Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Friday 26 January 1996

Lord Chancellor's Department

Juvenile Offenders

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average cost of a case in the juvenile court from first hearing to completion. [10867]

The unit cost for court time for criminal cases in the youth court is estimated to be £140 in 1995–96, or £180 where an application for legal aid is made. These unit costs are average costs, and cover both trials and guilty pleas. These figures are based on the total revenue provision for the magistrates' courts, including local authorities' 20 per cent. contribution, and case load figures and weightings derived from the management information system for magistrates courts which are currently being reviewed. They do not take into account capital costs.For defence costs paid through legal aid, it is not possible to identify separately the costs of proceedings in the youth court from all criminal cases dealt with in the magistrates courts. Most cases are remunerated under the standard fee scheme, and the level of the fee will depend on the nature and complexity of the proceedings. The average cost of a magistrates courts criminal bill in 1995–96 is £460.

Queen's Counsel

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what number and percentage of the English Bar are Queen's Counsel. [10869]

At 1 October 1995, there were 891 Queen's Counsel in practice at the English Bar. This comprises 10.48 per cent. of all barristers in private practice.

Capital Building Programme

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department, if he will list each law court's capital buildings programme, costing more than £1 million completed in each of the years 1979–80 to 1992–93 by or on behalf of his Department, or local magistrates' committees, together with the cost expressed in 1995–96 prices. [10861]

A schedule of all Crown, combined court and county court schemes is at annex A. The readily available information on magistrates court schemes is at annex B. The Department does not hold detailed records of all magistrates court schemes completed prior to 1992, when responsibility transferred from the Home Office.

Annex A: Crown County and combined court building projects
£million
Title of scheme	Type of court	Works cost cash	Works cost 1995–96 prices
1979–80		0	0
1980–81
Wood Green 1 CRASH	Crown	1.25	2.71
Leicester	Crown	4.42	9.59
Romford	County	1.03	2.23
Nottingham 1	Crown	2.23	4.83
Birmingham Newton Street	County	1.10	2.38
Snaresbrook	Crown	2.78	6.03
Total		12.80	27.77
1981–82
Burnley	Crown	1.50	2.97
Kings Lyn	Crown	1.12	2.21
Bolton	Comb	4.00	7.91
Total		6.61	13.09
1982–83
Portsmouth	Comb	7.00	12.93
Chelmsford	Crown	5.61	10.36
Leeds	Comb	9.68	17.88
Southwark	Crown	12.60	23.27
Total		34.89	64.43
1983–84
RCJ Crypt	High	2.47	4.35
Maidstone	Comb	10.20	18.00
Total		12.67	22.36
1984–85
Liverpool	Comb	43.44	73.03
Snaresbrook Rebuild (Fire)	Crown	1.40	2.35
Total		44.84	75.38
1985–86
Oxford	Comb	5.17	8.23
Swindon	Comb	2.36	3.76
Salisbury	Crown	1.18	1.88
Total		8.71	13.87
1986–87
Isleworth D. O. G. House	Crown	4.43	6.86
Milton Keynes	County	1.17	1.81
Guildford	Crown	4.70	7.27
Manchester Wood St.
Phase 1	Crown	10.13	15.67
Peterborough	Comb	3.96	6.12
Southampton	Comb	7.08	10.95
Total		31.46	48.67
1987–88
Birmingham	Crown	8.87	13.03
Newcastle Moot Hall	Crown	1.68	2.46
Nottingham 2 and 3	Crown	6.18	9.08
Norwich	Comb	7.02	10.31
Swansea	Crown	5.15	7.57
Total		28.90	42.45
1988–89
Lambeth	County	1.14	1.57
Coventry	Comb	5.25	7.23
Telford	County	1.05	1.45
Snaresbrook CRASH	Crown	2.50	3.44
St. Dunstans House	High	1.67	2.30

Annex A: Crown County and combined court building projects
£million
Title of scheme	Type of court	Works cost cash	Works cost 1995–96 prices
Truro	Comb	4.93	6.79
Middlesex Guildhall	Crown	6.9	9.49
Grimsby	Comb	4.84	6.66
Derby	Comb	7.4	10.18
Croydon	Comb	15.13	20.82
Total		50.82	69.93
1989–90
Doncaster	Crown	3.42	4.41
RCJ 12 additional	HC	11.36	14.62
Manchester Cr Sq/Wd St
2/3	Comb	4.97	6.39
Taunton	Crown	2.79	3.59
Wood Green Ph2	Crown	15.26	19.64
Total		37.8	48.65
1990–91
Wolverhampton	Comb	9.17	10.92
RCJ Thomas More	High	2.54	3.03
Newcastle Quayside	Comb	17.13	20.41
Total	Comb	28.84	34.35
1991–92
Northampton	Comb	11.49	12.88
Teesside	Comb	15.09	16.92
Hull	Co-loc	11.28	12.64
Stoke	Crown	9.5	10.65
Stafford	Comb	10.35	11.60
Harrow	Crown	17.61	19.74
Lincoln	County	2.31	2.59
Luton	Crown	9.96	11.17
Warrington	Comb	7.48	8.38
Newport	Comn	10.90	12.22
Total		105.96	118.79
1992–93
Carlisle	Comb	9.29	10.01
St. Albans	Crown	16.34	17.60
13–14 Park Crescent	Offices	1.62	1.75
Bradford	Comb	18.85	20.30
Chester	Crown	6.55	7.05
Borough	Crown	19.06	20.53
Dartford	County	2.16	2.33
Total		73.87	79.56
Grand Total		478.16	659.28

Annex B: Magistrates' court building projects
£million
Scheme	Actual cost	Cost at 1995–96 prices
1981–82
Lancaster	1.925	3.810
1987–88
Merton	3.196	4.695
Lewes	2.394	3.517
1988–89
Lowestoft	2.099	2.888
Brighton	2.289	3.150
Port Talbot	1.415	1.947
Stockport	4.630	6.371
Bath	2.098	2.887
Dewsbury	2.394	3.294

Annex B: Magistrates' court building projects
£ million
Scheme	Actual cost	Cost at 1995–96 prices
1989–90
Brent	7.782	10.015
Cardiff	7.401	9.525
Hertford	4.0	5.148
Oldbury	2.795	3.597
Woking	2.66	3.423
Thames	5.086	6.546
1990–91
Bootle	2.935	3.496
Bury	3.541	4.110
Chester	3.7	4.407
Basildon	2.7	3.216
Great Yarmouth	3.167	3.772
Harrogate	2.351	2.662
Lincoln	4.113	4.899
Milton Keynes	4.587	5.463
Newton Aycliffe	1.657	1.973
Wigan	5.077	6.047
City of London	3.99	4.752
1991–92
Haywards Heath	2.576	2.888
Kendal	1.552	1.740
Wimbledon	3.196	3.583
Leicester	7.432	8.331
1992–93
Bedlington	2.848	3.067
Woolwich	3.294	3.548
Newport (IOW)	3.406	3.668
Taunton	2.503	2.696

Northern Ireland

Fireworks

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has for changing the law on fireworks. [12486]

The control of fireworks in Northern Ireland is governed by the Explosives Act 1875 as amended, the Explosives Acts (Northern Ireland) 1924 and 1970, together with the Explosives (Control of Fireworks) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1970. Fireworks in the Province also come under the scope of consumer safety legislation.The 1970 regulations were, introduced in special circumstances 25 years ago, and have remained unchanged since then. They were introduced primarily because of the security situation and the real fear that the setting-off of fireworks, particularly so-called "hangers" by young people, could be misinterpreted by security force patrols as terrorist action with potentially serious consequences for the innocent participants. There was also concern at that time about the rising number of accidents and injuries caused by fireworks. There seems little doubt that the present regulations have contributed to the low level of injuries from fireworks in Northern Ireland.

However, the present system is inherently bureaucratic and costly because it requires any person who wishes to purchase or use fireworks—with two minor exceptions—to obtain a licence from the Secretary of State. Failure to obtain such a licence is an offence. The present arrangements therefore consume an inordinate amount of police and administrative resources. This situation contrasts sharply with the legal position in the rest of the United Kingdom.

I am aware that there have been criticisms levelled at the present law, to the effect that it was inadequate and should be strengthened. Paradoxically, I have also heard claims that the present legal controls are disproportionate and unnecessary and should therefore be repealed. Whatever the law on fireworks should be, it is clearly essential that it should allow for the efficient use of public resources; pay due regard to public safety yet be no more restrictive than absolutely necessary, and be capable of being effectively applied and not open to abuse.

In the light of all these factors, I asked my officials in late 1994 to undertake a thorough, painstaking review of the law on fireworks, to see whether it was still relevant and effective in today's circumstances and to consider ways in which it might be changed. The proposals, which I am releasing today for wider public consultation, are the outcome of that review. Copies of the consultation paper have been placed in the Library of the House. As the paper points out, before I make any final decisions about what changes are required, I should like to hear from those individuals, organisations and agencies which have an interest in the manufacture, retail sale, safety and use of fireworks in Northern Ireland. To that end, I am writing today to Northern Ireland hon. Members and my officials are similarly writing to the political parties, and other interested groups inviting comment and proposals on what changes to the law they would like to see.

My intention would be to introduce the necessary amending legislation during 1996.

Duchy Of Lancaster

Charter Marks (Police Authorities)

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what account he takes of the variation in the opening hours of police stations or their closure contrary to local police wish when considering the award of a charter mark to a police authority. [10868]

Charter mark is an award for organisations that provide an excellent service to the public. Police forces may apply for a charter mark if they consider that they meet the criteria. User satisfaction and consultation and choice form two of the criteria that applicants have to meet.

Deregulation Advisory Committee

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the members of the Deregulation Advisory Committee stating, for each member, the firm they are employed by; and how many people that firm employs. [11942]

There are 16 members of the deregulation task force, which is chaired by the right hon. Francis Maude of Morgan Stanley and Co Ltd.The other members are:

David Band (Barclays de Zoete Wedd); David Campbell (Laporte Fine Organics Ltd); Maurice Denyer (Fowler Bros (Cowfold) Ltd); Michael Fallon (Quality Care Homes plc); Mike Fisher (Whale Tankers Ltd); George Goring (The Goring hotel); Teresa Graham (Baker Tilly); Janet Morgan (Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts); Archie Norman (Asda Group plc); Timothy Parker (C&J Clark Ltd); David Parry (formerly BP); Tony Rammelt (Regis Europe Ltd); Roger Singleton (Barnardo's); Dan Wright (Albion Automotive Ltd); and Peter Wyman (Coopers and Lybrand).

Figures detailing the number of people employed by each of the firms mentioned are not readily available. However, members have been drawn from a wide range of firms which vary greatly in size, as well as from the charitable sector.

Environment

Housing (Backlogs)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the backlog of unmet housing need; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement. [10515]

The Department does not produce estimates of backlog of unmet housing need. It does, however, monitor a range of indicators of housing stress. These show housing stress has been falling. The Department has provided the Environment Select Committee with a note on this as part of the Committee's inquiry into housing need, and I have today placed a copy of this note in the Library.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the authorities that have made oral representations to Ministers as part of the consultation on his proposals for local government finance for 1996–97, showing in each case the Minister seen by the authority, the duration of the meeting and the main topics raised. [11992]

The table lists authorities which made oral representations to me and other Ministers in my Department on the proposed local government finance settlement for England for 1996–97. The main topics raised in the meetings are listed on the table. No note was made of the duration of meetings but I and other Ministers have sought to make time available for the fullest consultation.

1996–97 Settlement meetings with local authorities
	Minister	Main topics
County councils
Berkshire	Sir Paul	Flood, defence, Fire SSA,
	Beresford	Landfill tax, reserves.
Buckinghamshire	Robert B. Jones	Education, social services,
		council taxes, area cost.
Derbyshire	Robert B. Jones	Education, landfill tax,
		reorganisation costs,
		capping, voluntary sector.

1996–97 Settlement meetings with local authorities
	Minister	Main topics
Devon	David Curry	Education, reserves, fire
		SSA, landfill tax, social
		services, capping.
Hampshire	Robert B. Jones	Capping, landfill tax, social
		services, fire SSA,
		reorganisation costs, area
		cost.
Hereford and	David Curry	Capping, area cost, fire
Worcestershire		SSA, social services,
		education.
Nottinghamshire	David Curry	Teachers' pay, area cost,
		landfill tax, pensions, road
		accidents, capital
		allocations.
Lancashire	David Curry	Area cost, deprivation,
		community care, capital
		financing, education,
		landfill tax.
Oxfordshire	David Curry	Education, social services,
		landfill tax, capping, staff
		redundancies.
Somerset	David Curry	Education, reserves, social
		services, benefits, area cost.
Warwickshire	David Curry	Education, capping.
West Sussex	David Curry	Landfill tax, pensions,
		additional educational
		needs, area cost.
Shire districts
Berwick	Sir Paul	Visitors, concurrent
(Northunberland)	Beresford	services, capital financing,
		rent allowances, sparsity.
Blaby	Sir Paul	SSA, council taxes.
(Leicestershire)	Beresford
Braintree (Essex)	Sir Paul	Population data, interest
	Beresford	receipts, rent allowances,
		concurrent services.
Castle Morpeth	Sir Paul	Capping, sparsity,
(Northumberland)	Beresford	concurrent services, capital
		financing, interest receipts,
		rent allowances.
Castle Point	Sir Paul	SSA methodology, council
(Essex)	Beresford	tax benefit, efficiency
		savings, pension costs,
		capping.
Derwentside	Sir Paul	Deprivation, population,
(Durham)	Beresford	density, capital financing,
		capping, reserves.
Harlow (Essex)	Sir Paul	Population data, SSA
	Beresford	methodology, new town
		issues, capping,
		non-domestic rates.
Havant	Sir Paul	SSA, rent allowance data.
(Hampshire)	Beresford
Horsham (West	Sir Paul	Population data, reserves,
Sussex)	Beresford	efficiency savings, capping.
King's Lynn	Sir Paul	Reserves, efficiency,
(Norfolk)	Beresford	sparsity.
Milton Keynes	Sir Paul	Population data, CCT,
(Buckinghamshire)	Beresford	capital financing,
		reorganisation, open spaces.
Newcastle	James Clappison	Social and economic
(Staffordshire)		conditions, scaling factor,
		concurrent services.
Northampton	Sir Paul	Overnight visitors,
	Beresford	concurrent services,
		recycling, capital financing,
		fixed plant leases.
North Kesteven	Sir Paul	Council taxes, rent
(Lincolnshire)	Beresford	allowances, RAF
		Poplation, single
		regeneration budget.

1996–97 Settlement meetings with local authorities
	Minister	Main topics
North	Sir Paul	SSA, concurrent services,
Warwickshire	Beresford	capital financing, social
		deprivation.
Nottingham	Sir Paul	SSA, day visitors,
	Beresford	economic index, area cost,
		reorganisation.
Plymouth	Sir Paul	Population, concurrent
(Devon)	Beresford	services, reorganisation,
		capital.
Purbeck (Dorset)	Sir Paul	Council taxes, capital
	Beresford	financing, flood relief.
Salisbury	Sir Paul	New burdens, council taxes,
(Wiltshire)	Beresford	SSA methodology, rent
		allowances.
South	James Clappison	Council taxes, capping,
Bedfordshire		reserves.
South Lakeland	David Curry	Council taxes, sparsity, day
(Cumbria)		visitors, housing, national
		parks, area cost.
Three Rivers	David Curry	Discretionary spending,
(Hertfordshire)		council taxes, capital
		allocations, staff costs.
Uttlesford	Sir Paul	Rent allowances, concurrent
(Essex)	Beresford	services, precepts, sparsity,
		reserves, Rural White
		Paper.
Wansbeck	Sir Paul	Capping, social deprivation,
(Northumbria)	Beresford	capital financing, sparsity,
		concurrent services.
Watford	Sir Paul	Day visitors, area cost,
(Hertfordshire)	Beresford	concurrent services, retail
		growth.
Wear Valley	Sir Paul	Social and economic
(Durham)	Beresford	conditions, reserves,
		pensions, council taxes.
Welwyn Hatfield	Sir Paul	Council taxes, efficiency
(Hertfordshire)	Beresford	savings, capital allocation,
		population data.
West Devon	David Curry	Sparsity, day visitors,
(sparsely		population data.
populated district
councils
Metropolitan
districts
Birmingham	Secretary of	Boundary change, data,
	State	education, commutation,
		housing subsidy.
Bradford	David Curry	Rent allowances, edcation,
		area cost, interest receipts,
		s. 11, capital
Core Cities	David Curry	Children's SSA, social
		index, area cost, nursery
		vouchers, education, capital
		financing.
Doncaster	Robert. B. Jones	Capping, other services
		SSA, capital financing,
		Met. rail grant.
Kirklees	David Curry	Area cost, education,
		highways, rent allowances,
		capital financing, Met. Rail
		grant.
Liverpool	Robert B. Jones	Council taxes, HRA
		subsidy, social index, social
		services, education, capital,
		area cost, Met. rail grant.
Rochdale	Robert B. Jones	Education. social services,
		landfill tax, capital.
Rotherham	James Clappison	Capping, inflation
		severance costs, PTA levy,
		Supertram, capital, social
		index.

1996–97 Settlement meetings with local authorities
	Minister	Main topics
St. Helens	James Clappison	HRA subsidy,
		superannuation, capital
		financing, landfill tax,
		waste disposal, Met. Rail
		grant.
Sheffield	David Curry	Highways, capping, capital
		financing, waste disposal,
		capital pension and
		severance costs.
Solihull	Sir Paul	Area cost, education, social
	Beresford	services, levies, highways.
South Yorkshire	David Curry	Sheffield Supertram.
Districts
Stockport	James Clappison	Waste disposal and
		passenger transport levies.
Wigan	David Curry	Area cost. Landfill tax,
		receipts, supperannuation,
		non-domestiv rate relief.
London boroughs
Brent	Sir Paul	SSA reduction grant, waste
	Beresford	authority, education, asylum
		seekers, sparsity, area cost,
		capital financing.
Bexley and	Secretary of	Social services.
Havering	State
Camden	Sir Paul	Education, damping,
	Beresford	asylum seekers, receipts,
		capital financing.
Enfield	Sir Paul	Education, social services,
	Beresford	other services,
		non-domestic rates.
Greenwich	Sir Paul	Education data, transitional
	Beresford	relief, area cost, density,
		children's social services.
Hackney	Sir Paul	SSA reduction grant, social
	Beresford	services, independent
		schools, refugees.
Hillingdon	Sir Paul	Homelessness, refugees,
	Beresford	special educational needs.
Kensington and	David Curry	Unaccompanied refugee
Chelsea		children.
Kingston	Sir Paul	Area cost, rent allowances,
	Beresford	social services, education,
		landfill tax.
Lambeth	Sir Paul	SSA reducation grant,
	Beresford	education.
Merton	Sir Paul	Area cost, capital financing,
	Beresford	concessionary fares, social
		services.
Newham	Sir Paul	Area cost, capital financing,
	Beresford	homelessness, social,
		services, refugees.
Richmond	Sir Paul	Education, waste disposal,
	Beresford	council taxes.
Southwark	Sir Paul	Area cost, transitional
	Beresford	relief, education data.
Westminster	James Clappison	Education, refugees, counci
	James Clappison	taxes, area cost.
Fire authorities
Cleveland	James Clappison	Chemical works,
		reorganisation, Fire SSA,
		capping.
London	David Curry	Pay and pension costs,
		capital, staffing, capping.
Mersyside	Sir Paul	Pensions, capping,
	Beresford	population.
South Yorkshire	Sir Paul	Reserves, pensions,
	Beresford	capping.
Tyne and Wear	Sir Paul	Capping, staffing, pensions,
	Beresford	reserves.
West Midlands	David Curry	Staffing, safety promotion,
		pensions.

1996–97 Settlement meetings with local authorities
	Minister	Main topics
Unitary
authorities
Avon unitaries	David Curry	Reorganisation costs,
		capping, area cost.
East Riding	Robert B. Jones	Reserves, education, social
Yorkshire		services, transitional costs.
Isle of Wight	Sir Paul	Area cost, fire, community
	Beresford	care, education, waste
		disposal.
Middlesbrough	Robert B. Jones	Capping, transitional costs.
North	Sir Paul	Reserves, transitional costs,
Lincolnshire	Beresford	social and economic
		conditions.
North East	Sir Paul	Reserves, inherited
Lincolnshire	Beresford	expenditure, capping,
		transitional costs.
Redcar and	Sir Paul	Council taxes, reserves,
Cleveland	Beresford	capping.
South	David Curry	Disaggregation, community
Gloucestershire		care, education, transitional
		costs.
Local Authority
Associations
Consultative	Secretary of	Pensions, capital, level of
Council on Local	State	settlement, pay, social
Glovernment	David Curry	services, landfill tax,
Finance		council taxes, refugees,
		district services, capping,
		education, area cost.
		Total: 84 meetings

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will public (a) the current cost of providing housing to asylum seekers broken down by type of landlord, numbers of people and by regional location and (b) any guidance or procedures issued which are currently in force on the housing of asylum seekers. [12107]

Information about the cost of housing asylum seekers is not held centrally. Guidance on dealing with homelessness applications from asylum seekers is included in the "Homelessness Code of Guidance for Local Authorities" (revised third edition), a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House on publication in December 1994.

Water Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the date of infringement, (b) the date of prosecution, (c) the nature of the offence with special reference to pollution, water abstraction and water quality infringements and (d) any resultant convictions, for each prosecution against a water company by (i) the drinking water inspectorate and (ii) the National Rivers Authority for each year since water privatisation. [9510]

[holding answer 15 January 1996]: The arrangements for privatisation introduced a much more comprehensive and effective regime ensuring that water undertakers and sewage undertakers adhere to the legal requirements and are subject to enforcement or prosecution if they do not do so. This system has given greatly enhanced protection of water consumers and the environment. The figures demonstrate that this is so.When there is an infringement of a drinking water standard, the main weapon is enforcement to secure improvements to quality; prosecution is only available when the infringement is so serious that water unfit for human consumption has been supplied.Between 1990 and 1994, the drinking water inspectorate, on my behalf, has initiated almost 2,000 enforcement actions against the water companies. Many of these resulted in the companies concerned taking action very quickly to rectify the infringement and the remainder, where action could not be completed quickly, resulted in the water companies concerned giving legally binding undertakings to take action by a specified date to improve drinking water quality.Severn-Trent Water Ltd. pleaded guilty at Hereford Crown court on 24 April 1995 to three charges brought under section 70 of the Water Industry Act 1991 for the

Table 1: Water pollution offences—Infringement dates
Company	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995
North-west	—	3.7.90	19.5.91	4.10.91	27.8.91	31.8.93	23.11.94
			28.5.91	28.1.92	21.5.92	21.9.93
				21.9.92	27.4.92	11.1.94
				23.4.92	10.10.91	30.3.94
				13.8.92	5.2.93	30.11.93
					8.8.92	31.1.94
					11.5.93	8.7.93
					17.8.93	23.9.93
					3.7.93	9.3.94
					19.9.93	1.7.94
						8.8.94
						28.5.94
Southern	—	4.1.90	20.9.90	5.4.91	15.6.92	24.11.93	—
		7.11.90
		24.12.90
		7.11.90
South-west	—	20.5.90	—	1.8.91	—	—	—
				30.11.92
Wessex	—	3.6.90	—	23.6.91	29.6.92	21.4.94	—
		3.8.90		24.2.92	31.7.92
				8.6.92	18.2.93
Thames	—	8.3.90	13.11.90	1.7.91	1.5.92	3.11.93	24.7.94
		12.3.90	16.5.90	27.4.92	1.1.91	20.4.94
		7.6.90	30.7.90	5.7.92	6.5.93	11.5.94
			10.12.90	15.2.91	4.5.93	15.8.94
			30.1.91	13.2.92	5.7.93
			6.2.91		24.9.93
			2.7.91		21.6.93
Northumbrian	9.9.89	3.5.90	9.7 91	13.12.91	—	—	—
		7.5.90	30.7.91	22.5.92
		14.8.90
		22.9.90
Anglian	—	15.5.90	1.1.90	18.8.91	14.2.93	23.11.93	—
		23.3.90	20.2.91	29.7.91		21.12.93
		12.7.90	23.11.90	27.6.91
			26.11.90	22.8.91
			1.4.91	3.1.92
			13.5.91

offence of supplying water unfit for human consumption and was fined £45,000. The prosecution was brought by me following an investigation by the drinking water inspectorate into a serious drinking water contamination incident on or about 15 April 1994 affecting a large number of consumers in the Worcester area and beyond following pollution of the River Severn.

The number of prosecutions of the privatised water and sewerage companies by the National Rivers Authority for water pollution offences, their dates and the number of resulting convictions for each year since 1989–90 were set out in the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the Member for Truro (Mr. Taylor) on 18 December 1995, Official Report, columns 914–16.

The tables show the information on water pollution infringements, corresponding to that given previously on prosecutions and convictions, plus equivalent information for water abstractions.

Table 1: Water pollution offences—Infringement dates
Company	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995
Yorkshire	28.9.89	7.12.89	27.9.90	16.4.91	18.10.91	7.6.93	—
			25.10.90		24.11.92
			6.9.90		26.8.91
			14.5.90		26.8.91
			4.6.90		9.3.92
			23.10.91		20.8.92
					18.6.92
					28.7.92
					16.9.92
					18.11.92
					¹17.12.92
Severn Trent	—	2.2.90	5.10.90	11.5.92	27.5.92	26.8.93 and	16.8.94
		14.11.89	23.10.90	7.11.91 and	7.11.92	31.9.93	28.11.94
			27.9.90	3.5.92	10.2.93	13.10.94	8.7.94
			29.7.90		15.2.93	28.7.91	9.5.95
			¹4.2.91		20.9.93
			27.9.91
			25.3.91
Welsh	—	6.12.89	23.5.90	21.6.91	18.3.93	16.6.93	15.9.94
		13.12.89	10.11.90	7.6.91
		11.9.89	11.1.91	16.7.91
		23.9.89	14.9.90	28.8.91
		8.3.90	14.9.90	5.8.91
		28.8.90	6.12.90	3.9.92
			5.11.90	30.6.92
			31.1.91	23.2.92
			31.1.91	16.12.92
			31.1.91
			30.10.90
			28.9.90
			22.3.91
			3.6.91
			8.4.91

1. The infringement dates shown correspond to those for prosecutions given O.R. 18 December 1995, cols 914–916. Eg the first infringement date shown for North West in 1991–92 relates to the first prosecution date shown for that company and year.

¹ Indicates that the date of infringement could not be determined from the available data.

Table 2: Water abstraction—Infringement dates
Company	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995
Southern	—	—	—	—	June 93	14.6.84 to 20.6.94	—
Anglian	—	14.8.90 and 15.8.90	—	—	—	—	—
Northumbrian	—	—	—	—	—	27 dates from 16.6.94 to 16.8.94	—
Severn Trent	—	—	29.11.91 to 1.12.91	—	—	—	—
			27.12.91 to 28.12.91

1. The prosecution dates relate to the earlier infringements shown for each company.

2. All prosecutions resulted in convictions.

Table 3: Water abstraction prosecution dates
Company	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995
Southern	—	—	—	—	30.11.93	24.11.94	—
Anglian	—	10.12.90	—	—	—	—	—
Northumbrian	—	—	—	—	—	—	10.5.95
Severn Trent	—	—	—	9.2.93	—	—	—

1. The prosecution dates relate to the earlier infringements shown for each company.

2. All prosecutions resulted in convictions.

Health

Nhs (Management Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were (a) the management costs and (b) the establishment of the national health service in England in (i) 1988–89 and in (ii) 1994–95; and what estimate he has made of changes in those figures over the current planning period. [9827]

Information on management costs is not available on a comparable basis for 1988–89 and 1994–95.As we announced in October, we are requiring a cash reduction of 5 per cent. in the costs of running health authorities and trust management costs in 1996–97 compared with the 1995–96 planned spend. The savings generated from these cost reductions will be available for patient care.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the redundancy and early retirement costs per head in respect of his proposed reduction in national health service managers. [9828]

It is not possible centrally to estimate the redundancy or early retirement costs of staff who are made redundant or retire early as a result of reductions in the costs of running health authorities and in trust management costs.

Doctors And Nurses (Recruitment)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for a national recruitment campaign for doctors and nurses. [10749]

There is a long-term information campaign to young people aged 12 to 18 years, those over 18 and their advisers, providing materials designed to encourage a flow of suitably qualified, high calibre and well-informed applicants for training as nurses, midwives, health visitors and professionals allied to medicine, and to retain them in the national health service when qualified.Last year, we accepted the recommendation of the Medical Workforce Standing Advisory Committee to increase medical student intake to 500 to reach a target intake of 4,970 by the year 2,000. The overall number of both medical students and doctors has increased steadily and will continue to do so. Entry to the medical profession—medical students—is over-subscribed in terms of applications to medical schools.It is for local employers to determine their human resources strategies and to take appropriate action to recruit and retain sufficient qualified staff to deliver those services which they are contracted to supply.

National Review Of Contracting

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the 1995 national review of contracting will be published; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [10930]

The 1995 review of contracting will be finalised in March. We do not intend to circulate the review, but key messages will be incorporated in wider purchasing guidance. A copy of the review will be placed in the Library when it is finalised.

Public Information Lines

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 14 December, Official Report, column 812, if he will list the eight main information lines under the jurisdiction of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the information given out by these information lines. [11146]

Information on the eight main information lines are as listed. Unless stated otherwise, all these services are available free of charge and are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Health information service 0800 66 55 44

The health information service is a national network of local telephone helplines. By dialling the national telephone number callers are automatically routed through to their local helpline service. The helplines give information and advice about NHS services, waiting times for treatment, common illnesses and treatments, maintaining and improving health, NHS complaints procedures and local NHS charter standards. The helplines are open 10.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, but may vary locally. Calls are confidential. The health information service cannot give a medical diagnosis.

National drugs helpline 0800 77 66 00

The national drugs helpline offers a complete range of confidential advice, information and support. Callers are able to speak to trained, experienced advisors who will respond to requests for basic information about drugs and solvents, through to information about local services and to helping those concerned about their own or others drug problems.

Leaflets and literature are supplied to callers on request. The service is also available in a range of other languages.

National Aids helpline 0800 567 123

The national AIDS helpline offers advice and information about HIV and AIDS. Callers can also request free leaflets on aspects of HIV and AIDS. Calls to the helpline are confidential.

Health literature line/organ donor telephone service 0800 555 777

The health literature line is the telephone ordering service for free Department of Health publications on a range of health issues. Publications available free of charge include "The Patient's Charter", "A Traveller's Guide to Health" (a guide to fee or reduced cost emergency medical treatment abroad), and the NHS league tables.

The organ donor telephone service issue registration forms for the NHS organ donor register and answer some related questions.

Blood donor telephone service 0345 711 711

The blood donor telephone service offers advice to people who would like to become a blood donor or who want to know where their nearest blood donor centre or session is. Calls to the service are charged at local call rates.

Drinkline 0345 711 711 (UK only): 0171 332 0202 (London only)

The drinkline service informs callers about alcohol, helps callers who are worried about their own drinking, supports families and friends of people with drinking problems and puts people in touch with local alcohol advisory services where appropriate. Calls to the service are charged at local call rates.

Sexwise 0800 282930

The sexwise telephone service offers advice and counselling on sexual matters for young people. Calls to the helpline are confidential. The line is open from 7am to midnight seven days a week.

Cosmetic Surgery

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order 1995 when implemented on the private cosmetic surgery industry; and if he will make a statement. [11593]

None. The European Specialist Medical Qualifications Order implements the United Kingdom's obligations under European Council directive 93/16/EEC. This sets minimum standards for specialist medical training and facilitates the free movement of doctors throughout the European community through the mutual recognition of their diplomas, certificates and other evidence of formal qualifications. It was implemented following a full consultation exercise and extensive discussions with representatives of the medical profession and the General Medical Council.

Temazepam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in respect of medical conditions for which treatment using temazepam is essential and where no alternatives are available. [11259]

None.

Gp Co-Operatives

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the quality of service provided by general practitioner co-operatives. [11868]

I have been impressed by the quality of service in the general practitioner co-operatives I have visited. GPs, whether providing services individually or as members of co-operatives, retain full responsibility for the quality of care they offer.

Nhs Staff Assaults

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many attacks against NHS staff have been reported in each of the last five years. [11870]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 18 December 1995, column 948.

Human Embryos

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what scientific research has been commissioned by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority concerning the freezing of human embryos; when the research was commissioned and published; and if he will list the actual and expected dates of completion and publication. [12160]

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has no powers to commission research. The authority's report to United Kingdom Health Ministers on the statutory storage period for embryos refers, at paragraphs 24 to 25, to work done to review current scientific knowledge.Copies of the report are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the research material considered by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority in relation to its report on the statutory storage period for human embryos. [12158]

I have placed in the Library a copy of a bibliography, supplied by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which was prepared by its working group on embryo freezing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library copies of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's responses given by clinics to the Authority's Survey to questions concerning the freezing of human embryos. [12159]

I shall be writing to the hon. Member following my meeting with him on 24 January 1996.

Manchester Health Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 22 January, Official Report, column 21, if he will publish in the Official Report the joint press statement issued by the Under-Secretary following his meeting of 17 January with representatives of the Manchester Health Commission and the city's community health councils; and when he expects to be able to announce the outcome of his consideration of potential solutions to the problems raised with him in respect of health councils. [11994]

The text of the press statement, issued on 17 January, is as follows:

"Mr John Horam, Parliamentary Secretary of Health, today met representatives of Manchester Health Commission and the three community health councils which cover the city of Manchester.

The visitors gave a presentation on their criticisms of the current formula for weighted capitation, under which the level of funding received by the commission is adjusted to take account of the age and needs of the local population.

The Minister also heard an account of the health needs of the people of Manchester, as measured against the targets set out in the Government's "Health of the Nation" initiative.

He was told that the city has some of the worst figures in the country for cervical cancer, lung cancer, coronary heart disease, psychiatric illness, dental decay and infant mortality.

The Minister heard about intense pressures on community and acute hospital services throughout the year.

He was told that the city's health service continues to make vigorous efforts to make the best use of resources available, but was nevertheless one of only two authorities in the entire country to receive no growth money for 1996–97.

Mr Horam listened sympathetically and said he respected the fact that the commission and the three community health councils had joined forces to represent Manchester as a whole.

He said he fully understood there was an exceptional problem in Manchester which needed to be addressed. Further work was in hand to try to refine the weighted capitation formula and he hoped that any subsequent refinement would deliver a good result for Manchester from 1997–98.

He also said that if there was anything that could be done in a transitional way, he would certainly be sympathetic to Manchester's problems."

The representations form Manchester were mainly concerned with the impact on their funding of certain elements of the weighted capitation formula. Work is in hand to review the elements of the formula concerned and the results should be ready to inform 1997–98 allocations.

Treasury

Mortgage Tax Relief

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer from the tax year 1996–97, what the mortgage tax relief will be for home income plans. [11045]

Tax relief for interest paid by someone over 65 who takes out a loan, secured on their home, to buy and life annuity, often called a home income plan, is given at the basic rate of income tax. For the tax year 1996–97, this will be 24 per cent.

Corporation Tax

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the impact of the redeployment of staff from corporation tax pay and file to self-assessment development within the Inland Revenue on the collection of corporation tax arrears. [11120]

There has been no impact on the collection of corporation tax arrears as a result of the redeployment of staff from CT pay and file to self-assessment development.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extent to which EDS has complied with conditions set out in the original contract on the Inland Revenue's corporation tax pay and file system; and what changes to the terms of that contract were subsequently made by the Inland Revenue. [11122]

Since taking over computer operations in July 1994, EDS has complied fully with the relevant condition in the original contract which required it to deliver the existing levels of service.Subsequently detailed service levels have been agreed for each system and EDS has met or exceeded the key performance criteria in relation to CT pay and file. These contractual service levels have recently been enhanced to reflect the increased stability and maturity of the system.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) Inland Revenue staff and (b) contracted staff have been transferred from corporation tax pay and file to computer environment for self-assessment in each quarter of 1995. [11119]

The Inland Revenue and EDS—its private sector information technology partner—have managed a team of appropriately skilled people in the development, implementation and subsequent maintenance of CT pay and file alongside the development of self assessment. Those people have been deployed in line with the priorities from time to time.The table shows the broad balance of movement of staff from CT pay and file to self-assessment as the former moved from its development and implementation phases into live running.

	Revenue staff	Contractors	Total
Quarter January 1995 to March 1995	0	0	0
Quarter April 1995 to June 1995	8.5	5.5	14
Quarter July 1995 to September 1995	5	2	7
Quarter October 1995 to December 1995	12	9	21
Total	25.5	16.5	42

Taxation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was, in constant 1995 figures, the value of tax receipts from lifetime transfers in each year 1974 in respect of (a) capital transfer tax and (b) inheritance tax. [11124](2) what was, in constant 1995 figures, the value of tax receipts on death in each year since 1970 of

(a) estate duty, (b) capital transfer tax and (c) inheritance tax, indicating when each type of tax replaced another. [11123]

The available information is as follows:

£million at 1994–95 prices¹
		Net receipts from transfers chargeable at death
year	Net receipts from lifetime transfers chargeable when made	Estate Duty	Capital transfer tax/inheritance tax
1970–71	—	2,775	—
1971–72	—	3,214	—
1972–73	—	3,023	—
1973–74	—	2,536	—
1974–75	—	1,746	—
1975–76	5	870	480
1976–77	77	449	861
1977–78	74	277	917
1978–79	94	132	830
1979–80	77	79	908
1980–81	66	56	815
1981–82	57	32	851
1982–83	68	21	814
1983–84	53	15	958
1984–85	95	10	962
1985–86	81	9	1,260
1986–87	87	10	1,373
1987–88	64	—	1,450
1988–89	53	—	1,356
1989–90	44	—	1,472
1990–91	44	—	1,418
1991–92	48	—	1,369
1992–93	46	—	1,224
1993–94	29	—	1,328
1994–95	24	—	1,387
¹Converted using the GDP market price deflator.

For deaths on or after 13 March 1975, capital transfer tax—CTT—replaced estate duty and applied to transfers made after 26 March 1974. CTT was replaced by inheritance tax—IHT—for transfers on or after 18 March 1986. The figures for estate duty exclude receipts in Northern Ireland before 1973–74. Small residual amounts of estate duty receipts from 1987–88 are included with receipts from inheritance tax and capital transfer tax, separate estimates of which are not available.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [10974]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The information requested for the Chancellor's Department, expressed in thousands of pounds, is as follows:

	£000
(i) Legal fees	—
(ii) Publicity costs	4
(iii) Accountancy fees	—
(iv) Management consultancy fees	75
Total	79

The overwhelming majority of the expenditure was incurred in the last financial year, so the difference between real and cash terms is insignificant. Conventional procurement often involves such costs too.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [10975]

[holding answer 22 January 1996]: The information requested for the Chancellor's Departments, expressed in thousands of pounds, is as follows:

	£000
(i) Staff costs	61
(ii) Information technology	—
(iii) Other costs	—
Total	61

The overwhelming majority of the expenditure was incurred in the last financial year, so the difference between real and cash terms is insignificant.In the case of individual projects, if the private finance route had not been the route preferred, traditional public sector procurement methods would, in any case, have incurred tendering costs. The important issue is that the chosen method should be that which provides best overall value for money for the taxpayer.

National Lottery

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total revenue accruing to the Treasury from all national lottery operations so far. [11903]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The total amount of lottery duty accruing to the Exchequer was £559 million at the end of December 1995. Lottery duty was set at a level that should ensure that the displacement of consumer spending by spending on lottery tickets is neutral in its effect on Government revenue. The total amount of funds received by the national lottery distribution fund was £1,374 million over the same period.

National Heritage

Museums

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what method is used by non-charging national museums to count the numbers of their visitors; and what assessment she has made of (a) the accuracy of the method and (b) the auditing of the figures. [7055]

It is for the trustees of each national museum to determine how to assess the number of visitors, and the different methods used for this purpose by different museums. In the context of the review of museum policy which I am currently undertaking, and given the importance of having accurate figures for visitors, my officials will be writing to each of the national museum and galleries that the Department sponsors asking them what methods they use to count visitors, what arrangements they have for ensuring accuracy of the figures, and how they conduct their audit of figures.

National Lottery (Disbursements)

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list the disbursements made by the National Lottery Charities Board to organisations in (a) Heywood and Middleton and (b) the Greater Manchester area. [11054]

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. and learned Friend has written to all hon. Members on each occasion that the National Lottery Charities Board has made grants, enclosing a list of the grants. I understand that the charities board has also written to individual Members whenever a grant has been made in their constituency.This information is available in the Library.

Trade And Industry

Cd-Rom Industry

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of developments in the United Kingdom CD-ROM industry. [11127]

This is an active and fast-moving market for which reliable and comprehensive data are sparse. A number of reports have been commissioned by my Department, either alone or in conjunction with the European Commission, analysing specific aspects of the CD-ROM market. The reports reached various conclusions. I am placing copies of them in the Library of the House.

Gas Consumer Council

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received as to how this year's allocation to the Gas Consumer Council will affect its safety advisory service. [11721]

I have received no such representations.

Trade Unions

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those organisations where trade unions have been de-recognised each year since 1985; and how many employees were involved in each case. [11943]

The Government do not hold records on organisations where trade unions have been de-recognised or on the number of employees involved in each case.

Viners Of Sheffield Plc

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from businesses in Sheffield regarding Viners of Sheffield plc; and if he will make a statement. [10835]

I have received representations which my hon. Friend passed to me from eight businesses and one trade association objecting to the company name "Viners of Sheffield public limited company". My officials will be writing to the company seeking its comments.

Training

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to encourage the development of training for young entrepreneurs. [10900]

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the measures outlined by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment in his reply of 25 January 1996, Official Report, columns 336–37.

Anglo-French Electricity Interconnector

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list on a quarterly basis the ratio of electricity supplied via the cable link to and from France and the United Kingdom for the years 1993–94 and 1994–95. [10628]

In 1993–94 and 1994–95, the interconnector was exclusively used to import electricity from France.

Disability Discrimination Act

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost during 1996 of industrial tribunal proceedings under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. [11676]

No firm estimate of the cost of industrial tribunal proceedings in 1996 can be made until a commencement date has been set for the employment provisions contained in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. However, it is likely that these provisions will come into effect around the end of the year and, if so, the costs of proceedings (if any) in 1996 will be negligible.

Public Sector Research Establishments

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the timetable for the prior options reviews of public sector research establishments outlined in the Government's response to the multi-departmental scrutiny of public sector research establishments (Cm 2991). [12682]

The Government's response to the efficiency scrutiny announced our intention to carry out a programme of prior options reviews of public sector research establishments, with a view to the major part of the work being completed by the end of 1996.Each review will address the relationship of establishments to others in similar or related fields and consider, amongst other things, the potential for privatisation or rationalisation. The results of these reviews will be considered by Ministers collectively.The reviews will be carried out by the parent or sponsor Department or research council and are being phased as set out in the timetable. Each review will be announced and there will be an opportunity for interested parties to comment. Some of these announcements have already been made.I am placing a copy of the guidelines for the conduct of these reviews in the Library of the House.

Period 1: Reporting to ministers by March 1996
Establishment	Parent or sponsor department/research council
ADAS R and D	Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Central Science Laboratory	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Directorate of Fisheries	Ministry of Agriculture,
Research	Fisheries and Food
Horticulture Research	Ministry of Agriculture,
International	Fisheries and Food
Fisheries Research Services	Scottish Office
Macaulay Land Use Research Institute	Scottish Office
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency	Scottish Office
Scottish Crop Research Institute	Scottish Office
Institute of Arable Crops	Biotechnology and Biological
Research	Sciences Research Council
Institute of Grassland and	Biotechnology and Biological
Environmental Research	Sciences Research Council
John Innes Centre	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Silsoe Research Institute	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Forestry Commision Research Laboratories	Forestry Commission
Daresbury and Rutherford	Office of Science and
Appleton Laboratories	Technology/Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils
Building Research Establishment	Department of the Environment

Period 1: Reporting to ministers by March 1996
Establishment	Parent or sponsor department/research council
Health and Safety Laboratory National Weights and Measures Laboratory	Health and Safety Executive Department of Trade and Industry
Police Scientific Development Branch	Home Office

Period 2: Reporting to ministers by July 1996
Establishment	Parent or sponsor department/research council
Veterinary Laboratories Agency	Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
Moredun Research Institute	Scottish Office
Hannah Research Institute	Scottish Office
Babraham Institute	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Institute for Animal Health Roslin Institute	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Roslin Institute	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
British Geological Survey	Natural Environment Research Council
Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences (comprising: Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory)	Natural Environment Research Council
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (comprising: Institute of Freshwater Ecology, Institute of Hydrology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Institute of Virology and Environmental Microbiology)	Natural Environment Research Council

Period 3: Reporting to ministers by December 1996
Establishment	Parent or sponsor department/research council
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control	Department of Health
National Radiological Protection Board	Department of Health
Public Health Laboratory Service	Department of Health
Rowett Research Institute	Scottish Office
Institute of Food Research	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Dunn Nutrition Unit Radiobiology Unit	Medical Research Council
Reproductive Biology Unit	Medical Research Council
Toxicology Unit	Medical Research Council
Virology Unit	Medical Research Council

Bmarc

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has anything to add to his answers of 19 June 1995, Official Report, column 59 and 14 July 1995, Official Report, column 797, about BMARC. [12681]

The work of licence recovery, examination and cataloguing undertaken since the start of the BMARC affair has led to the identification of a number of export licence applications whose existence was not known at the time of the answers given on 19 June 1995, Official Report, column 59, and 14 July 1995, Official Report, column 796.

The problem of retrieving export licence documentation is complicated by the large volumes of papers involved, and the fact that the archived papers are not stored by company name. In order to retrieve papers it is necessary first to use various databases to identify the individual applications made by any given company; then to establish the individual reference numbers relating to the applications concerned; and finally to use these to identify the relevant archive locations. It is only following these steps that the papers can be called back and inspected.

While verifying and cataloguing the new findings, an unrelated search of licence application papers carried out towards the end of last year showed some weaknesses in the systems used for indexing applications. A wider search was then put in hand, with the aim of seeing whether the identification and recovery of any of BMARC's licence applications might have been hindered by similar problems. This further work led to the discovery of an additional batch of applications.

In the light of all these findings, it is necessary to update the figures provided in the answers given on 19 June 1995 and 14 July 1995. The figure for the number of export licence applications made by BMARC—including the period when the company was known as Astra Defence Systems—for which papers have been recovered from my Department's archives and which were dealt with under the military list between 1985 and 1990, should be increased in total by 43 over the figure which was given on 14 July 1995. The breakdown by year is as follows:

Year	Number
1985	148
1986	133
1987	186
1988	134
1989	105
1990	174
Total	880

In addition, over the same period, a further five cases have been identified of index records apparently relating to BMARC export licence applications, but where the absence of any surviving documentation makes it impossible to confirm this.

I am bringing these new findings to the attention of the Trade and Industry Committee in view of its current inquiry into the granting licences to BMARC for the export of naval guns to Singapore.

Departmental Publicity

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much has been spent by his Department on publicity and media relations for each year since 1990. [12482]

Expenditure from centrally managed budgets on publicity and media relations, excluding staff costs, has been as follows:

1990–91:£16,413,000
1991–92: £10,918,000
1992–93: £10,633,000
1993–94: £9,377,000
1994–95: £8,931.000

Departmental Expenditure

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to (a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92 (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11390]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: Details of departmental telephone costs prior to 1991–92 are not readily available. Comparison of the figures for successive years must be treated with caution as they are affected by major accommodation moves and, for the DTI agencies and regional Government offices, only include the use of the Government telephone network, other charges being met from local budgets.

1991–92: £3.2 million
1992–93: £4.2 million
1993–94: £3.9 million
1994–95: £2.9 million
1995–96: £3.3 million(anticipated)

Internal telephone directories are available to staff in the Department and its agencies. Non-departmental public bodies are not listed in these but can receive copies.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment he has made of the total expenditure of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies on publicity for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will break these figures down to indicate expenditure on (1) advertising and (2) press and public relations [11388]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: Total Departmental expenditure on publicity is not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost.Total advertising expenditure from centrally managed budgets for the years in question is as follows:

1979–80: £1,554,000
1989–90: £10,492,000
1991–92: £966,000
1993–94: £784,000
1994–95: £561,000
1995–96: £530,000 (spend to end December 1995)

The budgets for 1995–96 and 1996–97 are not broken down by media.

Press and public relation costs, as reflected through the costs associated with the Department's press office, are as follows:

1993–94: £1,987,000
1994–95: £1,766,000
1995–96: £1,212,000 (spend to end December 1995)

Budgets for 1995–96 and 1996–97 do not specifically separate out press and public relations costs. For the comparable expenditure in earlier years, I refer the hon.

Member to answer given by my hon. Friend the then Minister for Energy on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 492–93.

Absenteeism

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of absenteeism rates in days per annum for staff in his Department for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96. [11389]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The sickness absence database of the Occupational Health and Safety Agency shows the average number of days sick leave per employee for the Department is:

Calendar years	Number
1990	8.5
1991	8.4
1992	8.2
1993	8.9
1994	7.0

Comparable statistics are not available for earlier years. The 1995 figure is not expected to be published until August 1996.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Agriculture Council

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 January; and if he will make a statement. [11850]

No decisions were taken at this short meeting. The only substantial item was a further discussion of the Commission's proposals for changes to the arrangements for bananas. The Commissioner expressed his intention of making some additional proposals with a view to securing agreement: but member states' views remain deeply divided. I underlined the need to protect the interests of the African, Caribbean and Pacific suppliers of bananas, in line with the Community's commitments.The presidency held a dinner at which there was "informal" discussion of the use of hormones for fattening beef cattle, in the light of the scientific conference organised by the Commission last year.During the Council, I took the opportunity to question the Commissioner about his promised proposals on the welfare of calves reared for veal. He said he expected to be able to table these very shortly.

Oil Dispersant Policy

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the conclusions of the review that the Government have been carrying out into oil dispersant policy; and if he will make a statement. [12065]

The hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) announced to the House in April 1993 that the Government would conduct a review of oil dispersant policy. Two scientific reports were commissioned and published and we prepared a consultation paper setting out proposed improvements which was circulated to over 600 bodies. Sixty-four responses were received. We have responded on issues where suggestions were made; in general, there was broad agreement to our plans and we have now prepared a final report completing the review. We have concluded that it would be fully justified to retain oil dispersants as the UK's primary means of combating oil spills at sea in order to protect economic and environmental resources, although oil dispersants may not be appropriate in all instances. All products will continue to be required to pass efficacy and toxicity tests. These tests will, in future, incorporate some minor improvements designed further to protect the marine environment. I have initiated the development of protocols, in conjunction with the industry, that will enable bioremediation products to be licensed in the UK. These could, in due course, make an important contribution to clean-up operations. There will also be new arrangements for labelling products in line with our policies on openness. In carrying out the review, I have also managed to achieve modest deregulatory gains by enabling manufacturers to submit their own test results. Finally, I intend to publish a booklet explaining the approval process which will include a code of good spraying practice. A copy of the final report has been placed in the Library of both Houses.

Set-Aside Payments

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total amount paid in set-aside payments in each year since its inception; and what is the average amount paid each year per farm. [11256]

Under the five-year set-aside scheme—and, in 1992–93 only, the one-year set-aside scheme—the Agriculture Departments made total payments of:

1989–90: £9,846,000
1990–91: £19,110,000
1991–92: £25,102,000
1992–93: £31,111,000
1993–94: £25,078,000
1994–95: £15,108,000

For set-aside under the arable area payments scheme, the Agriculture Departments paid £142,080,000 in 1993–94 and £200,440,000 in 1994–95.Payments under both schemes for 1995–96 are not complete but at the beginning of the year were estimated as £225,125,000 for the arable area payments scheme and £7,483,000 for the five-year set-aside scheme.Under the arable area payments scheme, payments are made against claims which may relate to more than one agricultural holding. Under the five-year set-aside scheme, more than one payment per farm could be made as separate agreements were allowed for different areas of land on the same farm. Hence, it is not possible to calculate an average amount paid each year per farm.

Social Security

Benefits Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the future of the Benefits Agency offices in Seaham and Peterlee. [10913]

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

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. John Cummings, dated 25 January 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will make a statement on the future of the Benefit Agency (BA) offices in Seaham and Peterlee.

As you are aware, the North Durham District is undertaking a long term review of its organisation. There is, however, no intention at present to close the Seaham and Peterlee offices. The aim of the Benefit Agency is to provide a high standard of service to all our customers and any organisational changes in North Durham District will be made with the assurance that this standard will be maintained.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Hardship Allowance (Greater Manchester)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many young people are currently claiming hardship allowance in the Greater Manchester area. [11036]

The administration of income support is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. Jim Callaghan, dated 25 January 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many young people are currently claiming hardship allowance in the Greater Manchester Area.

The District offices that cover the Greater Manchester Area are Oldham, Manchester Central, Manchester South, Manchester Trinity, North Cheshire, Sale/East Cheshire, Salford, Stockport, and Tameside.

The total number of young people who claimed hardship allowance in these offices in November 1995 was 482. This figure is provisional and may be subject to change. This is the latest figure available.

I hope you find this reply helpful.

Habitual Residence Rules

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his latest calculation of the numbers and percentage of the total of appeals against decisions by his Department on the habitual residence rules that have been successful. [12203]

The information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Disability Living Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many (a) adults and (b) children in receipt of disability living allowance mobility component are estimated to lose benefit for a period in hospital exceeding four weeks and 12 weeks in each of the next three years. [11995]

The information is in the table.

Losers	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Adults	35,000	35,000	40,000
Children	5,000	5,000	5,000
Total	40,000	45,000	45,000

Estimates rounded to nearest 5,000 and should be treated with caution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people in receipt of the disability living allowance mobility component have arrangements with firms other than Motability for the hire or purchase of (a) cars and (b) wheelchairs. [11996]

The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the expected savings to his Department of (a) removing and (b) reducing the disability living allowance mobility component for hospital stays in respect of (i) children and (ii) adults in (x) 1996–97, (y)1997–98 and (z) 1998–99.[11998]

The information is in the table

£million
Cash	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
(i) Children
(a) Removing	¹—	¹—	¹—
(b) Reducing	5	5	5
(ii) Adults
(a) Removing	5	15	20
(b) Reducing	20	20	20
Total	30	40	45
¹Denotes an estimate less than £2.5 million. Estimates rounded to nearest £5 million. Totals may not sum owing to rounding.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the additional cost or savings which will be made to the Exchequer as a consequence of the implementation of clause 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill; what representations he has received on the implementation of clause 10 of the Asylum and Immigration Bill; and if he will place copies of all such representations in the Library. [12105]

The information is set out in the table.

£ million
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Estimated savings	5	15	25

1. Costs rounded to nearest £5 million. 2. It has been assumed that the average award of Child Benefit is £18.85 per week.One letter has been received concerning the implementation of clause 10, and several from members of the public in support of the principle that child benefit should not be paid to people coming from abroad. Correspondence is not normally published without the express permission of the writer.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Saudi Arabia

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Saudi Arabian Government on (a) the detention of 70 members of the Indian Christian Fellowship followed by the imprisonment of seven leaders at Alkhobar on 22 December and (b) the imprisonment of three Filipino Christians in Riyadh last October; and if he will make a statement. [10322]

We and our EU partners discuss human rights regularly with the Saudi Arabian Government. However, we have made no representations to the Saudis on the specific cases referred to by the hon. Member which we understand did not involve British citizens. We understand from the Indian embassy in Riyadh that those of its citizens who were being detained in connection with their attendance at a religious gathering have now been released.

Positive About Disabled People Symbol

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for his Department and each of the agencies for which he is responsible if it uses the Employment Service's positive about disabled people symbol for (a) external recruitment and (b) internal recruitment and promotion. [11915]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies are not currently users of the positive about disabled people symbol. However, we implement many of its recommendations on external and internal recruitment and promotion.

Departmental Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to (a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11382]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The information requested is not readily available and could be partially provided only at disproportionate cost. But the annual telephony cost figures are available for:

	Diplomatic wing£	Aid wing £
1989–90	—	452,070
1991–92	6,077,642.00	458,224
1993–94	5,947,217.00	511,399
1994–95	6,088,960.71	489,796
1995–96	¹5,335,000.00	¹486,000
1996–97	¹4,986,789.00	486.000
¹Estimate.

Agencies
	Wiston House £	NRI £
1991–92	2,462.00	193,251
1993–94	2,797.00	188,765
1994–95	3,714.00	217,506
1995–96	¹4,000.00	¹191,785
1996–97	¹4,000.00	¹185,000
Estimate.

Our department makes use of CCTA's Metropolitan Telephony Service—MTS—which provides us with fully managed telephony and directory services. The MTS service provides an annual estimate of telephony charges.

Internal telephone directories are available to all staff in the United Kingdom and at major UK diplomatic missions overseas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the expenditure of his Department, agencies and non-departmental public bodies on all external consultants including management consultants for each of the years (a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95 and (f) 1995–96 (i) to date and (ii) as estimated for the whole year; what estimate he has made of such expenditure for 1996–97; and if he will estimate the savings accruing to his Department from the use of consultants in each of these years. [11379]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: Consultants are employed in a number of roles, including contracted services and the design and management of projects. The work of external consultants is only one factor to be taken into consideration in assessing the results of such projects.The table contains figures for expenditure on consultants for the years 1993–94,1994–95 and 1995–96. The table also contains estimates for 1996–97. Figures exclude the cost of consultants engaged on projects under the bilateral aid programme. The bulk of expenditure within the diplomatic wing was for technical expertise on capital projects and information technology.Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Body	Rank	Number	Salary £	Minimum annual time spent
New Town Development Corporations	D/Chairman	3	10,578	52 days
	Members	9	4,777	26 days
Scottish Homes	Member	1	6,830	24 days
Mainland Health Boards	Members	7	5,000	36 days
Mainland NHS Trusts	Members	16	5,000	36 days
Scottish Examination Board	Members	6	Nil	4 days
Scottish Enterprise	Member	1	7,600	14 days
Highlands and Islands Enterprise¹	Member	1	7,595	14 days
Scottish Community Education Council¹	Member	1	Nil	4 meetings
Scottish Sports Council	Member	1	Nil	11 meetings
SCOTVEC	Member	1	Nil	5 days
Scottish Arts Council	Members	2	Nil	4 days
Scottish Environment Protection Agency	Members	3	5,000	24 days
Scottish Water and Sewerage Customers	Members	2	3,000	24 days
Council		2	5,000	48 days
¹Same Person.

	Diplomatic wing £ million	Aid wing £
1993–94	14.2	618,700
1994–95	13.6	505,300
1995–96 (to date)	10.5	621,500
1995–96 (estimated outturn)	15.8	869,000
1996–97 (estimate)	13.5	530,000

Qualified Majority Voting

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the occasions on which decisions have been taken by qualified majority voting under title V of the Maastricht treaty on European Union; and if he will make a statement. [11260]

No decisions have been taken using qualified majority voting under title V of the Maastricht treaty. The common foreign and security policy operates by unanimity. Article J.3.2 allows for use of qualified majority voting only in the implementation of joint actions and after prior unanimous agreement.

Scotland

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which members of which non-departmental public bodies are current local authority councillors; how much time annually each spends on each body; and what is the salary paid for each position. [8473]

Fifty-five local authority councillors currently hold Secretary of State appointments to executive non-departmental public bodies, health boards and NHS trusts. These appointments are made on an individual basis, and not as a representative of any particular interest or group. The details are as set out in the table. The time spent is the minimum required and appointees usually will spend additional time, for example, in preparing for meetings or serving on sub-committees. The figures exclude appointments by local authorities to bodies on which they have statutory representation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland 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 or (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. [9801]

The Scottish Office contributes to two UK-wide national helplines. The Scottish figures recorded by financial year are set out in the following table:

Helpline	Year commenced	Amount paid by The Scottish Office to operating Company £	Number of calls
National
AIDS	1990–91	143,000	91,371
	1991–92	156,000	170,184
	1992–93	193,000	11,543
	1993–94	197,000	73,442

One Scotland-only Helpline in contracted out by the Scottish Office to an operating company:
Helpline	Year commmenced	Amount (£)paid by the Scottish Office to operating company	Number of calls
NHS Helpline	¹29 October 1992	90,188	2,143
	1993	225,738	12,521
	1994	215,338	24,017
	1995	196,982	14,736
¹Figures recorded by calendar year.

The Scottish Office runs an inquiry line operated by its own staff:

Helpline	Year commenced	Scottish Office costs £	Number of calls
Inquiry line	October 1993	¹171,000	1,989
	1994	5,000	3,594
	1995	5,000	3,459
¹Includes establishment and initial publicity costs.

Generic Support Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) guidance and (b) information relating to generic support workers has been issued by the NHS management executive in Scotland to NHS trusts and health boards. [10335]

No guidance or information has been issued.

Garage And Motor Repair Businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce provisions for garage and motor repair businesses to register with local authorities in Scotland. [10428]

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

Year	Year commenced	Amount paid by The Scottish Office to operating company £	Number of calls
	1994–95	197,000	60,021
	¹1995–96	137,100	¹45,108
Drugline Scotland	1992–93	294,000	23,800
	1993–94	158,000	17,604
	²1994–95	164,000	19,649
	³1995–96	—	—
¹Integrated National AIDS and Drugs Helpline commenced 1 April 1995.
²Drugline Scotland integrated into National Drugs Helpline.
³See National Aids Helpline Figures.

A joint "Get Qualified" campaign was run for two periods of three months in 1995 with the Department of Education and Science. The Scottish Office figures are:

Year

Amount(£ paid by the Scottish Office to operating company

Number of calls

1995–6

1,680

6,935

Ancillary Health Workers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of ancillary workers employed by in-houses teams at (a) Edinburgh royal infirmary, (b) Western general hospital, (c) Lay hospital and (d) Hairmyers Stonehouse hospital. [10336]

This information is not held centrally.

Queen's Counsels

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what number and percentage of the Scottish Bar are Queen's counsel. [10870]

There are 135 Queen's Counsel, who represent 22.3 per cent. of the membership of the Faculty of Advocates.

Census

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make representations to the language sub-group of the 2001 census working group on content and question wording regarding the inclusion of a question relating to the Scots language in the 2001 census; [11167](2) what assessment his Department has made of the uses of information which could be obtained through the inclusion of a question relating to the Scots language in the 2001 census; and if he will make a statement. [11168]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Eastwood (Mr. Stewart) on 15 January, Official Report, column 805.

Maternity Services (Lothian)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when his office requires a response from Lothian Health on its proposals in respect of maternity services; and what the consequence of Lothian Health failing to meet that deadline would be. [11616]

It is for Lothian health board to bring forward its proposals on the future configuration of maternity services when it has completed its considerations. I understand that the board is currently undertaking a further public consultation until 28 February 1996 on its proposals for maternity services. I look forward to seeing the board's final proposals as soon as possible thereafter.

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the proportion of families in Scotland which have state nursery education available to them in each education authority for children aged (a) three to four and (b) four to five years. [11089]

We do not hold information on the basis of families. The table shows the number of children at education authority nursery schools at September 1994 expressed as a percentage of the General Register Office's mid-1994 population estimates for three and four-year-olds.

Percentage of children attending education authority nursery schools at September 1994
Education authority	Percentage of pupils aged 3	Percentage of pupils aged 4
Scotland	19.8	55.9
Borders	2.4	36.0
Central	19.5	71.8
Dumfries and Galloway	10.1	74.4
Fife	16.8	83.4
Grampian	10.1	64.5
Highland	4.6	29.6
Lothian	27.4	75.4
Strathclyde	22.6	43.3
Tayside	23.0	63.4
Orkney	17.4	61.6
Shetland	20.4	51.2
Western Isles	0.0	0.0

Percentage of children attending education authority nursery schools at September 1994
Education authority	Percentage of pupils aged 3	Percentage of pupils aged 4
Strathclyde divisions:
Argyll and Bute	2.2	4.9
Ayr	15.0	38.8
Dunbarton	14.5	35.1
Glasgow	42.1	62.9
Lanark	13.5	31.1
Renfrew	16.8	42.3

Sources:

GRO(S) Mid year population estimates 1994 Annual School Census 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each regional authority in Scotland the number of nursery places provided, broken down by (a) part time and (b) full time, for (i) the year before statutory schooling and (ii) the period before that. [11549]

The latest available information in respect of education authority nursery schools and classes is given in the table.

Number of children attending education authority nursery schools and classes, September 1994
	Aged 3 and under¹		Aged 4 and over¹
	Full time	Part time	Full time	Part time
Scotland	530	12,919	2,444	33,867
Borders	—	31	—	457
Central	1	735	21	2,410
Dumfries and Galloway	1	207	4	1,322
Fife	27	788	74	3,700
Grampian	15	683	240	4,210
Highland	—	125	—	807
Lothian	116	2,596	740	6,202
Strathclyde	352	6,484	858	11,845
Tayside	18	1,142	507	2,542
Orkney	—	61	—	189
Shetland	—	67	—	183
Western Isles	—	—	—	—
¹Age at 31 December 1994.

Other pre-school care providers such as private nurseries, playgroups and day care centres may also provide education, but there will be no clear way of establishing this until the quality assurance arrangements planned under the Government's pre-school education vouchers initiative have been set up.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much each regional authority in Scotland spends on nursery education. [11550]

The total gross revenue expenditure on nursery education in 1993–94—the last year for which figures are available—by each region and islands council was as shown in the table. The figures cover revenue expenditure directly related to nursery education, and do not include any apportionment of administration or miscellaneous services attributed to nursery education.

Gross expenditure on nursery education 1993–94
	Nursery education £000
Borders	61
Central	3,109
Dumfries and Galloway	936
Fife	4,238
Grampian	5,209
Highland	969
Lothian	11,305
Strathclyde	31,126
Tayside	4,697
Orkney	138
Shetland	409
Western Isles	0
Scotland total	62,197

Source:

Local Financial Returns (1993–94).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current grant-aided expenditure for nursery education for each regional authority; and how the figures are calculated. [11551]

There is not a separate grant-aided expenditure assessment for the total cost of nursery education. There is, however, an assessment for the cost of nursery teaching staff. Its distribution for the current year is shown in the table.

	Grant-aided expenditure (£)
Borders	399
Central	1,082
Dumfries	585
Fife	1,479
Grampian	2,211
Highland	860
Lothian	3,017
Strathclyde	9,599
Tayside	1,545
Orkney	92
Shetland	108
Western Isles	127
Total	21,104

The total amount for this assessment is decided each year by the Secretary of State. It is apportioned between relevant authorities pro-rata to the population aged three and four in each authority, based on the most recent available mid-year population estimate provided by the General Register Office of Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland currently receive some form of nursery education in the year before statutory schooling, broken down by (a) the different types of provision and (b) region. [11559]

The latest available information in respect of education authority nursery schools and classes is given in the table.

Number of children attending education authority nursery schools and classes
	Children age 4 and over¹
Scotland	36, 311
Borders	457
Central	2,431
Dumfries and Galloway	1,326
Fife	3,774
Grampian	4,450
Highland	807
Lothian	6,942
Strathclyde	12,703
Tayside	3,049
Orkney	189
Shetland	183
Western Isles	0
¹Age at 31 December 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of children whose parents are currently paying for nursery education in the year before statutory schooling. [11561]

I have made no such estimate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what figures he has received from each regional authority for the cost of a part-time nursery education place in its area. [11556]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: These costs are not collected routinely. Participation in the pilot will give authorities an impetus systematically to collect such data, which would be part of our overall review of the initial phase.

Nursery Voucher Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he plans to make the implementation statement on the nursery vouchers scheme, foreseen in the consultation paper issued on 15 August. [11548]

I made it on 11 December 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the impact of the proposed nursery voucher scheme on nursery provision for three-year-olds. [11552]

The nursery voucher initiative is not intended to have any impact on nursery provision for three-year-olds. I shall, however, keep this issue under review in course of the pilot year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many extra nursery places he expects the nursery voucher scheme to create in its first year. [11553]

The scheme will be driven by parental choice and parental demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of how children with special needs will be affected by the nursery voucher scheme. [11554]

The powers and duties of local authorities to make provision for children with special educational needs will not be affected by the Government's nursery education initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received concerning the proposed nursery voucher scheme; and how many of those representations were (a) in support of and (b) opposed to the scheme. [11555]

In response to the formal consultation launched in August, my Department received over 170 replies.Without exception, consultees welcomed the Government's commitment to extend education for children in the pre-school year, but there was concern about the implications of the voucher initiative. These concerns will be addressed in the pilot year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the planned cost of the nursery voucher pilot project. [11558]

Some £3 million of new money is being made available in 1996–97 for the pilot phase. There will, in addition, be funding which was hitherto part of participating authorities' nursery education provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money he plans to withhold from local authority settlements in consideration of the nursery voucher scheme; and by what mechanisms. [11560]

In the 1996–97 pilot year, each participating local authority will be asked to agree to pay to the Scottish Office, or have deducted from grant, a sum equal to the voucher value multiplied by the base number of places provided by that authority and filled in the previous year. The mechanism for future years will be discussed with authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has nursery vouchers. [11562]

A range to guard against dishonesty cannot be made public.

Ec Nitrates Directive

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about implementation of the EC nitrates directive (91/676/EEC) in Scotland; and when he expects to announce the decision regarding the designation of nitrate-vulnerable zones. [12171]

In June 1994, the Government consulted publicly on two areas proposed as candidates for designation as nitrate—vulnerable zones in Scotland—the catchments of the Balmalcolm groundwater borehole in Fife and the River Ythan in Grampian. Some 189 replies were received.

Following careful consideration of the responses and the extent to which each of these areas meet the criteria laid down in the directive, it has been decided to designate the catchment of the Balmalcolm borehole as an NVZ.

Since a final link between higher levels of nitrate and the increased growth of the algae enteromorpha has yet to be determined scientifically, the Government have decided not to designate the catchment of the River Ythan as an NVZ on this occasion. There will, however, be continuing research into the extent of any link between the growth of the algae in the estuary and nitrate from agricultural sources in the catchment. A further review of the case for designation of NVZs throughout Scotland will take place, as required by the directive, by 19 December 1997 and this review will take account of the additional research.

The Government will now make it a priority to promote good practice in the use of nitrates by farmers throughout the Ythan catchment in line with the code of good practice "Prevention of Environmental Pollution from Agricultural Activity".

I can also announce that the Government have today issued a consultation paper on regulatory proposals and the action programme necessary to give effect to the directive's requirements in NVZs in Scotland. A copy of the proposals is available in the Library of the House. Comments are sought by 25 March 1996.

Local Government Reform

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the preparation of notional budgets for the new unitary authorities. [12172]

I have today laid before the House, in terms of section 94A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992—as inserted by section 24 of the Local Government, etc. (Scotland) Act 1994—the notional amounts report 1996. Subject to the approval of the report, the amounts specified therein for each of the new councils will be used as the baseline for considering any capping action in 1996–97. I announced my provisional capping principles for that year in my reply to a question from my right hon. Friends the Member for Dumfries (Sir H. Monro) on 28 November 1995, Official Report, columns 585–87.

Mobile Phones

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what agreements his Department and its executive agencies have with companies for the provision of mobile and car phones; and if he will list the companies having these contracts, the duration of the contracts, the number of phones covered by each agreement and the cost to public funds of each agreement. [9764]

[holding answer 17 January 1996]: Mobile phones and car phones are purchased on an as-required basis. Agreements are entered into with the supplier for the provision of airtime for a 12-month minimum period with 90 days notification of cancellation thereafter. The number of mobile phones held by the Scottish Office and its executive agencies is 454. These have been provided by the following suppliers:

Vodaphone; Cellnet; BT Mobile; Vodac Direct; HSW Systems;
Mobile Direct; Veecom; Woodend Communications;
Woodend Cellular: Comware.

The total operating cost per annum is approximately £135,000.

Elderly People (Nhs Services)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment his Department has made of changes in the costs of providing NHS treatments and services to elderly people in Scotland (a) over the last 10 years and (b) over the next 10 years. [11041]

The aim for all groups is to secure the most effective package of health and social care services, both in hospital and the community, that meet the specific needs of individuals and where appropriate, their carers.Assessment of needs for care services for the elderly is primarily a matter for health boards and local authorities. Demographic change has led to the cost of providing NHS care and treatment for this age group increasing over the last 10 years by approximately 1 per cent. a year. On the same basis, the forecast to year 2005–06 is for an increase of about 0.9 per cent. per annum. In practice, these cost pressures will continue to be offset by further improvements in efficiency and quality of care.

Health Boards

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance his Department has issued to Scottish health boards in respect of retention of surpluses in their budgets at the end of the 1994–95 financial year. [11102]

Guidance is contained in the "Scottish Accounting Manual" which is issued to all health boards. This states that an underdrawing of up to 1 per cent. of a health board's cash limit may be carried forward from one year to another and that any overdrawing will be carried forward as a first charge against the following year's cash limit. There is, however, flexibility to allow a larger carry forward. Requests from health boards for carry forward in excess of 1 per cent. are considered on their merits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to his answer of 7 December 1995, Official Report, column 367, (1) if the under-drawings in the 1994–95 budgets of Greater Glasgow health board and Borders health board were carried forward into the 1995–96 budgets of these bodies; [11148](2) what was the outcome of his Department's discussions with the senior management of Greater Glasgow health board and Borders health board, concerning these bodies' under-drawing of their budgets for 1994–95. [11149]

Final agreement has been reached with senior management of Greater Glasgow health board and Borders health board concerning the carry forward of underdrawings in 1994–95. Borders health board carry forward is £815,925 which is the same amount it underdrew. Greater Glasgow health board carry forward is £8,043,180 which is £1,837,000 less than its underdrawing. The difference relates to ring fenced funds which cannot normally be carried forward.

Rail Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what total payment (a) has been and (b) is projected to be made to Strathclyde regional council to provide for the additional costs of supporting rail services arising from the privatisation of British Rail. [11316]

In 1994–95, £79,103,000 was paid to Strathclyde regional council to cover the additional costs to it in that year resulting from rail restructuring. The Scottish Office expects to pay about £60 million to cover comparable costs in the current financial year. With effect from 1 April 1996, future costs will be met through provision in the annual local government finance settlements for the constituent authorities in the Strathclyde passenger transport authority.

Charge for a fixed price meal at January of each year shown
Pence
Education Authority	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987
Borders	35	35	40	42	44	46	48	50
Central	35	35	35	40	45	45	50	55
Dumfries and Galloway	35	40	45	50	50	52	55	58
Fife	35	35	40	45	48	50	52	55
Grampian:
Primary	35	35	42	42	45	50	55	58
Secondary	n/a	n/a	45	45	55	60	65	68
Highland	35	41	50	50	50	55	55	65
Lothian:
Primary	35	35	35	45	45	50	50	50
Secondary	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	55	55	55
Strathclyde	35	40	45	50	53	55	58	61
Tayside:
Primary	35	40	45	50	45	50	55	60
Secondary	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	50	n/a	n/a	n/a
Orkney:
Primary	35	35	40	50	50	50	55	60
Secondary	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Shetland	35	35	35	35	45	50	50	55
Western Isles	35	35	40	45	60	60	65	65

n/a = not available.

Pence
Education Authority	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Borders	50	50	50	55	60	65	65	70
Central	58	60	62	68	72	75	80	85
Dumfries and Galloway	61	60	60	¹65	¹65	¹65	³65	³65
	—	—	—	²55	²55	²55	⁴70	⁴70
	—	—	—	—	—	—	²55	—
Fife	50	50	50	60	n/a	60	65	65
Grampian:
Primary	60	63	n/a	n/a	n/a	83	87	87
Secondary	70	73	n/a	n/a	n/a	97	100	n/a
Highland	65	70	74	80	85	90	90	100
Lothian:
Primary	50	55	55	60	70	75	80	90
Secondary	55	60	60	65	75	80	90	100
Strathclyde	63	64	67	79	n/a	83	89	93
Tayside:
Primary	60	65	65	65	65	65	65	65
Secondary	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	70
Orkney:
Primary	60	60	70	70	70	70	70	80
Secondary	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	75	80	80	90
Shetland	60	60	65	75	75	80	85	90
Western Isles	65	70	70	70	75	80	85	n/a

n/a = not available.

¹ Standard meal.

² Mini-meal.

³ Primary.

⁴ Secondary.

School Meals

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each regional and island council in Scotland for each academic year since 1979–80 the average price of a school meal in (a) primary and (b) secondary schools. [11103]

The average cost to pupils of school meals is not collected centrally. Pupils can obtain either a fixed meal at a set charge or a cafeteria style meal for which the charge will vary depending on the individual pupil's choice. The table gives details of the fixed price meal charge levied by each education authority in each year since 1979. The level of the charge made is at the discretion of the education authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each regional and island council in Scotland and for each sub-division within the Strathclyde regional council area for each academic year since 1979–80 for (a) primary and (b) secondary schools (i) the total number of children in education, (ii) how many children are in receipt of free school meals and (iii) the percentage of children in receipt of free school meals. [11104]

Information on the uptake of free school meals for the school sessions 1979–80 to 1992–93 is not available for separate primary and secondary sectors. Information by sector has been collected only from 1993–94 school session onwards.

Table 1: Number of pupils in Education Authority primary schools at September in session
	Session
Education Authority	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	¹1985–86	¹1986–87
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	545,161	518,492	492,645	467,971	448,009	437,538	435,454	433,459
Borders	10,135	9,643	9,156	8,686	8,353	8,219	8,246	8,213
Central	29,737	28,559	27,258	25,850	24,897	24,287	24,158	23,754
Dumfries and Galloway	15,069	14,223	13,457	12,799	12,480	12,285	12,313	12,321
Fife	36,766	35,103	33,733	32,257	31,388	31,005	31,105	30,602
Grampian	49,831	48,352	47,128	45,767	43,827	43,274	43,156	42,941
Highland	22,000	21,275	20,568	19,822	19,460	19,168	19,290	19,394
Lothian	71,816	68,112	64,688	61,461	58,327	55,745	54,964	54,386
Strathclyde	261,721	247,143	232,691	219,231	208,934	204,311	203,521	203,337
Tayside	39,694	37,925	35,964	34,278	32,757	31,871	31,335	31,298
Orkney	2,000	1,923	1,886	1,910	1,910	1,866	1,825	1,826
Shetland	2,711	2,705	2,681	2,564	2,478	2,388	2,386	2,387
Western Isles	3,681	3,529	3,435	3,346	3,198	3,119	3,155	3,000
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	6,880	6,484	6,215	6,094	5,898	5,708	5,727	5,687
Ayr	43,074	40.924	38,380	36,045	34,686	33,927	33,711	33,689
Dunbarton	36,923	35,235	33,744	32,275	31,064	30,602	30,581	30,514
Glasgow	75,160	69,773	64,682	60,602	57,123	55,593	55,553	55,593
Lanark	60,175	57,303	54,284	50,743	48,491	47,324	46,941	46,884
Renfrew	39,509	37,424	35,386	33.472	31,672	31,157	31,008	30,970
¹Estimated figures due to teacher industrial action.

at September in session
	Session
Education Authority	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	430,919	432,760	437,072	440,591	440,808	438,974	438,401	438,011
Borders	8,164	8,327	8,411	8,525	8,520	8,551	8,613	8,610
Central	23,516	23,520	23,682	23,709	23,428	23,388	23,249	23,100
Dumfries and Galloway	12,302	12,405	12,733	12,848	12,772	12,936	12,882	12,820
Fife	30,554	30,555	30,908	31,206	31,188	31,140	31,082	30,965
Grampian	43,041	42,985	43,374	43,898	44,203	44,566	44,795	45,006
Highland	19,278	19,331	19,527	19,549	19,653	19,369	19,152	19,001
Lothian	54,363	54,588	55,201	55,898	56,270	56,560	57,514	58,007
Strathclyde	201,508	202,713	204,628	205,873	205,614	203,152	201,762	200,980
Tayside	31,108	31,375	31,769	32,312	32,467	32,658	32,684	32,846
Orkney	1,787	1,827	1,783	1,787	1,801	1,832	1,821	1,841
Shetland	2,370	2,338	2,257	2,230	2,244	2,189	2,206	2,231
Western Isles	2,928	2,796	2,799	2,756	2,648	2,633	2,641	2,604
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	5,721	5,705	5,742	5,770	5,664	5,375	5,402	5,389
Ayr	33,441	33,633	34,093	34,171	34,263	34,013	33,771	33,667
Dunbarton	30,321	30,281	30,396	30,505	30,244	29,663	29,332	29,161
Glasgow	54,759	55,307	55,887	56,588	56,985	56,699	56,303	55,846
Lanark	46,355	46,565	47,067	47,171	46,702	45,875	45,328	45,043
Renfrew	30,911	31,222	31,443	31,668	31,756	31,527	31,626	31,874

The following tables show at table 1—the number of pupils registered in education authority primary schools; table 2—the number of pupils registered in education authority secondary schools; table 3—the total number of pupils in education authority schools, including nursery and special schools, taking free school meals at the annual January census; table 4—the percentage of all pupils in education authority schools, including nursery and special schools, taking free meals at the annual January census; and table 5—the numbers and percentages of primary and secondary pupils taking free school meals for the 1993–94 and 1994–95 school sessions.

Table 2: Number of pupils in Education Authority secondary schools at September in session
	Session
Education Authority	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	¹1985–86	¹1986–87
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	410,242	407,844	404,575	399,075	390,368	376,071	360,645	344,369
Borders	7,351	7,411	7,423	7,501	7,417	7,140	6,907	6,684
Central	22,236	22,283	22,209	21,910	21,479	20,866	20,120	19,300
Dumfries and Galloway	11,403	11,611	11,838	11,814	11,569	11,181	10,747	10,204
Fife	26,624	26,792	26,847	26,665	26,194	25,208	24,371	23,606
Grampian	34,471	34,444	34,603	34,866	35,366	34,635	34,216	33,247
Highland	16,113	16,128	16,119	16,021	15,958	15,629	15,183	14,853
Lothian	52,720	52,316	51,515	50,240	48,981	47,685	45,415	43,328
Strathclyde	203,995	201,712	198,957	195,428	189,219	180,499	171,505	162,258
Tayside	29,666	29,248	29,064	28,667	28,131	27,293	26,388	25,221
Orkney	1,496	1,541	1,521	1,496	1,464	1,443	1,414	1,376
Shetland	1,618	1,631	1,702	1,715	1,797	1,760	1,740	1,709
Western Isles	2,549	2,727	2,777	2,752	2,793	2,732	2,639	2,583
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	4,881	5,073	5,080	5,183	5,065	4,940	4,797	4,518
Ayr	31,467	31,607	31,710	31,627	30,927	29,954	28,615	27,322
Dunbarton	27,448	27,333	27,320	26,884	26,331	25,562	24,797	24,072
Glasgow	61,666	59,690	57,665	55,438	52,752	48,540	44,959	41,184
Lanark	47,445	47,280	47,016	46,644	45,072	43,308	41,088	39,026
Renfrew	31,088	30,729	30,166	29,652	29,072	28,195	27,249	162,258
¹Estimated figures due to teacher industrial action.

at September in session
	Session
Education authority	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	327,056	311,563	298,453	293,569	296,455	303,056	311,255	314,904
Borders	6,326	5,990	5,846	5,814	5,905	5,989	6,182	6,296
Central	18,379	17,641	16,817	16,537	16,699	17,017	17,212	17,285
Dumfries and Galloway	9,802	9,345	9,015	8,889	8,922	9,105	9,400	9,464
Fife	22,454	21,727	21,026	21,035	21,247	21,652	22,413	22,699
Grampian	31,790	30,831	29,589	29,402	29,988	30,610	31,386	31,831
Highland	14,348	14,043	13,663	13,640	14,015	14,516	14,995	15,212
Lothian	41,187	39,132	37,361	35,988	36,091	36,647	37,641	38,020
Strathclyde	153,292	144,548	137,574	135,040	136,193	139,722	143,606	145,307
Tayside	24,001	22,985	22,272	21,962	22,045	22,380	22,986	23,343
Orkney	1,338	1,281	1,332	1,329	1,386	1,412	1,448	1,439
Shetland	1,663	1,643	1,623	1,635	1,651	1,757	1,761	1,766
Western Isles	2,476	2,397	2,335	2,298	2,303	2,249	2,225	2,242
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	4,421	4,255	4,098	4,013	4,083	4,092	4,180	4,244
Ayr	26,182	25,004	23,815	23,351	23,330	23,855	24,622	25,028
Dunbarton	22,918	22,375	21,638	21,216	21,527	22,465	22,927	23,256
Glasgow	37,907	34,623	32,303	31,594	31,659	32,140	32,728	32,993
Lanark	37,074	34,889	33,085	32,561	32,969	33,805	34,933	35,335
Renfrew	24,790	23,402	22,635	22,305	22,625	23,365	24,216	24,451

Table 3: Number of pupils in Education Authority schools taking free school meals at January in session
	Session
Education Authority	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	¹1985–86	¹1986–87
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	122,618	114,711	124,547	132,953	129,335	136,669	136,627	143,194
Borders	1,365	773	966	1,097	1,113	1,136	1,065	1,203
Central	4,708	5,084	5,853	6,584	6,443	7,311	6,975	8,046
Dumfries and Galloway	2,851	2,017	2,265	2,705	2,718	2,765	2,950	2,826
Fife	6,443	6,146	6,935	7,263	6,719	8,639	8,172	9,025
Grampian	5,935	3,225	3,709	4,117	4,318	4,704	4,800	5,593
Highland	3,674	2,339	2,813	3,415	3,438	4,312	4,355	4,643
Lothian	14,655	13,162	14,145	12,854	12,413	14,201	13,711	14,689
Strathclyde	72,881	74,565	79,406	85,426	82,348	84,096	84,659	87,362

Table 3: Number of pupils in Education Authority schools taking free school meals at January in session
	Session
Education Authority	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	¹1985–86	¹1986–87
Tayside	8,208	5,610	6,597	7,380	7,702	7,854	8,154	7,921
Orkney	385	412	389	520	512	477	429	438
Shetland	155	163	189	183	236	246	232	270
Western Isles	1,358	1,215	1,280	1,409	1,375	928	1,125	1,178
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	1,497	1,336	1,443	1,563	1,525	1,469	1,510	1,560
Ayr	10,592	10,579	10,801	12,295	12,690	13,202	12,540	13,266
Dunbarton	5,734	5,823	6,838	7,972	7,385	8,103	8,622	9,340
Glasgow	31,743	32,913	34,156	36,045	33,791	33,947	34,059	34,671
Lanark	15,135	15,885	16,631	17,172	17,316	16,959	16,759	16,823
Renfrew	8,180	8,029	9,537	10,379	9,641	10,416	11,169	11,702
¹Contains some estimated data.

at January in session
	Session
Education Authority	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	145,219	105,232	99,303	101,915	107,186	107,709	121,479	121,123
Borders	1,184	522	779	650	751	683	721	750
Central	7,740	5,448	4,985	5,170	5,402	5,476	5,931	6,176
Dumfries and Galloway	2,994	1,755	1,656	1,769	1,889	2,017	2,102	2,155
Fife	8,927	6,227	6,123	6,432	7,017	7,080	8,065	8,283
Grampian	5,967	4,068	4,099	4,375	5,177	5,695	5,721	6,182
Highland	4,960	3,395	2,967	2,881	3,024	3,270	4,015	3,918
Lothian	15,773	12,219	11,710	12,330	12,857	13,551	15,190	15,358
Strathclyde	87,147	63,905	59,853	61,169	63,682	62,436	71,981	70,595
Tayside	8,720	6,562	6,121	6,199	6,396	6,520	6,732	6,723
Orkney	432	193	183	179	208	201	220	232
Shetland	263	146	142	160	210	226	236	250
Western Isles	1,112	792	685	601	573	554	565	501
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	1,555	950	861	896	1,040	1,150	1,224	1,210
Ayr	12,899	8,718	8,512	8,887	9,460	9,942	10,451	10,016
Dunbarton	9,027	6,806	6,046	6,184	6,486	6,477	7,568	7,595
Glasgow	35,337	27,053	25,188	26,243	27,093	25,040	29,948	29,196
Lanark	16,585	11,450	10,865	10,861	11,137	11,843	13,663	13,660
Renfrew	11,744	8,928	8,381	8,098	8,466	7,984	9,127	8,918

Table 4: Percentage of pupils in Education Authority schools taking. free school meals at January in session
	Session
Education Authority	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	¹1985–86	¹1986–87
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	14.0	13.2	15.1	16.3	17.1	18.2	18.6	19.6
Borders	8.4	4.8	6.5	7.3	7.6	8.1	7.7	8.7
Central	9.9	10.6	13.0	14.8	15.2	17.6	17.1	19.5
Dumfries and Galloway	11.8	8.4	10.1	12.0	12.4	13.3	13.8	14.1
Fife	10.7	10.3	12.1	12.8	12.8	16.4	15.4	16.9
Grampian	7.5	4.1	5.0	5.6	5.9	6.5	6.8	7.9
Highland	10.4	6.8	8.4	10.2	10.8	13.3	13.4	15.0
Lothian	12.6	11.5	13.0	12.1	12.5	14.2	14.2	15.3
Strathclyde	17.3	18.0	20.3	22.1	23.4	24.1	24.8	25.7
Tayside	12.7	8.6	10.4	11.9	13.5	13.7	15.1	15.1
Orkney	11.9	13.0	13.7	15.9	16.0	15.3	14.8	14.4
Shetland	3.9	4.0	4.6	4.5	5.9	6.3	5.9	6.9
Western Isles	23.6	20.9	23.4	25.7	24.5	17.4	21.9	23.7
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	14.1	12.6	13.9	15.3	15.7	15.3	16.1	16.9
Ayr	15.5	15.9	17.6	19.6	21.3	22.9	22.1	23.4
Dunbarton	9.9	10.2	12.5	14.8	15.1	15.6	17.0	18.1
Glasgow	26.2	27.1	30.0	32.6	35.0	35.9	36.6	38.5
Lanark	15.7	16.7	18.4	19.2	21.1	21.2	21.8	21.6
Renfrew	12.5	12.6	15.7	17.3	17.6	19.0	20.6	21.7

at January in session
	Session
Education Authority	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Sector	All	All	All	All	All	All	All	All
Scotland	19.9	14.8	14.1	14.6	15.4	15.7	16.7	16.6
Borders	8.5	3.8	5.7	4.7	5.5	4.9	5.1	5.1
Central	18.9	14.1	12.8	13.5	14.3	14.4	14.8	15.6
Dumfries and Galloway	14.5	8.8	8.1	8.8	9.4	9.9	9.7	10.1
Fife	16.9	12.0	12.0	12.6	13.7	14.0	15.1	15.2
Grampian	8.3	5.7	5.3	6.1	7.5	8.0	7.7	8.2
Highland	15.8	11.1	9.5	9.4	9.8	10.5	12.4	12.0
Lothian	16.6	13	12.8	13.6	14.0	14.9	15.5	15.8
Strathclyde	25.8	19.4	18.8	19.2	20.1	20.4	21.8	21.7
Tayside	16.4	12.5	11.9	11.9	12.2	12.2	12.9	12.1
Orkney	14.5	6.6	6.1	6.0	6.9	6.3	7.0	6.9
Shetland	6.8	3.8	3.8	4.1	5.6	5.9	6.1	6.2
Western Isles	22.9	18.0	14.7	13.1	12.3	12.6	12.1	11.2
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	16.4	10.4	9.6	9.9	11.6	13.5	13.8	13.5
Ayr	22.5	15.8	15.9	16.5	17.5	19.7	19.5	18.8
Dunbarton	17.6	13.5	12.3	12.9	13.7	13.3	15.5	15.6
Glasgow	39.6	31.7	30.9	31.5	32.4	32.2	34.0	34.1
Lanark	21.4	15.3	14.9	14.8	15.6	17.0	17.9	18.1
Renfrew	22.1	16.6	16.3	15.9	16.6	15.8	16.8	16.5

Number of pupils in education authority schools taking free school meals at January in session
	Session
	1993–94				1994–95
	Primary		Secondary		Primary		Secondary
Education Authority	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
Scotland	84,970	20.5	30,286	11.3	84,645	20.6	30,578	11.3
Borders	578	7.0	130	2.4	590	7.1	137	2.4
Central	4,155	19.0	1,312	8.7	4,219	19.5	1,505	10.2
Dumfries and Galloway	1,539	12.6	546	6.4	1,599	13.1	540	6.5
Fife	5,642	19.1	1,951	10.1	5,832	19.9	2,018	9.7
Grampian	4,174	9.8	1,295	4.8	4,378	10.3	1,487	5.3
Highland	2,797	15.4	1,107	8.3	2,747	15.2	1,085	7.9
Lothian	10,951	19.9	3,200	9.8	10,963	19.9	3,361	10.4
Strathclyde	49,664	26.3	19,058	15.6	48,805	26.3	18,677	15.3
Tayside	4,786	15.4	1,392	7.4	4,868	15.6	1,484	7.4
Orkney	158	9.2	47	3.8	161	8.9	46	3.5
Shetland	174	8.4	47	3.0	180	8.5	53	3.3
Western Isles	352	14.0	201	9.4	303	12.2	185	9.3
Strathclyde Divisions:
Argyll and Bute	806	15.8	396	10.8	776	15.2	410	10.9
Ayr	7,325	23.0	2,832	13.3	7,343	23.3	2,466	11.6
Dunbarton	4,891	17.8	2,313	12.3	4,771	17.5	2,559	13.2
Glasgow	21,158	41.2	7,035	26.4	20,656	41.5	6,708	25.6
Lanark	9,435	22.1	3,737	12.3	9,355	22.1	3,821	12.5
Renfrew	6,049	20.2	2,745	12.9	5,904	19.9	2,713	12.8

1. Contains some estimated data.

Schools Development Programme

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to require the provision of resource material relating to leaving home education as part of the social development programme in schools. [11177]

The Government have no plans to require the provision of such material. In 1993, the Scottish Office education department published national guidelines on personal and social development 5–14. Among other things the aims of this document include helping pupils to develop life skills to enable them to participate effectively and safely in society and to take increasing responsibility for their own lives. This document provides a basis for school managers to include leaving home education in the curriculum if they should consider it to be appropriate for their schools.

Housing Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to instruct Scottish Homes to take steps to (a) provide funding for and (b) promote a national housing education development unit. [11178]

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to do so.

Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many (a) men and (b) women from (i) the Irish

	Postgraduate		Undergraduate		Total
	Irish Republic	Northern Ireland	Irish Republic	Northern Ireland	Irish Republic	Northern Ireland
Male	104	19	542	234	646	253
Female	102	15	417	279	519	294
Total	206	34	959	513	1,165	547

Parole

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he held in respect of, and what estimate he has made of the costs of, the parole restrictions on early release which he recently announced. [11636]

My right hon. Friend is consulting now on his proposals for changes to the arrangements governing the early release of prisoners in Scotland. A consultation document—"Making the Punishment Fit the Crime"—was published on 15 January and has been circulated to a wide range of interested parties in Scotland. We look forward to receiving responses which have been requested by 15 March.In the light of responses, we shall then publish a White Paper containing specific proposals and an assessment of the financial implications.

Health Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the capital allocations to (i) Scottish health boards, (ii) national health service trusts, (iii) the Common Services Agency and (iv) the state hospital in each of the most recent five years. [11199]

The information is detailed in the table:

£000
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Health Boards	214,292	112,216	27,680	9,398	13,155
NHS Trusts	13,416	77,632	159,075	203,297	194,380
CSA	21,673	17,403	19,420	6,800	2,930
State Hospital	5,388	3,053	4,435	6,280	4,715
Total	254,769	210,304	210,610	225,775	215,180

Efficiency Savings (Health Boards)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the efficiency savings targets, expressed both in percentage and cash terms, set for Scottish health boards in each year since they were first introduced. [11147]

The information is set out in the table: Republic and (ii) Northern Ireland were studying at universities at the latest date for which figures are available as (1) undergraduates and (2) graduate students. [11516]

The latest available, but provisional, figures are for those studying at Scottish higher education institutions in 1994–95, and are as follows:

Year	Target Percentage	Efficiency savings target £000
1985–86	1	13,488
1986–87	1.5	21,600
1987–88	1	15,554
1988–89	1	17,259
1989–90	2	37,003
1990–91	1	20,051
1991–92	1	22,620
1992–93	1	24,191
1993–94	2	48,629
1994–95	2	50,584
1995–96	2.75	71,386
1996–97	3	83,000
Total		425,365

The savings made from efficiency measures are all retained by health boards to enable them to make further improvements in patient care.

Housing Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was for each district and islands council area for each of the years between 1989–90 and 1994–95, the total public expenditure within the Scottish Homes approved development programme by (a) housing association for rent, (b) housing association shared ownership, (c) housing association improvement for sale, (d) grants for rent and ownership grant for rent and (e) grants for rent and ownership grant for home ownership; [11598](2) what is the average per unit cost of land acquisition for rural schemes within Scottish Homes approved development programme of housing association grant for rent in the years 1992–93 to 1994–95; and what proportion of total average scheme costs was accounted for by land acquisition; [11610](3) what was for each district and island council area for each of the years 1992–93 to 1994–95

(a) the number of rural home ownership grants awarded by Scottish Homes and (b) the expenditure on rural home ownership grants; [11599]

(4) how many dwelling completions there were for each district and islands council area for each of the years between 1989–90 and 1994–95 inclusive within the Scottish Homes approved development programme

by (a) housing association for rent, (b) housing association shared ownership, (c) housing association improvement for sale, (d) grants for rent and ownership grant for rent and (e) grants for rent and ownership for home ownership. [11611]

The information requested is a matter for Scottish Homes. I have asked its chairman, Sir James Mellon, to write to the hon. Member.

Environmentally Sensitive Areas

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved since designation in the Shetland islands environmentally sensitive area. [11169]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: As at 19 January 1996, 84 farmers and crofters have been offered agreements under the Shetland islands environmentally sensitive area scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved, since designation, in the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area. [11170]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: As at 19 January 1996, 123 farmers and crofters have been offered agreements under the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved in the Shetland islands environmentally sensitive area, since its designation, involving payments under tier 2 in year 1 of the plan of (a) 0 to £1,000, (b) £1,001 to £2,000 and (c) £2,001 to £3,000. [11171]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The number of agreements offered under the Shetland islands environmentally sensitive area scheme involving payments under tier 2 in year 1 of the plan is as follows:

	Number
(a) 0 to £1,000	44
(b) £1,001 to £2,000	21
(c) £2,001 to £3,000	19

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm conservation plans have been approved in the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area, since its designation, involving payments under tier 2 in year 1 of the plan of (a) 0 to £1,000, (b) £1,001 to £2,000, (c) £2,001 to £3,000 and (d) £3,001 to £3,500. [11172]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The number of agreements offered under the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area scheme involving payments under tier 2 in year 1 of the plan is as follows:

	Number
(a) 0 to £1,000	9
(b) £1,001 to £2,000	12
(c) £2,001 to £3,000	10
(d) £3,001 to £3,500	92

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total area of land entered into the grassland birds management option in the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area. [11173]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: As at 19 January 1996, the total area of land entered into the grassland birds management option in agreements offered under the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area scheme was 292.48 hectares.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the allocated budget for (a) environmentally sensitive areas and (b) other agri-environment schemes in (i) 1992–93, (ii) 1993–94 and (iii) 1994–95. [11174]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The supply estimates provision for (a) the environmentally sensitive area scheme and (b) other agri-environment schemes is set out in the following table.

£ million
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Environmentally sensitive areas	3.905	5.285	4.500
Other agri-environment schemes	—	0.050	0.095

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total area of grass for hay and silage recorded in the June agricultural census within the boundary of the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area. [11175]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: In 1994, the total area of grass for mowing for hay and silage production within the boundary of the Argyll islands environmentally sensitive area was 4,129.9 hectares. This figure includes an estimate for minor holdings.

Media Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what contracts have been awarded by the Scottish Office to monitor media coverage in Scotland over the past three years; to whom the contracts have been awarded; what were the dates on which they were approved; and what are their durations and their value. [7272]

[holding answer 20 December 1995]: No such contracts have been awarded. Tenders have been invited for the provision of a press cuttings service; the deadline for submission is 5 January 1996.

Optoelectronics

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many workers are employed in the optoelectronics industry in Scotland; and what action he is taking to encourage the transfer of research findings from Scottish universities into high-tech companies. [7266]

[holding answer 20 December 1995]: The Scottish register of employment shows that 41.800 persons were employed in electronics in 1993. The register does not take account of companies with fewer than 11 employees and there is no separate category for optoelectronics. A survey carried out in 1992 by Scottish Enterprise estimated that there were at that time 1,300 people employed in optoelectronics in Scotland.

There are a number of schemes available to assist collaborative research, product development and transfer of technology and skill. These include the SMART and SPUR schemes administered by my Department, and LINK and the teaching company scheme for which the Department of Trade and Industry has lead responsibility. The issue of how to improve the commercial exploitation of academic research is being addressed in an inquiry being undertaken by Scottish Enterprise and the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Transport

Rail Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list management and management employee buyout teams which have received funding from the British Railways Board for advisory costs as qualified bidders for train operating franchises, indicating which private companies collaborated in each bid; and how much funding was received; [11712](2) what was the total amount of funding made available by the British Railways Board to management and management-employee buy-out teams for

(a) financial advice in the pre-qualification stage of bidding for train operating franchises and (b) advisory costs as qualified bidders for train operating franchises; and how much of this funding was provided to consortia including private companies; [11711]

(3) if he will list the management and management employee buyout teams which have received funding from the British Railways Board for financial advice in the pre-qualification stage of bidding for train operating franchises, indicating which private companies collaborated in each bid; and how much funding was received. [11710]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Crewe and Nantwich (Mrs. Dunwoody) on 9 January, Official Report, column 28.

Ferries

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the speed with which an Indonesian ferry capsized on 20 January; and what design characteristics this vessel shared with ferries operating from United Kingdom ports. [11753]

The Government have made no formal assessment of the accident because it did not involve a United Kingdom-flagged ship and did not occur in United Kingdom waters.

Bicycle Lights (Epilepsy)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated in the last five years into the effects on drivers who suffer from epilepsy of LED bicycle lights. [11869]

None. We are, however, in the process of initiating a research project to look into the effects of flashing LED bicycle lights.

Networker Trains

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received recently regarding the safety of Networker trains on the South Eastern trains network; and if he will make a statement. [11940]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the safety implications of locking connecting compartment doors on Networker trains on the South Eastern trains network; and if he will make a statement. [11941]

Certain Networker, class 465, trains were withdrawn from service following an incident at the Slade Green depot in south east London, in which a train separated whilst undergoing maintenance. These trains are being examined and will be returned to service only if their couplings are found to be in a satisfactory condition for use without restrictions, such as the locking of connecting compartment doors.The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has requested the result of these examinations and will discuss the remedial measures to be implemented.

Socially Necessary Rail Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the criteria for determining that a rail service is essential for the purposes of designation as a socially necessary service; and if he will make a statement. [11973]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 22 January, Official Report, columns, 28–9. The Secretary of State's instructions to the franchising director require him to develop specific criteria for evaluating the benefits of loss-making but socially necessary services. These criteria are being developed and will be submitted to the Secretary of State for his approval in due course.

Departmental Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the annual telephone costs to (a) his Department, (b) his Department's agencies and (c) his Department's non-departmental public bodies staff for each of the years (i) 1979–80, (ii) 1989–90, (iii) 1991–92, (iv) 1993–94, (v) 1994–.95, (vi) 1995–96 and (vii) 1996–97; and if internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas of (a) to (c). [11350]

[holding answer 25 January 1996]: The answer is as follows:

		(a) £	(b) £
(iii) 1991–92	Actual	5,389,147	3,722,495
(iv) 1993–94	Actual	5,747,307	4.439,161

		(a)£	(b)£
(v) 1994–95	Actual	5,621,188	4,158,987
(vi) 1995—96	Forecast	5,357,874	4,271,187
(vii) 1996—97	Estimate	5,323,600	4,277,700

The information requested for earlier years (i) and (ii) and for non-departmental public bodies (c) is not available.

Internal telephone directories are available to staff in all areas.

Heavy Goods Vehicle Testing

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for the last year for which records are available (i) the number of heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes which were given an annual inspection for road worthiness, (ii) for how many of these it was the first test, (iii) what were the 10 most common test failures by (a) numbers and (b) percentage of the total, (iv) how many vehicles failed on re-test (y) in total and (z) as a percentage, (v) how many of the failures related to braking (a) in total and (b) as a percentage and (vi) of brake failures how many were in respect of (1) service brakes, (2) secondary brakes, (3) parking brakes and (4) brake components and how many were determined (A) visually and (B) otherwise; what consideration he has give to reducing the period between tests; and if he will make a statement. [11694]

[holding answer, 25 January 1996]: The tables show:

Table 1 The total number of heavy goods vehicles tested in 1994–95
Table 2 (a) The 10 most common failure items in each category for motor vehicles
Table 2 (b) The 10 most common failure items in each category for trailers
Table 3 the number of vehicles failing retests and the percentage failure rates
Table 4 the total number of failures for each braking item and the percentage failure rates.

There are no plans for more frequent testing. The existing system is effective in relying on three complementary forms of control: roadworthiness testing,

Table 4: The total numbers of failures for each braking item and the percentage failure rates
Testable item	Failures far braking items
	Motor vehicles		Trailers
	Failure rate percentage	Number of failures	Failure rate percentage	Number of failures
Trailer emergency brake	Not applicable	—	0.042	95
Pressure/vacuum warning	0.364	1,629	Not applicable	—
Build up of pressure/vacuum	0.146	654	Not applicable	—
Hand lever operating mechanical brakes	0.033	148	Not applicable	—
Service brake pedal	0.052	233	Not applicable	—

operator licensing and its maintenance conditions; and enforcement checks carried out both at the roadside and in operators' premises.

Table 1a: The total numbers of heavy goods vehicles tested in 1994–95, (the last full year for which figures are available)
Type	Total tests	First and annual tests	Retests
Motor vehicles	573,074	447,660	125,414
Trailers	267,443	225,648	41,795

Separate figures are not available for First Test volumes but estimated volumes are 48,000 for motor vehicles and 16,000 for trailers.

These figures are for all Heavy Goods Vehicles subject to testing under the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988.

Table 2a: The 10 most common failure items in each category for motor vehicles
Motor vehicles
Testable item	Number failed	Percentage failure rate
Headlamp aim	49,064	10.960
Service brake performance	48,450	10.823
Secondary brake performance	33,785	7.547
Parking brake performance	21,076	4.708
Braking systems components	19,921	4.450
Rear position lamps/fog lamps	19,357	4.324
Direction and hazard warning lamps	12,087	2.700
Steering linkage	7,955	1.777
Exhaust emissions	7,042	1.573
Suspension pins/bushes	7,006	1.565

Table 2b: The 10 most common.failure items for each category for trailers
Trailers
Testable item	Number failed	Percentage failure rate
Service brake performance	22,470	9.958
Parking brake performance	15,439	6.842
Braking system components	6,699	2.969
Rear position lamps/fog lamps	5,018	2.224
Trailer parking brake	3,112	1.379
Mechanical brake components	2,778	1.231
Suspension units (attachment)	2,306	1.022
Condition of tyres	2,207	0.978
Stop lamps	2,026	0.898
Reflectors	1,925	0.853

Table 3: The numbers of vehicles. failing retests and the percentage failure rates
Type	Number of retests	Number of failures	Percentage failure rate
Motor vehicles	125,414	17,308	13.80
Trailers	41,795	5,668	I3.56

Table 4: The total numbers of failures for each braking item and the percentage failure rates
Testable item	Failures for braking items
	Motor vehicles		Trailers
	Failure rate percentage	Number of failures	Failure rate percentage	Number of failures
Service brake operation	0.053	237	0.454	1,024
Hand operated brake control valves	0.177	792	0.038	86
Mechanical brake components	0.937	4,195	1.233	2,782
Brake actuators	0.624	2,793	0.768	1,733
Braking system and components	4.452	19,930	2.971	6,704
Trailer parking brake	Not applicable	—	1.380	3,114
Service brake performance	10.822	48,446	9.958	22,470
Secondary brake performance	7.549	33,794	Not applicable	0
Parking brake performance	4.708	21,076	6.844	15,443

These figures relate to first and annual tests. Detailed figures on failures for retests are not available.

It should be noted that the figures relate to the number of vehicles failing for a particular item. In many cases vehicles will fail for more than one item.

The inspection for all items other than brake performance—(the last three items in the table—is essentially a visual inspection. The brake performance is determined with the use of a roller brake tester.

Training Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money has been allocated to the crew relief costs scheme, the Government assistance for training scheme for British officer trainees and the development certificated seafarers scheme for 1996. [12467]

Allocation for the financial year 1996–97 have yet to be finalised.

Marine Safety Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many surveyors have left the Marine Safety Agency in the last year; and how many have been recruited. [12194]

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

Letter from R. Bradley to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 26 January 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your Question about the number of surveyors who have left the Marine Safety Agency and the number who have been recruited in the last year.

Between 1 January and 31 December 1995, 22 surveyors left the Agency, and 9 new recruits joined. A recent recruitment campaign for marine surveyors selected 20 successful applicants. These will be appointed to current vacancies, and any forthcoming vacancies over the next year.

Lorry Drivers (Convictions)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action his Department takes in respect of British lorry drivers who are convicted in other member states of the European Union of carrying prohibited substances or articles of which they claim to have no knowledge. [12096]

Such matters are the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs advises that any British citizen convicted of an offence in a foreign country will have full access to normal consular support. However, the British consulate has no authority to interfere with the due process of law in a sovereign state.

Sites Of Special Scientific Interest

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which sites of special scientific interest in England will he affected by trunk road and motorway schemes for which preferred routes have been announced. [11229]

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

Letter from Laurie Haynes to Mr. Graham Allen, dated 26 January 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) in England that will be affected by trunk road and motorways schemes for which preferred routes have been announced.

I enclose a list of Trunk Road and Motorway schemes in England, for which preferred routes have been announced, that are likely to involve permanent or temporary landtake from a SSSI, a list of schemes that may have an impact on a SSSI but do not involve landtake and a list of those schemes which remain under review following the 1995 Review which may affect a SSSI.

You will, I hope, appreciate that the lists are therefore dynamic and will be subject to change as, and when, scheme, designs are developed.

I hope this is helpful.

Schemes which may involve permanent or temporary landtake from SSSIs
Scheme	SSSI
ROAD PROGRAMME SCHEMES:
Main programme:
M4/M49 Second Severn Crossing¹	Magor and Undy Severn Estuary
M5 Widening J18–19¹	Severn Estuary
M6 J20–21a Widening¹	Woolston Eyes
A13 Thames Avenue—Wennington¹	Inner Thames Marshes
A249 M2—Iwade Bypass¹	The Swale
A34 Newbury Bypass²	Snelsmore Common
	Kennet River
	Lambourne River
A1(M) Ferrybridge to Hook Moor	Brockade
A2/M2 Cobham—J4 Widening	Shorne and Ashenbank Woods
	Cobham Woods
A2/A282 Dartford Improvement	Darenth Wood
A31 Poole Harbour Crossing	Poole Harbour (Holes Bay)

Schemes which may involve permanent or temporary landtake from SSSIs
Scheme	SSSI
A31 Poole Link Road	Slop Bog and Uddens Heath
	Canford Heath
A43 Geddington Bypass	River Ise and Meadows
A120 Stanstead to Braintree	High Wood, Dunmow
(S. 272)
A249 Iwade—Queensbrough	The SwaleMedway Estuary and
	Marshes
A259 Bexhill and Hastings	Combe Haven
Western Bypass	Pevensey Levels
	Marline Valley Woods
A259 Pevensey—Bexhill	Pevensey Levels
Improvement
Birmingham Northern Relief	Chasewater Heath
Road
Longer term:
A5 Dunstable Eastern Bypass	Blows Down
A35 Chideock-Morcombelake	Morcombelake West Dorset
Bypass	Coast
A259 Dymchurch—M20	Lympne Escampment (The
Improvement	Roughs)
A259 Rye Bypass	Walland Marsh
	Camber Sands and Rye
	Saltings
	Rye Harbour
A449/A456 Kidderminster,	Hurcott and Podmore Pools
Blakedown and Hagley
Bypass
NETWORK ENHANCEMENT
PROGRAMME:
A13 West of Heathway—Mar	The Wennington and Rainham
Dyke	Marshes
A46 Upper Swainswick—	Monkswood Valley
Pennsylvania Improvement³
¹ Scheme under construction on 30 November 1995.
² Scheme expected to start main works during Spring of 1996.
³ This scheme was transferred to the Network Enhancement Programme as part of the 1995 Review and the Preferred Route will be reviewed.

Schemes with possible indirect impacts on SSSIs which do not involve landtake
Scheme	SSSI
ROAD PROGRAMME SCHEMES:
Schemes which are part of Design Build Finance and Operate Contracts:
M1—A1 Lofthouse-Bramham	Hook Moor
A21 Kipping's Cross-	Brookland Wood
Lamberhurst
A65 Hellifield and Long Preston	Long Preston Deeps
Bypass	Pan Beck Fen
A303 Wylye-Stackton Wood	Stackton Wood and Down
A419 Latton Bypass	North Meadow, Cricklade
	River Churn
Main programme:
A1(M) Ferrybridge-Hook Moor	Fairburn and Newton Ings
A57/A628 Mottram Tintwistle	Dark Peak
Bypass
A303 lllminster-Marsh	Long Lye
A556(M) M6–M56 Imp	Rostherne Mere
Birmingham Northern Relief	River Blythe
Road
Longer Term:
A5 Dunstable Bypass	Houghton Regis Marl Lakes
A10 Wadesmill High Cross-	Plashes Wood
Colliers End Bypass

Schemes with possible indirect impacts on SSS/s which do not involve landtake
Scheme	SSSI
Western Orbital Route	Hurcott Pools
(Birmingham)
NETWORK ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME:
A3 Thursley to Milford	Thursley Hankley and Frencham
	Commons

Schemes under review which may involve temporary or permanent landtake from SSSIs or with possible indirect impacts on SSS/s which do not involve landtake
Scheme	SSSI
ROAD PROGRAMME SCHEMES:
M6 J11a-16 Widening	Doxey and Tillington (Indirect)
A27 Lewes to Polegate	Southern Grey Pit
Improvement	(Possible Landtake)
	Milton Gate Marsh
	(Possible Landtake)

West Coast Main Line

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the minimum requirements for the refurbishment of the west coast main line (a) for signals, (b) for track and (c) for rolling stock. [11632]

Railtrack is developing modernisation proposals for the west coast main line which include the introduction of an in-cab signalling system and improved track and power supply equipment. All enhancements will be carried out in accordance with Railtrack's statutory duties, its rigorous safety standards, and its contractual obligations to the train operating companies. All new or altered works, which includes rolling stock, have to he approved by HM railways inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State, under the Railway and Other Transport Systems (Approval of Works Plant and Equipment) Regulations 1994, before they can be used on the railway.

Defence

F16 Aircraft

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Deputy Prime Minister concerning the proposed leasing of American F16 aircraft. [12115]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 15 January, Official Report, column 430. Discussions between Ministers are confidential.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the remit of Mr. David Hart in respect of providing advice on the proposed leasing of American F16 aircraft. [12116]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 October 1995, Official Report, column 360, and that from my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 15 January, Official Report, column 430.

Super-Computers

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the name and addresses of the independent advisers appointed by him, or by the relevant agency, in the procurement of (a) the department of experimentation and research into Aviation Farnborough's most current super-computer, (b) the Meteorological Office Bracknell's current super-computer and (c) the atomic weapons establishment Aldermaston's recent super-computer. [12157]

The competition for a super-computer for the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston is being run by the AWE operating contractor. It is being assisted in the competition by an independent consultancy company, details of which are commercially confidential.The Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Meteorological Office are executive agencies and matters of this nature fall to their chief executives. I have asked the chief executives of both agencies to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from John Chisholm to Mr. Michael Stern, dated 26 January 1996:

I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the appointment of independent advisors on procuring supercomputers. I am responsible for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) which through its Defence Research Agency (DRA) division has recently procured a supercomputer at Farnborough, Hampshire.

The procurement of a massively parallel supercomputer by DERA acting on behalf of the members of the Farnborough Supercompter Centre (FSC) followed from a feasibility study carried out by Smith System Engineering Limited, Surrey Research Park, Guildford, Surrey GU12 5YP.

The FSC, which was opened in January 1995, is a Dual-Use Technology Centre (DUTC) with members from leading defence manufacturers together with DERA.

I hope this information is helpful.

Letter from Julian Hunt to Mr. Michael Stern; dated 25 January 1996:

I am replying to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the procurement of the Meteorological Office's current supercomputers this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Meteorological Office.

The Meteorological Office's current supercomputer has been procured in accordance with normal Ministry of Defence practice. The procurement was agreed with the Department's DGICS organisation, in the course of which advice was taken from appropriate independent sources.

The identity of the provider of the relevant advice must remain commercially confidential.

Nuclear Tests

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the United States Department of Energy will share with the United Kingdom the data derived from the planned subcritical nuclear tests, Rebound (1) and Holog (1). [11720]

Rebound (1) and Holog (1) are the names which have been given to subcritical hydrodynamic experiments planned by the US for later this year. As regards the arrangements allowing for the exchange of nuclear weapons-related information, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 23 November, 1995, Official Report, column 261.

Surplus Equipment Sales

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence under what conditions tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mobile guns are sold to private individuals and dealers; and how many have been sold in each of the past five years. [12200]

Current practice is to scrap surplus tanks and armoured personnel carriers. A limited number have been sold recently in a restricted access auction. Mobile guns are not now sold to individuals and dealers, and the majority of declarations have been the subject of a Government-to-Government sale. Previously, armoured vehicles have been sold by invitation to tender to approved individuals and traders, including collectors and museums; to UK defence companies; or they have been scrapped.Where fighting vehicles normally carry armaments of any sort, the status of the final user will determine whether the vehicle is deactivated or not. Only those individuals or companies, including scrap dealers in the UK, who hold an appropriate licence under the Firearms Act 1968 may receive an active vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicles are demilitarised, (and officially certified or confirmed as such) in such a way as to render their ordnance unserviceable or inoperative—by barrel slotting, breach cutting/welding etc. The acquisition of parts which are essential to a weapon being fully operative are themselves the subject of the Firearms Act and current departmental policy is not to offer them for sale within the UK. Vehicles sold on the express condition that they are to be broken up or smelted are subject to confirmation that this has been done.Buyers of MOD's vehicles for other purposes are required to formally seek my Department's permission before on-selling.The following quantities of vehicles have been sold in the last five years:

1991: 15
1992: 205
1993: 403
1994: 583
1995: 758

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what precautions his Department takes to ensure that surplus tanks, armoured personnel carriers and mobile guns sold to dealers and the public are not used for criminal or other anti-social acts. [12202]

The sales process requires either deactivation of residual ordnance or production of an appropriate firearms licence. After-sale responsibility lies with the purchaser to observe the law concerning ownership and use of the vehicle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average original cost of (a) tanks. (b) armoured personnel carriers and (c) mobile guns sold by the services in each of the past five years; and what was the average price for which they were sold. [12201]

Vehicles declared for disposal have been in service for many years and records of original costs have been destroyed. Prices achieved depend on market forces. It is not MOD's policy to reveal individual prices achieved. The value of receipts for armoured vehicles and guns for each of the five years is:

	Number	£
1991	15	16,250
1992	205	255,685
1993	403	390,477
1994	583	4,384,079
1995	758	984,523

Bosnia

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British bases as part of the implementation force operating in (a) Bosnia and (b) Croatia; and how much Britain is charged for these bases to be situated in each of those areas. [12114]

British forces contributing to the IFOR operation in Bosnia and Croatia occupy 34 major sites and a number of smaller buildings. Some of these sites are transitional and may be relinquished when the dispositions of troops within the British area of operations is finalised. Others have been occupied only recently and in many cases, negotiations with owners, where known, are continuing. The details of the bases and the charges so far agreed, are as follows:

	Monthly charge
Location—Croatia
Split—Divulje Barracks	No charge. Croatian
	Government property.
Split—port sites and facilities	Remains under UN lease at
	present.
Split—port warehouses	£17,045
Split—Dalma warehouse	£83,681
complex
Split—workshops and	£44,545
warehouse
Split—factory	£42,610
Location—Bosnia
Tomislavgrad—factory and	£25,000 for warehouse, charge
warehouse	for factory not yet known.
Lipa	Not yet known.
Kupres	£34,090
Gornji Vakuf—3 factories	£15,909 for one factory, others
	not yet known.
Sipovo—3 factories, sawmill	Not yet known.
and hotel
Bugojno—factory	Not yet known.
Glamoc—sawmill and transport	£2,272 for saw mill, charge for
depot	depot not yet known.
Sanski Most—2 factories	Not yet known.
Mrkonjic Grad—2 factories,	Not yet known.
sawmill and dam
Banja Luka—factory and offices	Not yet known.
Vitez—bulk fuel installation	£636 for BFI, charge for school
(BFI) and school	not yet known.
Jajce—factory	Not yet known.
Kljuk—depot	£909
Bosanski Petrovac—depot	Not yet known.
Krupa—factory	£2,500

Overseas Units (Media Visits)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost in each of the past five years of visits by journalists to service units abroad funded by (a) the armed services and (b) his Ministry. [11622]

This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.In the majority of cases, journalists travelling abroad to visit service units/naval ships are expected to fund their costs.However, financial assistance is given, principally to journalists from provincial or regional media who could not otherwise afford to travel and where coverage is considered to be in the interest of the armed service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what journalists, from which (a) newspapers and (b) other media organisations, were guests of (i) his Department and (ii) the armed services on visits to service units abroad in each of the past three years. [11623]

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

Raf Turnhouse

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the timing of his plan to close RAF Turnhouse; how many civilian staff are still employed there; and when he intends to notify redundancies. [11991]

Our proposal to close RAF Turnhouse by 1 April has been the subject of formal consultation. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

Super-Computer (Nuclear Weapons Simulation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will seek a second and independent opinion on the advice that no United Kingdom-designed and sourced super-computer could perform the task required for nuclear weapons simulation at atomic weapons research establishment, Aldermaston. [11617]

[holding answer 24 January 1996]: The technical assessment of the responses to the statement of requirement was made on purely technical grounds by AWE assisted by an independent firm of technical consultants. The SOR had been issued to all known massively parallel processor suppliers and placed in the MOD contracts bulletin. The SOR made it clear that the mini-proposal was not a tender, nor would it guarantee suppliers the right to tender.Only one bid came from a United Kingdom company. It was based on a design not in manufacture and which did not reach the required specification; it was; therefore, rejected. The tenderer was de-briefed to this effect in May 1995.

Hms Fearless And Hms Intrepid

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when it is planned that new landing platform dock ships, replacing HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid; will enter service; [11852](2) when he plans to place an order for the ships to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. [11871]

The Ministry of Defence is currently in no acceptable price, no contract—NAPNOC—negotiations with VSEL to replace HMS Fearless and HMS Intrepid. The size and timing of any order, and therefore the exact date of entry into service, depend on a satisfactory outcome to these discussions. Assuming this can be achieved, we would envisage entry into service around the turn of the century.

Trident

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he intends to publish the annual report on progress of the Trident programme; and if he will send a copy of the report to all right hon. and hon. Members; [11705](2) what plans he has to inform Parliament of the updated progress of the Trident programme. [11706]

The annual report on the progress of the Trident programme will be published shortly and, as usual, copies will be placed in the Library of the House. It would not be sensible use of resources to send individual copies to all right hon. and hon. Members as not all may wish to receive one.

Home Department

Gaming Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to publish his consultation document on his proposals for reforming the gaming laws. [12110]

We are reviewing the present controls on bingo clubs and casinos as part of the Government's deregulation initiative. The review is well advanced and we hope to consult on proposals shortly.

Identity Card Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in respect of the feasibility studies for the introduction of a nationwide identity card scheme. [11464]

We received over 3,000 replies to the Green Paper on identity cards (CM 2879) and have placed in the Library a copy of the Home Office memorandum of evidence to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry on identity cards which contains a summary of the responses.The Government have yet to reach a final decision on whether an identity card should be introduced and, if so, what type of card scheme to propose but all of the options set out in the Green Paper remain open.

Gambling (Fruit Machines)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the percentage of (a) the population and (b) 16 to 24-year-olds who are addicted to gambling on fruit machines. [11754]

There are no official statistics on the use of gaming machines.

Research has tended to focus on machine gaming by adolescents. It is not possible to estimate from existing research the incidence of problem gambling specifically on amusement-with-prizes—fruit—machines in the national population or in young adults.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reduce the level of addition to gambling on fruit machines, with particular reference to young people. [11755]

Following consultation, on 11 December 1995, I laid in draft the Deregulation (Gaming Machines and Betting Office Facilities) Order 1996. This measure, which is currently being scrutinised by the deregulation committees, would, for the first time, give local authorities power to impose an age limit in arcades which install proposed all-cash amusement-with-prizes machines with a maximum payout of £10. Young people under 18 would not be allowed access to these new machines in arcades. Elsewhere, these machines would be allowed only in premises to which children have restricted access—liquor licensed premises, bingo clubs, casinos and betting offices.It is expected that most arcades will switch to the cash machine which should go some way towards alleviating the problem of addiction amongst those under 18.Local authorities already have powers to ban fruit machines from premises such as cafes and leisure centres.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Streatham (Mr. Hill) of 16 January, Official Report, column 483, if he will set out the reasons for the unreliability of the information requested on the route of arrival of applications for asylum. [11723]

The information in question is not available because many port asylum applicants destroy or dispose of their travel documents and it is often not possible to establish from which country they have travelled to the United Kingdom. Where the information is known in individual cases, it is not recorded centrally.

Education And Employment

Minibus Safety

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the guidance issued by local education authorities on minibus safety with particular reference to the meeting of agreed safety standard. [11099]

Schools and local education authorities which own minibuses must comply with vehicle safety standards, as determined by the Secretary of State for Transport generally in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. LEAs are responsible for any advice they may give in relation to construction standards and other safety issues, and are not required to submit it for assessment by the Secretary of State.

New regulations will be introduced by the Department of Transport next month to require the compulsory fitment of seatbelts on minibuses and coaches used specifically for transporting school children.

Wales

School Governors

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of vacancies which will arise on school governing bodies when the present period of office comes to an end; and of these how many will be parent governor vacancies. [10026]

According to a survey of school governors commissioned by the Welsh Office in 1994, there are around 24,300 school governorships in Wales. Of these, the term of appointment of approximately 60 per cent. will come to an end this year. No estimate has been made as to how many of these are parent governors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many seats there are on school governing bodies (a) in each county and (b) in Wales; what is the number and

£ million
	1993–4 Outturn		1994–95 Outturn		1995–96 Outturn
	Cash	1994–95 prices	Cash	1994–95 prices	Cash	1994–95 prices
FEFCW	145.841	148.583	172.518	172.518	178.463	173.687
HEFCW	179.200	182.569	232.497	232.497	242.496	236.006
Full time equivalent student numbers
FE	46,000		51,200		53,500
HE	57,239		62,700		64,500

£
	1994–95		1994–95		1994–95
Spending per head	Cash	prices	Cash	prices	Cash	prices
FE	3,170	3,230	3,369	3,369	3,336	3,246
HE	4,912	5,004	4,978	4,978	4,734	4,607

The spending plans for further and higher education announced on 13 December assume the following:

	1996–97		1997–98		1998–99
	Students	Cost per student £	Students	Cost per student £	Students	Cost per student £
FE	56,000	3,097	58,500	3,001	60,900	2,794
HE	65,200	4,737	65,000	4,725	65,600	4,655

The spending per head in higher education includes tuition fees paid directly to higher education institutions by local education authorities.

Metticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of metticillin-resistant

percentage of such places known to be vacant at the last available date; and if he will make a statement. [10619]

According to a survey of school governors commissioned by the Welsh Office in 1994, there are around 24,300 school governorships in Wales. Of these, it was estimated in the report that 22,375, or 92 per cent. were filled. The figures are not broken down by county.

Further And Higher Education Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list in (a) cash and (b) real terms the finance made available in 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96 to (i) the Further Education Funding Council for Wales and (ii) the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales; and what is the number of students being financed in each of the years and the spending per head in (1) cash and (2) real terms; [10024](2) what estimates he has made up to 2000 of the number of students to be financed by

(a) the FEFCW and (b) the HEFCW; and if he will give the cost per head in each sector over these years. [10025]

The information requested is included in the table.staphylococcus aureus there have been in Welsh hospitals in each of the last five years. [10295]

I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Mr. Williams) on 22 January 1996, Official Report, column 102.

Sea Fishing Industry

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many individuals were employed in the sea fishing industry within (a) the boundaries of the North Western and North Wales sea fisheries committee, (b) the South Wales sea fisheries committee, (c) Wales and (d) the boundaries of each of unitary authority within (a) and (b). [10558]

An estimated 1,623 fishermen were employed in the sea fishing industry in Wales in 1994, which is the latest available figure. Statistics are not recorded in the format requested.

Fishing Permits

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many permits for all types of fishing activities were granted each year since 1990; and how many permits are extant within (a) the North Western and North Wales sea fisheries committee, (b) the South Wales sea fisheries committee and (c) each of the unitary local authorities within the boundaries of (a) and (b). [10557]

We have no information on the number of fishing permits issued by local authority sea fisheries committees.The number of fishing vessels which were licensed in Wales during the period 1990 to 1996 were:

1990: 70
1991: 173
1992: 172
1993: 158
1994: 589¹
1995: 583
1996: 553

Note:

¹ A licensing regime for vessels of 10 meters and under, was introduced in 1993, and these vessels are included in the figures for 1994 onward.

Licence details are not recorded in the format requested.

Nhs Trusts

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the chairmen and chairwomen and members whom he appoints of each NHS trust, indicating the length of time for which each is appointed and when each appointment is due for renewal. [10908]

The information requested is detailed in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales", which is updated quarterly. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Gps (Child Immunisation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received from general practitioner practices in Wales on the subject of payment for child immunisation; and if he will make a statement. [10717]

My right hon. Friend has received eight representations, but none of these was made directly by general practitioner practices. Childhood immunisation target payments were introduced to provide incentives for general practitioners to encourage and increase patient take-up of childhood vaccinations. The success of the immunisation programme has resulted in the incidence of childhood diseases being at their lowest ever levels and the Government have no plans to review the criteria GPs have to meet in order to qualify for target payments.

Welsh Language

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what guidelines his Department has issued since 1994 to (a) Cadw and (b) non-departmental public bodies in Wales on the use of the Welsh language in the day-to-day conduct of its business; and if he will make a statement; [10704](2) what

(a) guidelines and (b) instructions his Department has issued to (i) Cadw and (ii) non-departmental public bodies in Wales on the use of the Welsh language in their official publications. [10703]

Guidelines as to the form and content of Welsh language schemes, prepared by the Welsh Language Board, were approved by my right hon. Friend and by Parliament in July 1995. Welsh language schemes are intended to specify measures relating to the use of the Welsh language in connection with the services they provide to the public in Wales. The Welsh Office has issued no guidelines or instructions additional to those statutory guidelines; it will be for each non-departmental public body to agree a language scheme with the board in respect of its services to the public in Wales.

Agricultural Holdings

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many registered agricultural holdings there were in Wales in (a) 1966, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d) 1994; and if he will make a statement. [10700]

There is no process of registration for agricultural holdings but the estimated number of such holdings in Wales for the years requested are as follows: (a) 1966: 48,000; (b) 1974: 32,800; (c) 1984: 36,100 and (d) 1994: 37,800.These figures include both major and minor holdings. Over the period 1966 to 1984, there were minor definitional changes which tended to reduce the number of holdings recorded. In addition, in 1968 about 6,400 holdings were deleted from the records because of their negligible

agricultural output.

Small Businesses

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department is pursuing to assist small businesses in Wales. [10730]

The Welsh Office, together with others, is supporting small businesses through a variety of new start-up and business development initiatives, including financial assistance, training and consultancy support, grants for innovation and help with exporting. Information is available through business connect which is designed specifically to help small firms access quickly and effectively the business support network.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the 12 biggest spending Welsh Office public bodies, giving their spending in cash and real terms in each year since 1990–91; [10910](2) if he will list the chairmen and chairwomen and members of the 12 biggest spending Welsh Office public bodies, indicating the length of time for which each is appointed and when each appointment is due for renewal. [10909]

The information requested is included in the following table.

Total gross expenditure for the 12 biggest NDPBs was as follows:
£ million
	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Arts Council of Wales
cash	—	—	—	—	14.9
real terms	—	—	—	—	14.9
Cardiff Bay Development Corporation
cash	34.3	35.8	48.0	47.5	66.7
real terms	39.7	39.0	50.3	48.4	66.7
Countryside Council for Wales
cash	¹0.0	14.5	17.5	19.9	21.2
real terms	¹0.1	15.8	18.3	20.3	21.2
Development Board for Rural Wales
cash	19.6	21.5	23.6	24.9	27.2
real terms	22.7	23.5	24.7	25.4	27.2
Further Education Funding Council for Wales
cash	—	—	²2.0	143.1	172.5
real terms	—	—	²2.1	145.8	172.5
Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
cash	—	—	²0.5	179.0	232.5
real terms	—	—	²0.6	182.3	232.5
Housing for Wales
cash	116.0	172.6	187.4	161.2	139.5
real terms	134.5	188.3	196.4	164.2	139.5
Land Authority for Wales
cash	6.0	6.1	6.3	12.3	23.0
real terms	7.0	6.6	6.6	12.5	23.0
National Museums and Galleries of Wales
cash	17.9	18.1	16.1	16.8	14.1
real terms	20.8	19.7	16.9	17.1	14.1
Sports Council for Wales
cash	7.1	7.5	8.2	8.6	9.1
real terms	8.3	8.2	8.6	8.8	9.1
Wales Tourist Board
cash	13.3	13.0	13.7	13.8	14.4
real terms	15.4	14.1	14.3	14.1	14.4
Welsh Development Agency
cash	149.2	158.2	165.2	151.7	157.1
real terms	173.0	172.6	173.2	154.5	157.1

1. The cash figures have been extracted from the annual Cabinet Office publication "Public Bodies".

2. The real terms figures have been derived by the application of the latest GDP deflators at market prices with a base year of 1994–95.

3. In some cases, figures are not available for the earlier years because the relevant NDPBs had not then been set up in Wales.

¹ Support for the establishment of the Countryside Council for Wales, which came into existence on 1 April 1991.

² Support for the establishment of the Further Education and Higher Education Funding Councils for Wales, which came into existence on 1 April 1993.

The information requested about the chairmen and women and members of these bodies is given in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales", which is updated quarterly. Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Planning Decisions

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many appeals against decisions of local planning authorities were disposed of in (a) 1966, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d) 1994, respectively. [10726]

The information for 1974, 1984 and 1994 is given in the table. Information for 1966 is not available.

	1974	1984	1994
Appeals under the Town and Country
Planning Act 1990 (and corresponding
earlier legislation):
Section 78	514	631	877
Section 174	47	126	136
Appeals under the Town and Country
Planning (Control of Advertisements)
Regulations 1992	44	117	90
All other appeals	¹—	¹—	²61
¹ Figures are not available.
²Includes appeals under Section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (cases "called in" by the Secretary of State).

Dentists

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many dentistry practices there were in Wales in (a) 1966, (b) 1974, (c) 1984 and (d) 1994, respectively; [10724](2) how much dentistry practices in Wales undertook NHS treatment in 1992; and if he will make a statement; [10756](3) how many dentistry practices there are in Wales; [10760](4) how many dentistry practices undertaking NHS treatment there are in Wales. [10761]

Information on the number of dentistry practices is not available centrally. However, the number of principal dental practitioners treating some NHS patients is given in the following table—a principal dental practitioner would be the head of a practice although two or more may practice together.

Number of principal dental practitioners, treating some NHS patients in Wales.

30 September 1966: 396
30 September 1974: 493
30 September 1984: 705
30 September 1992: 792
30 September 1994: 801
30 September 1995: 817 (latest available).

Ministerial Visit (Indonesia)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations were made on human rights issues during the recent visit to Indonesia of the Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Mr. Richards). [10939]

I visited Indonesia and Singapore with a trade mission to help Welsh companies increase their exporting activities. Human rights issues are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Training And Enterprise Councils

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the chairmen and chairwomen and members whom he appoints of each training and enterprise council, indicating the lengths of time each person is appointed and when each appointment is due for renewal. [10911]

My right hon. Friend does not appoint either the chairmen or the members to the boards of training and enterprise councils. TECs are private companies limited by guarantee.

Ambulance Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations over the past 18 months his Department have undertaken on the subject of the amalgamation of ambulance services in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [10731]

Public consultation on a joint application from West Glamorgan and East Dyfed ambulance services to form the West Wales Ambulance NHS trust ended on 4 December 1994 and the trust was established on 16 January 1995.

North Wales Police

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received recently on the subject of the budget allocation to the North Wales police; and if he will make a statement. [10727]

My right hon. Friend and I have received one representation, from the North Wales police authority, about funding in 1996–97.

Healthy Eating

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives his Department is currently undertaking to educate people in healthy eating. [10723]

The Welsh Office does not itself undertake initiatives to educate people in healthy eating, but provides financial and other support to a large range of organisations which carry out such work, including the Health Promotion Authority for Wales, local authorities, health authorities and voluntary organisations.

Health Authority Members

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the chairmen and chairwomen and members of each health authority or commission and each family health services authority, indicating the length of time for which each person is appointed and when each appointment is due for renewal. [10907]

The information requested is detailed in "Appointments by the Secretary of State for Wales" which is updated quarterly. Copies are available in the Library of the House. All the appointments will be terminated on 31 March 1996 when the district health authorities and family health services authorities will cease to exist. I will be announcing the membership of the five new health authorities soon.

Nursery Education

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on recent developments in respect of the provision of nursery education for four-year-olds in Wales. [11057]

Subject to parliamentary approval of the relevant provisions of the Nursery Eduction and Grant-maintained Schools Bill, the nursery voucher scheme in Wales will come into effect from April 1997. I announced on 9 January our decisions on funding, payments for redeemed vouchers and the arrangements for inspecting participating establishments. Welsh Office officials have written to all local education authorities, primary and nursery schools and interested organisations detailing these decisions and clarifying some common misunderstandings about the scheme. I am placing a copy of this letter in the Library.

Grant-Maintained Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools in Wales opted out of local government control in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [10692]

Eight schools became grant-maintained in 1993; five in 1994; and none in 1995.

Drug Abuse

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for the last three available years and for 1996–97 (a) for each county and (b) for Wales the funding made available by his Department to combat drug abuse; and if he will make a statement. [10686]

Following the recommendations of the efficiency scrutiny of health promotion in Wales, those Welsh Office resources for combating drug misuse provided through the central funding initiative were built into district health authorities revenue allocations. For 1993–94, the last year the CFI operated, the amounts allocated to each county in Wales were:

	£
Clwyd	323,202
Dyfed	250,649
Gwent	274,295
Gwynedd	244,165
Mid Glamorgan	379,826
Powys	160,517
South Glamorgan	283,047

West Glamorgan

306,075

The Welsh Office provides separate resources for national activity: the amounts for 1993–94 to 1995–96 were £243,944, £360,918 and £259,737 respectively.

In addition, other central funding mechanisms such as the revenue support grant, the strategic development scheme and the grant for education support and training programme provide funds to combat drug misuse. It is not possible to identify separately the relevant amounts within those schemes.

Volume 270: debated on Friday 26 January 1996

Written Answers To Questions

Lord Chancellor's Department

Juvenile Offenders

Queen's Counsel

Capital Building Programme

Northern Ireland

Fireworks

Duchy Of Lancaster

Charter Marks (Police Authorities)

Deregulation Advisory Committee

Environment

Housing (Backlogs)

Local Government Finance

Asylum Seekers

Water Pollution

Health

Nhs (Management Costs)

Doctors And Nurses (Recruitment)

National Review Of Contracting

Public Information Lines

Cosmetic Surgery

Temazepam

Gp Co-Operatives

Nhs Staff Assaults

Human Embryos

Manchester Health Commission

Treasury

Mortgage Tax Relief

Corporation Tax

Taxation

Private Finance Initiative

National Lottery

National Heritage

Museums

National Lottery (Disbursements)

Trade And Industry

Cd-Rom Industry

Gas Consumer Council

Trade Unions

Viners Of Sheffield Plc

Training

Anglo-French Electricity Interconnector

Disability Discrimination Act

Public Sector Research Establishments

Bmarc

Departmental Publicity

Departmental Expenditure

Absenteeism

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Agriculture Council

Oil Dispersant Policy

Set-Aside Payments

Social Security

Benefits Agency

Hardship Allowance (Greater Manchester)

Habitual Residence Rules

Disability Living Allowance

Asylum Seekers

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Saudi Arabia

Positive About Disabled People Symbol

Departmental Expenditure

Qualified Majority Voting

Scotland

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Generic Support Workers

Garage And Motor Repair Businesses

Ancillary Health Workers

Queen's Counsels

Census

Maternity Services (Lothian)

Nursery Education

Nursery Voucher Scheme

Ec Nitrates Directive

Local Government Reform

Mobile Phones

Elderly People (Nhs Services)

Health Boards