Written Answers

                    The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
                

Written Answers To Questions

Tuesday 19 March 1996

Duchy Of Lancaster

Access To Government Information

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the operation of the code of practice on access to Government information during 1995. [22057]

	1993 (from 1 July 1993)		1994		1995		1996 (up to 14 March 1996
	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage	Number	Percentage
CCC	—	—	—	—	1	0.07	—	—
COI¹	1	0.3	1	0.15	8	0.5	1	0.2
CSC	1	0.3	2	0.3	4	0.25	—	—
HMSO¹	2	0.6	10	1.6	13	0.9	8	1.6
OHSA	1	0.3	—	—	5	0.3	1	0.2
RAS	5	1.6	10	1.6	10	0.6	4	0.8
SAFE¹	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	0.4
TBA²	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
¹Agencies which are Government Departments in their own right, reporting to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
²Agencies which transferred to the Office of Public Service on 1 January 1996.

Secondly, since this Department was formed in May 1992 the number of hon. Members' questions passed to agencies for response and this figure as a percentage of the total number of letters received is shown in the table:

Parliamentary years
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995 (up to 14 March 1996)
Total PQs	778	768	791	477
Agency answers	2	nil	8	6
Percentage of total	0.25	nil	1.01	1.25

Recruitment And Assessment Services

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he has taken to protect the pension entitlement of staff of Recruitment and Assessment Services; what assessment he has made of efficiency gains from privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20663]

All those bidding to acquire Recruitment and Assessment Services will have to offer its staff a pension scheme certified by the Government Actuary as offering broadly comparable benefits to those available in the principal civil service pension scheme, or to offer sufficient compensation—such as a higher rate of pay—where benefits are not comparable. Bidders not fulfilling this requirement will be disqualified.

I have today announced the publication of the Government's report on the operation of the code of practice during 1995, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

Executive Agencies

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Department have passed (a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of letters and questions received. [19420]

Records are not held centrally for letters received before July 1993, when computer records began. The table covers the number of hon. Members' letters passed to agencies for response and this figure as a percentage of the total number of letters from July 1993:Further efficiency gains can be expected after privatisation. RAS will be free to pursue new business in the private and public sectors and so will be able to spread its overheads over a wider customer base.

Hmso (Privatisation)

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what length of notice customer organisations of the HMSO agency were given regarding its proposed privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20605]

I announced a review of options for the future of HMSO, with a view to privatisation, on 27 September 1995 and confirmed the Government's intention to sell the business on 13 December. Customers have been aware of our proposals since then.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which functions of HMSO are to be sold in the course of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20667]

HMSO's business includes print, publishing and distribution, office supplies, business systems, office furniture and copiers. It has facilities across the UK to serve its almost exclusively public sector customers.As I said in the House on 13 December last year, at column 989, the Government intend to privatise the whole of HMSO, apart from a small residual body carrying out statutory and quasi-statutory functions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what factors underlay his decision on the time scale for privatising HMSO; and if he will make a statement. [20622]

My aim is to complete the privatisation as soon as possible, subject to the need to ensure that the process is fully controlled and that all relevant concerns have been addressed.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what consultations he held with staff of HMSO prior to the announcement of its privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20662]

I gave details of my contacts with HMSO staff and unions in my answer of 4 December 1995 to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East, column 33. Since then, I have had a further meeting with national and local trade union representatives.The Government are committed to ensuring that staff are treated fairly during the privatisation, and to ensuring that their legal rights are fully respected. I and my colleagues and officials will continue to keep HMSO staff informed, and are willing to hold further meetings as necessary.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has for a public consultation in respect of the privatisation of HMSO; and if he will make a statement. [20668]

I and my officials are naturally willing to discuss matters with those with an interest in HMSO. In particular, we have already been in contact with customers and suppliers of HMSO, trade associations, unions and others with a direct interest in HMSO's privatisation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to protect the pension entitlement of staff of HMSO after privatisation; what assessments he has made of efficiency gains from the privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20666]

All those bidding to acquire HMSO will have to offer its staff a pension scheme certified by the Government Actuary as offering broadly comparable benefits to those available in the principal civil service pension scheme. Bidders not fulfilling this requirement will be disqualified.Privatisation should result in efficiency gains in several areas. Trading in wider markets will enable the privatised business to spread its overheads over a wider customer base, the stationery office will become free to borrow and invest without seeking prior Treasury approval, and it will be freely able to diversify as business opportunities become available. This is consistent with the experience of previous privatisations.By contrast, if HMSO were to remain in the public sector, it would continue to be constrained by its shrinking market and the rigours of public expenditure controls. In these circumstances, further widespread job losses would be inevitable, resulting in an added burden to the taxpayer.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the market value of the skills of HMSO staff for the purposes of privatisation; and if he will make a statement. [20725]

The skills of HMSO's staff contribute to its performance. HMSO's trading record, together with its prospects and the value of its physical assets, provide the basis for the benchmark valuation which will be constructed by my advisors. It is not possible to separate out a value for staff skills, nor is it desirable to make public the overall valuation, since that would damage the Government's negotiating position and their ability to secure the best deal.

Parliamentary Questions

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) what has been the total cost of answering questions to the Deputy Prime Minister; [21176](2) what was the cost of answering

(a) an oral and (b) a written parliamentary question to the Deputy Prime Minister from (i) Opposition and (ii) Government Members in each parliamentary Session since 1989–90. [21456]

The information as requested is not available.

Transport

Newbury Bypass

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what has been the total cost since 29 February to the sheriffs of enforcing eviction orders against protestors camped on the route of the Newbury bypass; and how much of this cost is expected to be recovered from the protestors who have been evicted. [21270]

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

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Mr. David Rendel, dated 19 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary question about the costs incurred by the Sheriff in evicting protestors from the route of the Newbury Bypass.

No figures are yet available but the costs are not expected to be recovered from protestors. Costs orders awarded by the courts against defendants only cover the legal expense of bringing the action to court, not the Sheriff's costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the levels of congestion which would apply to the A34 around Newbury by (a) 2005 and (b) 2015 if the current bypass project was not constructed. [20895]

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

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Sir Peter Fry, dated 19 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the levels of congestion which would apply to the A34 around Newbury by (a) 2005 and (b) 2015 if the current by-pass project was not being constructed.

The existing Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADF) flows on the A34 Inner Relief Road in Newbury are approximately 50,000 vehicles per day and this already results in significant congestion during weekday peaks and at times during summer weekends. Within these periods the road operates close to its maximum capacity. Conditions for long distance through traffic are generally very poor and intolerable at times. The overall level of service is very low.

The levels of congestion that would arise in the future without the bypass would be very much worse. It is difficult to quantify just how bad conditions would become because the exact level of congestion would depend on many factors including the general growth in travel demand, changing driver behaviour and the capacity of the A34.

The ultimate carrying capacity of an urban road over a whole day depends on many factors. These include the urban nature of the road, the proportion of heavy vehicles, the effects of junctions and their capacities, the interaction of local and longer distance through traffic, the variation in traffic flows throughout the day and how traffic demand spreads from peak to off peak periods.

The capacity also depends on the interaction of these factors which is complex. It is therefore very difficult to state a precise daily flow which represents the maximum flow the A34 could carry. In theory there is some scope for traffic flows to increase above existing levels outside the peak periods. But in practice, this would require a significant change in driver behaviour for instance travelling in the relatively less busy parts of the day.

Any increase in flow would of course mean very much more serious congestion, for longer and longer periods than happens now, and a very poor level of service. In practice the very worst conditions that are experienced now would become a normal event; stop-start driving conditions through the town would extend over much of the working day. These conditions are likely to occur within the next five to ten years if there is significant growth in traffic levels.

In the long term, traffic flows and congestion levels are much more difficult to assess. Our traffic forecasts go as far as 2010, the design year for the bypass. These imply very serious congestion on the A34 if nothing is done. We have not attempted to forecast the flows beyond 2010. The table below shows flows on the A34 within Newbury without the Bypass.

Year	A34 Inner Relief Road
	Low growth	High growth
2005	61,000	70,000
2010	65,000	78,000

The flows given are Annual Average Daily Traffic for low and high growth.

I think it is also worth pointing out that congestion, as well as being a serious problem in terms of the delays and disruption to traffic, also leads to a significant environmental impact; heavy queuing traffic wastes fuel, causes greater air pollution and spoils the environment for the local community in Newbury.

Transport Research Laboratory

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects to complete the privatisation of the Transport Research Laboratory. [21765]

Negotiations with the preferred bidder, the Transport Research Foundation, are continuing. I expect the sale to be completed shortly.

Rail Privatisation

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has issued any further guidance to the franchising director. [21970]

I have today written to the franchising director confirming that I am content for him to correct a minor error in the passenger service requirement for the InterCity east coast franchise. I am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research he has commissioned into the effects of rail privatisation on the number of passengers using the national rail network; and what was the cost of that research. [20779]

None.

Vehicle Emissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the vehicles which are currently exempt from the emissions test of the MOT; [21251](2) when he plans that all vehicles over three years old will be subject to the MOT emissions test; and if he will make a statement. [21250]

The emissions test has been suspended simply in relation to a number of car models registered on or after 1 August 1992. Full details are contained in "Special Notice 2/96", issued to authorised testing stations by the Vehicle Inspectorate, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House. This includes some or all relevant models from: Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin Lagonda, Caterham, Coleman Milne, Daihatsu, Fiat, Ford, HMC Sportscars, Isuzu, Jaguar, Lada, Lamborghini, Lancia, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, Nissan, Porshe, Renault, Rover, Saab, Subaru, Toyota, TVR, Vauxhall.We intend very shortly to consult on the necessary amending regulations for reintroducing the test for all affected vehicles.

Sea Empress

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what directions were given (a) by him and (b) by officials of his Department to the harbourmaster dealing with the Sea Empress on the day on which the disaster first occurred; and if he will make a statement. [21580]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the pilot on the Sea Empress had been subject to routine drug and alcohol testing before he boarded the vessel. [18584]

There is no statutory requirement for routine drug and alcohol testing of harbour pilots. The investigation into the incident by the marine accident investigation branch will consider whether alcohol or drugs had a bearing on the incidents.

Departmental Staff (Working Hours)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many persons in his Department worked in excess of 48 hours per week in any of the last 52 weeks; and what percentage of the staff employed this represents. [21515]

All civil servants in the Department work conditioned hours — that is, 36 hours per week net of lunch breaks in London and 37 hours elsewhere.

Staff in senior grades down to and including grade 6 are not entitled to compensation in respect of hours worked in excess of conditioned hours. The Department holds no records which would identify which individuals in these grades had worked more than their conditioned hours or how many hours had been worked.

Staff in grades up to grade 7 are entitled to take time in lieu or to claim overtime in respect of extra hours worked. No records exist in respect of those staff who have made arrangements with their line managers to take time in lieu. Where staff have claimed overtime payments, records are held by the Chessington Computer Centre. Although an analysis of records could be undertaken by the Chessington Computer Centre, this would be at disproportionate cost.

Airport Development

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 6 March, Official Report, column 212, if he will make a statement on the action taken by the BAA to investigate the possibility of less environmentally damaging options for runway development. [21379]

I understand that BAA plc is currently engaged in the first phase of this work, focusing on the technical feasibility of a close parallel runway at Gatwick.

Institute Of Advanced Motorists

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to (a) publicise and (b) promote the Institute of Advanced Motorists. [21222]

I welcome the valuable contribution that organisations such as the Institute of Advanced Motorists make to improving road safety by raising awareness of driving standards. I would encourage all drivers to consider taking additional training throughout their driving careers.

Oil Spills

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that adequate compensation is paid to all those who can prove loss of property or financial loss as a result of oil spills at sea; [21234](2) what measures he has taken to ensure that companies which are affected indirectly from oil spills at sea are adequately compensated. [21235]

The 1969 international convention on civil liability for oil pollution damage and the 1971 international convention on the establishment of an international fund for compensation for oil pollution damage, implemented in the United Kingdom by the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, provide for compensation for pollution damage caused by spills from vessels carrying oil in bulk. The criteria for admissibility of these claims is described in the claims manual produced by the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Copies of the claims manual have been placed in the Library of the House.

Eyesight Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that drivers of vehicles entering the United Kingdom comply with United Kingdom eyesight regulations for driving. [21658]

Visitors to the United Kingdom are entitled by international convention to drive for up to one year on licences issued by their national authorities. For drivers from within the EU, minimum standards of medical fitness for driving, including eyesight requirements, are set in the first and second directives on driving licences, and implemented in national legislation. If it were to become clear that the eyesight standards of any visiting drivers were unacceptable in terms of road safety, we would take the matter up, in the first instance, with the relevant national authority.

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to date of the public inquiry into the Birmingham northern relief road; what is the estimated total cost of the inquiry; and what is the estimated total cost of the Birmingham northern relief road scheme. [20776]

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

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 19 March 1996:

You asked the Secretary of State for Transport about costs in respect of the Birmingham Northern Relief Road (BNRR).

The public inquiry into the scheme closed on 4 October last year. The total cost to the Highways Agency was about £1.2 million.

BNRR is a privately funded scheme and the total cost is a matter for Midland Expressway Ltd, the concessionaire.

Road Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of the first three tranches of shadow toll road contracts over the period of each contract; and what would have been the cost of building these roads had they been built under the old procedures. [20781]

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

Letter from Lawrie Haynes to Ms Clare Short, dated 19 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent question about the cost of public funds of the first three tranches of shadow toll road contracts over the period of each contract, compared with the cost of building them under the old procedures.

part of the process of evaluating bids for a DBFO contract, we compare those bids with an analysis of the costs of procuring the new construction and maintenance by more conventional means. This enables us to satisfy ourselves that the proposed DBFO represents genuine value for money.

Railway Timetabling

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the proposal to invite the train operators to take lead responsibility for compiling the railway timetable. [20902]

No such proposal has been received.

North West Regional Railways

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects North West Regional Railways to be franchised. [21000]

I refer the hon. Member to my answer on 5 December 1995, Official Report, column 189.

Vessels (Pilots)

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which types of vessels are required to have a pilot on board when navigating in United Kingdom coastal waters. [20523]

Pilotage is compulsory only in the waters of statutory harbour authorities. Section 7 of the Pilotage Act 1987 provides for such an authority to direct that pilotage shall be compulsory if it considers that, in the interests of safety, it should do so. A pilotage direction may apply to all vessels over 20 m in length or to all ships of specified descriptions, and may relate to part or all of the harbour. Section 8 provides for pilotage exemption certificates to be granted to suitably qualified masters and first mates. There are three harbours where these are not available by virtue of an order under section 8(3) —Aberdeen, Forth and Sullom Voe.

Labour force survey—Spring 1995 (GB)
Age group	All: 16–24		All: 25–64		Males: 16–64		Females: 16–24
Region of work	Employees earning less than £58 per week (thousands)	Percentage of total age group	Employees earning less than £58 per week (thousands)	Percentage of total age group	Employees earning less than £58 per week (thousands)	Percentage of total age group	Employees earning less than £58 per week (thousands)	Percentage of total age group
South East	222.3	20.4	368.6	6.3	128.4	3.6	462.5	16.5
East Anglia	—	—	75.6	11.2	¹—	¹—	80.4	26.8
South West	53.7	22.8	157.9	10.4	54.2	6.4	157.4	22.6
West Midlands	77.6	21.3	159.0	9.7	¹—	¹—	157.3	20.7
East Midlands	60.7	22.4	103.3	8.0	¹—	¹—	61.2	10.2
Yorkshire and Humberside	61.2	25.3	200.4	11.8	51.5	5.3	210	29.5
North West	93.1	24.7	155.4	7.8	¹—	¹—	201.0	21.3
North	—	—	109.7	12.3	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Wales	51.1	29.3	73.7	9.4	¹—	¹—	¹—	¹—
Scotland	59.3	15.7	123.6	7.8	¹—	¹—	116.9	14.2
¹ Sample size too small to give reliable estimate.

Government Bonds

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current different of yield between long United Kingdom bonds and long German bonds; and how much interest would be saved annually if these United Kingdom bonds had the same yield as their German equivalent. [21555]

On 15 March 1996, the standardised yield differential between 10-year UK and

Treasury

Taxation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people pay tax at each rate as a percentage of (i) those in work and (ii) the total available for work; and how many of those in work pay no tax on income. [19814]

The latest estimate is that 25.8 million individuals will pay income tax in 1996–97. Of these, 6.3 million will be lower rate taxpayers, 17.3 million basic rate taxpayers and 2.2 million higher rate taxpayers.The summer 1995 labour force survey shows that, in the UK, 28.8 million people are available for working, including 26.3 million who are in employment.It is inappropriate to calculate the number of taxpayers as a percentage of the working population because the taxpayer population includes individuals who are not in employment but pay tax on pensions and investment income.

Low Pay

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people, by gender and region, who earn less than £58 per week, who are aged (a) 16 to 24 years, (b) 25 to 49 years and (c) 50 to 64 years. [20783]

Information at this level of detail is not readily available. Summary data from the labour force survey (spring 1995) are shown in the table.German Government bonds was 1.7 per cent. The average differential for the first 11 months of this financial year has been 1.5 per cent. For every £1 billion borrowed, the current yield differential would save £17.3 million per year until the bonds mature. The Government aim to issue around £31.5 billion of bonds including redemptions in 1995–96.

Vat On Fuel (Nhs)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 12 March, OfficialReport, columns 552–53, what estimates he has made of VAT receipts in respect of expenditure on fuel from the NHS in each year 1979 to 1995. [21398]

All supplies of fuel and power were zero-rated before 1 July 1990. Estimates of VAT receipts in respect of expenditure on fuel and power by the NHS are given for each year from 1990 to 1994. Figures are not yet available on which to base an estimate for 1995.

£ million
1990	70
1991	180
1992	200
1993	200
1994	200

Trade And Industry

Executive Agencies

To ask the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions in each of the past five years Ministers in his Department have passed (a) hon. Members' letters and (b) hon. Members' questions to agencies for response; and what this figure is as a percentage of the total number of letters and questions received. [19419]

I refer the hon. Member to the following table.

Year	Passed to agencies	Per cent. of total
Letters
1991	501	5.6
1992	756	7.9
1993	1,104	9.0
1994	1,079	8.3
1995	1,416	12.5
PQs
1991	0	n/a
1992	4	0
1993	0	n/a
1994	2	0
1995	1	0

Company Board Members (Termination Settlements)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what statutory provisions govern challenges by shareholders to a termination settlement for a board member of a publicly quoted company; [20897](2) if he will introduce legislation to require that the terms of termination agreements for board members of publicly quoted companies are made available to

(a) all board members and (b) all shareholders; [20900]

(3) what statutory provisions govern the termination agreements of board members of publicly quoted companies and the rights of all members of the board to be aware of the terms of such agreements. [20896]

Sections 312 to 316 of the Companies Act 1985 make various provisions in respect of compensation payments to directors for loss of office. They apply only in cases where the director does not have a contract with the company; they do not cover bona fide payments by way of damages for breach of contract or by way of pension in respect of past service. Under section 312 of the Act it is unlawful for a company to make a compensation payment without particulars of the proposed payment, including the amount, being disclosed to members of the company and approved by the company. Section 313 makes such payments unlawful when made in connection with the transfer of the whole or part of the undertaking or property of a company and when made by third parties, unless particulars have been disclosed to shareholders and approved by the company. Section 314 provides that where such a payment is to be made to a director of a company in connection with the transfer of all or any shares of the company resulting from an offer to shareholders, it is the duty of the director to take all reasonable steps to include particulars of the proposed payment with any notice of the offer given to shareholders.Under section 318 of the Companies Act 1985, where a director has a written contract of service the company must make available a copy of the contract for inspection by any member of the company without charge. Where the contract is not in writing, the company must make available for inspection a written memorandum setting out the terms of the contract. However, these requirements do not apply where the unexpired portion of the term for which the contract is to be in force is less than 12 months, or where the contract can, within the next ensuing 12 months, be terminated by the company without payment of compensation.I have no plans to introduce further legislation on these subjects.

Export Licensing

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to publish a consultation paper including proposals for (a) the content of new legislation in place of the Import, Export and Customs Powers (Defence) Act 1939 and (b) an export licensing system as recommended by Sir Richard Scott. [21298]

I have agreed to publish a consultation paper covering export control legislation and licensing procedures. The aim is to issue the paper by this summer.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to make available for public inspection applications for military equipment export licences in advance of the licence application being considered; and if he will make a statement. [21545]

As a response to the recommendations of Sir Richard Scott in his report, I have agreed to publish a consultation paper covering export control legislation and licensing procedures. This will cover consideration of the extent to which details of licence applications should be published. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has agreed to a review of the convention by which replies to parliamentary questions on arms sales are refused, and an information paper on this has already been placed in the Library of the House.

Fur Trade

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the number of retail businesses involved in the fur trade in each of the last five years. [21372]

None.

Public Sector Research Establishments

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his policy towards public sector research establishments. [21259]

The Government set out their policy towards public sector research establishments in their response to the "Multi-departmental Scrutiny of Public Sector Research Establishments", published in September 1995, Cm 2991.This initiated a programme of prior options reviews of establishments, to allow Ministers collectively to take a strategic view of the UK's public sector research establishments. Each review is addressing the relationship of the establishment concerned to others in similar or related fields and will consider, among other things, the potential for privatisation or rationalisation.The results of these reviews will be considered by Ministers collectively, with the aim of completing the major part of the work by the end of 1996.

Inward Investment

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the most recent figures for inward investment into the United Kingdom over the past five years from (a) within the European Union and (b) outside the European Union; and how many jobs this investment (i) created and (ii) maintained. [21554]

According to figures notified to my Department's Invest in Britain Bureau for the financial years 1990–91 to 1994–95, the number of projects, new and safeguarded jobs from within and outside the European Union are as follows:

	Number of projects	Jobs new	Jobs safeguarded
EU
1990–91	127	5,141	18,061
1991–92	136	5,772	14,212
1993–93	108	4,550	20,727
1993–94	127	5,031	43,492
1994–95¹	103	6,930	15,094
Total	601	27,374	111,586
Non EU
1990–91	237	18,679	42,839
1991–92	217	16,801	16,891
1992–93	225	13,272	23,098
1993–94	306	25,610	26,262
1994–95	352	31,421	38,764
Total	1,337	105,783	147,854
¹ Figures do not include Austria, Finland and Sweden who joined the European Union in January 1995.

All the figures are based on numbers of projects notified to the Invest in Britain Bureau at the time of the decision to invest. Companies are under no obligation to notify their investment decisions and the figures take no account of subsequent developments.

Prime Minister

Far East (Visit)

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent official visit to the far east. [19934]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Townsend) on 7 March, Official Report, columns 315–16.

Engagements

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 March. [20054]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 19 March. [20055]

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

House Of Commons

House Staff (Justices Of The Peace)

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, what arrangements exist to give employees of the House of Commons who are appointed justices of the peace leave of absence to carry out their judicial training and duties. [21424]

Under the House of Commons Administration Act 1978, conditions of service of staff of the Commission are kept broadly in line with those in the home civil service. In line with this principle, such staff are allowed reasonable time off for attendance required by statutory bodies within section 29 of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978. This allows staff who are appointed justices of the peace leave of absence to carry out their judicial training and duties.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Human Rights Abuses

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the United Kingdom will put forward to ensure that the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights takes consistent action on countries which commit human rights abuses. [21069]

We support a consistent approach by the UN Commission on Human Rights, but it is not always possible to achieve the necessary majorities. Together with our EU partners, we will deliver a statement to the Commission commenting on human rights practices in over 40 countries. The EU will also table several resolutions on human rights practices in countries with exceptional bad records. We will be active in encouraging fellow members of the commission to support them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what considerations underlie the United Kingdom's objection to clauses in the draft declaration on human rights defenders allowing third parties to take court action against violators of human rights. [21070]

We support the concept of non-governmental organisations acting as legal representatives of those alleged to be victims of human rights violations, and are happy to work with such organisations for the achievement of an acceptable outcome. However, we and others are opposed to the notion of individuals being entitled to bring actions in the courts relating to claims in which they themselves have no direct interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government (a) participation in and (b) policy towards the working group on the draft optional protocol to the convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment; and what proposals he has to move the initiative forward at the 52nd session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. [21071]

We have participated actively at each session of the working group. We aim to negotiate, as rapidly as possible, a protocol to the torture convention, which will create a new UN body to visit and report on places of detention in the territories of states parties. At the forthcoming session of the Commission on Human Rights, we shall endeavour to ensure that the mandate of the working group is extended to enable it to continue this work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the United Kingdom has to ensure that the United Kingdom Commission on Human Rights implements the Beijing declaration and platform for action on women. [21072]

We are fully committed to following up the recommendations of the Beijing platform for action on women. One of the main forums for discussion on this subject is the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, currently in session in New York, but a few specific recommendations from the Beijing conference will also be discussed during the forthcoming session of the UN Commission on Human Rights. The UK delegation is playing an active part in both forums.

St Helena

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the rules governing access to the Government broadcasting station on St. Helena. [21680]

The station manager has editorial discretion but operates under guidelines issued by the St. Helena Government.

Rwanda

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure implementation of the recommendations produced by the multi-donor report on "The International Response to Conflict and Genocide: Lessons from the Rwanda Experience", published on 12 March. [21073]

The circumstances that gave rise to genocide in Rwanda are worthy of a detailed international analysis. We will examine the recommendations carefully with other donors, UN agencies and non-governmental organisations, and consider ways in which lessons can be learnt.

Sierra Leone

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have made and are making to the Government of Sierra Leone regarding human rights abuses. [21103]

We take every opportunity to urge the Sierra Leone Government to bring perpetrators of human rights abuses to justice. Any lasting improvement in the political and human rights situation depends on the restoration of accountable, civilian Government in Sierra Leone and an end to the rebel war which we fully support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have held with the Government of Sierra Leone regarding immunity for those found guilty of human rights abuses during the civil war. [21104]

No such discussions have taken place.

Education And Employment

Further Education Funding Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for the future chairmanship of the Further Education Funding Council. [21968]

The current chairman, Sir Robert Gunn, has accepted my right hon. Friend's invitation to continue as chairman until 16 January 1998. We are very grateful to Sir Robert for his excellent contribution to the establishment and work of the council over the last four years, and for his willingness to continue to serve as chairman.

Schools (Surplus Places)

to ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the numbers and percentages of surplus places in each local authority in England. [21969]

The following tables set out the numbers of surplus places, by local authority area, and the proportion that these represent of total capacity, as at January 1995. The data are drawn from the returns made during 1995 by local education authorities in respect of their schools and by the Funding Agency for Schools in respect of grant-maintained schools in stage 2 and 3 authority areas: data on surplus places in the 336 grant-maintained schools in stage 1 authorities are not available. These returns show that there were just over 880,000 surplus school places in January 1995, representing 12 per cent. of the total capacity of 7.6 million places. This represents a reduction overall of some 130,000 places between 1994 and 1995—some 2 per cent. of total capacity.This is encouraging, but the tables illustrate considerable variation in numerical and proportionate levels of surplus across the country. In some cases, combinations of pupil population growth and rationalisation are expected to reduce high levels of surplus to more acceptable levels. Where there is no sign of significant reduction in high levels of surplus, the Department will consult the authorities concerned about the extent to which any of that surplus is in practice removable. In the light of this consultation, my right hon. Friend will decide whether surplus place removal targets should be set for any of those authorities.

Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area, excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities, at January 1995
	Primary¹		Secondary
	Actual surplus		Actual surplus
LEA	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Avon	6,432	8	11,242	18
Barking	1,392	9	258	3
Barnet	1,293	6	1,418	²7
Barnsley	1,460	7	2,467	16
Bedfordshire	6,909	15	7,752	²15
Berkshire	4,895	8	5,949	²11
Bexley	1,457	7	1,606	³10
Birmingham	8,693	8	11,718	²15
Bolton	2,266	9	1,715	²10
Bradford	4,225	11	6,482	²13
Brent	2,139	11	1,452	³10

Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area, excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities, at January 1995
	Primary¹		Secondary
	Actual surplus		Actual surplus
LEA	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Bromley	1,443	²6	608	²3
Buckinghamshire	8,900	13	3,041	²8
Bury	762	5	732	7
Calderdale	2,522	13	1,782	²12
Cambridgeshire	6,420	10	2,048	²5
Camden	467	5	520	²5
Cheshire	14,601	15	8,233	12
Cleveland	7,004	11	6,898	16
Cornwall	3,048	8	1,166	4
Corporation of London	15	7	—	—
Coventry	4,357	13	4,060	17
Croydon	2,429	9	1,350	²8
Cumbria	5,054	12	4,418	²13
Derbyshire	10,175	12	9,451	²14
Devon	8,825	10	3,399	6
Doncaster	6,293	20	5,777	21
Dorset	3,512	8	3,648	²8
Dudley	3,172	11	1,890	²10
Durham	8,139	14	6,528	15
Ealing	3,991	16	609	²4
East Sussex	5,627	10	2,808	8
Enfield	869	4	1,399	²7
Essex	13,348	²9	16,881	²15
Gateshead	3,860	19	2,863	20
Gloucestershire	5,895	²12	2,999	²8
Greenwich	2,259	11	2,601	16
Hackney	1,855	11	2,100	22
Hammersmith	1,404	15	2,145	²27
Hampshire	18,080	13	5,783	²7
Haringey	1,043	6	1,119	10
Harrow	985	5	883	10
Havering	1,489	7	2,163	²13
Hereford and Worcester	5,943	11	6,086	12
Hertfordshire	12,202	13	13,389	²16
Hillingdon	2,103	²10	1,041	³7
Hounslow	1,590	9	773	²5
Humberside	10,641	12	10,237	15
Isle of Wight	418	6	1,122	10
Isles of Scilly	76	30	219	63
Islington	1,706	11	1,512	17
Kensington	731	12	751	²19
Kent	11,936	9	15,251	²13
Kingston upon Thames	83	0	510	²6
Kirklees	2,614	7	2,438	9
Knowsley	3,247	16	1,208	12
Lambeth	3,684	19	3,947	²38
Lancashire	11,685	9	9,639	11
Leeds	8,839	13	6,167	13
Leicestershire	7,348	9	9,426	14
Lewisham	1,196	6	1,846	15
Lincolnshire	7,218	²13	4,680	²11
Liverpool	9,388	18	7,503	²20
Manchester	6,888	14	8,039	27
Merton	928	7	1,164	²14
Newcastle upon Tyne	2,748	12	2,694	14
Newham	2,123	8	2,131	13
Norfolk	6,526	10	3,468	²8
North Tyneside	2,824	16	2,117	13
North Yorkshire	8,279	13	4,990	10
Northamptonshire	4,089	8	5,665	²11
Northumberland	4,960	21	3,231	10
Nottinghamshire	10,194	11	17,250	22

Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area, excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities, at January 1995
	Primary¹		Secondary
	Actual surplus		Actual surplus
LEA	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Oldham	2,251	10	947	6
Oxfordshire	5,939	12	6,375	15
Redbridge	425	2	867	6
Richmond upon Thames	600	5	181	2
Rochdale	1,047	5	1,949	²13
Rotherham	2,583	10	2,292	11
Salford	2,890	12	2,187	16
Sandwell	1,807	6	2,821	14
Sefton	2,775	10	3,532	16
Sheffield	5,003	11	5,376	18
Shropshire	4,143	11	2,083	²8
Solihul	2,089	10	983	7
Somerset	2,222	6	3,010	10
South Tyneside	1,733	11	1,823	16
Southwark	3,176	15	1,877	²17
St. Helens	1,942	11	1,991	15
Staffordshire	13,917	14	3,867	6
Stockport	2,229	8	1,575	9
Suffolk	4,420	9	5,145	10
Sunderland	5,553	17	2,031	9
Surrey	7,766	10	3,275	²6
Sutton	725	6	515	²4

Table 2: Distribution of surplus between LEA and GM schools in stage 2 and 3 authorities
	LEA		GM		Total
	Surplus	Per cent.	Surplus	Per cent.	Surplus	Per cent.
Primary
Bromley	1,248	6	195	8	1,443	6
Essex	12,120	10	1,228	6	13,348	9
Gloucestershire	5,425	12	470	8	5,895	12
Hillingdon	1,911	11	192	7	2,103	10
Lincolnshire	6,646	14	572	7	7,218	13
Secondary
Barnet	1,006	10	412	4	1,418	7
Bedfordshire	7,360	17	392	4	7,752	15
Berkshire	3,621	9	2,328	20	5,949	11
Bexley	1,361	11	245	6	1,606	10
Birmingham	10,374	17	1,344	8	11,718	15
Bolton	1,401	9	314	11	1,715	10
Bradford	6,425	14	57	1	6,482	13
Brent	108	6	1,344	11	1,452	10
Bromley	142	4	466	3	608	3
Buckinghamshire	2,671	9	370	4	3,041	8
Calderdale	1,035	15	747	9	1,782	12
Cambridgeshire	1,272	5	776	5	2,048	5
Camden	520	6	0	0	520	5
Croydon	696	9	654	8	1,350	8
Cumbria	2,600	12	1,818	14	4,418	13
Derbyshire	7,929	17	1,522	8	9,451	14
Dorset	2,800	8	848	8	3,648	8
Dudley	1,719	11	171	4	1,890	10
Ealing	403	5	206	3	609	4
Enfield	1,138	8	261	5	1,399	7
Essex	6,664	19	10,217	13	16,881	15
Gloucestershire	1,317	12	1,628	7	2,999	8
Hammersmith	2,145	31	0	0	2,145	27
Hampshire	4,979	7	804	5	5,783	7
Havering	2,163	16	0	0	2,163	13
Hertfordshire	9,809	18	3,580	13	13,389	16
Hillingdon	319	13	722	6	1,041	7
Hounslow	684	5	89	4	773	5
Kensington	708	22	43	6	751	19

Table 1: Surplus places by local authority area, excluding GM schools in stage 1 authorities, at January 1995
	Primary¹		Secondary
	Actual surplus		Actual surplus
LEA	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Tameside	1,369	6	1,387	²10
Tower Hamlets	1,635	8	1,826	14
Trafford	1,331	7	1,943	²14
Wakefield	3,696	12	3,904	16
Walsall	3,716	14	2,642	²12
Waltham Forest	1,420	7	1,200	²9
Wandsworth	4,270	23	1,919	²17
Warwickshire	7,387	14	5,816	²18
West Sussex	5,363	9	5,802	13
Westminster	473	5	903	11
Wigan	4,301	14	2,085	10
Wiltshire	7,186	14	4,908	²12
Wirral	4,515	13	3,072	14
Wolverhampton	4,395	17	3,088	²17
Total	477,503	11	405,652	12
¹ Primary figures show surplus after taking account of any summer entry.
² Stage two for planning purposes.
³ Stage three for planning purposes.

1. Stage 1 = less than 10 per cent. of pupils in the GM sector.Stage 2 = between 10 per cent. and 75 per cent. of pupils in the GM sector.Stage 3 = 75 per cent. or more pupils in the GM sector.

Table 2: Distribution of surplus between LEA and GM schools in stage 2 and 3 authorities
	LEA		GM		Total
	Surplus	Per cent.	Surplus	Per cent.	Surplus	Per cent.
Kent	8,298	15	6,953	12	15,251	13
Kingston upon Thames	260	5	250	8	510	6
Lambeth	2,968	52	979	21	3,947	38
Lincolnshire	2,740	12	1,940	10	4,680	11
Liverpool	6,853	20	650	18	7,503	20
Merton	1,156	15	8	1	1,164	14
Norfolk	3,082	9	386	4	3,468	8
Northamptonshire	4,342	11	1,323	13	5,665	11
Rochdale	1,949	15	0	0	1,949	13
Shropshire	1,962	9	121	3	2,083	8
Southwark	1,678	20	199	8	1,877	17
Surrey	2,488	7	787	4	3,275	6
Sutton	208	4	307	4	515	4
Tameside	1,377	11	10	0	1,387	10
Trafford	1,703	16	240	7	1,943	14
Walsall	1,850	13	792	10	2,642	12
Waltham Forest	1,120	11	80	4	1,200	9
Wandsworth	1,088	31	831	11	1,919	17
Warwickshire	4,861	19	955	16	5,816	18
Wiltshire	3,438	14	1,470	10	4,908	12
Wolverhampton	2,802	18	286	10	3,088	17

1. The GM column includes schools which became grant-maintained on or before 1 April 1995.

2. LEA and GM percentage columns show the actual number of surplus places as a proportion of total capacity within that sector.

Schools Access Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the schools access initiative. [21971]

Local education authorities are today being notified of supplementary credit approvals totalling £7.8 million in 1996–97 to enable them to improve access to mainstream schools for pupils with disabilities, and are being notified that capital grant of £974,000—grant to voluntary aided schools is paid at the rate of 85 per cent. of eligible expenditure—will support work in 1996–97 at voluntary aided schools. Together with partnership funding in many cases, the total value of the projects concerned is £10.6 million.I am delighted that this will enable many more schools to admit pupils with disabilities. It will improve facilities in over 700 mainstream schools, not only for pupils with physical disabilities, but for those with, for example, visual or hearing impairments. The result will be greater access to the curriculum and to the social life of school for these pupils.LEAs and schools are planning a wide variety of projects. Just a few examples of the many worthwhile and imaginative improvements which will be made are:

providing ramps, lifts, handrails and walkways to improve access to buildings;
adapting accommodation for particular curriculum areas or relocating this accommodation to make it accessible;
purchasing specialist equipment such as teaching aids for the visually handicapped—for example, Braille microcomputers— or portable transmitter/receiver systems for profoundly deaf pupils.

To maximise the benefits of the schools access initiative, LEAs and schools have secured partnership funding totalling some £1.8 million. This has come from private contributions, business sponsorship, voluntary aided school governors' contributions and schools' own resources. It is a marvellous achievement.

Access To Work Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will take steps to ensure that no disabled persons in Wales are denied benefit from the access to work scheme because of cash limits on the available budget; and if she will make a statement. [20787]

While additional funds have been allocated to the 1995–96 budget, it has been necessary to focus support mainly on people with disabilities who have been unemployed for at least four weeks and those to whom the Employment Service has existing commitments. The Government believe that this is the most equitable way of allocating the limited resources available across Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many blind and vision-impaired people in the United Kingdom are currently receiving assistance from the access to work scheme; [21371](2) how many people in

(a) Nottingham and (b) the east midlands are currently receiving assistance from the access to work scheme; and of these how many are blind or visually impaired people. [21370]

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

Letter from Mike Fogden to Mr. John Heppell, dated 19 March 1996:

The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of visually impaired people currently receiving help through the Access to Work programme; the number of people currently being helped in Nottingham, and in the East Midlands; and the number of these who are visually impaired.

We do not keep detailed records centrally about the characteristics of people currently being helped. However, during 1994–95 we helped 10,394 people nationally and we estimate that around 2,200 of these were visually impaired. Similar figures for 1995/96 will be available after the end of the year.

In the East Midlands Region since Access to Work began, we have helped 1,480 people of whom 347 were visually impaired. The Nottingham Placing Assessment and Counselling Team helped 275 people, of whom 61 are visually impaired. These figures are included in the East Midlands Region total.

I hope this is helpful.

Executive Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those areas of executive action where she has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for her decision. [20543]

Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested but reasons will normally be given to the individual affected either at the time the decision is communicated or, on request, afterwards.

Schools (Special Educational Needs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to review the powers and responsibilities of local education authorities in respect of the provision of special educational needs and education psychology services and specialist advice and support to schools; and if she will make a statement. [21082]

The powers and responsibilities of local education authorities in this regard are contained in the Education Act 1993 and associated legislation, including the code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs. The code came into force in September 1994, and the Department is currently monitoring its implementation by schools and LEAs, together with implementation of other aspects of the legislation. I understand that Ofsted intends shortly to publish a report on an interim survey by Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools on the implementation of the code of practice in the period from September 1994 to November 1995.

Barnsley And Doncaster Training And Enterprise Council

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many types of Government audits Barnsley and Doncaster TEC has undergone. [20989]

Three types of audits have been undertaken by the Department at the Barnsley and Doncaster training and enterprise council. These are in the areas of TEC quality assurance: supplier management, health and safety and financial appraisal and monitoring.

Autistic Children

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will review funding to ensure provision for autistic children; and if she will make a statement. [20877]

The assessment of autistic children and the identification of a suitable school for them is the responsibility of the local education authority in whose area they live. It is for LEAs to decide how best to use their financial resources in order to carry out statutory duties such as these in the light of local needs and priorities.The Department is, however, funding a series of joint seminars, to be organised by the National Autistic Society and the Society of Education Officers, which will draw attention to the implications of autism for LEAs.

Schools (Financial Support)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has had, and what studies she has commissioned, since 1 January 1994, with the purpose of changing the balance of financial support between primary and secondary or middle schools. [21139]

My right hon. Friend has received a few representations on this issue but has commissioned no studies. The distribution of funds between primary and secondary schools is determined by the decisions of each local education authority.

Football Players (Transfer System)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy that abolition of the transfer system on out-of-contract football players should also apply to non-EU players wishing to transfer from employment in the United Kingdom to other EU countries. [21169]

I have been asked to reply.No. This is a matter for the football authorities which are independent of Government.

Assisted Places Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many pupils (a) nationally and (b) in the Greater Manchester area received support under the assisted places scheme in each of the past four years. [21522]

The information requested is given in the following table:

Numbers of pupils holding assisted places
Academic year	England	Greater Manchester
1992–93	28,674	2,813
1993–94	29,291	2,800
1994–95	29,747	2,794
1995–96¹	30,200	2,800
¹ Estimated.

Numeracy And Literacy Centres

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which local education authorities have been awarded grant for education support and training grants for the establishment of the 10 numeracy and 10 literacy centres announced in January 1996. [21556]

No decisions have yet been made about which local education authorities will be selected to run the literacy and numeracy centres. I hope to make an announcement about the successful local education authorities shortly.

School Premises

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on the safeguards against overcrowding contained in the Education (School Premises) Regulations 1996. [21306]

Regulation 17(3) requires that every part of a school building shall be such that the health, safety and welfare of the occupants shall be reasonably assured. Further to this, regulation 7 requires that the buildings provided for a school shall be adequate to permit the safe and convenient passage of persons and movement of goods within the buildings.The new regulations will not require any school to take on more pupils: local authorities and school governors will continue to have exactly the same powers over admissions as they do now.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what research she has commissioned into the impact of the private finance initiative on higher education institutions. [21310]

My right hon. Friend has set up a small expert group with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, the Standing Conference of Principals and others to consider the private finance initiative in higher education.

Mature Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what are the Government's targets for the participation rate of mature students in higher education by 2000. [21312]

The number of mature entrants has increased by 160 per cent. since 1979 and there are now more mature than young people entering higher education. The Government welcome this increase but have not set any targets for the level of participation among mature students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many mature female students entered higher education institutions in each academic year from 1985–86 to 1995–96. [21313]

The available information is given in the following table:

Home full-time mature¹ female entrants to higher education
England
Academic year	Numbers
1985–86	20,548
1986–87	22,268
1987–88	23,723
1988–89	26,467
1989–90	29,825
1990–91	33,024
1991–92	41,936
1992–93	51,992
1993–94	56,502
1994–95	57,745
¹ Those aged 21 and over on an undergraduate course, and those aged 25 and over on a postgraduate course.

Higher Education (Student To Staff Ratio)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average student to staff ratio in higher education for each year from 1985–86 to 1995–96. [21314]

Information on the student-staff ratio in higher education institutions in England for the academic years 1990–91 to 1993–94, the latest available, are as follows:

1990–91: 13.4
1991–92: 14.6
1992–93: 15.6
1993–94: 16.5.

Information on the same basis for earlier years is not available.

Higher Education Funding Council For England

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many bids were received by HEFCE in response to circular 17/95; which institutions submitted bids; for what sums; and for what reasons the process was terminated in December 1995; [21316](2) how many bids were received by HEFCE in response to its circular 18/94; which institutions were successful; how much funding they were allocated; and how many reader spaces were funded. [21315]

These are matters for the Higher Education Funding Council for England. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the details.

Key Stage 2 Testing

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to publish the consultation paper on testing at key stage 2. [21304]

The Department published a consultation paper on the review of assessment and testing at key stages 1 to 3 on 25 January 1996. We intend to issue a separate consultation paper on key stage 2 performance tables in due course.

School Admissions Policy

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when he plans to publish the results of the consultation on increasing schools' flexibility to admit pupils on the basis of aptitude or ability. [21305]

A summary of comments on the draft circular on school admissions, together with an analysis of responses to the consultation note on deregulating GM schools' admission arrangements, will be placed in the Library in due course.

Higher Education (Professors)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the average salary paid to professors in higher education in each academic year from 1985–86 to 1995–96 broken down by gender. [21311]

This information is not held centrally.

Defence

Arms And Military Equipment (Exports)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to present an annual statement to Parliament on the implementation of Government policy with regard to the export of arms and military equipment; and if he will make a statement. [21245]

We have no current plans for such an annual statement but, as I informed the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 11 March, Official Report, column 451, my Department will take the lead in the review of the convention on the disclosure of information about defence exports.

Executive Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20545]

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

Works Of Art

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which former Minister was presented with a reproduction of "A View of the Admiralty" in 1994; and what was the value of the reproduction. [20829]

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) who provided the valuation of the photographic reproduction of "A View of the Admiralty" given by his Department's staff to a Minister as a leaving gift in 1994; and what was that valuation; [20907](2) how much was reimbursed to his Department by staff for the photographic reproduction "A View of the Admiralty", given to a Minister as a leaving gift in 1994. [20906]

Senior civil servants in my Department presented the reproduction "A View of the Admiralty" to my right hon. Friend the Member for Epsom and Ewell (Sir A. Hamilton) on his departure from the post of Minister of State for the Armed Forces in 1993. The Department's registrar assessed the reproduction as having only nominal value, a judgment confirmed by the Government art collection. The officers concerned contributed £70 to the Department's funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to put his Department's art collection on public display. [20837]

Twenty-seven of my Department's most important works of art are on permanent display at the National Maritime Museum. My Department is receptive to requests from exhibition organisers and works have been loaned on occasions to temporary exhibitions. One work will be displayed in London in April and four will be shown in Manchester during the summer.

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21031]

My Department publishes each year in table 1.14 of "UK Defence Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House, details of numbers and values of contracts placed by headquarters contract branches broken down by procurement route and pricing mechanism. A breakdown of these details by individual agencies could be produced only at disproportionate cost. The figures in table 1.14 exclude contracts placed by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency and the Meteorological Office since their inception and I have asked the chief executives of those agencies to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from J. Chisholm to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 18 March 1996:

You asked the Secretary of State for Defence for the number and value of the contracts for goods and services awarded after competitive tendering by his Department and its agencies in the last three years. I am replying on behalf of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA).

The details you requested are as follows:

Year	Total number	Total value (£000)
1992–93	378	44,822
1993–94	596	66,856
1994–95	3,081	109,907
Total	4,055	221,585

The figures refer to the Defence Research Agency (DRA) which was formed on 1 April 1991 and became a Trading Fund on 1 April 1993. The DRA is now part of the larger agency known as DERA which became a Trading Fund on 1 April 1995.

I hope this is helpful.

Letter from J. C. R. Hunt to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 18 March 1996.

I am replying as Chief Executive of the Meterological Office to your Question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the number of contracts let my competitive tender in each of the last three financial years.

Unfortunately the information could only be produced at disproportionate costs, although naturally as an Agency of the Ministry of Defence we follow the Department's policy on competitive tendering. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful.

Married Quarters Estate

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters properties are empty (a) in Lancashire and (b) in each local authority area in the country. [21246]

My Department owns 417 family quarters in Lancashire, 21 of which are currently vacant. Of these, 11 are presently unallocated and 10 are awaiting repair due to flood damage, etcetera. All these properties are required to house service families.The local authorities are:

Preston: 2
The Fylde: 17
West Lancashire: 2.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many officials responsible for administration of the MOD married quarters estate had been (a) made redundant and (b) dismissed between 1 April 1992 and November 1995. [21378]

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

Raf Personnel Management Centre

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about agency status for the Royal Air Force's personnel management centre. [21869]

Elements of the Royal Air Force's personnel management centre at RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, are to be considered as a candidate for agency status. The range of business being considered is the formulation and implementation of personnel management policy, the manning of posts and the career management of RAF personnel-both regular and reserves. Some 450 staff, over half civilians, are currently employed on these activities. Trade unions will be consulted on any proposals that arise from this review.A "prior options" study is being undertaken to establish whether agency status or other options would be appropriate. Comments are invited from interested parties. Comments should be sent by 2 April 1996 to:

Air Marshal D Cousins CB AFC BA RAF
The Air Member for Personnel
Headquarters Personnel and Training Command
RAF Innsworth
Gloucester
GL3 1EZ.

Royal Navy (Vessel Procurement)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the cost of construction of the seven Trafalgar class strategic submarines nuclear (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21396](2) what was the cost of construction of the five Sandown class mine counter-measures vessels presently in service

(a) at the year of construction and (b) at 1996 prices; [21392]

(3) what was the cost of construction of each of the 12 type 42 destroyers remaining in service (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21394]

(4) what was the cost of construction of the 14 type 22 frigates built for the Royal Navy (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21397]

(5) what was the cost of construction of each of the 10 type 23 frigates accepted into service (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices; [21395]

(6) what was the total cost of construction of the 13 hunt class MCMVs (a) at year of completion and (b) at 1996 prices. [21393]

My hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Defence procurement set out on 14 January 1988 the basis for discontinuing the practice of publishing unit production costs of selected equipments, Official Report, column 373. This remains our position. We continue to make available to the Defence Committee of the House each year on a classified basis costs for those ships currently in production.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many applicants have been waiting for more than a year for a decision from his Department in respect of an appeal against a refusal of an application for asylum. [21486]

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

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to expedite his Department's processing of appeals against a refusal of an application for asylum. [21487]

Additional adjudicators have been appointed and further recruitment plans are in hand. The number of hearing rooms has already been increased and further expansion plans are under consideration.

New asylum procedure rules aimed at reducing delays in the appeals process are being prepared following the recommendations in the report by KPMG Peat Marwick. The Lord Chancellor will consult interested organisations about the proposed new rules in due course.

Northern Ireland Court Service

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current financial cost of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners within the Northern Ireland court service; what were the costs in each financial year from 1990 to 1995; and if he will provide a breakdown of the costs. [20520]

The estimated financial cost of the office of the social security commissioners and child support commissioners for the current financial year is as follows:

Commissioners' salary costs £	Staff salary costs £	Ancillary costs £
175,426.44	102,290.94	47.373.11

Ancillary costs include postage, rent, electricity, maintenance, cleaning, service charges, telephones and travel.The figures for each of the financial years from 1990 to 1995 are as follows:

Year	Commissioners' salary costs £	Staff salary costs £	Ancillary costs £	Total £
1990–91	119,444.79	90,590.06	32,396.00	242,430.85
1991–92	135,786.72	98,128.08	45,373.65	279,288.45
1992–93	153,751.28	97,606.59	65,960.82	317,318.69
1993–94	159,295.20	94,985.61	68,472.05	322,752.86
1994–95	168,385.91	103,583.58	294,284.51	566,254.00

The following amounts should be deducted from the overall yearly totals as they are recouped from the Department of Health and Social Services for the percentage of time spent by the commissioners and staff on cases involving non-contributory benefit:

1990–91: £67,588.04
1991–92: £75,578.39
1992–93: £34,940.86
1993–94: £99,465.27
1994–95: £106,077.08
1995–96: £51,359.19.

Executive Action

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20538]

No areas have been identified, from readily available sources, in which there is a specific requirement to give reasons.

Northern Ireland

Health And Social Services Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland further to the press statement issued on 12 February concerning health and social services expenditure for 1996–97 in respect of relative spending on health and social services in Northern Ireland and England, what is spending on health and social services per head in (a) Northern Ireland and (b) England. [20552]

Based on the 1995 public expenditure survey settlement, spending in 1996–97 on health and social services in Northern Ireland will be £954 per head. The comparable figure for England will be £835 per head.

Commonwealth Day

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what celebrations, events or festivities were held in Northern Ireland to celebrate Commonwealth day; and what was the cost of those events in (a) 1995 and (b) 1996. [20595]

Northern Ireland Departments did not arrange any celebrations, events or festivities. However, the Department of Education encourages schools, by way of a circular which issues annually, to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the celebration of Commonwealth day to increase pupils awareness of the nature and significance of the Commonwealth and to extend the range of their knowledge and understanding of it.

Metropolitan Transport Research Unit Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what response he has made to the report of the metropolitan transport research unit submitted to his Department by the Balmoral residents association. [20873]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: The report has been considered and a detailed response is being prepared.

National Heritage

London News Radio

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) if the Radio Authority has reported to her about the implications of the takeover of London News Radio as it relates to the franchise originally awarded and the quality and source of news gathering and output; and if she will make a statement; [21019](2) if the consortium purchasing London News Radio has presented a programme plan in accordance with the terms of the station's existing franchise; and if she will make a statement. [21048]

My Department does not receive programme plans for radio services or reports on their day-to-day performances, since the award and regulation of licences for independent local radio services are solely matters for the Radio Authority.

The Broadcasting Act 1990, however, requires any person acquiring ownership of a licence to comply with the programming proposals included as conditions of the licence when it was awarded, except to the extent that the authority consents to any alteration within the parameters of section 106 of the Act. I understand that the authority has not received any recent proposals for altering the licensed programming of London News Radio and that it is content that the service is currently meeting its licence obligations.

Executive Action

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will list those areas of executive action where she has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for her decision. [20537]

Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested, but no provisions have been identified from readily available sources.

National Lottery (Royal Opera House)

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what account was taken of the absence of final planning permission for the Royal Opera house project in determining whether to allocate lottery funds; [20453](2) what conditions have been imposed on the Royal Opera house in respect of the new building works before the Arts Council funding is finally committed. [20494]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: The decision whether, and under what conditions, to allocate lottery funds to the Royal Opera house was taken by the Arts Council of England, an independent lottery distribution body. I have asked the chairman of the Arts Council to write to the hon. Member placing copies of his response in the House Library.

Public Bodies

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which of the executive non-departmental public bodies sponsored by her Department publish (a) annual reports, (b) annual accounts, (c) the minutes of meetings, (d) the agendas of meetings and (e) a register of members' interests, indicating in each case if this is (i) under a statutory requirement or (ii) voluntary. [16826]

[pursuant to his reply, 27 February 1996, c. 493–94]: Regrettably, the reply was incomplete.The full information is as follows:

(a)

Arts Council of England

British Film Institute

British Library¹

British Tourist Authority¹

Broadcasting Complaints Commission¹

Broadcasting Standards Council¹

Crafts Council

English Heritage¹

English Tourist Board¹

Football Licensing Authority¹

Geffrye Museum¹

Horniman Museum¹

Millennium Commission¹

Museum of London²

Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester¹

Museums and Galleries Commission

National Gallery²

National Portrait Gallery²

National Heritage Memorial Fund¹

Public Lending Right¹

Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts

Royal Commission for Historic Monuments of England

Sports Council.

The following bodies are statutorily obliged to produce a triennial report:

British Museum
Natural History
Museum National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside
National Museum of Science and Industry
Royal Armouries
Tate Gallery
Victoria and Albert Museum
Wallace Collection.
(b)
Arts Council for England
British Film Institute¹
British Library¹
British Museum¹
British Tourist Authority¹
Broadcasting Complaints Commission¹
Broadcasting Standards Council¹
Crafts Council
English Heritage¹
English Tourist Board¹
Football Licensing Authority¹
Geffrye Museum¹
Horniman Museum¹
Imperial War Museum¹
Millennium Commission¹
Museum and Galleries Commission
Museum of London¹
Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester¹
National Film and Television School¹
National Gallery¹
National Heritage Memorial Fund¹
National Maritime Museum¹
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside¹
National Museum of Science and Industry¹
National Portrait Gallery¹
Natural History Museum¹
Public Lending Right¹
Royal Armouries¹
Sir John Soane's Museum¹
Sports Council
Tate Gallery¹
Victoria and Albert Museum¹
Wallace Collection¹.

(c)
British Film Institute
Sports Council.
(d)
British Film Institute
Sports Council.
(e)
British Film Institute
British Library.

All DNH's executive NDPBs are currently developing registers of members' interests. Many of these are already in place and are open to the public on request.

¹ Indicates where this is a statutory requirement.

² Indicates where an annual report is published but the organisation is only statutorily obliged to publish a triennial report.

Attorney-General

Bank Of Credit And Commerce International

To ask the Attorney-General what factors underlay the decision not to provide the report of Gerry Olsen of the City of London police into BCCI to the lawyers acting for Mr. Imran Iman; and if a copy of the report will now be given to them. [20560]

Leading counsel for the prosecution advised that the report was not disclosable. Relevant underlying documents were disclosed.

Executive Action

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20546]

No express statutory obligation to give reasons is imposed on the Attorney-General in respect of any of his functions. The extent to which it is appropriate for the Law Officers to give reasons for their decisions will vary according to the circumstances of the case.

Leon Patterson

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects an inquest to be held into the death of Leon Patterson; and if he will make a statement. [21716]

As I said in my answer of 3 March 1995, column 729, the date of the further inquest is for the coroner to determine in his judicial capacity.

Marchioness Incident

To ask the Attorney-General, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, Official Report, column 595, when he expects to determine whether he will initiate further criminal proceedings in respect of the Marchioness disaster. [20867]

The Crown Prosecution Service continues with the tasks outlined in my answer of 14 February 1996. It has also sought the advice of senior Treasury counsel. There is a substantial amount of material which requires to be given careful consideration and I am not able, at this stage, to give the indication sought.

Parental Bindovers

To ask the Attorney-General what guidance is given to the Crown Prosecution Service and its representatives in respect of breach of parental bindovers. [21055]

Section 120 of the Magistrates' Court Act 1980 applies to proceedings to estreat a recognisance entered into a parent or guardian under section 58 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991. Breach proceedings are civil proceedings initiated by complaint. They are not commenced or conducted by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Environment

Education Authority Budgets

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 7 February, Official Report, columns 196–97, which local education authorities budgeted by more than £50,000 below their capping limits in the years 1992–93 and 1993–94; and in each case by how much in cash and percentage of total spending. [19967]

The local education authorities which budgeted more than £50,000 below their capping limits in 1992–93 and 1993–94 are as follows:

	£ million	¹Percentage of budget requirement
(a) 1992–93
City of London	3.585	4.7
Kensington and Chelsea	3.197	2.4
Wandsworth	35.378	15.3
Westminster	29.362	14.5
Barnet	0.500	0.2
Bexley	4.435	3.0
Brent	10.131	3.8
Bromley	8.765	5.0
Croydon	13.361	5.7
Ealing	5.289	2.0
Harrow	0.137	0.1
Kingston upon Thames	0.401	0.4
Redbridge	2.750	1.6
Oldham	3.944	2.2
Trafford	3.301	2.3
Newcastle upon Tyne	0.053	0.02
Sunderland	0.755	0.3
Solihull	0.248	0.2
Wolverhampton	0.341	0.2
Bedfordshire	2.000	0.6
Cumbria	0.279	0.1
Essex	36.980	3.9
Hampshire	38.465	4.2
Hertfordshire	4.543	0.7
Kent	23.358	2.4
North Yorkshire	10.712	2.6
West Sussex	28.066	7.3
Wiltshire	2.553	0.8
Isles of Scilly	0.151	6.2

	£ million	¹Percentage of budget requirement
(b) 1993–94
City of London	3.146	4.3
Wandsworth	7.329	3.0
Westminster	17.275	8.5
Barking and Dagenham	1.537	1.4
Bromley	0.891	0.5
Ealing	0.801	0.3
Hillingdon	1.360	0.8
Trafford	0.563	0.4
Sunderland	0.108	0.05
Solihull	0.958	0.8
Essex	3.959	0.4
Hampshire	36.056	4.2
Hereford and Worcester	3.725	1.0
Leicestershire	7.102	1.3
Northamptonshire	2.848	0.8
Surrey	2.390	0.4
West Sussex	8.637	2.2
Isles of Scilly	0.116	4.8
¹ Budget requirement to finance services including education.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the funding available for new-rental housing association houses in 1996–97; and if he will estimate what funding would have been available if funding plans in the 1993 autumn statement had been maintained for each local authority in the east midlands. [19883]

[holding answer 12 March 1996]: The 1996–97 funding allocations made by the Housing Corporation in the east midlands for the provision of rented housing by housing associations through new build and rehabilitation are listed in the table. The Housing Corporation's estimate of what the allocations may have been for 1996–97 if funding plans in the 1993 autumn statement had been maintained are also listed. These estimates can only be hypothetical since the actual allocations depend on a series of factors including the nature of the schemes submitted by housing associations, local housing needs, local authority involvement and value for money. In any one year, activity by housing associations in a particular authority area can vary according to the schemes proposed and approved.

£ million
Local authority	1996–97 allocations	Estimate of allocations based on 1993 autumn statement
Amber Valley	0.71	0.77
Ashfield	0.89	0.97
Bassetlaw	0.66	0.72
Blaby	0.28	0.30
Bolsover	0.43	0.47
Boston	0.18	0.20
Broxtowe	0.60	0.65
Charnwood	0.60	0.65
Chesterfield	0.66	0.72
Corby	0.21	0.23
Daventry	0.19	0.21
Derby	2.85	3.10
Derbyshire Dales	0.49	0.53
East Lindsey	0.94	1.02
East Northamptonshire	0.32	0.35
Erewash	0.73	0.79
Gedling	0.53	0.58
Harborough	0.27	0.29

£ million
Local authority	1996–97 allocations	Estimate of allocations based on 1993 autumn statement
High Peak	0.62	0.67
Hinckley and Bosworth	0.37	0.40
Kettering	0.51	0.55
Leicester	3.44	3.74
Lincoln	0.68	0.74
Mansfield	0.64	0.70
Melton	0.23	0.25
N/E Derbyshire	0.48	0.52
N/W Leicestershire	0.55	0.60
Newark and Sherwold	0.36	0.39
North Kesteven	0.40	0.43
Northampton	1.13	1.23
Nottingham	3.39	3.68
Oadby and Wigston	0.23	0.25
Rushcliffe	0.59	0.64
Rutland	0.10	0.11
South Derbyshire	0.39	0.42
South Holland	0.37	0.40
South Kesteven	0.80	0.87
South Northamptonshire	0.29	0.32
Wellingborough	0.26	0.28
West Lindsey	0.68	0.74
Total	28.05	30.48

In addition, the Housing Corporation also makes funding allocations for social lettings provided through: the corporation's programme of new build and rehabilitation for shared ownership; and the corporation's other home ownership initiatives which release existing social lettings for reletting to others in housing need. Local authorities may also support housing association developments with local authority housing association grant.

Local Authority Voids

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the percentage and number of void local authority housing properties in each of the 10 local authorities with the highest figures. [20734]

The 10 local authorities in England reporting the highest percentages of management vacants, dwellings available for letting immediately or after minor repairs, on 1 April 1995 are listed in the table.

	Number of management vacants	Management vacants as a percentage of total stock
Redbridge	248	3.67
Hackney	1,180	2.98
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,067	2.72
Lambeth	1,114	2.59
Trafford	261	2.22
Mansfield	196	2.18
Blackburn	245	2.13
Carlisle	186	2.04
Arun	83	2.03
Burnley	117	2.03

Source:

1995 housing investment programme (HIP1) returns.

Methyl Bromide

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the effects of methyl bromide on the ozone layer. [20583]

My Department has received 21 representations, covering a range of views, on methyl bromide over the last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to introduce measures to reduce emissions of methyl bromide. [20584]

The UK has already introduced controls on methyl bromide through EC regulation 3093/94, which is directly applicable to UK law. The regulation obliges all precautionary measures practicable to be taken to prevent leakages of methyl bromide during fumigations. It also includes a freeze on methyl bromide production and consumption at 1991 levels from January 1995 and a further 25 per cent. cut from 1998.The meeting in December of the parties to the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer agreed to phase out methyl bromide in developed countries by 2010. The EC regulation will need to be amended in line with this decision, and the Council of Ministers has requested the Commission to come forward with appropriate proposals as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to establish monitoring facilities for methyl bromide levels in the atmosphere. [20585]

Regular measurements of atmospheric concentrations of methyl bromide are carried out by the university of East Anglia on behalf of the Department of Environment at Macehead in the Republic of Ireland and Cape Grim in Australia in collaboration with international measurement programmes. Additional measurements have been made from time to time in urban areas, over the oceans and in the free atmosphere to investigate the sources and removal mechanisms for methyl bromide.

Local Authority Rent Arrears

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the 10 local authorities with the largest rent arrears together with amounts outstanding; what percentage this figure represents of the annual rent collectable; and what is the largest single sum owed by a tenant in each authority. [20733]

The 10 local authorities in England with the highest cumulative rent arrears as a proportion of rent roll on 31 March 1995, the latest date for which figures are available, are as follows:

	Cumulative arrears as a percentage of 1994–95 rent roll	Total cumulative rent arrears £000
Haringey	33.4	20,318
Hackney	31.6	32,675
Brent	29.3	13,750
Southwark	20.8	26,160
Lambeth	19.8	19,491
Greenwich	19.6	14,984
Ealing	19.1	10,809

	Cumulative arrears as a percentage of 1994–95 rent roll	Total cumulative rent arrears £000
Liverpool	17.2	12,763
Islington	16.0	16,072
Hammersmith and Fulham	15.1	6,553

Source:

Housing subsidy claim forms.

Information about amounts owed by individual tenants is not held centrally.

Housing Associations (Wirral And Liverpool)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the moneys available in (a) the Wirral and (b) Liverpool-based housing associations for expenditure in the Wirral. [20786]

In 1996–97, the Housing Corporation's funding allocation to the Wirral is £4.5 million. These funds are distributed to all housing associations whose proposed housing schemes in the Wirral were successful in this year's competition for funding irrespective of where those associations are based. Details of allocations to individual housing associations will be published in the Housing Corporation's regional allocations statements in early May.

Rural Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from organisations on the extent of rural homelessness; and of the responses to this Department's White Paper on housing, what percentage expressed concern over the extent of rural homelessness. [20983]

The representations we have received recently about rural housing issues, including those in response to the housing White Paper, have primarily been concerned with the proposed purchase grant proposals. My Department has commissioned research into the nature of housing need and the demand for housing in different types of rural areas. The results are expected later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what safeguards he will introduce to ensure that future provision of rural social housing meets demand. [20981]

Guidance is provided by the Department to local authorities on the preparation of their housing strategies and the need to identify and prioritise rural housing needs alongside other housing needs in their areas. Their priorities guide the allocation of Housing Corporation funding for new social housing to meet housing need in each area.Public funding continues to support the Housing Corporation's rural housing programme which provides new social housing in small rural villages of 3,000 and fewer population. Between 1996–97 and 1998–99 this programme is expected to approve around 1,500 new rural homes a year which is over 300 more than the number being provided in 1995–96.

To safeguard the supply of affordable rented housing and ensure the continued provision of sites, the Government are proposing to exempt small rural villages of 3,000 and fewer population from the purchase grant scheme. This exemption will also apply to the voluntary scheme that is being launched in April 1996.

A new rural housing enhancement factor will be introduced on 1 April 1996 to address the additional costs associated with developing schemes in rural areas. The effect of this multiplier will be to increase by up to a quarter the proportion of grant which schemes would otherwise receive.

We have also recently issued for consultation a draft circular on planning and affordable housing that provides practical advice to local planning authorities and developers on the implementation of affordable housing policies and clarification of how to assess need.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the level of rural homelessness (a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the national total of homeless households in each year since 1989. [20980]

The information is not available centrally. The data collected from local authorities on homeless households accepted for re-housing do not differentiate between households from rural and non-rural areas.I have today placed in the Library a summary print showing the reported acceptances in each local authority area in England for the years 1980 to 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of rural housing is unfit for human habitation. [20982]

The 1991 English house condition survey found 7.6 per cent. of rural housing to be unfit under section 604 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by schedule 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21032]

This information is not held centrally by my Department and is obtainable only at disproportionate cost.

Pollution Controls

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider his decision to delay the implementation of pollution controls on volatile organic compound emissions; and if he will make a decision. [20878]

No. The decision, announced last June, was justified pending the review of the relevant statutory guidance notes. It avoided industry incurring what might prove to be unnecessary expenditure. We are well on course to achieving a 30 per cent. reduction in volatile organic compound emissions by 1999 in accordance with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe VOC protocol. This reduction will not be compromised by the extension to the implementation time-scale.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of changes to the home energy efficiency scheme on pensioner households. [21049]

All householders aged over 60 remain entitled to grants under this successful high-quality scheme. Those on low incomes or receiving disability benefits will continue to be eligible for 100 per cent. grants for better insulation of their homes and for energy advice. From 1 April, better-off householders over 60 will be entitled to free advice, and to insulation measures at a substantial discount.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) requests for information and (b) applications for grants were made under the home energy efficiency scheme in (i) February 1995, (ii) February 1996, (iii) March 1995 and (iv) March 1996 to the latest available date. [21261]

The table shows the numbers of requests for information received by Eaga Ltd. the scheme managers, and the numbers of grants claimed.

Month	Inquiries handled by Eaga Ltd.	Grant claims
February 1995	27,322	42,801
February 1996	53,874	58,551
March 1995	18,805	32,390
March 1996 (until 8th)	12,605	27,225

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many home energy efficiency scheme (a) applications and (b) grants have been made since 1 April 1995 to the latest available date; [21262](2) how many households have had work carried out under the home energy efficiency scheme since 1 April 1995 to the latest available date. [21263]

From 1 April 1995 to 8 March 1996, 602,791 home energy efficiency scheme grant claims in respect of work completed were received by Eaga Ltd. Applications to installers for work to be done are not centrally recorded. In the same period, Eaga Ltd. received 330,000 inquiries about the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the waiting list of applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants which have been received but have yet to be processed at the latest available date. [21264]

I estimate that installers now have, on average, about 18 weeks, work from people who have registered an interest in the home energy efficiency scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money from the 1996–97 home energy efficiency scheme budget will be used to fund work where the application was made on or before 31 March; and how many grants will be paid for in this way. [21287]

I estimate that up to 210,000 claimants may have registered an interest by 31 March 1995. If all of them are eligible for grants under the present rules, up to £34 million of the 1996–97 budget could be spent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) in how many cases where applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants have been approved the work has not yet been carried out; [21265](2) what proportion of households who successfully apply for home energy efficiency scheme grant in

(a) the third quarter of financial year 1995–96 and (b) the fourth quarter of financial year 1995–96 will have the work carried out within financial year (i) 1995–96 and (ii) 1996–97. [21266]

I understand that over 200,000 people who have inquired about grants are waiting for work to be done. The table gives the information requested about times of inquiry and estimated payment of grant.

Percentage
Period of enquiry	Work completed in 1995–96	Work completed in 1996–97
Third quarter of 1995–96	95	5
Fourth quarter of 1995–96	25	75

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of home energy efficiency scheme grants made in (a) financial year 1994–95 and (b) financial year 1995–96 to the latest available date, were made to people who will no longer be eligible for a full grant after 1 April. [21267]

I estimate that in 1994–95, 33 per cent. of all home energy efficiency scheme grants were paid to people aged over 60 who did not also claim an income-related benefit, and the equivalent figure for 1995–96 is likely to be about 45 per cent. I expect the proportion to fall in future.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the national average waiting time for (a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved, in each month of 1995 and each month of 1996 to the latest available date; [21268](2) what was the average waiting time in each region of England and in Scotland and Wales for

(a) processing applications for home energy efficiency scheme grants and (b) carrying out work under the home energy efficiency scheme once an application was approved in each month of 1995 and each month of 1996 to the latest date. [21269]

The information requested is not available on a regional basis. National data are given in the table. Average waiting times nationally, allowing for seasonal variations in demand, are not significantly longer this winter than last, despite the recent increase in demand for the scheme.

Month	Mean time from inquiry to work completed (weeks)
1995
January	14
February	12
March	9
April	8
May	7
June	6
July	6
August	7
September	7
October	7
November	8
December	8
1996
January	12
February	14
March	18

Orimulsion Burning (Emissions)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the permissible daily tonnage of PM 10s which will be emitted from power stations burning orimulsion; and what monitoring procedures have been agreed. [20847]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: With reference to Pembroke power station, proposals have been received from National Power for the burning of orimulsion, and these are currently being evaluated by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. It is intended that releases of particulate matter would be continuously monitored.With regard to Ince power station, over 90 per cent. of the particulates from orimulsion combustion are removed by the electrostatic precipitators. The particulate emission limits for orimulsion are currently the most stringent of the black fossil power generation processes.HMIP requires continuous monitoring of particulates emissions, and specific limits have been imposed for short-term (two hours), medium-term (48 hours), and long-term (monthly) average emission levels. In addition, maximum annual tonnage limits are specified.The authorisation of Ince power station under EPA90 is soon to be modified, and it is expected that PowerGen will be required to assess the effect of emissions (including PM 10s) on local air quality with a view, if necessary, to reducing concentrations under adverse meteorological conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the measures to be taken at power stations burning orimulsion to ensure there are no emissions of vanadium and other heavy metals as well as pentoxide fumes; and what monitoring procedures have been agreed. [20848]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Orimulsion, in common with most heavy fuel oils, contains a small amount of vanadium and heavy metals which form part of the particulates produced in combustion.The one power station which is currently firing orimulsion is Ince, and this uses electrostatic precipitators which effectively reduce vanadium and heavy metal emissions levels by more than 90 per cent. as a requirement of its IPC authorisation.Currently, HMIP imposes an annual tonnage limit on power stations for vanadium and heavy metal emissions. In the forthcoming modified authorisation for Ince power station, this limit has been reduced by 15 per cent.

Telecommunications Masts And Wind Turbines

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what planning restrictions there are on the number of wind turbines erected in a particular area; [21414](2) what planning regulations apply to anemo meters; [21412](3) what planning regulations apply to the erection of wind turbines; [21408](4) what statutory protection is provided to areas on the outskirts of areas of outstanding natural beauty from wind farms; [21418](5) what protection is provided to areas of outstanding natural beauty from wind farms by

(a) planning regulations and (b) guidance; [21409]

(6) what plans he has to review the section on planning policy guidance note 22 dealing with the erection of wind farms. [21411]

Wind turbines are subject to the same planning controls as other types of development, and are subject to national policies for the protection of the countryside. Planning policy guidance note 22 gives full and clear advice on the planning framework. The same planning controls apply to anemometers. If a local planning authority wishes to protect a locally important area, it should draw up a policy to do so in its development plan.All planning applications for wind turbines should be considered on their own merits. Local planning authorities should balance the benefits of developing a clean and renewable source of energy against any impacts on the local landscape depending upon local circumstances.

Waste Disposal

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what method his Department recommends for the safe disposal of (a) mercury, (b) lead, (c) cadmium and (d) polychlorinated biphenyls. [21390]

The recommended method of disposal for these substances will depend on their chemical and physical form, the quantity and the availability of disposal facilities. In general where they are not recovered, mercury, lead and cadmium my be safely disposed to a suitable landfill either directly or after chemical and/or physical treatment.PCB wastes should be incinerated. At very low concentrations they may be landfilled. There are other specific treatments for PCB-contaminated transformer oils which destroy the PCB to an extent that allows the oil to be reused.Detailed guidance on methods for the safe disposal of wastes is available in waste management papers published by the Department. The relevant papers are:

WMP No. 12 Mercury-bearing Wastes;
WMP No. 24 Cadmium-bearing Wastes;
WMP No. 6 Polychlorinated Biphenyls; and
WMP No. 11 Metal Finishing Wastes which includes some lead wastes.

In addition, WMP No. 26F co-disposal landfill, currently in preparation, will give guidance on loading rates for these and certain other wastes.

Housing (Environmental Appraisal)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment", produced by the Department of the Environment; and if he will publish the appraisal; [21074](2) what alternative courses of action from those listed in the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper were considered in the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department; [21075](3) in what ways the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper was modified by the results of the environmental appraisal undertaken by his Department. [21076]

The planning policy on affordable housing is set out in planning policy guidance note 3. Because the draft circular does not change policy, but only explains how it can best be implemented, an environmental appraisal was not necessary. However, if any comments are received from consultees on environmental impact, they will be carefully considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the draft circular on planning and affordable housing consultation paper. [21077]

There are no direct environmental impacts of the draft circular. The policy guidance on affordable housing is in PPG3 in which environmental issues are fully addressed, and which was revised following the 1990 White Paper "This Common Inheritance". The draft circular is intended not to add to the policy guidance to planning policy guidance note 3, but to advise on how that guidance might be best given effect.Local planning authorities, in taking account of PPG3 and other guidance notes in drawing their local plans, are already advised to carry out an environmental appraisal of these plans.

Local Authority Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by service, the local authorities in England that have been challenged by his Department under regulations under section 9 of the Local Government Act 1992 in relation to their internal arrangements for establishing client-contractor splits. [21547]

Although we have received allegations of anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities about the arrangements for establishing a client-contractor split, none has proceeded to statutory action. Records are not available by service area of the allegations which have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority and service area, the recorded deficits made by local authority direct labour or services organisations in England that have failed to meet the rate of return requirements operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and

Year	Total number of complaints	Number of authorities receiving notices	Total number of notices	Number of authorities given directions	Total number of directions
1990–91	59	6	6	3	3
1991–92	41	6	7	2	2
1992–93	70	8	9	5	6
1993–94	110	12	13	6	6
1994–95	65	12	15	8	9

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [21552]

Year	Number of complaints	Number of authorities receiving notices	Total number of notices	Number of authorities given directions	Total number of directions
1990–91	21	—	0	—	0
1991–92	15	3	3	0	0
1992–93	36	2	3	3	3
1993–94	40	5	6	6	8
1994–95	15	3	3	2	2

Land) Act 1980 and for the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95 in both cash and constant prices. [21551]

334 (14.5 per cent.) of the 2,302 1994–95 local authority direct labour/service organisation accounts for 1994–95 received by my Department recorded a deficit.
For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received, of which 307 (12.9 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received, of which 321 (13.3 per cent.) recorded a deficit.
For 1991–92, 2,260 accounts were received, of which 242 (10.7 per cent.) recorded a deficit.

Detailed lists by authority and service area for the years 1991–92 to 1994–95 have been placed in the Library of the House. A list for 1990–91 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints his Department received alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities in England under the terms of the Local Government Act 1988 for each financial year from 1990–91 to 1994–95; and how many local authorities were subsequently issued with a section 19a notice or 19b direction. [21548]

The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government Act 1988. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 13 and to which directions were given under section 14, and the total numbers of notices and directions.

The table gives, for the years in question, the number of complaints received by the Department of the Environment alleging anti-competitive behaviour by local authorities under the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. It also shows the number of authorities on which notices were served under section 19A and to which directions were given under section 19B, and the total numbers of notices and directions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority direct labour and direct service organisations in England, operating contracts under the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980, have achieved the required rate of return for each financial year from 1992–93 to 1994–95 and similarly under the Local Government Act 1988. [21549]

For the financial year 1994–95, my Department recorded 2,302 local authority direct labour and direct service organisation accounts. Some 1,968 of these accounts showed that the statutory financial objective had been met.For 1993–94, 2,381 accounts were received, 2,057 of which met the required rate of return.For 1992–93, 2,409 accounts were received, 2,060 of which met the required rate of return.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he last issued comprehensive guidance on the system of local authority capital finance; and if he will make it his policy to up-date this at annual intervals. [21559]

Comprehensive guidance was last issued in the Department's circular 11/90, on 2 August 1990. A replacement guide is in preparation. Once issued, it will be updated as the need arises.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the primary and subordinate legislation affecting local authority capital finance. [21558]

The primary legislation is parts IV and V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended. The main subordinate legislation is as follows:

The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) Regulations 1990 [SI 1990/432]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1990 [SI 1990/1273]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1991 [SI 1991/500]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 [SI 1992/738]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 1992 [SI 1992/1618]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 1992 [SI 1992/2819]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No.4) Regulations 1992 [SI 1992/3257]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1993 [SI 1993/520]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 1993 [SI 1993/2014]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) (No.3) Regulations 1993 [SI 1993/3054]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1994 [SI 1994/553]
The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 [SI 1995/849]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 [SI 1995/850]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance) (Amendment) Regulations 1995 [SI 1995/1526]

The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations 1995 [SI 1995/1982]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 [SI 1996/568]
The Local Authorities (Companies) (Amendment) Order 1996 [SI 1996/621].

In addition, there are 13 sets of regulations dealing with detailed issues concerning the rate of discount, borrowing, approved investments; and two other sets of regulations dealing with capital finance implications of local government reorganisation.

Local Authority Trading Accounts

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by authority the surplus achieved on trading accounts for each financial year from 1992–93 to 1994–95 for (a) general highways work, (b) construction and maintenance of sewers, (c) works on new construction and (d) maintenance work, delivered by local authorities' direct labour or services organisations in England by the terms of the Local Government (Planning and Land) Act 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988. [21550]

A detailed list of the surpluses achieved for these services for the years 1993–94 to 1994–95 has been placed in the Library of the House.Similar figures for 1992–93 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Compulsory Competitive Tendering

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total running cost to Department for the financial years 1991–92 and 1993–94 of the local government compulsory competitive tendering enforcement team. [21553]

The estimated costs of enforcing the compulsory competitive tendering provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Land Act) 1980 and the Local Government Act 1988 are £250,000 in 1991–92 and £420,000 in 1993–94.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the additional costs likely to fall on local authorities as a result of the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 in respect of their statutory duties under (a) existing homelessness legislation, (b) the Children Act 1989 and (c) the NHS and Community Care Act 1990. [21705]

Officials in my Department and the Department of Health have invited the local authority associations to provide information on the likely costs that authorities will face.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment for what reasons the special grants he is proposing to make available under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs as a result of the withdrawal of benefits under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 will be subject to a threshold. [21706]

Because it is reasonable for authorities to meet some costs from their own resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the minimum threshold of expenditure for each London local authority will be in respect of housing benefit subsidy for-gone and unavoidable additional social services expenditure for the special grants under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs from the introduction of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996. [21595]

The thresholds have not yet been determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to make special grants available under section 88B of the Local Government Finance act 1988 to authorities which face additional costs from the introduction of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 for the current year only; and what plans he has for similar grants in subsequent years. [21596]

An official in my Department wrote on 26 February to chief executives of local authorities in England explaining the basis on which the Government intend to make special grants available to authorities for 1995–96 and 1996–97. I am placing a copy of that letter in the Library of the House.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the primary and subordinate legislation affecting local authorities's ability to take advantage of the private finance initiative; and what plans he has to (a) consolidate this legislation and (b) provide a guide to it for those companies wishing to enter into partnerships with local authorities. [21557]

The primary legislation is parts IV and V of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, as amended. Subordinate legislation aimed at assisting local authorities to take advantage of the private finance initiative is as follows:

The Local Authorities (Companies) Order 1995 [SI 1995/849]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulation 1995 [SI 1995/850]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1995 [SI 1995/1982]
The Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Approved Investments) (Amendment) Regulations 1996 [SI 1996/568]
The Local Authorities (Companies) (Amendment) Order 1996 [SI 1996/621]

Consolidation of the capital finance regulations is in hand, as in the preparation of a guide to the capital finance system. My Department will ensure that there is adequate advice, for both local authorities and potential provider companies, on the private finance initiative in local government.

Gun Clubs

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning advice is given to local planning authorities concerning applications for gun clubs; and if he will make a statement. [21707]

The express planning permission of the local authority is required for any development proposal to change the use of a building to use for the purposes of a gun club or to erect a new building. Other land, not in the curtilage of a building, may be used for those purposes for not more than 28 days in a calendar year without express planning permission. Planning applications must be publicised so that local views can be taken into account before decisions are taken. My Department does not issue planning advice specifically on gun clubs. Gun clubs in England and Wales are subject to a licensing regime, independent of the planning legislation, operated by my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

Rural White Paper

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many display leaflets inviting people to purchase the White Paper on Rural England were distributed to post offices in Scotland. [21488]

Post Office Counters provided my Department with details of rural post offices in England to which display material on the English rural White Paper was to be sent. To the best of my knowledge, one post office in Scotland received copies of the display material in error. Post offices were under no obligation to display the material. The leaflets informed the public how to buy a copy of "Rural England" or to obtain the free summary document.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Computers

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list all cases since 1987 where his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19450]

Since 1987, the Ministry has not bought in any computer capacity from other Government Departments but has let one outsourcing contract to the private sector company Data Sciences. The value of the contract with Data Sciences is estimated to be £1.5 million.

Executive Action

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20550]

Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested. Identification of the kind of provisions referred to could be undertaken only at disproportionate cost.

Methyl Bromide

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what environmental impact assessments his Department has made in respect of methyl bromide. [20581]

I have been asked to reply.The stratospheric impact of Methyl Bromide was reviewed by the UK stratospheric ozone review group in its last report "Stratospheric Ozone 1993". Its next assessment will be published by the end of 1996.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department has issued regarding the use of methyl bromide. [20582]

My Department has not issued specific guidelines relating to the use of methyl bromide. The British Pest Control Association operates a strict system of regulation, certification and training for the use of methyl bromide which was drawn up in collaboration with my Department and the Health and Safety Executive. Industry has a good history of self-regulation and only those who obtain a BPCA certificate may be supplied with methyl bromide.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what alternative fumigants to methyl bromide are approved for use in the United Kingdom. [20586]

There is no single alternative to methyl bromide in all of its wide range of uses.Approved alternative fumigants for soil sterilisation include chloropicrin, 1,3 dichloropropene and formaldehyde. Phosphine may be used for commodity fumigation. No alternatives to methyl bromide exists for rodent control and insect elimination aboard aircraft.

Institute Of Grassland And Environmental Research

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much funding the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research at Aberystwyth received from his Department in (a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1992, (d) 1993, (e) 1994 and (f) 1995; how much will be allocated in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [20995]

The Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research was not established until 1989. Records of payments made to the institute by the Ministry in respect of research and deveopment projects are kept on a financial year basis only. These show:

1990–91: £9,093,000
1992–93: £7,164,000
1993–94: £7,452,000
1994–95: £7,426,000
1995–96: £7,449,000 (estimate).

It is too early to forecast total payments for 1996–97 but, to date, some £5,823,000 of expenditure has already been committed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations his Department has recently received from the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research; and if he will make a statement. [20997]

This Department is a major funder of research at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research and, as such, maintains regular contact in the course of monitoring and reviewing its on-going research. Most recently, discussions have focused on the future scope and content of the MAFF programme on oat breeding at IGER. A formal mid-term review meeting was held on 13 March at which this issue was considered. No final decisions have yet been taken.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much grant aid from the European Commission the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research received in (a) 1990, (b) 1992, (c) 1994 and (d) 1995; how much is to be allocated in 1996; and if he will make a statement. [20998]

I have been asked to reply.The Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research received grant in aid from the European Commission for the respective years as follows:

1990–91: £30,000
1992–93: £155,000
1994–95: £458,000
1995–96: £383,000.

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, which is the Research Council responsible for IGER, estimates that in 1996–97 IGER will receive £240,000 from the European Commission.

Merchant Shipping Act 1988

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the implications of the ruling by the European Court of Justice that the Merchant Shipping Act 1988 contravenes European Law. [20827]

Action has already been taken to amend merchant shipping legislation following the European Court of Justice's judgments in earlier Factortame cases (C 221/89 and C 246/89) in 1991.In regard to the recent judgment on the latest Factortame case (C 48/93) and the steps which the Government plan to take to deal with quota hopping, I would refer to the replies which my right hon. and learned Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Ives (Mr. Harris) on 5 March 1996,

Official Report, columns 130–31, and to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Strang) on 6 March 1996, Official Report, column 345.

Fishing Vessels

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many vessels are currently licensed to fish in British waters; and of those, how many are owned by Spanish operators. [20844]

As at 1 January 1996, some 8,500 British registered vessels were licensed to fish for profit in British and Community waters, although not all of these are entitled to fish for the full range of stocks subject to quota.Following the introduction of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Shipping) Regulations 1993 (SI 1993 No. 3138), the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen no longer collects details of shareholdings in UK companies owning British-registered fishing vessels. We estimate, however, that there are more than 100 licensed UK vessels with a significant Spanish interest.

Live Animal Exports

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many veterinary officers and technical assistants were involved on (a) 13 February, (b) 14 February, (c) 15 February and (d) 16 February, in lairages near Dover, in inspecting animals to ensure that they were fit to travel under the Welfare of Animals During Transportation Order 1994 and to deal with other related matters; [20772](2) how many consignments containing calves on 13, 14, 15 and 16 February were inspected by his veterinary officers and technical assistants; and how many hours were spent in carrying out the inspections. [20771]

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Glandford and Scunthorpe (Mr. Morley) on 20 February 1996, Official Report, columns 136–37 and on 26 February 1996, Official Report, columns 381–82).

Home Department

Women Prisoners (Drug Tests)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the procedures involved in respect of the random mandatory drug testing policy for women prisoners. [20618]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the procedures involved in respect of the random mandatory drug testing policy for women prisoners.

In most respects the procedures for the random testing of women prisoners are the same as those for men. Ten per cent. of each prison's population is randomly selected by computer at the beginning of each month. Prisoners are given no advance warning that they are to be tested and are escorted immediately to the sample collection site.

At the sample collection site the prisoners are informed of the reason and authority for the test. All prisoners are searched before being asked to give a sample. Each prisoner is then required to wash her hands to remove any potential contaminants.

Prisons have been advised to assess the risk of false samples being substituted and to take appropriate security measures. Male members of staff are not permitted to collect or to observe the collection of samples from women prisoners.

If a prisoner is unable to provide a sample straight away, she may be confined at the collection site for up to five hours. She is offered a third of a pint of water each hour. If it is suspected that the prisoner is having genuine difficulty in providing a sample, the prisoner is asked if she wishes to see a health care worker. Prisoners who refuse to provide a sample or who fail to provide a sample without a medical reason are charged with disobeying a lawful order.

Samples are equally divided between two bottles. Screening and confirmation tests are carried out on the urine from one bottle, the second may be analysed at an independent laboratory on the prisoner's instructions. Both sample bottles are sealed with bar-coded seals and then sealed into a chain of custody bag for despatch to the laboratory. All of this takes place in the prisoner's presence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women prisoners have been tested under the random mandatory drug testing policy; and what were the results. [20616]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of women prisoners tested under random mandatory drug testing and the results of those tests.

Between April 1995 and January 1996 586 prisoners were randomly tested for drugs in women only prisons. Of the 586 samples tested 136 (23.2 per cent.) were positive for drugs; 57 (9.7 per cent) were for cannabis, 50 (8.5 per cent.) for benzodiazepines (tranquillisers) 26 (4.4 per cent.) for opiates, two (0.3 per cent.) for cocaine, and one (o.2 per cent.) for methadone.

Statistics from establishments which house both male and female prisoners are not yet broken down by sex.

Prisons ("Advice To Governors")

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his policy relating to public access to the documents "Advice to Governors", issued to prison governors. [20617]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the policy relating to public access to the documents Advice to Governors.

In responding to requests from members of the public for access to such documents the Prison Service follows the Open Government Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. Each request is considered on its merits and there is a presumption in favour of disclosure.

Charge Reductions

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise police authorities that they should repay retrospectively reductions in charges when an error has taken place and has been admitted. [20888]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: I would expect police authorities to correct any overcharging when it came to notice, in the same way as any other organisation.

Buckley Hall Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the security cameras currently operating at Buckley Hall prison are constantly monitored; and for how long the videotape recording made by the cameras are stored. [20918]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about whether the security cameras at Buckley Hall prison are monitored constantly and for how long the video recording made by the cameras are stored.

Security cameras at Buckley Hall are monitored constantly. Video recordings made are held for one week before being taped over, unless they are considered to be useful for future use, in which case they would be held for a longer period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many attempted escapes have been recorded at Buckley Hall prison since its opening; and what was the average number for male category C training prisons over the same period. [20920]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking how many attempted escapes have been recorded at Buckley Hall prison since its opening; and the average number of attempted escapes for male category C training prisons for the same period.

The number of attempted escape incidents reported from Buckley Hall prison since its opening on 14 December 1994 to 29 February 1996 is three.

The average number of attempted escape incidents reported during that period for male category C prisons is 1.6.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (a) what is the average absenteeism rate among prison officers at Buckley Hall prison and (b) what is the average absenteeism rate amongst prison officers at male category C training prisons. [20923]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about average absenteeism rates among prison officers at Buckley Hall and male Category C training prisons.

Questions about staff issues at Buckley Hall prison are a matter for the contractors, Group 4, and I am unable to provide information about absenteeism at that establishment.

You also ask about absence rates per uniformed prison officer in male Category C training prisons. Information on sick absence (which accounts for virtually all absence form work apart from annual leave), is that, the average sick absence was eight days per officer during the period April 1995-February 1996. (These figures relate to basic grade prison officers, senior officers and principal officers).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 11 March, Official Report, column 445, what steps are being taken to eradicate smuggling into Buckley Hall prison through items being thrown over the prison fence. [20924]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the steps being taken at Buckley Hall prison to eradicate smuggling through items being thrown over the prison's fence.

Every effort is being made at Buckley Hall to eradicate smuggling through items being thrown over the prison fence, by prohibiting the access of prisoners to the most vulnerable sections and twice daily checking of these areas by staff.

Arrangements are being made for the installation of additional fencing at the most vulnerable points of the prison fence which, it is expected, will reduce the potential for this method of smuggling by 80 per cent. There will also be more stringent policing of other areas of fencing.

Consideration is also being given to the installation of external cameras so as to allow early warning to be given to the police in the event of any cause for concern arising.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have received authorized leave from Buckley Hall prison after protesting on the prison hospital's roof because of the denial of authorized leave. [21272]

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

Letter from Brian Landers to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the number of prisoners who have received authorised leave from Buckley Hall prison after protesting on the prison hospital's roof because of the denial of authorised leave.

One prisoner has been given authorised leave from Buckley Hall after a protest regarding the cancellation of a period of leave. The temporary release was granted to allow him to attend a job interview and was completed successfully.

Prison Cells

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement on the statutory minimum size of prison cells; [19333](2) what is the average cell size per inmate in prisons in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement; [19334](3) what is the

(a) average cell size and (b) current average number of prisoners per cell, in each prison in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement. [19335]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Questions about average cell size and average number of prisoners per cell in each prison in England and Wales and the statutory minimum size of prison cells.

Information regarding the size of cells is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

With regard to the number of prisoners per cell, the position at the end of January this year was that some 8,488 prisoners were housed two to a cell which was designed for one person. There were no instances of three prisoners sharing a single cell.

There is no statutory minimum size for existing prison cells, although Prison Service operating standards do lay down an ideal minimum size of 5.5 square metres. Section 14 of the Prisons Act 1952 requires cells to be certified as being fit as regards their size, lighting, heating, ventilation and fittings.

Football Matches

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will assess the financial problems for association football clubs arising from the costs imposed by police services in respect of the attendance of police officers at games; and if he will make a statement. [20872]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: The taxpayer already foots the bill for policing outside football grounds as part of the duty of the police to keep the peace and prevent crime. It is right for those who benefit—the club and the supporters attending the match—to pay for police services inside grounds.

Featherstone Prison (Drug Parties)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an inquiry into the making of a video showing drug parties in Featherstone prison, near Wolverhampton; and if he will make a statement. [21681]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Warren Hawksley, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about a video purporting to show a drugs party in Featherstone.

The governor of Featherstone will conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident once a copy of the video has been received. Any action to be taken will depend on the conclusions of the investigations now taking place.

Fine Defaulters

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of keeping a fine defaulter in prison. [21115]

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

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mrs. Anne Campbell, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the average weekly cost of keeping a fine defaulter in prison.

Information on the cost of prisoners according to their type of offence is not collected centrally. The average weekly net operating cost of a prison place in 1994–95 was £458.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently held in prison on convictions relating to fine defaults. [21113]

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

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mrs. Anne Campbell, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking, how many people are currently held in prison on convictions relating to fine defaults.

The latest available information is for 31 January 1996. On that date there were 358 persons in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales for non-payment of a fine.

Doncaster Prison

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if prisoners from Doncaster prison are eligible for unaccompanied visits to (a) Doncaster and (b) surrounding towns after good behaviour; and if he will make a statement; [21005](2) what provision is available in Doncaster prison for

(a) therapeutic and (b) psychological treatment when inmates receive positive results to tests for transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20991]

(3) what regular medical checks prisoners in Doncaster prison receive; what systematic checks are carried out for transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20999]

(4) what steps are taken to prevent discrimination against prisoners in Doncaster prison with specific health problems; and if he will make a statement; [20993]

(5) what percentage of the annual budget for Doncaster prison is designated for health care; and if he will make a statement; [21002]

(6) how many (a) nurses and (b) doctors are employed in Doncaster prison; and if he will make a statement; [20992]

(7) what mechanisms exist in Doncaster prison relating to the prevention of (a) transmissible or (b) contagious diseases (i) in general and (ii) in respect of specific outbreaks; and if he will make a statement; [21001]

(8) how many prisoners in Doncaster prison are currently recorded as being terminally ill; if he will list the illnesses diagnosed; and if he will make a statement; [20990]

(9) what provisions are made for those prisoners in Doncaster prison known to be terminally ill; and if he will make a statement; [20994]

(10) what steps are taken to ensure the confidentiality checks on prisoners in Doncaster prison, with particular reference to cases involving transmissible diseases; and if he will make a statement; [20978]

(11) how many prisoners have died in Doncaster prison since it opened; and if he will list the figures where the cause of death was (a) self-inflicted, (b)accidental, (c) murder, (d) disease, (e) AIDS, (f)tuberculosis, (g) cancer and (h) vascular and heart disease. [21004]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Martin Redmond, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Questions about unaccompanied visits for prisoners and medical matters at Doncaster prison.

No prisoners from Doncaster are eligible for unaccompanied visits to Doncaster or any other towns in the area.

Four prisoners have died within Doncaster since the prison opened. Two inquests have been held, one of which recorded a verdict of death from natural causes and one a verdict of death by suicide. In addition, two have died in outside hospital, one from natural causes and one suicide. All prisoners are given a physical and mental health check on reception. Prisoners who are identified with pre-existing conditions receive reviews as clinically indicated. All are asked about their experience of transmissible diseases. If clinically indicated, and the prisoner agrees, they undergo the appropriate tests.

Medical confidentiality is of paramount importance at Doncaster and helps reduce the chance of discrimination against any prisoner on the grounds of health. All medical information on prisoners is kept within the Health Care Centre and is provided to nobody except authorized staff. With regard to transmissible diseases, health promotion posters and literature are displayed freely throughout the prison. Doncaster has also had a contagion control policy in preparation for the outbreak of any contagious disease. This policy allows a number of internal and external resources to be deployed in the event of specific outbreaks. The prison has registered mental nurses with counselling skills, as well as qualified counsellors and psychologists to assist prisoners who receive positive results having been tested for a transmissible disease.

There are currently no prisoners in Doncaster who are terminally ill. Should any prisoner be so diagnosed, an application can be made to the Area manager for release on compassionate grounds.

The contract for Doncaster prison specifies the health care requirements that the contractor is required to meet. Distinct services within the total operation are not broken down by price. The way these requirements are met and staffing details are matters for Premier Prison Service.

Prison Officers (Training)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the level of training received by prison officers at (a) Buckley Hall prison and (b) other male category C training prisons. [21054]

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

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Ms Liz Lynne, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about the level of training received by prison officers at (a) Buckley Hall prison and (b) in other male category C training prisons.

The contract for Buckley Hall prison specifies the level of staff training, both basic and continuing, which the contractor is required to meet.

The detail of how these requirements are fulfilled is a matter for Group 4.

All new prison officers joining other category C establishments will have received nine weeks training in both theoretical and practical skills.

Prisoners (Threats To Witnesses)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions in the last five years prisoners have telephoned or written from Her Majesty's prisons to witnesses in such a way that charges of perverting the course of justice or other charges relating to attempts to interfere with witnesses in criminal cases have resulted. [20726]

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

Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisoners who may have telephoned or written to witnesses in such a way that charges of perverting the course of justice or other charges have resulted in criminal cases.

Unfortunately this information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions prisoners have been disciplined in Her Majesty's prisons in each of the last five years as a result of complaints about letters or telephone calls by prisoners making threats to witnesses in their case. [20727]

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

Letter from Brian Landers to Mr. Mike O'Brien, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about prisoners who have been disciplined in the last five years as a result of complaints of threats to witnesses in their case.

Unfortunately this information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21028]

The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, it is Home Office policy to buy all goods and services by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Purchases in excess of about £100,000 are subject to European Community competition procedures, as laid down in statutory instruments.

Prison Service (Medical Staff)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what controls (a) his Department and (b) the Prison Service has over medical staff who undertake work for them and are engaged in medical research; and if he will make a statement. [19953]

[holding answer 7 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Alastair Papps to Mr. Harry Cohen, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question about controls on medical staff who are engaged in medical research.

I understand that there are no medical staff employed on medical research in the main Home Office.

Within the Prison Service all medical and health care research requires ethical approval, the consent of the governor of the prison and the free and informed consent of the prisoner concerned.

Such ethical approval is obtained either from the Prison Service Health Research Ethics Committee, which has an independent chairman and membership drawn from the independent Health Advisory Committee to the Prison Service and health care professionals from outside the Prison Service or the appropriate NHS committee.

Harry Duggan

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Harry Duggan, who is serving a life sentence, was allowed to attend his mother's funeral in the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement. [21516]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the temporary Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from A. J. Pearson to Mr. Max Madden, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to your recent Question asking if Harry Duggan who is serving a life sentence, was allowed to attend his mother's funeral in the Republic of Ireland.

An application by Mr. Duggan to attend the funeral of his mother in the Republic of Ireland was carefully considered but refused for security and jurisdictional reasons.

Hewell Grange (Maintenance And Repair)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 8 March, Official Report, columns 411–12, what use Hewell Grange was put to when it was under Home Office responsibility before it was used as a prison; what maintenance and repairs were undertaken; and what condition the building was in when it was handed over to the Prison Service. [21443]

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

Letter from Richard Tilt to Mr. Andrew Faulds, dated 19 March 1996:

The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question about the use Hewell Grange was put to when it was under Home Office responsibility before it was used as a prison; what maintenance and repairs were undertaken; and what condition the building was in when it was handed over to the Prison Service.

Hewell Grange has been used as an open prison for male adult offenders since 1991. Prior to that change of role, it was used as a Young Offenders Institution to accommodate young offenders in open conditions.

The building was acquired for use as a penal institution in 1947. There are no records of its condition at that time. A full range of maintenance work and repairs has been undertaken during its ownership by the Prison Service. Details are not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Chief Fire Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a reply will be sent to the hon. Member's letter of 13 February, ref. 3185/96, concerning chief fire officers. [21229]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: My right hon. and noble Friend replied to the letter on 18 March.

Immigration (Pakistan)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the home country report on Pakistan is to be completed and placed in the Library; what steps are taken to ensure the accuracy and completeness of such reports; if such reports are normally made available to those representing appellants at immigration appeals; and if he will make a statement. [21517]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: Our aim is to finalise the report and place it in the Library quite soon. It will also be made available to those concerned with the asylum appeals system. The report, like those on Nigeria and Ghana, will draw on all available, relevant sources of information, and will be updated as necessary.

Alcoholic Lemonade

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned regarding the consumption of alcoholic lemonades by under-age drinkers; and what representations he has received regarding (a) such studies and (b) the prohibition of the manufacture and sale of alcoholic lemonades. [9462]

Although no research has been commissioned by my Department into the consumption of alcoholic lemonades by under-age drinkers, concerns that these drinks may provide a temptation for children to start drinking have been expressed in letters from members of the public on general law and order issues. We welcome reports that the Portman group, set up by the eight leading United Kingdom drinks companies to promote sensible drinking and reduce alcohol misuse, are considering a code of practice to its industry members on the use of names that include, for example, lemonade, cola or other soft drinks.

Scotland

Computers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all cases since 1987 in which his Department has bought computer capacity from (a) other Departments and (b) the private sector, giving the value of each contract and the name of the private sector contractors. [19454]

Since 1987, the Scottish Office has not purchased computer capacity from other Departments or the private sector to augment the Department's own computing capability. Payroll and superannuation processing services have been bought from other Departments, and these have included an element of computer processing.

Department	Amount £
Her Majesty's Treasury (Chessington Computer Centre—Payroll Services)	1,922,400
Ministry of Defence (Superannuation services)	115,700

In addition, from time to time, the Scottish Office has purchased other services which may have included some computer processing as part of the work undertaken but it is not possible to identify these services except at disproportionate cost.

Multi-Storey Housing Blocks

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of people living in multi-storey blocks of flats in Scotland. [21118]

The information is not available in the form requested.Local authorities in Scotland are estimated to have 51,000 dwellings in blocks of flats more than four storeys high.Information on the number of households, by lowest floor level of accommodation, was published in the report of the General Register Office for Scotland on the 1991 census, a copy of which is available in the House Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of blocks of multi-storey flats over 10 floors high in Scotland; and where they are located. [21119]

The information is not available in the form requested.The table provides information on the number of individual dwellings in blocks of flats of 15 or more storeys let by local authorities in Scotland.

Housing stock estimates: Super high-rise dwellings (15 or more storeys)
Authority	Super high rise (15 or more storeys)
Scottish Borders Council	0
Dumfries and Galloway Council	0
Fife Council	223
Highland Council	0
Clackmannanshire Council	0
Falkirk Council	0
Stirling Council	0
Aberdeenshire Council	0
City of Aberdeen Council	2,943
Moray Council	0
City of Edinburgh Council	2,047
East Lothian Council	0
Mid-Lothian Council	0
West Lothian Council	0
Argyll and Bute Council	0
City of Glasgow Council	20,273
West Dunbartonshire Council	1,524
East Dunbartonshire Council	0
East Ayrshire Council	0
North Ayrshire Council	0
South Ayrshire Council	0
East Renfrewshire Council	0
Inverclyde Council	1,471
Renfrewshire Council	1,090
North Lanarkshire Council	2,982
South Lanarkshire Council	0
Angus Council	0
City of Dundee Council	2,230
Perthshire and Kinross Council	0
Orkney Islands Council	0
Shetland Islands Council	0
Western Isles Council	0
Scotland	34,783

Rented Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the total number of houses in the rented sector in Scotland; and what was the figure in 1979. [21117]

The estimated number of rented houses in Scotland was, at December 1979, 1,283,000; and, at December 1994, 948,000. These figures cover both private and public sectors, and include housing associations.

Urban Environment

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is Scottish Natural Heritage's policy on the urban environment; and if he will make a statement. [21095]

On 30 November 1995, Scottish Natural Heritage published "Natural Heritage In and Around Settlements: A Framework for Action", which sets out the principles that guide SNH's activities throughout urban areas and other settlements in Scotland. I have asked for a copy to be placed in the House of Commons Library.SNH supports many projects and initiatives in urban areas, including some £1.5 million per annum for projects in the countryside in and around towns programme.

Permitted Development Orders

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he proposes to ensure the accountability of planning decisions taken within the areas covered by the permitted development orders. [21041]

No such measures are necessary. There is only one permitted development order, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992, which covers the whole of Scotland. It grants a form of general planning permission, known as permitted development, for certain types of non-controversial development which would otherwise invariably be granted planning permission. These permitted development rights are subject to various limitations and conditions to protect amenity and the environment. Some classes of permitted development, that is for agricultural and forestry buildings, are subject to a prior approval procedure which gives planning authorities the opportunity to influence matters such as siting, design and external appearance.Provided a person is satisfied that a proposed development is permitted development there is no need to apply to the planning authority for consent and no basis for addressing the accountability of decisions not before the authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many approaches his Department has had during the last five calendar years from local authorities seeking to amend the terms of permitted development orders; and on how many occasions his Department has responded positively to these requests. [21044]

The Department receives numerous approaches from local authorities, and others, suggesting changes to the permitted development order and other pieces of planning legislation. Like all planning legislation, the permitted development order is kept under regular review and any suggestions for amendment are taken into account. The Department responds to all such approaches explaining what action, if any is to be taken. No record is kept of the number of these approaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what procedures are used by his Department in considering whether to renew the terms of a permitted development order. [21043]

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992 is a statutory instrument and so remains in force until it is amended or revoked by a subsequent statutory instrument. Thus, while there is no requirement to renew the order, it is kept under review and from time to time it is subject to amendment. Suggestions for change can arise from research, a policy change or ideas submitted by interested parties.Any proposals to amend the order are normally subject to public consultation with planning authorities and a wide range of individuals and organisations representing developer, business, environmental and community interests before being implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement listing the permitted development orders currently in force, the facilities these orders relate to, when they were initially enacted and when they were last reviewed by his Department. [21045]

There is only one order, the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1992. It presently covers 71 different classes of development, which would require too much space to list here. However, a copy of the order is available in the Library. The current order came into force on 13 March 1992 and, like all planning legislation, is subject to regular review. It has been amended on several occasions since then, most recently in February 1995.

Disabled Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland which authority will be responsible from 1 April for paying the travel costs of college students who have disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [21099]

Travel costs for college students with disabilities are paid through bursaries or the students awards scheme for those studying on higher education level courses.From 1 April 1996, responsibility for bursaries will transfer from local authorities to the 43 incorporated further education colleges. Bursaries for further education students studying outwith the incorporated colleges will remain the responsibility of local authorities. The student awards agency for Scotland will continue to administer the student awards scheme.

Prisoners (Self-Harm)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many self-inflicted deaths have occurred in Scottish prisons in 1996 at the latest date for which figures are available by (a) age, (b) sex and (c) prison establishment; [21015](2) if he will make it his policy to collate figures on incidents of self-harm in Scottish prisons. [21016]

The subject of the questions relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Mr. Michael Connarty, dated 19 March 1996:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your questions relating to the number of self-inflicted deaths in Scottish prisons in 1996 and whether figures on incidents of self harm will be collated as a matter of policy.

There have been three deaths in custody in 1996 to date. The table below gives the information by age, sex and prison, as you requested. The cause of death in each case is subject to the findings of Fatal Accident Inquiries.

Age	Sex	Prison
54	Male	Edinburgh¹
37	Male	Edinburgh
20	Male	Greenock
¹A Fatal Accident Inquiry into this death is due to be held on 20 March 1996.

When you raised with me last year the question of maintaining statistics on incidents of self harm, I indicated that I would need to be sure it was a practical and useful proposition and that I would give it further thought. The Scottish Prison Service has commissioned Dr. Kevin Power and Dr. Joseph McElroy of the Department of Psychology at the University of Stirling to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of our Suicide Prevention Strategy. In addition, Professor Gunn of the Institute of Psychiatry has been commissioned to consider the appropriateness of the strategy against developments in the care of "at risk" people in other jurisdictions. Both these reports are expected in the near future and I shall consider your suggestion again in the light of these reports.

Ardrossan, Saltcoats And Stevenson Bypass

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current progress on the Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson bypass. [21046]

The position has not changed significantly since my answer to the hon. Member on 24 November 1995, Official Report, column 321. The revised design work is still on-going, and will be completed soon, allowing consideration to be given to publication of new draft standing orders this summer.

Special Needs Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what plans he has to increase the number of special needs houses in Scotland; and if he will make a statement; [21121](2) what is the total number of special needs houses in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [21120]

Community care is one of four national priorities for local housing authorities. It is also a priority for Scottish Homes.Between 1979 and 1995, the stock of sheltered dwellings provided by public authorities and housing associations increased by more than fourfold to around 34,000. In 1995, these bodies also provided just over 7,900 dwellings for disabled people; just over 24,000 specially adapted houses; over 17,400 amenity houses; and over 23,000 dwellings with alarms. In addition, many community care users live in mainstream housing with suitable support services and a number are in private provision.A breakdown of the total numbers of such dwellings by parliamentary constituency is not available.

Remand Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people received into prison on remand during 1994 were (a) acquitted, (b) freed at court, (c) sentenced to non-custodial sentence and (d) sentenced to a term of imprisonment (i) in total and (ii) by gender. [21017]

This information is not held centrally.

Scottish Natural Heritage Projects

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total amounts spent by Scottish Natural Heritage in each of the last three years on projects in each constituency in Scotland. [21096]

The information requested is not held in the form required. Details of Scottish Natural Heritage's annual expenditure are set out in its annual reports, copies of which are lodged in the Library of the House of Commons.

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21035]

The Scottish Office and its executive agencies follow Government policy that goods and services should be acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Formal competitive tendering procedures are normally used for all purchases over £10,000 in value. Details of the value and numbers of all contracts placed could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Scottish Homes

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the name of the new chairperson of Scottish Homes; and if he will make a statement. [21098]

My right hon. Friend expects to make an announcement shortly.

Population Statistics

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has as to the total numbers of people who are (a) unemployed, (b) old age pensioners, (c) in receipt of benefits, (d) under 16 years of age, (e) on low incomes, (f) living in poverty and (g) homeless in each of the new parliamentary constituencies in Scotland; and if he will make a statement. [21102]

The information requested is not available.

Roads

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was spent by the Scottish Office on (a) construction and improvement of trunk roads and (b)grants to local authorities for construction and improvement of other roads in Scotland at outturn prices in each year from 1975 to 1995. [19306]

[holding answer 18 March 1996]: The information required is set out in the table for 1975–76 to 1994–95. Only expenditure on grants to local authorities for specific schemes is included. Grant aid to the majority of local authorities roads construction and improvement activity is subsumed within revenue support grant. Information for grants to local authorities for specific schemes from 1975–76 to 1983–84 for roads could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

£ million
Year	Net capital expenditure on trunk roads ¹	Grants to local authorities for roads ²
1975–76	43	—
1976–77	44	—
1977–78	62	—
1978–79	65	—
1979–80	74	—
1980–81	81	—
1981–82	88	—
1982–83	102	—
1983–84	96	—
1984–85	97	3
1985–86	101	5
1986–87	95	4
1987–88	112	2
1988–89	110	4
1989–90	136	2
1990–91	172	2
1991–92	173	1
1992–93	196	2
1993–94	191	2
1994–95	208	2
¹ Includes expenditure on construction and improvement, structural repairs and other capital grants on trunk road projects. Figures taken from "Scottish Transport Statistics" Bulletins.
² Includes grants to assisted areas for access roads under the Industrial Development Act 1982 and specific grants under section 3 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984. Roads and transport capital consent allocations are excluded.

Fox Fur Farms

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fox fur farms there are in each county of Scotland. [21375]

There are no fox fur farms in operation in Scotland.

Municipal Farms

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each current region and district council in Scotland (a) the number, (b) the size and (c) the market value of each farm owned by the council or on its behalf; and which are planned to be sold (i) before and (ii) after local government reorganisation. [21201]

The information requested is not held centrally.

Mink Farms

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many licences were issued for mink farms in each county of Scotland in each of the last five years. [21374]

The numbers of licensed mink farms are as set out in the table. No licences have been issued since 1993.

Region	1991	1992	1993
Grampian	1	1	1
Strathclyde	1	1	—
Total	2	2	1

Firearms

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of gun clubs in each Scottish local government district, the total number of weapons held in each and the total membership in each for each year since 1985. [21715]

There are currently 247 gun clubs in Scotland approved by the Scottish Office under section 15 of the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988. More detailed information about these clubs is not available centrally, but I am arranging for it to be collected and made available to the inquiry to be held by Lord Cullen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the total number of firearms certificates (a) which are issued for new applications, (b) which are renewals and (c) which are valid for more than one year for each year since 1985. [21708]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information is as follows:

	New certificates	Renewals¹
1985	3,167	²—
1986	3,391	10,200
1987	3,223	9,800
1988	3,307	9,900
1989	2,669	10,100
1990	2,697	8,700
1991	1,850	8,400
1992	1,851	8,300
1993	1,770	8,500
1994	1,991	9,200
¹ The renewals figures have been estimated centrally to take account of forces unable to provide this information.
² Not collected.

New firearm certificates granted prior to 1995 were initially made valid for three years and could be renewed after this time for further three-year periods. Since the Firearms (Period of Certificate) Order 1994 came into effect on 1 January 1995, the order has extended the life of all firearm certificates granted or renewed after that date to five years.

Wales

Fire Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review his allocation of funds to the fire services consequent on the formation of the new local government unitary authorities; and if he will make a statement. [20649]

Unitary authorities are responsible for funding fire authorities' revenue expenditure from their unhypothecated resources. The local government revenue settlement for 1996–97 was approved by the House of Commons on 8 February. Funding of fire authorities' capital expenditure is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary.

School Class Sizes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what current restrictions apply in respect of class sizes in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [20729]

Class sizes are a matter for individual school governing bodies to consider in the light of their local statutory responsibilities and their perception of educational needs and priorities.

Wheelchairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce in Wales (a) a scheme to provide on the NHS powered indoor/outdoor wheelchairs for severely disabled people and (b) a voucher scheme for the purchase of wheelchairs. [21256]

In the light of my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health's recent announcement about the provision of powered wheelchairs and a wheelchair voucher scheme, we are currently examining the implications of introducing similar arrangements in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to introduce in Wales a similar scheme to that announced by the Government on 23 February for England to provide powered indoor and outdoor wheelchairs for the severely disabled and financial aid for wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement. [21302]

I am currently examining the implications of introducing similar arrangements in Wales.

Nursery Vouchers Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will visit St. Anthony's county primary school, Saltrey Ferry and Broughton county primary school to meet teachers, parents and governors to discuss the voucher scheme; and if he will make a statement. [21131]

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I has any plans to do so. Each primary and nursery school in Wales has had a copy of a letter from the Welsh Office giving details of the scheme and addressing some common misunderstandings. In addition, I am sending a letter to all schools in Clwyd to set right misleading comments I have seen in material from the Clwyd Federation of Primary Headteachers.

Smoking (Children)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the proportion of 15-year-old (a) girls and (b) boys who smoke regularly. [21126]

The Welsh youth health survey undertaken by Health Promotion Wales shows that, in 1994, the latest year for which it has figures, the percentages were as follows:

	Daily	Weekly
Girls	20.7	25.1
Boys	15.5	17.8

Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the British Medical Association about the work load of nurses. [21122]

My right hon. Friend has recently discussed with representatives of the BMA the increasing work load of hospital services and its implication for staffing as a whole.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the current pupil-teacher ratios in Wales for each (a) grant-maintained and (b) non-grant-maintained primary schools; and if he will make a statement; [20985](2) if he will list the current pupil-teacher ratios in Wales for each of the

(a) grant-maintained and (b) non-grant-maintained secondary school; and if he will make a statement. [20984]

Information from which pupil-teacher ratios for individual schools may be calculated is collected centrally only for the purpose of compiling statistical aggregates. PTRs for individual schools are not estimated on a regular basis, and their accuracy is not confirmed with the schools. The calculation and checking of these ratios would therefore involve disproportionate cost.

Institute Of Grassland And Environmental Research

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations his Department has recently received from the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research; and if he will make a statement. [20996]

None.

Departmental Equipment And Furniture

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years, itemising any items valued at £5,000 or over, and indicating information technology material separately. [21087]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Makerfield (Mr. McCartney) on 7 March 1996, Official Report, column 362.

Departmental Report

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 13 March, Official Report,column 628, if he will give the date of publication of the departmental report in each year since 1990. [21399]

The departmental report has been published only since 1991. Publication dates from 1991 to 1995 were as follows: 15 February 1991; 14 February 1992; 15 February 1993; 10 March 1994; 9 March 1996.

Welsh National Opera

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received and what consultations he has undertaken on the provision of a permanent home for the Welsh National Opera company. [21428]

I have received a number of representations on the proposed Cardiff bay opera house. While I have not instigated any consultations on the matter, the subject was raised with me at three meetings.

Cardiff Bay Development Corporation

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received from the chairman of the Cardiff Bay development corporation concerning the outcome of the meeting convened by the Institute of Welsh Affairs on 8 March; what plans he has received for expenditure (a) by the corporation and (b) grant aided by the corporation in relation to the proposal for a large-scale lyric theatre in Cardiff bay; and if he will make a statement. [21427]

I have discussed with the chairman the outcome of the meeting convened by the Institute of Welsh Affairs on 8 March. I have received no plans for expenditure by Cardiff Bay development corporation on the construction of a lyric theatre in Cardiff bay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the out-turn figure for expenditure on (a) administration and (b) the architectural design competition of the Cardiff bay opera house trust from his departments grant in aid to the Cardiff Bay development corporation in 1994–95; and what estimate he has made for the same categories for the year 1995–96. [21425]

Financial contributions by Cardiff Bay development corporation towards meeting the cost of administration of the Cardiff bay opera house trust and the architectural design competition are operational matters for the corporation. I have asked the chief executive of the corporation to respond and I shall arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

Viticulture

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the proportion of the agricultural land area of Wales which is suitable for viticulture; and if he will make a statement. [21308]

No assessment has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the number and acreage of commercial vineyards in Wales. [21309]

The latest data from the Wine Standards Board show 18 commercial vineyards in Wales totalling 23 hectares.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what grants are available to livestock and arable farmers in Wales to convert their holdings to viticulture. [21317]

None.

Pembrokeshire Nhs Trust

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to publish the final report by Coopers and Lybrand into the circumstances leading up to and the financial implications of the departure of the former chief executive of Pembrokeshire NHS trust. [21426]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have him on 15 January 1996, Official Report, column 385.

Ministerial Responsibilities

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he plans to make in the division of responsibilities between himself and his junior Ministers; and if he will make a statement. [21303]

I have overall responsibility for all policy issues within the Welsh Office. I have recently made one change to my junior Minister's duties. Mr. Jones has assumed responsibility for all rural and agricultural matters as set out in the rural White Paper.

Estatecare (Privatisation)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 12 March, Official Report,column 559, what was the date of the item of correspondence between his Department and the Welsh Health Common Services Authority which would most accurately fit the description of a decision letter concerning the privatisation of the EstateCare Group of the authority. [21307]

My officials wrote to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority on 16 August 1995.

Departmental Staff (Location)

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the geographical location of the place of work of all civil servants within the Welsh Office. [21679]

Welsh Office—excluding Cadw—staff work from the following locations: London; Cardiff; Caernarfon; Carmarthen; Llandrindod Wells; Lampeter; Colwyn Bay; Haverfordwest; Milford Haven; Dolgellau; Swansea; Newtown; Brecon; Aberystwyth; Ruthin; Holyhead; Newport; Gwent and Conwy.

Social Security

Fraud

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to tackle fraudulent social security claims. [19712]

Our strategy, including the additional measures announced by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Security on 5 March, Official Report, columns 164–68, is set to save the taxpayer £1.5 billion next year.

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what incentives he is giving local authorities to combat fraud. [19716]

Local authorities are rewarded for successfully detecting housing benefit and council tax benefit fraud through the anti-fraud financial incentive scheme. The scheme allows authorities to earn additional cash subsidy through successful detection of fraud, as measured against their weighted share of a national threshold. I am stepping up the incentives by ear-marking £8 million for challenge funding to encourage innovation in fighting fraud, strengthening the financial regime by providing higher rates of return for better performing authorities, and increasing the penalties for those which are failing to tackle fraud seriously.

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have been prosecuted as a result of Operation Rattle. [19718]

To date, there have not been any prosecutions as a result of Operation Rattle which was launched in November 1995.

Pensioner Incomes

15.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to introduce a guaranteed minimum income for pensioners above the current income support levels; and if he will make a statement. [19713]

We have no plans to introduce a guaranteed minimum income which would have the effect of extending means-testing to all pensioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of pensioners who have an income of less than 20 per cent. of average male earnings. [19710]

In 1993, there were around 650,000 pensioner households with an income below that level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what percentage of pensioners are in the least well off fifth of the population; and what the figure was in 1979. [19885]

The information is in the table.

Percentages of pensioners in the bottom 20 per cent. of the overall United Kingdom income distribution
Percentages
	Before housing costs	After housing costs
1979	47	46
1992–93	25	20

1. The information in the tables is derived from the 1979 and 1992–93 households below average income datasets. 1992–93 is the latest date for which information is available. Figures for 1992–93 are for two calendar years data combined.2. Figures are based on the standard households below average income definition of income—weekly household disposable income adjusted for household size and composition (equivalised). These particular results are especially sensitive to the choice of equivalence scale. For example, results before housing costs vary between 32 per cent. and 54 per cent. in 1979, and 19 per cent. To 30 per cent. in 1992–93. However, results present a similar picture of changes over time, regardless of which particular equivalence scale is used. Further information on equivalisation and tests for sensitivity to choice of equivalence scale is given in Appendix 4 of households below average income 1979 to 1992–93.3. All estimates are subject to sampling error.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners in Scotland (a) are dependent on income support and (b) have an income less than £10 above income support levels. [20067]

The information is not available in the format requested. Pensioners are defined as men aged 65 and over and women aged 60 and over. The number of pensioners in Scotland who are dependent on income support is 176,000, as at May 1995. This figure has been rounded to the nearest thousand and it represents customers and partners over pension age who are dependent on income support.Information on the number of pensioners who have income less than £10 above the income support levels is not collated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the proportion of pensioner's income taken up by (a) housing costs and (b) council tax, broken down by (i) quintile and (ii) region. [20013]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

Estimated proportion of income spent on housing costs and council tax
Percentage
	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q5
Pensioner couple
Housing costs	13	15	10	5	3
Council tax	6	5	4	3	2
Single pensioner
Housing costs	17	21	27	20	7
Council tax	8	5	5	4	2
All pensioners
Housing costs	15	18	21	11	5
Council tax	7	5	5	4	2

Notes:

1. Reliable data for a breakdown by region (using the 12 standard regions) cannot be given due to limited sample size.

2. The data have been separated into information on single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner benefit units. A pensioner benefit unit is defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple where the husband, or head, is over state pension age.

3. The figures are the estimated percentages, given to the nearest percentile, of the proportion of unequivalised net income taken up by housing costs and council tax liability for single pensioners, pensioner couples and all pensioner benefit units.

Source:

Pensioners' income series 1993, based on 1993 family expenditure survey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the change in the mean income of pensioners in (a) the lowest and (b) the highest quintile in each region of the United Kingdom since 1979. [20218]

The information is not available in the format requested.For the UK as a whole, the estimated mean income of the lowest quintile of pensioner benefit units has risen by 21 per cent. in real terms since 1979. For the highest income quintile this figure is 68 per cent.

Notes:

1. There is no information available on a regional basis due to the limited sample size.

2. Pensioner benefit units are defined as a single person over state pension age or a couple where the husband, or head, is over state pension age.

Source:

Pensioners' income series 1993, based on the 1993 family expenditure survey.

Benefit Recipients (Newham)

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals in the London borough of Newham are in receipt of social security benefits. [19714]

The available information on locally paid benefits is set out in the table:

	Caseloads	Counts taken
London borough of Newham area:
Housing benefit	39,640	August 1995
Council tax benefit	33,460	August 1995
Unemployed claimants signing on	17,368	January 1996
Benefits Agency Newham district area:
Income support	50,018	November 1995
Incapacity benefit	7,311	January 1996
Maternity allowance	124	January 1996
Severe disablement allowance	850	January 1996

Notes:

1. Information on the numbers receiving centrally paid pensions and benefits is not available.

2. Some individuals will be in receipt of more than one benefit.

3. Unemployed claimants includes those on income support, unemployment benefit and those signing on for credits only.

Sources:

Benefits Agency central data unit, Employment Service regional office informzttion unit and DSS HB/CTB management information system.

Low-Income Families

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he is taking to ensure that the benefit system assists the families on the lowest incomes. [19717]

The Department maintains a comprehensive system of income-related benefits which are effective in focusing help on low-income families. Some 85 per cent. of income-related benefit expenditure goes to households in the bottom 40 per cent. of the income distribution and around a fifth of all social security expenditure goes to families with children.

Debt Recovery Scheme

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which areas have been chosen as pilots for the privatised debt recovery scheme. [19719]

The six areas are the north central and west Scotland, Wales, Merseyside, Tyne Tees, Chilterns, south London and West Sussex.The contractors will also deal with 600 cases for centrally administered benefits, which will be spread at random throughout Great Britain.

Retirement Pensions (Centenarians)

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the number of centenarians in receipt of retirement pensions breaking the figure down by sex and age, for each year after and including 100; and if he will make a statement. [19720]

The information is in the table.

Age	Men	Women
100	530	2,420
101	240	1,800
102	230	1,150
103	70	850
104	30	400
105	50	270
106	10	170
107	20	80
108	0	50
109	0	10
110	0	10
111	0	0
112	0	10
Total	1,180	7,220

Notes:

1.Figures include persons residing overseas.

2. "retirement pension" comprises contributory retirement pension, non-contributory retirement pension and graduated retirement benefit.

Source:

10 per cent. sample of retirement pension awards.

Identity Cards

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information will be stored on the proposed social security identity card. [19722]

We are looking to the successful private sector supplier to bear the risk of fraud. It is therefore up to them to propose any additional features. However, we expect the details to be held either on the face of the card or within its memory to be kept to the minimum required for the card to act as a secure key to access the payments database.

Child Support Agency

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what proportion of child support collected by the Child Support Agency represents a net income increase for parents with care. [19724]

Of the total number of parents with care who currently have a full maintenance assessment, 13 per cent. are receiving family credit or disability working allowance, and 8 per cent. are non-benefit cases. Subject to the level of any previous maintenance agreement these cases represent a net income increase.For parents with care receiving income support, maintenance is a portable income, giving greater flexibility and choice should they wish to return to work. The child maintenance bonus, due to be introduced from April 1997, will provide additional income at the point parents do return to work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent changes there have been in (a) the working of the Child Support Agency and (b) its performance against targets; and what factors have led to them. [15766]

Recent changes to the agency's operations include: measures to improve the accuracy of its assessments through enhanced training and better targeted quality checks; the more efficient use of field office staff in the take-on of responsibility for pre= assessment work; improvements to the child support computer system; and the roll-out of computer support to the field offices.These and other measures to simplify the child support scheme have enabled the agency to make considerable progress over the past year. Accuracy rates have improved significantly and currently exceed the 75 per cent. target. Further improvements are expected in the coming year. The agency has also collected and arranged maintenance of over £230 million so far this year and is on track to meet the 1995–96 target of £300 million. In January 1996, the agency collected maintenance in excess of £14 million which is more than that collected in the whole of its first year of operations. Payments of maintenance to parents with care have been made within 10 working days in 97 per cent. of cases against a target of 90 per cent.The changes which have been made and the improvements in the agency's performance are the result of the Government's commitment to the success of the child support scheme and the determined efforts of staff across the agency to deliver the quality of service which the public is entitled to expect.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number of staff (a) joining and (b) leaving the Child Support Agency for each of the last 24 months for which figures are available; what was the total number of employees of the agency in each month during that period; and if he will make a statement. [20619]

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

Letter from Ann Chant to Mr. Alex Carlile, dated 18 March 1996:

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

The total number of employees of the Agency from February 1995 to January 1996 inclusive is shown in the attached table. This also shows the fluctuations in staffing levels for each month in that period. Information on the numbers of staff leaving and joining the Agency each month during this period is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member shortly with the outstanding information.

The figures do not include information on staff within the Belfast Child Support Agency Centre. This is because staffing issues at this centre are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency.

I hope this is helpful.

Staff-in-post for the period 1 February 1994 to 31 January 1996
Month	1994	1995	1996
January	—	5,799.0	6,298.7
February	4,677.5	5,830.5	—
March	4,685.0	5,965.4	—
April	4,731.0	6,055.0	—
May	4,779.0	6,047.1	—
June	4,874.0	6,045.9	—
July	5,074.0	6,029.9	—
August	5,322.0	5,989.8	—
September	5,456.0	6,064.9	—
October	5,650.0	6,146.5	—
November	5,749.5	6,139.1	—
December	5,829.0	6,220.9	—

Staff-in-post figures up to and including February 1995 are shown as full-time equivalents. They are shown as whole-time equivalents thereafter.

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average length of time taken to complete child support assessments. [19725]

The average time for making an assessment is around 30 weeks but in straightforward cases, where both parents co-operate, the agency aims to complete the process in six to 12 weeks.

Benefits Agency Medical Service

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current situation in respect of privatisation of the Benefits Agency medical service; and if he will make a statement. [19726]

The work of the Benefits Agency medical services with the exception of policy and adjudication functions, will be contracted out to the private sector.A competitive process is to be undertaken to select the most appropriate companies to provide a medical service for the Benefits Agency. The process will commence shortly with the placement of an advertisement inviting expressions of interest from private sector companies. The award of contracts is scheduled for April 1997.

Hgv Drivers (Eyesight Testing)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security which social security benefits will be available for drivers of heavy good vehicles affected by the forthcoming European Community regulations on eyesight. [19886]

Many of those adversely affected by the forthcoming EC directive on driving licences will find other employment, either with their existing employer or elsewhere. Others will have opportunities for retraining. Those remaining may be entitled to social security benefits, depending upon their circumstances.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the savings in respect of benefits no longer paid under the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 to (a) asylum seekers with children, (b) persons housed under the homelessness legislation, and (c) other persons seeking asylum. [21597]

The estimated savings in respect of benefits no longer paid to asylum seekers with children are £50 million in 1996–97, rising to £107 million in 1997–98. Estimated savings for those housed under the homelessness legislation are not available. Estimated savings for other persons seeking asylum are £68 million in 1996–97, rising to £147 million in 1997–98.

Notes:

1.Figures are based on income support and housing benefit administrative statistics for 1994, uprated in line with departmental forecasts and Home Office estimates of asylum applications.

2. Figures relate to income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit and jobseeker's allowance combined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the savings to his Department as a result of the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 in respect of housing benefit no longer paid. [21598]

The estimated savings in respect of Housing Benefit no longer paid to asylum seekers are £60 million in 1996–97, rising to £130 million in 1997–98.

Note:

Figures are based on housing benefit administrative statistics for 1994, uprated in line with departmental forecasts and Home Office estimates of asylum applications.

Figure 16—Replacement ratios for the working population ¹
Number with replacement ratios at or above each level ^{2 3 4}
	1985 ⁵		1992–93 ⁶		1993–94 ⁷		1994–95 ⁸
	000	Per cent.	000	Per cent.	000	Per cent.	000	Per cent.
100 per cent.+	60	0.5	5	⁹1	10	⁹—	10	⁹—
90 per cent.+	210	1.5	35	0.3	40	0.3	35	0.3
80 per cent.+	730	5.2	160	1.2	175	1.3	190	1.4
70 per cent.+	1,870	13.4	445	3.2	465	3.5	505	3.8
¹ Calculated for benefit units selected from FES data where the head works 30 hours or more a week. Excludes the self-employed and pensioners. Estimates are cumulative.
² Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 5,000 (subject to a margin error of 20,000). Proportions are rounded to the nearest 0.1 per cent., and any change of 0.5 percentage points is statistically significant.
³ Estimates assume full receipt of benefit entitlement both in and out of work and are based on income from all sources after housing costs. Figures for 1990–91 and 1991–92 incorporate the effects of the community charge benefit and the independent taxation of husbands and wives.
⁴ Estimates for 1985 make arbitrary allowance for travel-to-work costs. However the use of a single figure to represent such costs is inadequate, and survey evidence suggests that up to one in three employees may have no travel to work costs. For those reasons, estimates for 1980–90 onwards make no allowance for travel to work costs.
⁵ Extrapolated from the 1982, 1983 and 1984 family expenditure survey.
⁶ Extrapolated from the 1987, 1988 and 1989 family expenditure survey.
⁷ Extrapolated from the 1988, 1990 and 1991 family expenditure survey.
⁸ Extrapolated from the 1990, 1991 and 1992 family expenditure survey.
⁹ Indicates case load less than 0.1 per cent.

This replaces the information published in the 1995 departmental report which unfortunately was in error as a result of a computer modelling problem.

State Retirement Pension

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of allowing people to claim a full state pension from the age of 60 years. [19715]

The estimated cost of allowing people to claim a full state pension from the age of 60 is £15 billion in 2025 and £12 billion in 2035.Notes1. These costs are based on estimates of an equal state pension age of 65 published in "Pensions Bill 1994, Report by the Government Actuary on the Financial Provisions of the Bill on the National Insurance Fund" (December 1994 Cm 2714), and on estimates of an equal state pension age of 60 published in "Options for Equality in State Pension Age" (December 1991, Cm 1723). All estimates have updated to 1995–96 prices, and do not take account of changes to invalidity benefit and contracting-out since then.2. The change in SPA is assumed to be implemented from 2010 to 2020.3.Costs assume that the proportion of men who claim basic retirement pension at age 65 at present would claim at age 60 under the proposed scheme.

Personal Pensions

27.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received regarding the level at which age-related rebates for appropriate personal pensions should be set. [19728]

Representations from a range of interested parties were received in response to the Government Actuary's consultation paper issued in August 1995.

Benefit Replacement Ratios

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he holds on benefit replacement ratios in 1994–95; and if he will make a statement. [22056]

The information is in the table.4. The baseline costs assume that state pension ages are equalised at 65 in 2020 in accordance with the provisions of the Pensions Act 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of paying the state retirement pension on the day when the pensioner reaches pensionable age. [13142]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Manchester, Withington (Mr. Bradley) on 23 October 1995, Official Report, columns 485–86. Unfortunately, there was a factual error in the reply. The correct information is as follows.The estimated gross cost of paying state retirement pension from the day the pensioner reaches state pension age is £14 million.This figure includes basic and additional pension and cases who are awarded after reaching minimum pension age.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people's national insurance contributions record leaves them without entitlement to a full retirement pension; and how many of these are (a) women below retirement age and (b) women above retirement age. [20736]

At 31 March 1995, there were 4,642,330 people over state pension age whose national insurance contributions record leaves them without entitlement to a full retirement pension. Of these, 4,449,500 were women. The information is not available for people under state pension age.

Child Support

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent changes have been made to the system of child support; and if he will make a statement. [17007]

A number of changes have been made to the child support scheme over the past year. These include:

an allowance in the formula for travel-to-work costs and provision to recognise existing property and capital settlements;
a cap on maintenance assessments which restricts the amount an absent parent is assessed to pay to a maximum of 30 per cent. of net income;
changes to streamline administration including simplifications in the review procedures and in the definitions of housing costs and earnings for the purposes of the maintenance assessment;
provisions paving the way for the introduction of future changes which will allow for a departure from the formula assessment in prescribed circumstances, and for the payment of a child maintenance bonus to parents with care moving off benefit into work.

These changes have been made in the light of live running of the scheme in order to address the main areas of concern, avoid undue hardship for the parents involved and enable the Child Support Agency to operate more effectively.

	April 1995	May 1995	June 1995	July 1995	August 1995	September 1995	October 1995	November 1995	December 1995	January 1996	Total
Birmingham¹
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	11,308
Exams performed	—	31	740	1,775	2,816	4,430	6,803	7,658	5,040	6,832	36,125
Failures to attend²	—	51	149	316	550	839	1,317	1,671	1,622	1,949	8,468
Bootle
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8,858
Exams performed	—	37	1,271	2,521	3,352	3,819	4,550	4,777	3,758	4,851	28,936
Failures to attend	—	7	57	399	598	1,049	1,189	1,441	1,124	1,291	7,155
Bristol
Exams schedules	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4,250
Exams performed	—	15	465	1,385	2,383	2,653	2,757	2,957	2,394	3,038	18,047
Failures to attend	—	7	47	193	458	575	739	700	605	589	3,913
Caridff
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10,893
Exams performed	—	0	899	2,724	3,921	4,880	4,585	5,747	3,804	5,734	32,294
Failures to attend	—	2	75	432	623	962	948	1,197	895	1,205	6,339
Edinburgh
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3,890
Exams performed	—	112	809	1,666	1,819	2,421	2,793	3,158	2,301	2,847	17,926
Failures to attend	—	4	3	64	196	413	434	627	579	704	3,024
Glasgow
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5,460

Disability Living Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the extent to which hospitals are accumulating funds from the mobility component of the disability living allowance being received by patients. [16283]

Departmental officials had discussions with a number of NHS trusts throughout Great Britain last summer. These suggest that this was a considerable problem in the past but is now rare.

Incapacity Benefit

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many examinations for the all-work test of capacity have been scheduled but have not yet taken place in each of the 11 medical services centres; [20165](2) what proportion of people who have been examined for the all-work test since April 1995 are new claims; [20167](3) how many people have

(a) failed to return the IB50 all-work test questionnaire and (b) failed to attend an examination for the all-work test in each month since April 1995 for each of the 11 medical services centres; [20175]

(4) how many people have been examined for the all-work test of incapacity (a) in total and (b) during each month since April 1995, for each of the 11 medical services centres. [20179]

Information is not available in the format requested. At 31 January 1996, 319,449 incapacity benefit all-work test examinations had been performed. Available information for individual medical centres is given in the table.

	April 1995	May 1995	June 1995	July 1995	August 1995	September 1995	October 1995	November 1995	December 95	January 1996	Total
Exams performed	—	435	1,909	2,241	3,614	3,911	4,604	5,129	3,986	4,423	30,252
Failures to attend	—	89	248	407	938	1,223	1,333	1,543	970	1,514	8,265
Leeds
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1,1301
Exams performed	—	62	1,670	2,491	4,046	5,874	6,007	6,677	5,065	7,205	39,097
Failures to attend	—	13	129	225	595	1,036	1,193	1,670	1,416	1,319	7,596
Manchester
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	10,757
Exams performed	—	96	1,338	2,029	3,820	4,497	4,697	4,834	4,008	6,068	31,387
Failures to attend	—	4	173	336	499	1,199	1,070	1,395	1,335	1,769	7,780
Newcastle
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4,960
Exams performed	—	42	913	1,518	2,724	3,621	3,736	3,998	2,886	4,356	23,794
Failures to attend	—	21	75	182	359	649	674	601	400	532	3,493
Sutton
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	8,081
Exams performed	—	32	1,099	2,864	3,487	3,715	4,184	5,616	3,915	5,845	30,757
Failures to attend	—	76	174	391	622	968	1,153	1,339	848	1,043	6,614
Wembley
Exams scheduled	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	9,262
Exams performed	—	43	741	2,204	4,190	4,642	4,822	5,102	3,966	5,124	30,834
Failures to attend	—	15	127	199	840	1,041	1,461	1,167	992	1,243	7,085
¹Figures include those for Nottingham.
²Number of examinations scheduled but not yet taken place as at 31 January.

1. Failures to attend relate to appointments rather than individual benefit claimants.

Payments (Indian Sub-Continent)

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the value of the social security payments dispatched to the Indian sub-continent in each of the last 10 years. [19794]

[holding answer 11 March 1996]: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.

£
1990	12,076,092
1991	12,403,954
1992	13,851,020
1993	14,805,616
1994	16,107,573
1995	17,722,346

1.Figures are provisional and subject to change.2.Figures have been rounded to nearest £1.3.The figures include details for Retirement Pension, Widow's Benefit and War Pensions.

Fraud Freeline

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what analysis his Department has made of those phone calls received under the pilot fraud referral freeline service Operation Speakeasy; and if he will make a statement. [20866]

Analysis of calls made to the pilot freephone fraud referral lines is currently being conducted. The results of the pilot are expected to be available at the end of March 1996.

Health

Adverse Drug Reactions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the change in the rate of reporting by general practitioners via the yellow card system since 1 October 1995. [20065]

Suspected adverse drug reaction reports are received through the yellow card scheme from general practitioners, hospital doctors, dentists and coroners directly and via pharmaceutical companies. Between 1 October 1995 and 29 February 1996, 4,546 reports of suspected adverse drug reactions were received from general practitioners compared with 4,866 reports over the same period in 1994–95. The difference in number of reports is a consequence of the major campaign to immunise children with measles-rubella vaccine which was carried out in November 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of drugs issued on prescription by general practitioners to which patients have an adverse reaction. [20886]

The Medicines Control Agency receives reports of suspected adverse reactions to licensed medicinal products via the yellow card scheme. A report of a suspected reaction does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the medicine. As the scheme is voluntary, not all adverse reactions are reported. Therefore an estimate of the proportion of drugs issued on prescription by general practitioners to which patients have an adverse reaction can not be made from the available data.

Pensions (Abatement Rules)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if the abatement rules announced on 11 July 1991, Official Report, columns 425–26, apply to members of staff given service-related severance payments by an NHS trust and re-employed by a health authority in the same area; and if he will make a statement. [20387]

The abatement rules announced in 1991 generally still apply. National health service pensions are subject to abatement where an employee returns to NHS employment before age 60.

Executive Action

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those areas of executive action where he has discretion to act in respect of an individual without giving reasons for his decision. [20540]

Comprehensive records are not kept in the form requested.

Adoption Bill

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the draft Adoption Bill. [20788]

A draft of the proposed Adoption Bill will be issued shortly in the form of a consultation document.

Long-Term Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will (a) introduce a statutory disregard of capital resources for those in need of long-term social and nursing care and (b) give a higher priority to the well being of this group; and if he will make a statement. [20656]

The legislation and guidance for local authorities contained in the "Charging for Residential accommodation Guide" clearly state the amount of capital that must be disregarded for charging for residential accommodation. The development of services for older people—(the majority in this group)—has been and remains one of the Government's priority areas. The new capital limits being introduced from April will enable them to retain a minimum of £10,000 of their capital assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for new measures on long-term care. [19727]

The Government will consult shortly on proposals to encourage people to make provision for long-term care, as announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement on 28 November 1995.

Residential Accommodation (Charges)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the final allocation in 1996–97 to Hereford and Worcester county council in respect of costs incurred as a result of the raising from 8 April of the capital limits for charges for residential accommodation. [20756]

[holding answer 14 March 1996]: The final allocation for Hereford and Worcester will be £765,086.

Pharmacists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the average length of time it takes for his Department to pay pharmacists for their NHS contract work; [21111](2) what plans he has to shorten the time taken by his Department when paying pharmacists for their NHS contract work. [21112]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggars) on 12 December 1995, Official Report, column 580.

Prescription Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many increases there have been in the cost of NHS prescriptions since 1979. [21124]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) on 12 March, Official Report, column 776.

Nhs Management

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines he has issued in respect of the performance-related element of the chief executives of NHS trusts, regional health authorities and district health authorities. [20856]

National health service trusts boards are accountable for the proper appointment, appraisal and remuneration of their senior executives and, as in all their functions, boards must have regard to the public service values of accountability, probity and openness enshrined in the codes of conduct and accountability issued to NHS boards in April 1994. The code of accountability requires all NHS boards to establish a remuneration and terms of service committee to exercise proper control of executive board member's remuneration.For those staff employed on the national terms and conditions for general and senior managers, guidance has been issued periodically on performance-related pay in a series of health service guidelines, health circulars and personnel memoranda, copies of which are in the Library.

Medical Students

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to review the training of medical students. [20858]

Under the Medical Act 1983 the education committee of the General Medical Council has the statutory responsibility for determining the skills and knowledge required for the granting of primary medical qualifications in the United Kingdom.

General Practitioners

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate he has made of the number of out-of-hours general practitioners co-operatives and the number of general practitioners included in these co-operatives; [20859]

(2) how many out-of-hours general practitioner co-operatives there were in each of the last five years. [20885]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many general practitioners' premises are currently below minimum standards (i) by region and (ii) nationally. [20879]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dulwich (Ms Jowell) on 30 January, Official Report, column 711.

Consultants (Accident And Emergency)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many accident and emergency consultants have been in post in each of the last five years. [20883]

The information for England is shown in the list.

1990: 200
1991: 220
1992: 240
1993: 260
1994: 270

(Numbers rounded to the nearest 10; latest available figures; figures were as at 30 September in the relevant year; source: Medical and Dental Workforce Census 1990 to 1994).

Child Supervision

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will announce his decision following the recent consultation exercise on supervised activities and holiday play schemes used by children under eight years of age; and if he will make a statement. [20903]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 18 March Official Report, column 324.

Temazepam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what clinical guidelines have been issued on the prescribing of temazepam capsules as opposed to temazepam tablets. [21009]

In October 1995, issue No. of the chief medical officer's update, issued to all doctors in England, notified a ban on the national health service prescribing by general practitioners of the capsule formulation of temazepam from 1 January 1996 and advised on measures taken to increase controls over temazepam generally. British National Formulary No. 31, March 1996, page 151, draws specific attention to the risks associated with the misuse of temazepam capsules. A copy of CMO's update and the British National Formulary have been placed in the Library. Temazepam tablets remain available to meet all clinical needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people died in each of the last five years from abuse of temazepam capsules. [21010]

The number of deaths certified as due to abuse of temazepam—ICDs1 304.1, 304.7, 304.8. 305.4, 305.9—alone or with other drugs for the years 1990–94 in England and Wales is

1990: 12
1991: 13
1992: 15
1993:15
1994: 22

The available data do not differentiate between the different formulations of temazepam that may be available in any one year.

Note

¹ Internal Classification of Disease ninth revision.

Generic Prescriptions

To ask the Secretary of State for Heath what is the average percentage of generic prescriptions by (a) non-fundholding and (b) fundholding general practitioners. [20882]

The percentage of generic prescriptions written by non-fundholding general practitioners in England and dispensed in 1994–95 is 50.5 per cent. The equivalent figure for fundholding general practitioners is 55.3 per cent.

Notes

1. The data cover all prescriptions dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors, and prescriptions submitted by prescribing doctors for items personally administered in England.

2.The analyses are based on prescriptions written by GPs and dispensing doctors in England only, wherever they are dispensed

Casualty Admissions

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions to casualty departments there have been in each of the last five years. [20884]

The information is set out in table 4 of the statistical bulletin "NHS hospital activity statistics: England 1984 to 1994–95", copies of which are available in the Library. This shows the number of attendances at accident and emergency departments in NHS hospitals.

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many contracts for goods or services have been awarded in each of the last three financial years by his Department and its executive agencies after competitive tendering; and what was the total combined value of these contracts. [21033]

The Department of Health and its agencies competitively tender for all their contracts.The information requested is not available centrally.

Acute Psychiatric Beds

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many acute psychiatric beds are available (a) in total and (b) per head of population in the North West region. [21421]

The information available centrally is shown in the table.

Average daily number of available short-stay beds—wards open 24 hours—NHS hospitals: North West region —mental illness 1994–95
Number of beds¹	²Number of beds per 100,000
2,011	47.8
¹ Source of data: Department of Health KHO3 returns.
² Based on OPCS estimate of 4,206,500 as resident population.

1. Definition of short-stay: an element of the component of the ward classification intensity of care (psychiatric). Facilities for the mentally ill who are intended to stay less than one year.2. The table excludes places in special hospitals and NHS secure wards, which are not defined in this way.3. "Bed availability for England", a copy of which is in the Library, contains information by individual National Health Service providers, i.e., trusts, directly managed units and the special health authorities, with summary tables for England. Data are collected by broad ward classification rather than by clinical specialty and returns are made on a financial year basis. 1994–95 is the latest year for which data are available.

Life Expectancy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the average life expectancy for (a) women and (b) men by health authority. [21667]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 15 February, Official Report, columns 686–87.

Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have died while on waiting lists in each of the last three years; and if he will indicate the treatment for which they were waiting. [21675]

Information is collected on removals from waiting lists but does not differentiate between the various reasons, which include death. Emergencies are always treated immediately and patients who need urgent treatment are given priority.

Residential Care (Capital Allowance)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what additional resources are being made available to local authorities to reflect the changes to the capital allowance for those in residential care. [19723]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Worcester (Mr. Luff) on 5 March, Official Report, column 189.

Intensive Care

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average annual cost of providing an intensive care bed; and if he will provide a breakdown of the main costs involved. [21163]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many inquiries his Department has held into intensive treatment unit beds in each year since 1979; and if he will indicate their date. [21502]

The Department of Health has commissioned three inquiries on intensive care since 1979. The "Study of Provision of Intensive Care in England, 1993" was published in January 1995.An inquiry called "Investigation into the Neurosurgery Patient Transfers" was published in March 1995. It was jointly commissioned by the Department.In addition, the Department contributed to the funding of a report of a multi-disciplinary working party on paediatric intensive care published by the British Paediatric Association in December 1993.Copies of the documents are available in the Library.

Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those organisations which were short listed for the purchase of the headquarters in Harrogate of the former regional health authority. [21525]

Following pre-tender qualification, the companies invited to tender for the new headquarters of the Northern and Yorkshire regional office in Durham, which also included the requirement to purchase the former headquarters of the Yorkshire regional health authority in Harrogate, were:

Wickes Properties Ltd.
Grantchester Group plc
Durham County Council
Dysart Developments Ltd.

Doctors

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many medical doctors qualified in each year since 1970. [21485]

The information available relates to the number of degrees awarded in medicine and is collected by the higher education funding councils. This information is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.

Asylum Seekers

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to compensate local authorities for additional costs from the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 in respect of their statutory duties under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and Children Act 1989. [21594]

On 11 January, Official Report, columns 331–65, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced that the Government proposed to assist local authorities with any unavoidable additional costs arising under the homelessness legislation or the Children Act 1989.The Government have since decided that a special grant under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 will cover 80 per cent. of social services authorities' unavoidable additional expenditure above a certain threshold.The grant will be paid in arrears on the basis of evidence submitted by authorities. Threshold levels have yet to be determined.

Volume 274: debated on Tuesday 19 March 1996

Written Answers To Questions

Duchy Of Lancaster

Access To Government Information

Recruitment And Assessment Services

Executive Agencies

Hmso (Privatisation)

Parliamentary Questions

Transport

Newbury Bypass

Transport Research Laboratory

Rail Privatisation

Vehicle Emissions

Sea Empress

Departmental Staff (Working Hours)

Airport Development

Institute Of Advanced Motorists

Oil Spills

Eyesight Regulations

Birmingham Northern Relief Road

Road Schemes

Railway Timetabling

North West Regional Railways

Vessels (Pilots)

Government Bonds

Treasury

Taxation

Low Pay

Vat On Fuel (Nhs)

Trade And Industry

Executive Agencies

Company Board Members (Termination Settlements)

Export Licensing

Fur Trade

Public Sector Research Establishments

Inward Investment

Prime Minister

Far East (Visit)

Engagements

House Of Commons

House Staff (Justices Of The Peace)

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Human Rights Abuses

St Helena

Rwanda

Sierra Leone

Education And Employment

Further Education Funding Council

Schools (Surplus Places)

Schools Access Initiative

Access To Work Scheme

Executive Action

Schools (Special Educational Needs)

Barnsley And Doncaster Training And Enterprise Council

Autistic Children

Schools (Financial Support)

Football Players (Transfer System)

Assisted Places Scheme

Numeracy And Literacy Centres

School Premises

Private Finance Initiative

Mature Students

Higher Education (Student To Staff Ratio)

Higher Education Funding Council For England

Key Stage 2 Testing

School Admissions Policy

Higher Education (Professors)

Defence

Arms And Military Equipment (Exports)

Executive Action

Works Of Art

Competitive Tendering (Contracts)

Married Quarters Estate

Raf Personnel Management Centre

Royal Navy (Vessel Procurement)

Lord Chancellor's Department

Asylum Seekers

Northern Ireland Court Service

Executive Action