmission facilities. [3243]

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if money raised by the privatisation of the BBC transmission facilities will be paid to the BBC. [3245]

The net proceeds of sale of those transmission assets funded from the licence fee, which is the majority, will be available to the BBC, which is committed to investing them in digital production technology, while those from the sale of assets funded through grant-in-aid will return to the Exchequer.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if the BBC will be permitted to hire cheaper transmission facilities from other providers when its own transmission facilities are privatised. [3241]

No decisions have been taken on the nature of future contracts with transmission providers for the services to the BBC.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage to what extent the proportion of the BBC licence fee necessary to pay for the use of its transmitters when privatised will be geared to (a) inflation and (b) the actual transmission charges. [3244]

There is no set proportion of the licence fee related to specific items of BBC expenditure. Changes in the licence fee up to and including 1996 have been set at the level of changes in the retail prices index, as announced by the then Secretary of State on 4 November 1993, >Official Report, column 309. The Government will determine the appropriate level for the licence fee in subsequent years in advance of the 1997 licence fee settlement, taking into account all relevant factors.

National Lottery

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage communities and organisations in (a) Northern Ireland (b) the North East, (c) the east midlands and (d) south-west England and ethnic community groups and local groups in inner cities to make applications to the Millennium Commission fund. [3139]

This is a matter for the Millennium Commission. I shall reply to the hon. Member in my capacity as chairman of the commission and place copies of my reply in the Libraries of the House.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Tibet

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made to the Chinese Government regarding human rights abuses in Tibet. [4723]

My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary raised human rights abuses in Tibet during his discussions with Chinese Vice-Premier and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen, in London on 3 October.

Eu Common Visa System

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the extra costs arising after the introduction of a common system of visa requirements by the European Union; and what action he has taken so far in respect of this estimate. [4489]

The estimated cost of implementing council Regulation (EC) No 2317/95—the EU common visa list—is between £3,090,0900 and £3,390,000 in the start-up year. The estimated continued annual running cost is £1,740,000 at current prices. The funding will be found from within existing provision.Common visa list-related entry clearance work will be subject to the FCO commitment to achieve full cost recovery in financial year 1996–97 in the case of non-settlement work and financial year 1997–98 for settlement work. These recoveries are remitted to the Consolidated Fund and are of no direct benefit, therefore, to the FCO.The cost of implementing Council Regulation (EC) No. 1683/95 laying down a uniform format for visas cannot yet be quantified.

Burma

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Burmese Government regarding the restriction of democracy. [4728]

The United Kingdom has had no ministerial contact with the ruling military regime in Burma, the State Law and Order Restoration Council, but we regularly raise at official level our concerns about the need for democratic reform in Burma.

Council Of The European Union

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union. [5294]

The following Councils are scheduled:

December 4: Foreign Affairs Council
December 5: Foreign Affairs Council
December 5: Labour and Social Affairs Council
December 7: Transport Council
December 11: Agriculture Council, ECOFIN Council
December 12: Agriculture Council, Foreign Affairs Council
December 14: Energy
December 18: ECOFIN Council, Environment Council
December 19: Environment Council
December 20: Development Council
December 21: Fisheries Council
December 22: Fisheries Council

Following are the subjects for discussion:

December 4–5: Foreign Affairs Council

Provisional agenda as follows:

Preparation for Madrid European Council
Mediterranean policy
Relations with Latin America
Relations with Asia
Relations with Switzerland

Relations with Former Soviet Union
Relations with Central and Eastern Europeans
Former Yugoslavia
Preventative diplomacy and peace-keeping in Africa (poss.)
Lome IV: internal financing agreement
Draft mandate with South Africa
Mandate for EURATOM/Argentina Agreement
Commercial questions
Article 24.6
Nigeria
Other business: UN financial crisis
In the margins:

Signature of EU/Andean Agreement on chemical precursors for drugs followed by dinner to discuss future of EU/Andean Pact relations
Signature of Interim Agreement with Kazakhstan

December 5: Labour and Social Affairs Council

Provisional agenda for the Social Affairs Council agreed as follows:
Approval of the provisional agenda.
Approval of the "A" points.
Employment:

open debate on employment policy
Council contribution to the Report on Employment to be submitted to the Madrid European Council (15/16 December)
extending the mandate of the ad hoc group

Draft decision on the fourth programme on Equal Opportunities between Men and Women¹
Draft decision on the Fourth Community action programme in the area of health and safety at work (SAFE)
Draft decision on actions in favour of Older People¹
Draft amending regulation in Regulations 1408/71, 574/72, 1247/92 and 1945/93 (social security for migrant workers): 1994 package¹
Draft directive amending the Use of Work Equipment Directive¹
Draft regulation and directive on the European Co-operative Society Statute—Presidency report
Draft decision on a multiannual programme for Community action in support on co-operatives, mutual societies, associations and foundations—Presidency report
Draft directive on Posted Workers
Draft directive on the Reconciliation of Family and Professional life—Commission information (possible) Draft recommendation on the Balanced Participation of Men and Women in Decision Making—Commission presentation
other business
¹Indicates items on which a vote may be taken.

December 7: Transport Council

Airport Ground Handling Liberalisation Directive (common position)
Driving Licences—amendment to allow plastic card driving licences (common position)
Amendment to Regulation 1107/70 on state aids to railways (orientation debate for political agreement)—Inland Waterways "package" (orientation debate)
Aviation Relations with US (debate)
Mandate for road haulage negotiations with Central and Eastern European countries (adoption of mandate)
Resolution on short sea shipping
Directive on Marine Safety Equipment (orientation debate for political agreement)

Report on implementation on Maritime Cabotage Regulation (debate).

The following subjects are likely to be discussed:

December 11–12: Agriculture Council

Reform of the rice regime (possible)
Reform of the fruit and vegetable regime
Set-aside (possible)
Meat products (possible)
Molluscs (possible)
Feedingstuffs (possible)
Pesticides (possible)

December 11: Ecofin Council

It is not certain that this Council will take place.

December 12: Foreign Affairs Council

It is not certain that this Council will take place.

December 14: Energy Council

Electricity liberalisation (possible common position)
Energy Policy White Paper (Commission presentation)
Paper on Gas Supply (Commission presentation)
Energy TENs (possible adoption)
Energy efficiency of fridges and freezers (possible common position)
Revision of Regulation on notification of energy investments (adoption)
Registration of Crude Oil Imports (adoption)
Repeal of several energy measures (progress report)
Energy Charter Treaty (progress report)
Euro-Mediterranean energy dimension (Presidency report)
(possible) Radiological protection safety standards

December 18: Ecofin Council

It is not certain that this Council will take place

December 18–19: Environment Council

Environmental impact assessment
Biocides (orientation debate)
Water (Council conclusions)
Codification (Council resolution)
Coastal zones (Council conclusions)
Light rain emissions (common position)
Ecolabelling debate
Ecomanagement and audit scheme
Climate change (Council conclusions)

December 20: Development Council

Food aid regulation
Humanitarian aid regulation
South Africa regulation
Gender and development
NGO cofinancing regulation
(possible) Decentralised cooperation regulation
Rehabilitation regulation
Refugees in Asia and Central America regulation
Tropical Forestry regulation

December 21–22: Fisheries Council

TACs and Quotas
EC/Norway
EC/Ireland
EC/Greenland
EC/Faeroes
EC/Latvia
EC/Lithuania

EC/Estonia
EC/Russia—Ex-Swedish agreements
EC/Poland—Ex-Swedish agreements
NAFO
End-year quota flexibility (possible)
Fixed gear (possible)
List of species for log books (possible)

Overseas Trade Promotion

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the number and (b) the location of staff in his Department employed to promote British trade overseas. [3026]

[holding answer 4 December 1995]: The location and the number of staff whose responsibilities lie primarily in promoting trade with the United Kingdom are listed in the table.There are in addition a large number of staff who contribute a lower proportion of their time directly to export promotion. For example, all heads of mission are an important part of the trade promotion effort. Staff engaged in political, economic and information also make a significant contribution to export and inward investment effort.

Number and location of staff employed to promote British trade overseas (as at 31 May 1995)
Location of mission	Number of staff
Abidjan	4
Abu Dhabi	7
Abuja	1
Accra	5
Addis Ababa	1
Aden	2
Al Khobar	4
Alexandria	2
Algiers	3
Almaty	3
Amman	6
Ankara	8
Antananarivo	2
Ashgabat	2
Asuncion	2
Athens	9
Atlanta	7
Auckland	9
Baghdad	6
Bahrain	5
Baku	1
Bandar Seri Begawan	3
Bangalore	2
Bangkok	15
Barcelona	7
Beirut	4
Belgrade	5
Belmopan	1
Belo Horizonte	1
Berlin	13
Berne	2
Bilbao	3
Bogota	7
Bombay	12
Bordeaux	2
Boston	6
Brasilia	4
Bratislava	2
Bridgetown	3
Brisbane	5
Brussels	11

Number and location of staff employed to promote British trade overseas (as at 31 May 1995)
Location of mission	Number of staff
Brussels Ukrep	3
Bucharest	6
Budapest	10
Buenos Aires	10
Cairo	9
Calcutta	6
Canberra	2
Cape Town	4
Caracas	8
Casablanca	5
Castries	1
Chiang Mai	1
Chicago	14
Cleveland	5
Colombo	5
Copenhagen	14
Dakar	1
Dallas	4
Damascus	5
Dar Es Salaam	5
Dhaka	3
Doha	6
Douala	1
Dubai	12
Dublin	7
Durban	2
Dusseldorf	20
Ekaterinburg	1
Florence	2
Frankfurt	10
Freetown	1
Gaborone	2
Geneva CG	3
Georgetown	2
Gothenburg	2
Guatemala City	2
Hamburg	9
Hanoi	7
Harare	5
Havana	2
Helsinki	11
Ho Chi Minh	5
Hong Kong BTC	13
Hong Kong CTU	4
Honiara	1
Houston	5
Islamabad	7
Istanbul	10
Jakarta	15
Jedda	8
Jerusalem	2
Johannesburg	15
Kaduna	2
Kampala	3
Kano	1
Karachi	7
Kathmandu	2
Khartoum	1
Kiev	4
Kingston	4
Kingstown	1
Kinshasa	1
Kuala Lumpur	19
Kuching	1
Kuwait	9
La Paz	2
Lagos	13
Las Palmas	2
Lille	4
Lilongwe	2
Lima	3
Lisbon	14

Number and location of staff employed to promote British trade overseas (as at 31 May 1995)
Location of mission	Number of staff
Ljubljana	4
Lome	1
Los Angeles	7
Luanda	2
Lusaka	4
Luxembourg	2
Lyons	6
Madras	8
Madrid	18
Managua	1
Manila	5
Maputo	1
Marseilles	3
Melbourne	10
Mexico City	11
Miami	4
Milan	22
Minsk	1
Montevideo	3
Montreal	5
Moscow	12
Munich	7
Muscat	6
Nagoya	3
Nairobi	8
Naples	3
Nassau	1
New Delhi	16
New York CG	20
Nicosia	6
Oporto	3
Osaka	11
Oslo	12
Panama City	2
Paris	27
Peking	14
Perth	5
Phnom Penh	2
Port Harcourt	2
Port Louis	3
Port Moresby	2
Port of Spain	4
Prague	10
Pusan	1
Quito	4
Rabat	1
Rangoon	4
Recife	1
Reykjavik	2
Riga	2
Rio de Janeiro	8
Riyadh	16
Rome	8
San Francisco	6
San Jose	4
San Juan	1
San Salvador	2
Sana' a	4
Santiago	7
Santo Domingo	2
Sao Paulo	9
Seattle	4
Seoul	17
Seville	2
Shanghai	4
Singapore	16
Sofia	5
St. John's	1
St. Petersburg	3
Stockholm	14
Stuttgart	5
Suva	2

Number and location of staff employed to promote British trade overseas (as at 31 May 1995)
Location of mission	Number of staff
Sydney	12
Tallinn	1
Tashkent	1
Tbilisi	1
Tegucigalpa	1
Tehran	6
Tel Aviv	6
The Hague	12
Tirana	1
Tokyo	33
Toronto	9
Tunis	4
Ulaanbaatar	1
Valletta	3
Vancouver	7
Vienna	7
Vilnius	2
Warsaw	11
Washington	5
Wellington	2
Yaounde	1
Yerevan	1
Zagreb	2
Zurich	12

There are currently three UK-based officers seconded to the British trade cultural office, Taipei. A further five locally engaged staff are also employed by the British trade cultural office.

London:

Joint export and promotion department: 22 staff.

Transport

Motoring Offences

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has conducted into the number of occasions in which a driver facing court action for motoring offences involving personal injury is subsequently involved in another motor accident prior to the original case coming to court; and if he will list the statistics collated by his Department over any convenient period. [5357]

The information requested is not available.

Brunel Thames Tunnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement on the latest application by London Transport for repairs to the Brunel tunnel under the Thames. [5017]

A revised application by London Underground Ltd. for listed building consent to carry out has works to the Thames tunnel has recently been notified to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. The application is currently under consideration. It is hoped that a decision on whether it should be called in will be made shortly.

Unleaded Petrol

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of petrol sales are accounted for by unleaded fuel. [4539]

Figures on petrol sales are not recorded. However, deliveries of unleaded petrol to retail outlets accounted for 63.75 per cent. of total petrol deliveries in September 1995.

Coaches

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many buses and coaches in Great Britain re-registered with Northern Ireland registration marks have consequently failed to meet the annual testing requirements for such vehicles; [4498](2) how many buses and coaches re-registered with Northern Ireland registration marks or first registered with Northern Ireland registration marks were subject to spot checks by the Vehicle Inspectorate were found to be

(a) roadworthy, (b) unroadworthy, (c) unroadworthy and subjected to disciplinary action against the operator by the Traffic Commissioner, in each of the last five years. [4499]

The information is not available in the form requested. Test failure and enforcement statistics are not recorded in terms of registrations marks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many buses and coaches in Great Britain which have been re-registered with registration marks originating from Northern Ireland in each of the last 10 years were (a) between five and 10 years old, (b) between 10 and 15 years old, (c) between 15 and 20 years and (d) older than 20 years at the time of this re-registration. [4497]

The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Street Furniture

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his powers to ensure that defective street lighting, traffic lights and street furniture in urban and rural areas is repaired. [4538]

Powers and responsibility for carrying out repairs to street lighting and traffic lights lie with the relevant highway authority—that is, the Secretary of State on trunk roads and local authorities for work on other roads. The Secretary of State has no powers to require such repairs on roads for which he is not the highway authority.

Health

Hepatitis C

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) on what date screening for hepatitis C started in each regional blood transfusion centre; [3758](2) when screening for hepatitis C first started in blood products in each EC country. [3759]

Routine screening for Hepatitis C was introduced throughout the national blood service from September 1991, when reliable tests first became available.We do not have full information about when other European Community countries introduced testing for Hepatitis C, but we know that some introduced testing before the United Kingdom. However, the expert committee which advises UK Ministers took the view prior to 1991 that tests should not be introduced in the UK because neither the screening test nor the confirmatory test was reliable enough.

Statutory Instruments

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all statutory instruments in respect of health services from his Department in the present Parliament. [4051]

Up to 6 December 1995, Ministers in the Department of Health have made 912 statutory instruments in the present Parliament. The great majority relate broadly to health services but some were made in connection with other responsibilities, for example the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys. Full details of those made to 31 December 1994 are shown in the annual volumes of "Statutory Instruments", copies of which is available in the Library. A list of those statutory instruments made by my Department since 1 January 1995 will be placed in the Library. Of the 912, some 750 were made in connection with the establishment of national health service trusts under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. A detailed breakdown of all 912 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Gp Deputising Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the percentage of out-of-hours work done by private GP deputising services in each of the last six years. [5028]

This information is not available.

Nhs Executive Letters

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many executive letters have been sent out by the NHS management executive in each of the last six years. [5027]

The information requested is as follows:

Year	Number of executive letters issued
1990	233
1991	151
1992	95
1993	118
1994	102
1995 (to date)	134

Tobacco Advertising

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his policy in respect of referring the Benson and Hedges gratis campaign to (a) the Advertising Standards Authority and (b) the committee for monitoring agreements. [5056]

Advertisements for gift catalogues and other promotional material produced by tobacco companies fall under the cigarette code and are considered by the Advertising Standards Authority. Complaints about the catalogues themselves fall under the cigarette promotion code and are considered by the committee for monitoring agreements on tobacco advertising and sponsorship.

Tiffield Secure Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the capacity of the Tiffield secure unit; what is the capital cost per head; and what is his Department's guideline as to the annual operating cost per inmate (a) including and (b) excluding capital costs. [4805]

The new secure unit at Tiffield will provide 16 places. The capital cost per place is £269,273. Northamptonshire county council is responsible for all revenue cost matters.

Good Hope Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on (a) the bed availability and (b) the level of temporary hospital closure at Birmingham's Good Hope hospital. [4965]

I refer the hon. Member to the debate about Good Hope hospital on 6 December, Official Report, columns 472–73. Details of bed availability at Good Hope hospital can be found in the publication "Bed availability for England", copies of which are available in the Library.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the effect on the timing of hospital developments of their inclusion in private finance initiatives. [4967]

We expect hospital developments using the private finance initiative to be completed earlier than would otherwise be possible.

Gp Distribution

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the general practitioner to population ratio in each health district. [4928]

The information will be placed in the Library.

Capital Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the levels of capital expenditure on hospitals in each year since 1979 and that planned in the next three years. [4968]

Capital expenditure on hospitals cannot be separately identified. Total capital expenditure by national health service bodies, which includes expenditure on hospitals, in each of the last 17 years is shown in the table.The definition of capital has changed during this period so comparisons between years cannot readily be made. For 1993–94 the threshold value for the definition of capital expenditure was increased from £1,000 to £5,000. This technical change to accounting policy reduced capital expenditure, as money spent on tangible assets which was formerly classed as capital was, in 1993–94, recorded as revenue. In that year over £100 million was transferred from capital to revenue to take account of the increase to the capital threshold.Figures for the current and forward years are not available centrally on a comparable basis.

Year	Total capital expenditure £ thousand
1994–95	1,805,240
1993–94	1,813,860
1992–93	1,926,438
1991–92	1,808,745
1990–91	1,485,404
1989–90	1,292,212
1988–89	1,087,936
1987–88	1,001,444
1986–87	936,291
1985–86	891,947
1984–85	795,404
1983–84	713,947
1982–83	686,386
1981–82	671,386
1980–81	563,174
1979–80	416,387
1978–79	376,352

Source:

Annual accounts of health authorities and summarisation schedules of NHS Trusts.

Notes:

1. The table shows figures for RHAs, DHAs and the London postgraduate teaching hospitals (SHAs). Figures post 1991-92 include NHS trusts.

2. Figures for 1994-95 are provisional.

3. The figures for 1991-92 onwards represent capital additions, as recorded in accounts, which include assets purchased by authorities/trusts and assets donated to authorities/trust.

4. The figures pre-1991-92 represent capital expenditure as recorded in authorities accounts.

Hospitality

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the hospitality budget for his Department in each of the last five years. [4348]

[holding answer 6 December 1995]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) and the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on I May 1995, Official Report, column 23. Due to technical changes in the Department's accounting system, the figure given for the Department for 1994–95 covered 13 months' expenditure.

Defence

Mustard Gas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what research findings he has evaluated on the genetic effects of exposure to mustard gas; and what are the conclusions of this research. [4986]

This is a matter for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency under its framework document. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mrs. Margaret Ewing dated 8 December 1995:

Your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Defence asking what research findings have been evaluated regarding the genetic effects of exposure to mustard gas has been passed to me to reply as the Chief Executive of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency which includes the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment as one of its divisions.

The Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment has not carried out any research on the genetic effects of exposure to the chemical warfare agent Mustard gas nor has it evaluated any research findings relating to this subject.

I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

Theft

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many reported incidents of theft there have been in his Department in each of the last 10 years. [4565]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: The information as follows:

Year	Number
1985–86	3
1986–87	0
1987–88	5
1988–89	1
1989–90	1
1990–91	12
1991–92	2
1992–93	2
1993–94	20
1994–95	51

The figures for the two most recent years have been significantly affected by improved reporting procedures following the creation of the defence fraud unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about measures being taken by his Department to counteract theft in his Department. [4567]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: My Department has taken a range of measures to deter and detect theft and to make staff aware of the need for vigilance. All suspected cases are vigorously pursued and an internal statement entitled, "Fraud and Theft—Policy and Law", makes it clear that we shall not tolerate dishonest behaviour among MOD employees. Investigations into suspected fraud and theft are undertaken by the Ministry of Defence and Service police. The deterrence of fraud, including theft, forms part of high level management plans with requirements placed upon senior line management to impose sound controls, follow up suspicions and report suspected theft. There is a defence fraud unit which is tasked with collating information, assessing policy and raising awareness of the risk of fraud and theft. Physical security is an essential element at all MOD establishments and appropriate measures such as random gate checks and inventory reviews are among the key controls operated by management. Recovery is pursued wherever possible.

Surplus Munitions Material (Disposal)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current procedure for disposing of surplus explosives and other munitions materials; and if he will make a statement. [4985]

When explosives and other munitions material are declared surplus, the preferred option is for disposal by sale under strict Government guidelines. If this is not possible, either for safety reasons or because the material has become time-expired, it is disposed of in one of the following ways:

by an approved contractor;

by the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation using a rotary kiln with environmental emission controls or by burning in the open under strictly controlled conditions;

locally by technically qualified personnel on licensed demolition grounds on MOD property.

Type 23 Frigate

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the contract for the type 23 frigate order. [5008]

I have yet to take a decision.

New Weapons

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received with regard to co-operating with EC and NATO allies in the research and development of new weapons systems; and if he will make a statement. [4988]

My Department pursues international collaboration on the research and development of equipment as an efficient means of achieving value for money in defence procurement. Details are provided in the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1995, paragraphs 436 to 438. My officials actively participate in a wide variety of collaborative arrangements and multilateral programmes. Opportunities for collaboration on research are identified in the NATO defence research group and in the Western European armaments group's EUCLID—European Co-operation for the Long Term in Defence—programme. Details can be found on page 57 of volume 2 of this year's "Forward Look on Government-funded Science, Engineering and Technology", a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Arcadia Land Plc

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts Arcadia Land plc has with his Department. [4979]

The central database maintained by my Department has no record of any contracts placed with Arcadia Land plc. A record of contracts placed by agencies or local purchase units is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

National Defence Industries Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the National Defence Industries Council last met; who was present; and what topics were discussed. [4980]

The National Defence Industries Council last met on 23 November 1995. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence chaired the meeting, which was attended by Ministers and officials from the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry and senior figures in the United Kingdom defence industry. The council discussed current topics in the field of defence procurement and the defence industry.

Civilian Employees, Scotland

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are employed by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland. [4987]

As of 1 October 1995, around 10,500 of my Department's 113,100 UK-based civilian staff were located in Scotland.

Domestic Property Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service houses have been sold in each of the last 12 months; and what were the total receipts from these sales. [4978]

Sales of married quarters have historically been recorded on a quarterly basis. In the 12 months to 30 September 1995 a total of 1,062 properties were sold; 290,279,229 and 264 in each of the four quarters. The receipts from such disposals are not separately recorded and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Battlefield Identification Technology

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action he has taken to develop battlefield identification friend or foe technology for use in the armed forces; and when it is estimated that such technology will be deployed. [4972]

Work to develop a battlefield identification friend or foe system to help reduce fratricide is progressing well. However, this is an extremely complex technical requirement and it is vital that any deployed system be interoperable with our allies. In order to provide a system as soon as possible, a staged approach is being adopted which will allow an interim capability to be fielded in advance of the full solution. It is estimated that an interim capability will be available in around six months.

Light Vehicle Replacement Competition

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision to tender for the light vehicle replacement competition was announced; which companies placed tenders for that competition; when the decision to acquire 394 light vehicles from Steyr-Daimler-Puch was taken; when the contract was awarded to Steyr-Daimler-Puch; and if he will make a statement. [4976]

The decision to put future purchases of light and medium utility trucks for the Army to competition was taken in April 1985. Invitations to tender for the competition were issued in October 1991. Land Rover, Iveco Ford and Steyr-Daimler-Puch submitted tenders. The decision to purchase 394 of the heavy duty version of the medium utility truck from Steyr-Daimler-Puch was taken and the contract placed in June 1994.

Social Security

Invalidity Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants of incapacity benefit are currently exempt from the all-work test by virtue of (a) receipt of the highest rate of disability living allowance care component, (b) in receipt of invalidity benefit and aged over 58 years on 13 April, (c) with a serious medical condition and (d) with a serious mental illness. [1832]

Pursuant to his reply of 27 November, Official Report, c.513. The information I gave regarding the number of former invalidity benefit recipients who received benefit from 1 December 1993 and who were aged 58 or over on 13 April was incorrect. The correct information is as follows:

Reason for exemption from the all work test	Number exempt
Receipt of the disability living allowance highest rate care component	20,976
Receipt of invalidity benefit between 1 December 1993 and 12 April 1995 and aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995	705,000
Severe medical condition, including severe mental illness	138,828

1. Figures for severe mental illness are not separately available.

2. Figures for exempt incapacity benefit claimants who are also in receipt of widow's benefit are not held on the computer system and are not included above.

3. Information available to end of October 1995.

4. Former recipients of invalidity benefit are tested as satisfying the all work test rather than being exempt from it.

5. The number of former invalidity benefit recipients who are treated as satisfying the all work test due to receipt of invalidity benefit on 1 December 1993 and being aged 58 or over on 13 April 1995 has been estimated and rounded to the nearest 5,000. Further information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Child Support Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total staffing cost of the Child Support Agency during each year since 1992–93. [2219]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 7 December 1995:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about the staffing costs of the Child Support Agency.

The staff costs are as follows:

	£million
1992–93	40.098
1993–94	78.761
1994–95	107.244

It is important to emphasize that comparisons between these figures are not possible for the following reasons:

1. The 1992–93 figure is a cash cost only whereas the 1993–94 and 1994–95 are on a 'full cost' basis as reported in the Agency's Accounts.

2. The 1992–93 figures cover the period before the Agency was launched and as such only include the liable relative field staff, the project staff and the first recruits into Hastings and Dudley centres. It does not include any proportion of the corporate overheads.

3. The 1993–94 figures do not include the full year costs of Plymouth and Birkenhead centres as these were not opened or fully staffed until late 1993.

4. The Agency has taken on work which was previously covered by the Lord Chancellor's Department (L.C.D.) and no comparative figures for the cost savings which have been made within this Department are available.

I hope this is helpful.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a month by month breakdown of the benefit savings achieved by the Child Support

Benefit savings—April 1995 to September 1995
£ million
Category of benefit savings	April 1995	May 1995	June 1995	July 1995	August 1995	September 1995	YTD 1995/96
Resulting from pre-CSA assessments:
Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State	0.25	0.19	0.29	0.40	0.21	0.24	1.57
Resulting from CSA and pre-CSA assessments:
Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care	10.67	11.19	10.83	11.08	11.19	10.74	65.69
Resulting from CSA assessments:
Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State	4.11	5.58	5.36	4.73	5.16	5.21	30.16
Deductions from Absent Parent's Income support payments	0.45	0.87	0.73	0.68	0.72	0.73	4.18
Income Support claim cessations
Maintenance exceeds rate of benefit	0.96	0.75	0.62	0.63	0.77	0.57	4.30
Income Support claim withdrawn within four weeks of CSA action	12.82	14.35	14.85	11.51	12.40	15.06	80.99
Reductions in Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance resulting from CSA assessments	1.32	1.35	1.48	1.27	1.23	1.498.14
Housing Benefit/Council Tax reductions resulting from CSA assessments	Calculated retrospectively at the end of the year
Total	30.58	34.28	34.16	30.30	31.67	34.04	195.03

Benefit savings—April 1994 to March 1995
£million
Category of benefit savings	April 1994	May 1994	June 1994	July 1994	August 1994	September 1994	October 1994	November 1994	December 1994	January 1995	February 1995	March 1995	YTD 94/95
Resulting from pre—CSA assessment:
Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.00	10.59	10.36	10.42	9.84	10.41	10.16	8.76	9.11	119.64
Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State	1.25	1.10	0.99	0.94	0.71	0.68	0.47	-0.11	0.34	0.51	0.31	0.06	7.23
Resulting from CSA assessment:
Paid direct by absent parent to parent with care	0.80	0.80	0.80	0.80	1.46	1.37	1.13	1.23	1.01	1.08	1.29	1.99	13.76

Agency from April 1994 until the latest month available using the same headings as in his answer of 19 July 1995, Official Report, column 1499. [3205]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 7 December 1995:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about benefit savings.

The tables attached show the monthly breakdown from April 1994 to September 1995. I wrote to you in July of this year giving a breakdown of the benefit savings collected from 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995. I then replied to your Question on 16 November 1995 giving updated figures to 30 September 1995.

The tables show that in 1994/95 the Agency recorded savings of £480.60 million. So far this year the Agency has recorded savings of £195.03 million, but this does not include savings from Housing Benefit and Council tax which will be calculated later in the year.

I hope this is helpful.

Benefit savings—April 1994 to March 1995
£ million
Category of benefit savings	April 1994	May 1994	June 1994	July 1994	August 1994	September 1994	October 1994	November 1994	December 1994	January 1994	February 1994	March 1994	YTD 1994
Paid through Agency collection service to Secretary of State	1.78	1.82	2.36	3.08	3.43	3.75	3.53	4.30	3.88	4.52	5.85	9.6	547.94
Deductions from Absent Parent's Income support payments	0.37	0.45	0.52	0.11	0.20	0.17	0.23	0.30	0.24	0.17	0.37	0.4	63.59
Income Support claim cessations
Maintenance exceeds	1.66	1.23	2.36	4.24	2.33	1.60	1.31	2.62	1.52	1.57	1.85	1.55	23.83
Income Support claim cessations
Maintenance exceeds rate of benefit	1.66	1.23	2.36	4.24	15.40	16.45	17.26	17.13	11.15	13.81	15.10	18.47	199.53
Income Support claim withdrawn within four weeks of CSA action	18.80	19.92	21.14	14.90	15.40	16.45	17.26	17.13	11.15	13.81	15.10	18.47	199.53
Reductions in Family Credit or Disability Working Allowance	monthly breakdown not available												12.84
Housing Benefit/ Council Tax resulting from CSA assessments	Monthly breakdown not available												52.25
Total	34.65	35.31	38.17	34.07	34.12	34.38	34.34	35.32	28.55	31.80	33.53	41.28	480.60

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many deduction of earning orders have been issued during 1995 by the Child Support Agency. [3520]

The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive, Miss Ann Chant. She will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. John Spellar, dated 7 December 1995:

I am replying to your Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security about Deduction from Earnings Orders.

Between April and the end of September 1995 22,066 Orders had been issued. You may be interested to know that this information is available in the Child Support Agency Statistical Information report, which is placed monthly in the Library.

I hope this is helpful.

Royal Mail

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what contingency plans exist to ensure the payment of benefits during industrial action at Royal Mail sorting offices. [4581]

This is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Hutton, dated 7 December 1995:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what contingency plans exist to ensure the payment of benefits during industrial action at Royal Mail sorting offices.

The Benefits Agency (BA) has long standing instructions for staff covering disruption of postal delivery and collection services.

The instructions cover the impact of postal disruption, the options for dealing with girocheques and order books issued by Area Computer Centres and North Fylde Central Office, liaison within the BA and between the BA and the Post Office, and the arrangements for local BA offices to deal with the increase in callers and telephone queries. The instructions also cover local disputes and

the arrangements for customers to either collect payment from their local BA office, or where they are unable to attend the office, for payment to be delivered by local office staff.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Education And Employment

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what was (a) the number and (b) the percentage of four-year-olds in maintained pre-school provision (i) in each local education authority and (ii) nationally at January 1995; [3998](2) what was

(a) the number and (b) the percentage of three-year-olds in maintained pre-school provision (i) in each local education authority and (ii) nationally at January 1995; [3997]

(3) what was (a) the number and (b) the percentage of three and four-year-olds in maintained pre-school provision (i) in each local education authority and (ii) nationally in January 1995. [3999]

Information on pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in each local education authority in England in January 1995 is shown in the following table. The Department does not publish information on participation rates of individual age cohorts by local education authority.

Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in England—January 1995 (provisional)
	Pupils (age at 31 August 1994)		Percentage of population Pupils aged 3 and 4 at 31 December
	Age 3¹	Age 4²	1994
Camden	845	4	25
Greenwich	2,229	746	48
Hackney	1,898	11	35
Hammersmith and Fulham	1,069	271	46

Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in England—January 1995 (provisional)
	Pupils (age at 31 August 1994)		Percentage of population Pupils aged 3 and 4 at 31 December
	Age 3¹	Age 4²	1994
Islington	1,473	80	37
Kensington and Chelsea	603	153	27
Lambeth	1,603	490	31
Lewisham	1,869	612	37
Southwark	2,323	91	42
Tower Hamlets	2,456	267	58
Wandsworth	2,056	54	35
Westminster	801	187	31
Barking and Dagenham	2,046	6	46
Barnet	2,024	44	32
Bexley	1,413	6	23
Brent	2,459	17	37
Bromley	162	2	2
Croydon	1,999	12	21
Ealing	3,143	7	46
Enfield	1,620	3	22
Haringey	2,354	50	44
Harrow	1,006	3	18
Havering	464	3	9
Hillingdon	1,430	1,923	49
Hounslow	2,362	0	40
Kingston upon Thames	1,028	14	35
Merton	1,860	387	55
Newham	2,925	1,206	52
Redbridge	970	310	20
Richmond upon Thames	653	1	18
Sutton	816	1,147	41
Waltham Forest	1,738	899	39
Birmingham	10,471	17	34
Coventry	1,910	0	24
Dudley	2,626	11	37
Sandwell	3,844	136	54
Solihull	1,877	3	36
Walsall	3,505	2	59
Wolverhampton	3,175	6	54
Knowsley	2,336	23	62
Liverpool	4,941	4	46
St. Helens	1,489	3	35
Sefton	2,290	5	36
Wirral	2,156	1	26
Bolton	2,703	3	41
Bury	1,448	0	30
Manchester	5,116	1,764	54
Oldham	2,455	3	37
Rochdale	2,074	10	33
Salford	2,922	22	53
Stockport	1,972	3	27
Tameside	2,377	1	39
Trafford	2,056	30	43
Wigan	2,050	4	25
Barnsley	1,975	869	48
Doncaster	3,647	1	44
Rotherham	2,176	1,110	46
Sheffield	3,888	1,473	42
Bradford	5,142	634	44
Calderdale	1,945	1	36
Kirklees	3,985	31	40
Leeds	7,147	549	47
Wakefield	3,389	976	54
Gateshead	1,675	2	36
Newcastle upon Tyne	2,761	7	39
North Tyneside	2,306	0	55
South Tyneside	1,971	3	53
Sunderland	3,300	1	42

Pupils aged three and four in maintained nursery schools and nursery classes in maintained primary schools in each local education authority in England—January 1995 (provisional)
	Pupils (age at 31 August 1994)		Percentage of population Pupils aged 3 and 4 at 31 December
	Age 3¹	Age 4²	1994
Avon	4,844	52	21
Bedfordshire	3,010	2,003	32
Berkshire	3,043	3,721	32
Buckinghamshire	1,785	1,201	16
Cambridge	2,174	8	12
Cheshire	4,528	75	21
Cleveland	7,179	5	60
Cornwall³	1,393	175	15
Cumbria	2,971	40	25
Derbyshire	6,515	2,168	38
Devon	1,998	855	12
Dorset	726	0	5
Durham	6,356	29	46
East Sussex	1,424	54	10
Essex	1,604	981	7
Gloucestershire	27	0	0
Hampshire	1,750	67	5
Hereford and Worcester	868	770	9
Hertfordshire	6,734	2,673	34
Humberside	6,343	2,308	38
Isle of Wight	150	3	7
Kent	1,853	43	5
Lancashire	7,235	24	21
Leicestershire	3,119	1,913	21
Lincolnshire	1,917	33	14
Norfolk	1,119	119	7
North Yorkshire	3,096	489	22
Northamptonshire	3,024	4	18
Northumberland	2,411	7	41
Nottinghamshire	7,807	4,995	50
Oxfordshire	1,668	1,521	19
Shropshire	1,332	669	18
Somerset	521	2	5
Staffordshire	6,602	94	25
Suffolk	1,650	1,422	17
Surrey	2,423	345	12
Warwickshire	2,109	4	17
West Sussex	828	308	7
Wiltshire	397	158	4
England^{3 4}	277,376	46,064	27
¹ Includes pupils who became four years of age by 1 January 1995.
²Excludes pupils who became five years of age by 1 January 1995.
³Includes Isles of Scilly.
⁴Includes Corporation of London.

Student Accommodation

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what statutory provisions govern the responsibility of university authorities for damage done by students to student accommodation. [4311]

None. As independent bodies, universities are responsible for their own internal affairs. In the private rented sector landlords have recourse for damage caused by students through tenancy agreements and the legal system, as the would for any other renting accommodation.

Schools Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will make a statement on the local authority allocations and capital grants to (a) voluntary-aided and (b) grant-maintained schools in 1996–97; [4506](2) if she will give a breakdown of the capital budget for schools for 1996–97. [4505]

Central Government support for schools in 1996–97 is broken down as follows:

Type of school	Capital budget £ million
Grant-maintained schools	138
City technology colleges	2
Aided schools	61
County and controlled schools	423
Non-maintained special schools	1
Total	625

The figures do not include the capital element included within the budget for the "specialised schools" programme, which includes both capital and recurrent expenditure on specialist schools in the grant-maintained and maintained sectors, and which has been allocated £23 million in 1996–97.Individual allocations for aided schools will be announced shortly. Allocations to grant-maintained schools are a matter for the Funding Agency for Schools.

School Premises Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what review has been conducted on the adequacy and operation of the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 prior to the decision to modify the regulations; who was responsible for the review; what were their qualifications and experience; what was its cost; where and by what means its findings were publicised; and whom she consulted concerning its conclusions. [4492]

The review was announced on 2 October 1990. The terms of reference were to consider the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1981 in the light of changes in educational practice over the last 10 years and to review priorities in the light of these.The review team was led by a professional architect in my Department with 22 years' experience. The team included other experienced professional advisers and senior officials from my Department, representatives of the Welsh Office and Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools, and an observer from the Scottish Office.No separate estimate was made of the cost of the review, as distinct from my Department's other work on school organisation matters.As required in the terms of reference of the review, its findings were reported to the Secretary of State for Education and to the Secretary of State for Wales.A consultation letter was sent out on 25 February 1991 to local education authorities, teachers' associations, voluntary bodies and other interested organisations. A similar letter was sent to grant-maintained school governors. The Welsh Office sent their own consultation letter to LEAs and organisations in Wales. Following the announcement of the Government's intention to bring forward a revised set of Education (School Premises) Regulations, a second consultation letter was sent out on 14 July 1995 to the same range of bodies as the previous letter.

Community Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will list all companies, by region, that have provided work placements for 50 or more unemployed people on community action programmes over the past 12 months; [4597](2) if she will list the companies that provide work placements to unemployed people on the community action programme, who will have their contracts reduced at the end of November, by region, indicating in each case the level of the reduction; [4601](3) what was the cost per unemployed person placed with the community action programme in the current financial year; [4599](4) how many people in each region are currently on community action programmes whose placements will be curtailed; [4603](5) what was the cost to public funds of the community action programme in the current financial year; [4598](6) what factors underlie the reduction of contracts to companies that provide work placements to unemployed people on the community action programme at the end of November 1995; [4602](7) if she will make a statement about the future of the community action programme; [4596](8) if she will list the companies that provide work placements to unemployed people on community action programme, by region, who will have their contracts withdrawn at the end of November indicating the reasons for the withdrawal of contracts; [4600](9) how many unemployed people are expected to be recruited onto the community action programme between 29 December 1995 and 31 March 1996. [4604]

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. Ian McCartney, dated 8 December 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the closure of community Action, the cost of the programme and the people and organisations affected by the closure.

Community Action is a programme of jobsearch help which is integrated with part-time work experience. It is delivered by providing organisations, chiefly in the voluntary/charitable sector through contracts with Employment Service regional offices.

Following the Budget, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment announced that Community Action is to close and that recruitment to the programme will cease on 29 December 1995. Whilst Community Action is a useful programme, with falling unemployment and a necessary close scrutiny of the budgets of all government Departments, it no longer represents best value for money. As part of our current strategy to tackle longer-term unemployment in a more buoyant labour market we are changing programme provision to help more long term unemployed people receive help with jobsearch.

The organisations who hold contracts to deliver Community Action are responsible for administration, delivery of the jobsearch element of the programme and also arranging work projects and placements for Community Action participants. Work projects and placements are with a wide range of voluntary/charitable organisations and these change continually. It is not therefore possible to provide a list of all organisations who have provided work placements in the last 12 months. I can, however, provide a list, by region, of all organisations who hold contracts to deliver Community Action. This is attached.

This financial year, the average cost per person taking up a place on Community Action is £1,827. The budget for the programme is £70 million and at the end of October, the latest date for which figures are available, the programme had cost £44,947,987.

At the end of October there were 12,909 people participating in Community Action. It is not our intention to terminate any of these people's participation prematurely. Indeed, we are currently working closely with providers to ensure that this is the case.

I hope this is helpful.

Region	Organisation	Maximum number of places
NORTHN	CTF	75
NORTHN	Cumbria Training Company	39
NORTHN	British Trust For Conservation Volunteers	29
NORTHN	Northern Training Trust	106
NORTHN	National Trust	39
NORTHN	Archon 2000	124
NORTHN	BOYS BRIGADE	35
NORTHN	Community Care	32
NORTHN	YMCA	30
NORTHN	SUSTRANS	35
NORTHN	Y Training	137
NORTHN	NACRO NCT	96
NORTHN	South Tyneside Churches	39
NORTHN	Community Industry	31
NORTHN	Cleveland Youth Association	85
NORTHN	CSV	87
Y and H	Atkis Ltd.	40
Y and H	Morthyng Ltd.	57
Y and H	Halifax URC Training	51
Y and H	BTCV Enterprises	38
Y and H	BTCV Enterprises	54
Y and H	Bradford Cathedral Centre Ltd.	36
Y and H	Great Grimsby Borough Council	58
Y and H	Whitby Training Centre	30
Y and H	Instant Muscle	32
Y and H	Yorkshire Rural Community Council	29
Y and H	CRA Accredited Trainers Ltd.	43
Y and H	National Trust	47
Y and H	Q-MAT Ltd.	35
Y and H	Action for Employment—Dewsbury	47
Y and H	Trainline Group Ltd.	36
Y and H	BTCV Enterprises Ltd.	30
Y and H	City Training Services	55
Y and H	The Cellar Project	42
Y and H	MYCC—Barnsley	16
Y and H	MYCC—Wakefield	30
Y and H	MYCC—Pontefract	48
Y and H	MYCC—Huddersfield	53
Y and H	Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce—Dewsbury	30
Y and H	NACRO	35
Y and H	NACRO	58
Y and H	NACRO	36
Y and H	Action For Employment	61
Y and H	Action For Employment	81
Y and H	Action For Employment	79
Y and H	Action For Employment	75
Y and H	Hillsborough Community Development Trust	32
Y and H	Beverly Work Bridge Ltd.	126
Y and H	Hull College	97

Region	Organisation	Maximum number of places
Y and H	Action For Employment—Wakefield	48
Y and H	BEST Ltd.	58
EM and E	CTF Training	52
EM and E	Cambridge Training and Development	38
EM and E	Shakleton Associates	35
EM and E	Jasmire	94
EM and E	SAGAT	8
EM and E	East Midlands Training services	25
EM and E	Portals Business College	26
EM and E	Lagat Ltd.	49
EM and E	Boston Training Agency Ltd.	56
EM and E	CRA	60
EM and E	NACRO	223
EM and E	Norwich YMCA	59
EM and E	East Midlands Training Partnership	35
Em and E	Employment Training Services	35
EM and E	CTF	59
EM and E	Aintree	40
EM and E	Amber Valley	75
EM and E	Grant Met	107
EM and E	Mansfield Family Trust	70
EM and E	Bestco	85
EM and E	Dukeries Training Agency Ltd.	30
LASER	Westminster Training and Development	200
LASER	Workability	120
LASER	Training Network (Central and West London)	100
LASER	NACRO (Essex)	100
LASER	BTCV Enterprises	80
LASER	Sunnyside	40
LASER	West Sussex County Council	200
LASER	West Herts Training Consortium	140
LASER	The Training and Business Factory (South London) Ltd.	280
LASER	Training Network (North London)	100
LASER	Training Network (Chilterns)	100
LASER	Skills Training South Kent	100
LASER	SELTO	285
LASER	SEETEC	255
LASER	Scout Enterprises	300
LASER	Ridgemond Training	70
LASER	Portals	150
LASER	Oaklands College	90
LASER	NESCOT	75
LASER	National Trust (South)	128
LASER	National Trust (North)	120
LASER	NACRO (London)	120
LASER	Civic Trust	310
LASER	BBont	70
LASER	Bridge Project	120
LASER	BTCV Enterprises	203
LASER	Can Do	100
LASER	Career Ahead	100
LASER	Community Industry	145
LASER	Community Link	250
LASER	Convergence Systems	130
LASER	Crown College	100
LASER	Croyden and South London Chamber of Commerce	75
LASER	Dunstable College	130
LASER	East Kent Itec	70
LASER	East Sussex Health Authority	200
LASER	Employment Initiatives Group	130
LASER	Firmstart Medway	110
LASER	GrantMet Trust	150
LASER	GrantMet Trust Hampshire	250
LASER	GrantMet Trust Sussex and Surrey	360
LASER	Hadlow College	100
LASER	Harlow College	175
LASER	Headstart	215

Region	Organisation	Maximum number of places
LASER	Haringley Education Service Training Agency	130
LASER	Havering Group Training Association	120
LASER	Instant Muscle	335
LASER	Island Volunteers Service	80
LASER	Kilburn Skills	204
LASER	London Union of Youth Clubs	225
SW	WESTON HERITAGE CENTRE LTD.	59
SW	Ilfracombe Restoration and Training Trust	17
SW	Community Link	35
SW	Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd.	60
SW	BTCV Enterprises Ltd.	20
SW	Great Western Enterprise Ltd.	63
SW	The Civic Trust	125
SW	Instant Muscle	84
SW	Grandmet Trust	357
SW	NACRO/NCT	20
SW	Training for Employment	52
SW	Dartington Tech.	40
SW	Torridge Training Services Ltd.	30
SW	Plymouth City Council	40
SW	Community Service Volunteers	31
SW	DM Training	37
SW	Groundwork Trust	40
SW	The National Trust	170
WALES	Track 2000	20
WALES	Taff Ely Borough Council	12
WALES	Mid-Glamorgan Community Education	20
WALES	Gwent Quality Training	20
WALES	Holyhead Opportunities Trust	10
WALES	Ceredigion District Council	15
WALES	Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations	30
WALES	Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations	20
WALES	Community Studies (Deeside College)	44
WALES	Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd.	15
WALES	Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd.	30
WALES	Scout Enterprises (Western) Ltd.	30
WALES	Co-Options Ltd.	9
WALES	Ynys Mon Borough Council	12
WALES	NACRO (NCT)	20
WALES	NACRO (NCT)	20
WALES	NACRO (NCT)	10
WALES	CSV Training Wales	5
WALES	CSV Training Wales	27
WALES	Aderyn	25
WALES	Community Industry	18
WALES	National Trust	7
WALES	Instant Muscle Ltd.	18
WALES	Instant Muscle Ltd.	60
WALES	Neath Borough Council Training Agency	17
WALES	Instant Muscle	20
WALES	Instant Muscle	51
WALES	Instant Muscle	18
WALES	BTCV Enterprises Ltd.	33
WALES	BTCV Enterprises Ltd.	12
WALES	BTCV Enterprises Ltd.	17
WALES	Community Industry	8
WALES	Community Industry	17
WALES	Community Industry	12
WMIDS	BTCV Enterprises	100
WMIDS	BVSC	200
WMIDS	Comex EIC	100
WMIDS	Community Industry	210
WMIDS	Employment Training in Warwickshire	40
WMIDS	Lloyds Training	45
WMIDS	Most Training	100
WMIDS	New Careers Training Shropshire	100
WMIDS	New Careers Training Staffordshire	90

Region	Organisation	Maximum number of places
WMIDS	Shropshire County Training	100
WMIDS	Staffordshire County Training	50
WMIDS	Warwickshire Bureau	50
WMIDS	Warwickshire Wildlife Trust	30
WMIDS	Worcester College of Technology	75
WMIDS	Beacon Centre for the Blind	100
NRTHWEST	Beneast Training Ltd.	547
NRTHWEST	NACRO	113
NRTHWEST	Serve Wirral Trust Co. Ltd.	70
NRTHWEST	Rathbone	90
NRTHWEST	CLEE Training	95
NRTHWEST	Wigan Metropolitan Training	90
NRTHWEST	Fazakerley and District CWP Agency	214
NRTHWEST	Grandmet Trust	180
NRTHWEST	Training Network	105
NRTHWEST	BTCV	80
NRTHWEST	Jarvis Training Management	341
NRTHWEST	Business Support Unit Ltd.	230
NRTHWEST	Beneast Training Ltd.	230
NRTHWEST	Cumbria Training Co. Ltd.	150
NRTHWEST	Sefton Council Adult Training	90
NRTHWEST	Specialised Technical Services	215
NRTHWEST	Thameside Aides and Services for the Handicapped	100
SCOT	Training Craft	45
SCOT	Community Industry	190
SCOT	Wester Hailes Management Agency	30
SCOT	Volunteer Centre	50
SCOT	Balloch Trust Enterprises Ltd.	40
SCOT	CSV	190
SCOT	Lewis Council of Social Services	6
SCOTR	Royal Zoological Society	40
SCOT	Scottish Wildlife Trust	100
SCOT	Grandmet Trust	200
SCOT	Access Partnership	50
SCOT	Wigtown Council for Voluntary Services	30
SCOT	MI Technologies Limited	425
SCOT	Galloway Training Limited	100
SCOT	Lothian Training Limited	20
SCOT	Grainshore Training Centre	10
SCOT	Caithness and Sutherland Training Trust	30
SCOT	Best Limited	50
SCOT	Ard Ross	100
SCOT	Scottish National Council of YMCAs	135
SCOT	Nevis Training Centre	30
SCOT	IMS	265
NRTHWEST	Rathbone	90
NRTHWEST	CLEE Training	95
NRTHWEST	Wigan Metropolitan Training	90
NRTHWEST	Fazakerley and District CWP Agency	214
NRTHWEST	Grandmet Trust	180
NRTHWEST	Training Network	105
NRTHWEST	BTCV	80
NRTHWEST	Jarvis Training Management	341
NRTHWEST	Business Support Unit Ltd.	230
NRTHWEST	Beneast Training Ltd.	230
NRTHWEST	Cumbria Training Co. Ltd.	150
NRTHWEST	Sefton Council Adult Training	90
NRTHWEST	Specialised Technical Services	215
NRTHWEST	Thameside Aides and Services for the Handicapped	100
SCOT	Training Craft	45
SCOT	Community Industry	190
SCOT	Wester Hailes Management Agency	30
SCOT	Volunteer Centre	50
SCOT	Balloch Trust Enterprises Ltd.	40
SCOT	CSV	190
SCOT	Lewis Council of Social Services	6
SCOTR	Royal Zoological Society	40
SCOT	Scottish Wildlife Trust	100

Region	Organisation	Maximum number of places
SCOT	Grandmet Trust	200
SCOT	Access Partnership	50
SCOT	Wigtown Council for Voluntary Services	30
SCOT	MI Technologies Limited	425
SCOT	Galloway Training Limited	100
SCOT	Lothian Training Limited	20
SCOT	Grainshore Training Centre	10
SCOT	Caithness and Sutherland Training Trust	30
SCOT	Best Limited	50
SCOT	Ard Ross	100
SCOT	Scottish National Council of YMCAs	135
SCOT	Nevis Training Centre	30
SCOT	IMS	265

Interview Travel Expenses

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consideration she has given to making payments to job applicants for travelling expenses when they travel distances across London, within the M25 area, to attend job interviews; and if she will make a statement. [4680]

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. Harry Cohen, dated 8 December 1995:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about travelling expenses for job applicants travelling to attend job interviews within the M25 area.

I know it can be very difficult for unemployed people to cope with the expense of getting to interviews and the Employment Service (ES) has been running a travel to interview scheme (TIS) for a number of years now to help with this. The scheme's main aim is to encourage people who have been unemployed for four or more weeks to widen their job search. It does this by helping them with travelling costs and, if necessary, overnight accommodation costs to attend job interviews outside their usual travel to work area. A few basic conditions must be met before assistance can be granted, to ensue the scheme is properly and fairly administered and gives good value for money. In the last year the ES has used TIS to help over 51,000 applicants with travelling costs totalling £1.8 m.

One of the eligibility rules is that the job interview must be beyond normal daily travelling distance of the applicant's home area. We appreciate that it is very difficult to draw the line around what constitutes "normal" daily travelling distance but we try to be fair about this. My jobcentre managers, working to broad guidelines supplied by my Head Office are authorised to decide for this purpose, what their local labour market is. The guidance given in respect of journeys around London is either 40 miles or a journey taking more than 1 hour 20 minutes. However, each application is considered individually. Factors such as distance, costs, availability of public transport and the length of time the journey takes are all checked and where any doubt exists, discretion is advised in favour of the applicant.

The scheme has recently been reviewed and my people were aware of the problem of the high transport costs around the London area. One of the changes suggested was that special consideration should be given where particularly high transport costs were involved, and that such considerations should be left to the discretion of my District or Regional offices for the reasons given earlier. The results of the review are currently under consideration

I hope this is helpful.

Home Department

Fire Service Pension Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date and with what terms of reference the inter-departmental working group on the firemen's pension scheme was set up; and when he now expects it to publish its report. [5026]

The review of the firefighters' pension scheme was announced in March 1994. The review group's terms of reference require it to identify ways in which the scheme could be made more comparable to other public service schemes. I hope that it will be possible to circulate a consultation document to the fire service organisations in the not too distant future.

Mr Abiodum Igbinidu

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now defer implementation of the directions to deport Mr. Abiodum Igbinidu. [4854]

Directions for Mr. Abiodum Igbinidu's removal on 9 December were deferred to 5 December, following representations made on his behalf.

Correspondence

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of the Minister of State, Foreign Office, on 5 December 1995, Official Report, column 214, for what reasons the letter concerning an interview of the sponsor in the United Kingdom was sent to the Foreign Office; how long it took his Department to send the letter to the Foreign Office; and what were the reasons for the delay. [4930]

The hon. Member's letter of 6 November related to an entry clearance application which had been deferred to the Home Office for further inquiries to be made to enable the entry clearance officer to make a decision. Replies to letters in these circumstances fall to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.The hon. Member's letter was received in the immigration and nationality department on 13 November and was faxed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office migration and visa correspondence unit on 1 December. I regret the delay in transferring the letter, which arose because it was not immediately recognised that it related to a deferred application.

Asylum And Immigration

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answers of 28 November 1995, Official Report, column 659 and of 4 December 1995, Official Report, column 22, concerning the bodies from which he (a) sought information or (b) had consultations with in respect of current asylum and immigration problems, if he will list such bodies in either category as can be given without incurring disproportionate costs. [4734]

[holding answer 7 December 1995]: I have nothing to add to the answers that I gave to the hon. Member on 28 November and 4 December.

Remand Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many remanded prisoners in England and Wales who did not subsequently receive custodial sentences lost their homes following their remand to prison in each year since 1992; and if he will make a statement. [4310]

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

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question on the numbers of remand prisoners who did not subsequently receive custodial sentences in each year since 1992 but lost their homes following their admission to prison.

The information requested is not recorded. Remand prisoners are not obliged to tell the prison authorities of difficulties in retaining accommodation and, once released, former remand prisoners are not required to maintain contact with the Prison Service or the Probation Service after release from custody.

The Prison Service's statement of principle on unconvicted prisoners, which is set out in the Prisoners' Information Book, is based on the presumption of their innocence. One of its provisions is that unconvicted prisoners will be allowed all reasonable facilities to preserve their accommodation and employment. Most prisons have staff trained in the provision of advice on housing and employment issues, and all will have a pool of such staff by next April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current remand population broken by (a) ethnic background and (b) gender in England and Wales. [3659]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the ethnic breakdown of the current remand population.

The information is shown in the attached table.

Remand population on 31 October 1995¹ by ethnic origin and sex, England and Wales
Ethnic origin	Total	Males	Females
White	9,292	8,910	382
Black	1,537	1,450	87
South Asian	313	308	5
Chinese and Other Asian	139	134	5
Other/unrecorded	220	200	20
Total	11,501	11,002	499
¹Provisional figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of acquitted remand prisoners, who were in employment before their period of custody, return to employment on their release. [3513]

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

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Jim Cunningham dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question on the percentage of acquitted remand prisoners who were in employment before their period of custody and who return to employment on their release.

The information requested is not recorded. Acquitted remand prisoners are under no duty to maintain contact with the Prison Service once they are released, nor are they under the supervision of the Probation Service.

The Prison Service's statement of principle on unconvicted prisoners (which is set out in the Prisoners' Information Book) is based on the presumption of their innocence. One of its provisions is that they will be given all reasonable facilities to preserve their accommodation and employment. Most prisons have staff trained in the provision of advice on housing and employment issues, and all will have a pool of such staff by next April.

Prisoner Suicides

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prisoners and (b) remanded prisoners in England and Wales committed suicide in (i) 1991, (ii) 1992, (iii) 1993 and (iv) 1994. [4298]

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

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about suicides in prisons in England and Wales.

Between 1 January 1991 and 1 December 1994 there were 191 self-inflicted deaths in prison in England and Wales. The attached table shows a breakdown of figures for each year for remand/unsentenced prisoners and sentenced prisoners.

Self-inflicted deaths¹ in England and Wales in 1991–1994: by status of prisoner
Year	Self-inflicted deaths—all prisoners	Self inflicted deaths of sentenced prisoners	Self-inflicted remand/unsentenced prisoners
1991	42	16	26
1992	41	24	17
1993	47	26	21
1994	61	30	13
¹The figures are for all self inflicted deaths which provide a more accurate representation than restriction to inquest verdicts of suicide.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the suicide rate for (a)sentenced prisoners and (b) prisoners on remand in each year since 1990. [3516]

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

Letter from A. J. Butler to Mr. Jim Cunningham, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about suicide rates in the Prison Service since 1990.

Between 1 January 1990 and 1 December 1995 there were 298 self-inflicted deaths in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales. The attached table shows a breakdown of figures for each year for remand-unsentenced prisoners and sentenced prisoners.

Self inflicted deaths¹ in England and Wales 1990-1995 (as to 1 December): by status of prisoner
Year	Self inflicted deaths of remand/unsentenced prisoners	Self inflicted deaths of sentenced prisoners
1990	27	23
1991	16	26
1992	24	17
1993	26	21
1994	30	31
1995²	25	33
¹ Figures are provided for all self-inflicted deaths which provide a more accurate representation than restriction to inquest verdicts of suicides.
² As of 1 December 1995.

Child Sex Offences Abroad

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take against those who travel abroad to commit sex crimes against children. [5515]

My right hon. and learned Friend announced on 12 July 1995, Official Report, column 600, that he would urgently examine the law of incitement and conspiracy. As a result of that examination, the Government propose, subject to a suitable legislative opportunity being found, to extend the scope of the law

Sentenced prison population on 31 October 1995¹ by ethnic origin, sex and sentence length
England and Wales
Sentence length	Total	White	Black	South Asian	Chinese and other Asian	Other/unrecorded
Males
Less than 12 months	6,533	5,828	446	152	53	54
12 months to less than 3 years	10,653	9,256	921	275	108	93
3 years to less than 4 years	3,992	3,304	500	116	30	42
4 years to less than 10 years	11,077	8,613	1,746	385	145	188
10 years to less than life	2,575	1,954	410	97	36	78
Life	3,145	2,724	242	117	30	32
Fine defaulters	395	359	25	7	1	3
Total	38,370	32,038	4,290	1,149	403	490
Females
Less than 12 months	343	294	37	2	1	9
13 months to less than 3 years	452	373	66	1	4	8
3 years to less than 4 years	133	90	37	2	0	4
4 years to less than 10 years	360	218	119	5	6	12
10 years to less than life	76	36	32	4	0	4
Life	117	99	7	6	0	5
Fine defaulters	19	17	2	0	0	0
Total	1,500	1,127	300	20	11	42
¹ Provisional figures

of incitement and conspiracy. This extension would bring within the jurisdiction of the courts those who incite others or who conspire to commit sexual offences against children abroad.

Electoral Registers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to prohibit the sale of electoral registers; and if he will make a statement. [4483]

No; the electoral register is a public document, and it would not be practicable to restrict its availability to electoral purposes only.

Closed Circuit Television

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to prevent the commercial use of the film from CCTV cameras without the permission of those being filmed. [3492]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 5 December 1995, Offical Report column 207.

Prison Population

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in England and Wales are currently serving (a) less than 12 months, (b) 12 months to three years, (c) three to four years, (d) four to 10 years, (e) 10 years or more and (f) life, broken down by (i) ethnic background and (ii) gender. [3660]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking for the ethnic breakdown of the current prison population, according to length of sentence and gender.

The information is shown in the attached table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current sentenced prison population broken down by (i) ethnic background and (ii) gender in England and Wales. [3658]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Ms Janet Anderson, dated 8 December 1995:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the ethnic breakdown of the current sentenced prison population.

The information is shown in the table attached.

Sentenced population¹ on 31 October 1995² by ethnic origin and sex
England and Wales
Ethnic origin	Total	Males	Females
White	33,165	32,038	1,127
Black	4,590	4,290	300
South Asian	1,169	1,149	20
Chinese and other Asian	414	403	11
Other/unrecorded	532	490	42
Total	39,870	38,370	1,500
¹Including fine defaulters.
²Provisional figures.

Volume 268: debated on Friday 8 December 1995

Written Answers To Questions

Environment

Environmental And Economic Policies

Pigeons

Dredging Licences

Public Car Parking Expenditure

Local Government Finance

Local Government Reorganisation Orders

Local Government Elections

Departmental Spending Programmes

Scotland

Forestry Commission

North Lanarkshire Council (Appointments)

Jobseeker's Allowance

Trade And Industry

Utility Industries (Mergers And Takeovers)

Treasury

Finance Bill

Self-Assessment

Government Debt

Coinage Changes

Overseas Development Administration

Montserrat

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Marketing

North Sea Dredging

Spanish-Owned Fishing Vessels

Ministerial Visits

Mobile Telephones

Wales

Statutory Instruments (Health Services)

Council Tax

Public Expenditure

Beaches

Ministerial Adviser

Departmental Press Notices

General Medical Practitioners

Ministerial Visits

Welsh Language

National Heritage

Provincial Theatres

Bbc Transmission Facilities

National Lottery

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Tibet

Eu Common Visa System

Burma

Council Of The European Union

Overseas Trade Promotion

Transport

Motoring Offences

Brunel Thames Tunnel

Unleaded Petrol

Coaches

Street Furniture

Health

Hepatitis C

Statutory Instruments

Gp Deputising Services

Nhs Executive Letters

Tobacco Advertising

Tiffield Secure Unit

Good Hope Hospital

Private Finance Initiative

Gp Distribution

Capital Expenditure

Hospitality

Defence

Mustard Gas

Theft

Surplus Munitions Material (Disposal)

Type 23 Frigate

New Weapons

Arcadia Land Plc

National Defence Industries Council

Civilian Employees, Scotland

Domestic Property Sales

Battlefield Identification Technology