To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been (a) the percentage change in real personal disposable income and (b) the index of real personal disposable income, taking 1966=100 in each year since 1966. [9319]

Information on real personal disposable income and the index of real personal disposable income, both based on 1990, is published annually in the CSO Blue Book and quarterly in the CSO press notice "Quarterly National Accounts" and is held on the CSO database. All sources are available in the Library of the House. The figures are given in the table—the 1990 based index has been re-referenced to 1966=100.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many households have. incomes (a) less than £5,000 a year, (b) £5,000 to £15,000 a year, (c) £15,000 to £20,000 a year, (d) £20,000 to £50,000 a year, (e) £50,000 to £100,000 a year and (f) more than £100,000 a year; and of each of these groups, how many and what percentage have incomes that are (i) wholly earned, (ii) wholly unearned and (iii) part earned and part unearned. [9324]

The figures are not available in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when section 164 of the Financial Services Act 1986 was brought into force. [10638]

Section 164 of the Financial Services Act 1986 has not been brought into force and was repealed when the Public Offers of Securities Regulations 1995 came into force on 19 June 1995. Regulation 10 of those regulations contains an equivalent provision to section 164.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the enforcement of penalties for (a) carrying on, and (b) purporting to carry on, investment business without authorisation or exemption, under section 4 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [10434]

Prosecutions for contraventions of section 3 of the Financial Services Act are brought before the courts where there is a realistic prospect of securing a conviction and the public interest is in favour of a prosecution. Enforcement of any penalty under section 4 of the Financial Services Act imposed by the court is a matter for the court concerned.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the penalties for (a) carrying on and (b) purporting to carry on, investment business without authorisation or exemption, under section 4 of the Financial Services Act 1986. [10435]

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what seizures of tortoises and tortoise products were made by Customs and Excise in 1995. [10153]

Statistics for Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species seizures made by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in 1995 are complete only for the first nine months to 30 September. In that period, there were two seizures of tortoise products imported in breach of CITES requirements together with 794 live specimens.The latter figure includes one large seizure of 674 specimens found in the possession of crewmen on board an east European vessel which called temporarily in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to provide that banks pay compensation to customers for the consequences of overcharging; and if he will make a statement. [9880]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: There are no plans to introduce such legislation. Arrangements already exist for customers' complaints to be pursued, either through banks' internal procedures or, where they are exhausted, by involving the banking ombudsman.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England with a view to making changes in the standard inclusion in banking contracts of repayment on demand; and if he will make a statement. [9881]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: No. The precise form that a particular loan takes is a commercial matter to be agreed between a borrower and his bank. Since 1992 there has been a shift in small business lending away from overdrafts, which are repayable on demand, and towards a greater proportion of fixed-term loans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consult the Governor of the Bank of England with a view to establishing guidelines to ensure protection coverage for hank customers in cases of (a) bank malpractice, (b) overcharging and (c) breach of contract; and if he will make a statement. [9882]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: The code of banking practice and the banking ombudsman scheme already provide guidance on these issues, and offer definitive and flexible methods of resolving disputes. Customers now have far more information than ever before about banking practices, fees and interest payments, and about what they should do if they wish to discuss, or complain about, the services they receive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will implement the recommendations of the Government's 1989 review of banking services to provide for (a) the power of a bank to withdraw any complaint which has wide ramifications or raises important legal issue from the banking ombudsman's jurisdiction to be exercised only with the concurrence of the ombudsman, (b) compulsory production by a bank of any relevant documents of information and (c) publication of information about a complaint if a customer consents; and if he will make a statement. [10232]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: Recommendations (a) and (b) are now reflected in the latest version of the banking ombudsman's terms of reference—paragraphs 20–22 and 5(b) respectively. The ombudsman does not publish details of customers' complaints but his annual report does quote figures on the types of complaints received by the ombudsman. The report also quotes examples of specific complaint, without revealing the identity of the complainant, to illustrate the circumstances of a particular case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to require banks to establish hank customer councils; and if he will make a statement. [10234]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: No. This is a matter for banks and their customers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to provide financial support or guarantees to Eurotunnel in respect of the re-financing of the channel tunnel. [10114]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: No.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what were United Kingdom relative export unit values at current rates of exchange (a) at the latest available date and (b) at the time of United Kingdom entry into the exchange rate mechanism. [9786]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply of 16 January 1996, Official Report, column 526 given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the same question.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research has been initiated by his Department into early decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10089]

My Department has not initiated any research into the early decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, my Department together with Nuclear Electric, is providing funding for the early decommissioning of the prototype advanced gas-cooled reactor at Windscale.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent research the Government have initiated into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations; and if he will make a statement. [10088]

The Government have not initiated any research into the use of robotics in the decommissioning of nuclear power stations. However, I am advised that in 1993–94 the nuclear installations inspectorate identified the use of telerobotics as a nuclear safety research issue that the nuclear licensees should address. As a result, Scottish Nuclear, on behalf of the licensees, undertook research on telerobotics safety-related control and protection.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to bring about a business link in East Lancashire. [10634]

The chairman of the business link national assessment panel had detailed discussions with the chairman of the East Lancashire training and enterprise council about its proposals for a business link in East Lancashire. Those proposals were considered by the assessment panel in December, which concluded that they needed to be developed further in conjunction with other partners.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the average number of clients held by personal business advisers in business links; and what is the largest and smallest number of clients. [10415]

Our latest information indicates that the average case load of a personal business adviser is around 40 clients. Most have between 21. and 50; none are known to have more than 100.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what proposals to grant additional funds to the United Kingdom under the European Union Resider and Rechar 1994–1997 programmes were discussed at the management committee meeting of member states in December 1995; and if he will make a statement. [10422]

The committee's agenda included a Commission proposal to allocate an additional 60 mecu to the United Kingdom for Resider, Rechar, Retex and Konver together, for 1998 and 1999. These are programmes of European structural funds grant for designated areas which have lost jobs in, respectively, steel, coal, textiles and defence.The UK asked for a larger allocation. Before a decision is taken, the committee will meet again; the European Parliament is also being consulted.I plan to make a statement after the allocations for these and certain other similar programmes have been settled.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list opencast deposits identified by British Coal on land in its ownership in north Wales; [10927](2) if he will list the landholdings of British Coal in north Wales which are subject to sale currently; if he will list those land holdings of British Coal in north Wales which will be considered for sale in the future; and if he will give the current land use of all of these land holdings. [10926]

These are matters for British Coal.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade for what reasons details of official gifts received by Ministers in his Department are not available before 1994–95, as indicated in his answer of 4 July, Official Report, column 146. [10178]

Information in respect of gifts received by Ministers before April 1994 is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his Department's letter of 12 September 1995, what progress has been reported to Her Majesty's Government by the United Kingdom systematics forum, on its identification of priorities for systematic biological research. [8411]

The United Kingdom systematics forum published its "Review of 1994–95" on 6 October 1995 and produced a preliminary report, "Priorities in Systematic Research and Training" in September last year.I am pleased to be able to announce today that the Office of Science and Technology will be providing a further three years' funding to the systematics forum from 1 April this year, amounting to a total of £86,000. Since it was established in 1994, the forum has done much to foster closer communications within the community it serves, This new commitment will enable it to focus on devising a national strategy on priorities for systematics research.OST will explore integration of the forum into an existing learned society during this new funding period so that the links built within the systematics community are maintained.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10969]

The running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative within my Department and its associated bodies since its introduction are as follows:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10970]

No money has yet been spent by my Department on external consultants in the tendering process for projects under the private finance initiative.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to act under the Financial Services Act 1986 in respect of Granada group's decision to understate publicly its intention for the disposal of the Meridien and Exclusive hotels of Forte plc. [9808]

[holding answer 16 January 1996]: Section 47 of the Financial Services Act 1986 provides that it is an offence for any person to seek to manipulate the market in or the price or value of any investments by issuing a statement, promise or forecast which he knows to he false or misleading. If the hon. Member has evidence of improper conduct, he should write to me.If the bid by Granada Group plc for Forte plc is successful, it is possible that any subsequent disposal or proposed disposal by Granada of assets acquired from Forte might be subject to examination under the merger control procedures of the Fair Trading Act 1973, depending on the nature of the particular disposal in question and of the acquirer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the spending by his Department on external advice in relation to the Scott inquiry; and how much has been spent on legal advice and for whom. [10223]

[holding answer 18 January 1996]: The amount so far spent by my Department on external advice in relation to Sir Richard Scott's inquiry is £293,870. The names of individuals and their legal advisers are confidential to them.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) how "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" was modified by the results of any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [8668](2) if "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" has been subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; and if he will publish the appraisal; [8666](3) what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead"; [8669](4) what alternative courses of action from those detailed in "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" were considered in any environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [8667]

The 1994 White Paper, "Competitiveness: Helping Business to Win" was the first comprehensive audit of the UK's competitive position. The 1995 White Paper, "Competitiveness: Forging Ahead" updated the analysis, and it will be reviewed and developed further in the competitiveness White Paper due to be published later this year.The White Papers have, analysed the main factors influencing competitiveness. They identified the primary responsibility of companies themselves to improve their competitive performance. They also outlined policies and initiatives across the whole of Government to help create the right framework and conditions to foster that improvement.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what representations his Department has received expressing concern over the proposed transfer of responsibility from the police to magistrates courts committees of the execution of warrants and the service of process; and how many of these have been received from members of police forces. [10985]

My Department has been in consultation with representative bodies within the magistrates courts community and other interested parties, including the Association of Chief Police Officers, over the proposed transfer of responsibilities, which has now been postponed with a view to its taking effect on 1 April 1997. In addition to these consultations, my Department has received correspondence on the subject of the transfer from individual justices chief executives and clerks to magistrates courts committees, justices clerks, local authorities, the chairman of an area criminal justice liaison committee and interested private firms. I have also received representations from Members of Parliament for the Kirklees area, including the hon. Lady. My Department has received one letter from the Metropolitan police expressing concern over the progress of the transfer of responsibility.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees, (ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10961]

All expenditure on external consultancy has been incurred in the current financial year. Expenditure to date is (i) legal fees—nil, (ii) publicity costs—nil, (iii) accountancy fees—nil, (iv) management consultancy fees—£108,464.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's department what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10962]

All expenditure was incurred in the current financial year. Expenditure to date is (i) staff costs—£153,000, (ii) information technology—£1,500, (iii) other costs £3,000.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what arrangements are in place to ensure that justice is done on the basis of accurate information in a court case where public interest immunity is claimed to suppress certain evidence; and if he will make a statement. [9498]

In each individual case, the authority for deciding claims relating to public interest immunity rests with the courts.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what guidance he intends to issue to (a) departments, (b) executive agencies, (c) non-departmental public bodies and (d) outside bodies and arms-length organisations which he has responsibility for, or an interest in, regarding the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995; and if he will make a statement. [9218]

I refer to the answer given by my right Hon. Friend, the Minister for Disabled People on 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 417. I will ensure that my Department and any bodies for which it is responsible will be made fully aware of their responsibilities under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will put on public display those gifts received by Ministers in his Department. [10161]

Gifts received by Ministers are not put on public display.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the population change in Gentoo and Magellanic penguins in the Falkland Islands over the last 10 years. [10160]

There is insufficient recorded material from which to draw detailed conclusions on the state of the penguin populations in the Falkland Islands.A recent survey of Gentoo penguins indicates that there are approximately 65,000 breeding pairs which suggest a decline of around 10 per cent. over the last 10 years.An accurate estimate of the population of Magellanic penguins is more difficult. Figures based on recent study plots suggest a very approximate total of 300,000 breeding pairs, which could show a decrease of up to 30 per cent. over the past five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong and Beijing. [8570]

[pursuant to his reply, 15 January 1996, column 410]: I regret that the last paragraphs of my answer of 15 January were inadvertently omitted. The full answer is as followsMy right hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary, visited Hong Kong and China from 6 to 11 January.In Hong Kong he met the governor, members of the Legislative and Executive Councils, senior Hong Kong Government and British officials and business and community figures. This gave him an invaluable opportunity to hear at first hand the views and concerns of the people of Hong Kong about their future.My right hon. and learned Friend was warmly received in Peking and held frank and constructive discussions with President Jiang Zemin, Premier Li Peng, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, and the Director of the State Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office, Lu Ping. My right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary's discussions gave him an opportunity to describe to Chinese leaders the mood in Hong Kong and to discuss with them ways of maintaining confidence there. We made substantial progress on several specific issues. The Chinese assured my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary of their commitment to a successful transition and to the preservation of a high degree of autonomy for Hong Kong after 30 June 1997.We also agreed to develop further our bilateral links in all areas: political, economic and commercial. As part of this dialogue my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary registered our concerns over reports of human rights abuses and urged china to address these issues quickly and openly.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what role the woodland improvement grant will play in encouraging coppicing for the purpose of reducing the decline in the numbers of woodland butterflies and moths. [9322]

The first projects eligible for the woodland improvement grant are those which encourage informal public recreation in woodlands. Further projects, which may include coppicing to enhance the nature conservation value of woodlands, will be considered in due course.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the progress of the treaty on straddling fish stocks; and highly migratory fish stocks; and what action has been taken to place limits on catches of (a) tuna and (b) swordfish which migrate through international waters and stocks of (i) flounder, (ii) halibut and (iii) other fish which straddle the territorial waters of different countries. [8246]

The United Nations agreement for the implementation of the provisions of the United Nations convention on the law of the sea of 10 December 1982 relating to the conservation and management of straddling fish stocks and highly migratory fish stocks was adopted by the conference on 4 August 1995. It opened for signature on 4 December 1995 and was signed on that date by 25 states, including the United Kingdom in respect of certain dependent territories. The EC and its member states have not yet completed the required internal procedures for signature.Much of the content of the agreement has to do with the establishment of regional fisheries organisations and their activities. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, which the United Kingdom joined on 14 November 1995, adopted at its 1995 meeting further measures to limit the catches of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic and to allocate percentage national shares for the catch of north Atlantic swordfish. The North-West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation has adopted for 1996 a zero catch limit for yellowtail flounder and a total allowable catch of 27,000 tonnes for Greenland halibut on the Grand banks.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will list the latest estimate of farm income for (a) each standard region, (b) for England and (c) for the United Kingdom, together with the equivalent figures for the previous three years in constant prices, indicating the yearly percentage change and the cumulative percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement; [9019](2) if he will list the latest estimate of farm income together with the equivalent figures for the previous three years in constant prices, indicating the yearly percentage change and cumulative percentage change in each case; and if he will make a statement. [9020]

The latest available estimates of total income from farming, covering years from 1990, for the United Kingdom, the four countries and each standard statistical region within England are as follows. The figures are presented in real terms, first in £m at 1990 prices and then as indices—1990=100. The latter set thus show cumulative percentage changes from 1990 and both allow easy calculation of annual changes. The figures have been derived from those shown in table 6.5 of "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1994" and tables 5.2 and 5.3 of issues of "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom".A provisional estimate of total income from farming in 1995 for the United Kingdom will be issued by press release on 31 January and corresponding country data will be issued by the other agricultural departments. "Agriculture in the United Kingdom 1995" and "Farm Incomes in the United Kingdom

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to permit the importation of breeding cattle from North America through the port of Avonmouth. [9855]

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: The port of Avonmouth has applied for approval as a border inspection post—BIP—to handle imports of cattle from third countries including north America. EC inspectors have recently visited the port in order to assess its suitability as a BIP and their report is awaited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the percentage of patients dying while on the waiting list for bypass surgery, (a) nationally and (b) by region. [10748]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the then Minister for Health (Dr. Mawhinney) gave the hon. Member for Bristol, South (Ms Primarolo) on 19 May 1994, Official Report, column 557.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list all the helplines, or schemes which include a helpline service, for which his Department provides any funding, stating which are (a) independent organisations, (b) run by his Department or agencies of his Department of (c) of another classification; how many calls each received in each of the last five years; and how much money each received from his Department in each of the last five years. [9800]

Information on the eight main information lines and one run by the Medicines Control Agency is listed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the availability of his Department's form AG1. [9907]

Supplies of form AG1 are available from Her Majesty's Stationary Office in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration he has given to making MRSA a notifiable disease; what representations he has received, and from whom, on this matter: what assessment he has made of the effect of the non-notifiability of MRSA on its recorded incidence; and if he will make a statement. [10269]

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the advantages of making MRSA a notifiable disease. [10594]

No representations that methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus—MRSA—should be made a notifiable disease have been received in recent years.The statutory notification system requires doctors who are directly responsible for patient care—not laboratories—to notify diagnosed and suspected cases who are suffering from certain diseases. About 80 per cent. of people who acquire MRSA. do not develop any infection and are not therefore suffering from a disease. When MRSA infection does occur, it can take the form of many different diseases, ranging from trivial skin infections to pneumonia or septicaemia, all of which are more commonly due to other causes. MRSA infection cannot be diagnosed clinically but only by laboratory tests. Notification of clinically suspected cases of all these diseases would be wholly impracticable. Appropriate control measures are taken in hospitals when MRSA is identified—such control action is not dependent on whether or not MRSA is notifiable.Current data on the incidence of MRSA are compiled by the central public health laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Service. The PHLS believes that its data on the incidence of MRSA are among the most complete of any country in the world.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to social services departments on the treatment of patients with MRSA discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement. [10268]

The Department held a seminar in December 1995 on methicillin—resistant staphylococcus aureus in the community which was attended by representatives from social services departments: a further seminar is being planned. The Department intends to issue guidance shortly to social services departments about MRSA and to provide them with leaflets, which are currently being prepared, for distribution to nursing and residential homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's annual expenditure on (a) research into MRSA and (b) developing new antibiotics. [10598]

The Department of Health is currently funding, through the regional research and development programme, two research projects totalling £46,000 per year into the detection and prevalence of methicillin—resistant staphylococcus aureus. It is also spending £2 million on studies on the surveillance and costs of hospital acquired infection including MRSA infections. The regional research and development programme includes many projects which involve antibiotics. Of these, two, totalling about £300,000 per year, are on research into antibiotics. There are also eight RHA-funded research projects relating to antibiotics totalling about £210,000 per year.About 20 per cent. of the NHS drugs bill goes into research and development of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry and the industry in the United Kingdom is currently spending in excess of £1.5 billion. This includes research into antibiotics, some of which are intended specifically for use against MRSA.The Public Health Laboratory Service is conducting research into the genetics of MRSA and into the behaviour and virulence of different strains of MRSA, and is also co-operating with the pharmaceutical industry on testing new antibiotics.The MRC, which receives its grant-in-aid from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, is funding a research project costing £538,000 over five years into staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the severity of the problem of MRSA in (a) Britain and (b) France, Germany, Italy and the United States of America. [10596]

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus was a considerable problem in British hospitals in the mid-1980s, then receded, but has increased again in the last two to three years. Data on incidents of MRSA are compiled by the central public health laboratory of the Public Health Laboratory Services—PHLS, which defines an incident as three or more patients with the same strain of the organism. About 80 per cent. of patients with MRSA are only carrying the organism and have no infection from it. In 1994, the PHLS recorded 1,081 incidents of MRSA and in the first six months of 1995 there were 750 incidents. Most of these incidents were short lived.Whilst it is clear from papers published in the medical literature that the other countries have problems with MRSA in some hospitals, the Department is not aware of any central collation of data on MRSA in any of these countries and we are unable to assess the severity of the problem there.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement outlining the department's policy on controlling the spread of MRSA. [10597]

The Department's policy on the control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus in hospitals is contained in guidance published jointly by the Hospital Infection Society and the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, circulated to the NHS in September 1994 under cover of EL(94)74 entitled "Improving the Effectiveness of the NHS".The Department also published guidance on the control of infection in hospitals in March 1995 under cover of HSG(95)10 "Hospital Infection Control". This includes new advice on the surveillance of MRSA. Copies of both documents are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what are his Department's guidelines to health authorities or NHS hospital trusts on the number of fully medically supported intensive care beds to be available at any one time. [10320]

It is for health authorities and national health service trusts to determine the level of intensive care provision that is needed by their local populations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the response from health authorities to his letter sent in August 1995 requesting information on the state of mental health services in each health authority; [10738](2) if he will list the number of health authorities

An announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the reduction in the management costs of the North Mersey community health trust will be redeployed into the trust's clinical services. [10712]

This is a matter for North Mersey community national health service trust to decide. The hon. Member may wish to approach Mr. R. James, chairman of the trust, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) in the year 1994–95, how many NHS prescriptions were dispensed for prescription-only medicines at the relevant standard charge which could have been purchased on private prescription at less than the relevant standard charge; [8620](2) in the year 1994–95, how many prescriptions were dispensed at the relevant standard charge. [8621]

When an item is dispensed privately, the pharmacist may add a private dispensing fee to the cost of the medicine. The amount of that fee is at the pharmacist's discretion. It is not therefore possible to calculate the number of prescription items which would, if purchased as private prescriptions, cost less than the NHS prescription charge.In England in 1994–95, it is estimated that 50.7 million prescription items were charged at the point of dispensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the effectiveness of the Quitline programme in combating teenage smoking. [9021]

The Quitline telephone helpline which provides advice on smoking cessation for all age groups was launched as a Freefone number on 7 November 1995. The performance of the service in its first year is being carefully evaluated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in 1995 had to be transferred to other hospitals because they could not be treated at their local hospital; and if he will indicate the trust to which these belonged; how many of these transfers arose from (a) a lack of beds and (b) a lack of suitable staff; how many of the patients died; and if he will make a statement. [10464]

The information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of benzodiazepines was prescribed via community pharmacists in England and Wales in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9886]

The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the figures for disbursements by the Prescription Pricing Authority in England for each year since 1990 in respect of payments for drugs to dispensing doctors and drugs supplied by prescribing doctors in terms of (a) net ingredient cost, (b) discounted cost, (c) VAT, (d) container allowance, (e) dispensing fee, (f) on cost and (g) in total; and if he will make a statement. [9888]

Information on the actual payments, made direct by family health services authorities to doctors in England is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will place in the Library copies of the guidance notes, office notes and other relevant documents which relate to his efforts in (a) removing gold plating from existing domestic regulation and (b) ensuring new European directives are not gold plated; [10054](2) what new systems he has put in place to ensure that European directives are not gold plated in domestic regulations. [10066]

My Department's policy is not to gold plate European Community directives by the addition of unnecessary. burdens when implementing them in the United Kingdom. We keep existing legislation under review in the light of this policy. Official guidance on gold plating is currently being reviewed in consultation with other Government Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is undertaken by his Department (a) directly and (b) indirectly by financing research elsewhere into combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; and if he will indicate for (b) the organisations involved and the total funding provided. [10538]

No such research is being undertaken by the Department of Health. The main agency through which the Government supports biomedical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council which receives its grant-in-aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what provision is made by his Department for the treatment of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder; [10536](2) what provision is made by his Department for respite care for sufferers of combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10539]

It is the responsibility of health authorities to assess the needs of their population and to secure, through contracting, services to meet those needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of ex-service (a) men and (b) women suffering from combat-induced post traumatic stress disorder. [10537]

No such estimate has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many courses of antibiotics were administered in Britain in 1970, 1980 and in each year from 1990 to 1995. [10595]

The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Scotland and Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many emergency referrals by general practitioners at Treliske hospital, Cornwall, the hospital was unable to admit on the weekend of 6 and 7 January. [10462]

This information is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact John Williams, chairman of Royal Cornwall Hospitals national health service trust for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to issue further regulations in respect of the crowning and capping of teeth on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [10707]

I announced proposals for the reform of the general dental service on 5 April 1995, Official Report, columns 1214–15. One of the measures proposed was the introduction of more rigorous prior approval procedures to ensure that the general dental service provides only those treatments which are clinically essential and for which there are no clinically acceptable, less costly, alternatives. We will implement the reforms in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what submissions were made to the Under-Secretary at his meeting on 17 January with representatives of the Manchester Health Commission and the city's community health councils; what response he gave; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [10997]

Representatives of Manchester health authority and the three Manchester community health councils gave a verbal account of the problems affecting health services in the city, supporting their case with written evidence. I listened sympathetically to their views and undertook to consider any potential solutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what have been the running costs relating to the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) staff costs, (ii) information technology and (iii) other costs. [10954]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 15 January at column 337. Tenderers bear their own costs. Further information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on external consultants in the tendering process of the private finance initiative in each year since its introduction (a) in real terms and (b) in cash terms disaggregated by (i) legal fees,(ii) publicity costs, (iii) accountancy fees and (iv) management consultancy fees. [10953]

The information requested is not available centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. McAllion) on 9 January at column 71.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total number and percentage of the population of (a) men aged 65 years and over and (b) women aged 60 years and over in each of the past five years; and what are the expected figures in each of the next 20 years. [11095]

The latest available information is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions in total have now been performed in England and Wales under the provisions of the Abortion Act 1967; how many and what percentage of that total were performed in an emergency to save the life of the mother; and if he will give a breakdown by region of that total and the relevant figures and percentages. [6796]

[holding answer 18 December 1995]: The total number of abortions carried out under the Abortion Act in England and Wales on residents and non-residents from 1968 to 1994¹ was 4,054,340. During this period 140 abortions were performed in an emergency, certified by the operating practitioner as immediately necessary, so as to save the life of the woman. A breakdown by region of the total and the relevant figures and percentages, excluding data for 1968 and 1969, is in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning annually resulting in death and injury are the result of a work-related incident. [9709]

I have been asked to reply. Statistics on incidents of carbon monoxide-CO-poisoning resulting from work-related incidents are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many (a) fatal, (b) serious and (c) minor injuries were suffered by (i) passengers and (ii) employees of London Underground in each of the last 10 years. [8111]

The information, which has been provided by London Underground Ltd. on the basis of accidents reported by them to HM railway inspectorate, is set out in the following tables. Figures are not available for 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what are the costs per day of security staff and other security measures employed at the Newbury bypass site; [9345](2) what estimate he has made of the likely delay caused by action directed to prevent the building of the Newbury bypass; [9346](3) if Her Majesty's Government will now carry out a new cost benefit analysis of the Newbury bypass. [9344]

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 16 January, Official Report, columns 500–01, on what date compensation was first paid under the Newbury bypass compulsory purchase order; how much compensation has been paid to date; what negotiations with landowners are expected to be concluded; and what is the estimated total amount of compensation to be paid under the order. [10650]

[holding answer 19 January 1996]: I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to carry out a new cost-benefit analysis of the Newbury bypass to take account of increases in the costs of the road; [10439](2) what were the total security and legal costs that resulted from protests against the building of the M 11 through residential areas; [10433](3) what assessment he has made of the effect of the additional security costs at the Newbury bypass site on the cost-benefit analysis calculations prepared for the road scheme; [10440](4) what were the total security and legal costs that resulted from protests against the building of the motorway through Twyford down. [10432]

I have asked the chief executive of the Highways Agency to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the Highways Agency to have completed its computerised road repair database. [9334]

The Highways Agency operates a number of computerised databases which contain information on road repairs. Further improvements to these systems are being developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve safety measures on double-decker school buses. [9896]

None.