To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 17 June, Official Report, column 349, if his Department will release figures on highly suspect cases of the new strain of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease on a monthly basis; and what are those figures for 1995 and 1996 to date. [34511]

The information has, until now, formed part of the annual report of the national Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease surveillance unit. They will now be published quarterly in the chief medical officer's update.In 1995 there were three deaths from the new variant of CJD while in 1996, to the end of May, there had been six deaths.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the number of NHS cardiac units in hospitals within the Greater London area on 30 March. [34595]

All major acute hospitals in Greater London have a coronary care unit. In addition, there were eight national health service specialist cardiac units in Greater London as of 30 March 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the impact on patient care of the cuts proposed by Doncaster health authority in the budget of the Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust; [35017](2) what assessment he has made of the impact on patient care of the cuts proposed by Doncaster health authority in the budget of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Mexborough Montagu NHS trust. [35016]

This is a matter for Doncaster health authority and the trusts concerned. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Keith Jones, chairman of the authority, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS trusts have indicated that they may intend to seek approval for capital investment under the private finance initiative. [34885]

All national health service capital schemes are tested to see if private finance offers the best value for money. At present, 118 national health service trusts are testing schemes worth over £1 million each for which approval of the outline business case has been given.Information is not available on schemes worth under £1 million each that are currently being tested, or on schemes for which the outline business case has not yet been prepared.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the adequacy of the NVQ qualifications for carers; what priority his Department accords to the training of carers; and if he will make a statement. [34945]

A number of representations have been received on this subject.The Government place a high priority on the training of carers. The personal social services training strategy for England seeks to improve the training of the existing PSS work force at professional and vocational levels. This Department is supporting the updated set of lifetime learning targets to achieve specified national vocational qualification—NVQ—targets by 2000 by targeting part of the training support programme on the achievement of NVQs in care. In addition, the document "Building Partnerships for Success", published in September last year, identifies staff training and development as part of the essential foundation for the development of community care. For the future we propose to increase the proportion of staff with appropriate qualifications by extending opportunities to acquire NVQs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the relationship between the rate of incidence of multiple sclerosis in health authority areas and the likelihood of sufferers being prescribed beta-interferon. [34996]

None. Data on the incidence of multiple sclerosis by health authority region are not available centrally. Decisions about prescribing beta-interferon in individual cases are for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what discussions officials from his Department have had with the management of Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Mexborough Montagu NHS trust and Doncaster health authority in relation to the budget for the trust; [35020](2) what discussions officials from his Department have had with the management of Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust and Doncaster health authority in relation to the budget for the trust. [35019]

National health service executive officials have regular contact and discussion with Doncaster health authority and with trusts in Doncaster about a variety of matters including funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures he intends to take to ensure that no job losses or reductions in service occur in 1996–97 at (a) the Doncaster Royal Infirmary and Mexborough Montagu NHS trust and (b) the Doncaster Healthcare NHS trust. [34995]

These are matters for the trusts themselves. The hon. Member may wish to contact the chairmen of the trusts, Mr. Redmond Tonkinson and Mr. David Bertram, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which districts in England and Wales are not currently represented by a community health council; and if he will make a statement. [34985]

All districts in England and Wales have a community health council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what procedures exist within the national health service for resolving disputes between a national health service trust and a health authority on a national health service trust's budget. [35005]

A copy of the latest guidance is available in the Library. This guidance, EL(91)11, will be updated shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful claims for compensation have been made against the North Western regional health authority during each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [35062]

There were no traceable claims for compensation in this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will introduce a screening programme covering all races in respect of (a) sickle cell anaemia and (b) thalassaemia; and if he will make a statement. [35104]

Individual health authorities are responsible for assessing the needs of their resident populations and for purchasing services, including haemoglobinopathy screening, to provide for those needs. In doing so, we would expect them to have regard to the recommendations in the report of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee working party on sickle cell, thalassaemia and other haemoglobinopathies, published in February 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, by health authority region for the last 12 months, the number of white caucasians who have been diagnosed as carrying (a) the sickle cell anaemia gene and (b) the thalassaemia gene; and if he will make a statement. [35103]

This information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 25 March, Official Report, column 429, on purchasing health care from non-NHS bodies, if he will provide a breakdown of the services bought and the sources of provision. [35367]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of human rabies have been recorded in the United Kingdom between 1971 and 1995. [35082]

There have been seven reported cases of rabies in the United Kingdom since 1976: two in 1977 and one in each of the years 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987 and 1988. All these were in people who were infected abroad.Rabies became a notifiable disease only in 1976 and, therefore, figures for the years 1971 to 1975 are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much public money, expressed both in cash and in real terms, has been spent on the NHS in each financial year since 1978–79; and if he will make a statement. [35290]

The information is in the table.

National Health Service total net expenditure, England
£ million
Year	Cash	Real terms (1994–95 prices)
1978–79	6,273	18,284
1979–80	7,447	18,598
1980–81	9,700	20,474
1981–82	10,854	20,889
1982–83	11,819	21,234
1983–84	12,494	21,451
1984–85	13,407	21,932
1985–86	14,176	21,970
1986–87	15,173	22,827
1987–88	16,668	23,808
1988–89	18,413	24,652
1989–90	19,855	24,847
1990–91	22,326	25,865
1991–92	25,354	27,647
1992–93	27,971	29,308
1993–94	28,951	29,483
1994–95	30,581	30,581
1995–961	31,985	31,129
1 Forecast outturn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what representations he has received from the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee regarding the timetable of payments to pharmacists; [35151](2) if he will arrange for his Department to make 100 per cent. payments to pharmacists a month and a day after prescriptions are dispensed; and if he will make a statement. [35148]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Dudley, West (Mr. Pearson) on 8 March at column 397. The payment timetable was also raised by representatives of the pharmaceutical services negotiating committee on 6 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has received the results of the evaluation of different types of residential provision for people with learning disabilities which he announced on 19 December 1995; and if he will make a statement. [35576]

I have received the report of the first phase of the evaluation and I am considering the recommendations, including those for further work in this area. The report includes information which will be helpful to commissioners of services for people with learning disabilities and copies are therefore being sent to health and local authorities and other interested organisations. Copies of the report have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the NHS executive has taken to safeguard its computer systems in respect of the century date change. [35369]

Preliminary analysis of the Department of Health's own mainframe computer systems, which includes those within the national health service executive, has already been undertaken to assess the likely impact of the change of millennium. A further more detailed analysis is under way to assess fully the impact and likely costs of the change.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many computers are used in the NHS. [35337]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many trusts and health authorities have taken action to safeguard their computer systems from the year 2000 problem. [35341]

At present it is not known how many trusts and health authorities have taken action to safeguard their computer systems from the year 2000 problem. However, the national health service executive has taken steps to increase awareness of the problem and is marshalling best advice and guidance to assist it in taking appropriate action in good time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be assisting Sir William Utting in his review of children's homes and child care arrangements; what steps he is taking to ensure the input of charitable organisations, psychologists and those with experience of police involvement in tackling organised paedophile activity; and if he will make a statement. [35368]

Sir William will be provided with a small secretariat and will have access to Departmental facilities. Sir William has agreed that the review should be accessible to a wide range of organisations and individuals who may wish to contribute their views. It will be for Sir William to determine how this is best achieved once the review is under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the hospital budget has been spent on mental health services in each year since 1979. [35331]

The information is shown in the table. The figures since 1988 reflect the shift from hospital to community mental health services. For example, the latter rose by 32 per cent. between 1988–89 and 1990–91 and by 40 per cent. between 1991–92 and 1994–95 for menial health nursing expenditure.

Year	Percentage of hospital budget spent on mental health services
1979–80	13.4
1980–81	13.6
1981–82	13.6
1982–83	13.6
1983–84	13.5
1984–85	13.6
1985–86	13.6
1986–87	13.6
1987–88	14.4
1988–89	14.4
1989–90	14.1
1990–91	13.7
1991–92	13.2
1992–93	13.0
1993–94	12.4
1994–95	12.0

1. The mental health expenditure figures used to calculate the percentages are made up of the following:(a) In-patient and out-patient expenditure—the consultant specialties of mental health, child and adolescent psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy and old age psychiatry;(b) day patient expenditure—in the categories mental heal th (alcoholism, drug abuse, psychogeriatrics and general), child and adolescent psychiatry and forensic psychiatry.2. The hospital budget figures cover all in-patient, out-patient and day patient services and other services provided by hospitals. Community-based services are not included.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 18 December 1995, Official Report, columns 934–35, on non-NHS staff, what information his Department collates on the grades of staff concerned and the source of their employment. [35370]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of children admitted to hospital have been cared for in a children's ward under the supervision of a consultant paediatrician in each quarter since April 1994 in each region. [35332]

These data are not available centrally. All children treated in a children's ward are under the supervision of a consultant paediatrician, but some children are treated in a suitable specialist or adult wards and are then under the supervision of an appropriate consultant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients diagnosed since April 1995 requiring coronary artery bypass grafts have not received them within one year. [35333]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people have not received an out-patient appointment within 13 weeks in each district in each quarter since April 1995; and what proportion this constitutes of the total; [35334](2) how many people have not received an out-patient appointment within 26 weeks in each district in each quarter since April 1995. [35335]

A pilot collection has been established on a trust basis of the numbers of patients not yet seen within 13 and 26 weeks for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant following written general practitioner referral. Figures will be published once continuity and validity of the data have been established.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of Tuesday 25 June, Official Report, column 89, if he will list the authorities which have yet to submit their audited returns for 1994–95; and when he expects the outstanding audited returns to be submitted. [35366]

We have now received the audited returns for 1994–95 for all local authorities in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people admitted to hospital through an accident and emergency department were not given a bed within three to four hours in each quarter from April 1995; and how many were not given a bed within two hours from April 1996 in each district. [35336]

This information is not available centrally.

Description	Awarding body	Amount	Date	Supplier
Marketing Agency for health services	Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust	Up to £160,000	15 September 1995	Colin Geall
Business Advice	NHS Supplies	Not quoted	27 September 1995	Provex Consultancy Stourbridge
Project management	Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals	Not quoted	16 June 1995	Mouchel Management Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have not been seen by a district nurse team member (a) within four hours as an urgent case, (b) within two working days as a non-urgent case and (c) by appointment on the day asked for after giving 48 hours' notice in each quarter since April 1994 in each district. [35338]

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the levels of abuse of elderly people in different care environments. [35339]

We are undertaking a number of activities to enable an assessment to be made of the nature and extent of elder abuse and to promote practical help for people who are subject to, or at risk of, abuse.We helped to establish the organisation Action on Elder Abuse in 1993 and are funding its telephone helpline. We are also financing an independent evaluation of the helpline which will provide evidence of prevalence and types of abuse. Action on Elder Abuse produced a free guidance leaflet in 1995 on abuse in care homes.The social services inspectorate has published practice guidelines on safeguarding older people who may be at risk of abuse in domestic settings and has funded the production of a research review, which is currently being distributed.We also provide grant aid to Counsel and Care which has independently produced a fact sheet on older people at risk of abuse in care homes. Counsel and Care held a seminar in May 1995 with the intention of pooling ideas on policies, procedures and practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will provide details of each management consultancy contract that has been advertised by NHS organisations in the supplement to the Official Journal of the European Community in each of the last five years. [35340]

There was no requirement on national health service or other United Kingdom public contracting authorities to advertise service contracts in the Official Journal prior to July 1993.The following management consultancy contracts above the threshold value of £149,728 that were awarded by an NHS organisation in the calendar years 1994 and 1995 have been identified from

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which authorities have been unable to spend 85 per cent. of their special transitional grant for 1993–94 in the independent sector. [35343]

Barnsley, Bolton, Derbyshire, Durham, Ealing, Rochdale, Rotherham, Staffordshire and St. Helens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) what representations she has received from educational institutions about the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO; [34822](2) what disadvantages to educational institutions have been represented to her as resulting from Britain staying out of UNESCO. [34832]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) if she will make a statement on the transition to comprehensive status of the nine grammar schools in Norfolk between 1979 and 1982; [34769](2) what action was taken by Norfolk county council's education committee in response to the letter from the Department of Education after the general election in 1979 removing the compulsion on local education to reorganise their secondary schools along comprehensive lines; [34773](3) if she will make a statement on the merger of Paston school and North Walsham girls school to become a sixth form college; [34774](4) whether she will make a statement on the transition from grammar to comprehensive of

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The changes referred to are a matter for the public record. The details of how they were implemented were the responsibility of Norfolk education authority. The decisions taken by that authority about the character of its secondary schools reflected the circumstances and policies of the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment whether she has consulted the education authority of Norfolk county council over the 1996 proposals for the creation of selective schools in Norfolk. [34770]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The White Paper "Self-Government for Schools" has been sent to all local education authorities with any comments invited by 4 October. The Department discussed the broad issues to be covered in the White Paper in advance with the local authority associations and a range of other organisations, but not with any individual local authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 13 June, Official Report, column 287, which schools cannot arrange checks against list 99 through their local education authority; and in what circumstances local education authorities have access to the Department of Health's consultancy index. [35249]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: Schools that are maintained by a local education authority can make checks through their maintaining authority. Other schools are not entitled to this service, but can make checks through the Department.The Department of Health's consultancy index is intended to provide checks on the suitability of people seeking appointments in the field of child care. It has not been used by local education authorities which rely on checks of list 99 and criminal background checks to help assess the suitability of candidates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 99, if she will list the number of (a) adverse reports from employers made to the Department of Health's consultancy index for each year since 1979 and (b) notifications from the police for convictions for each year since 1979; and how many notifications to list 99 there have been for each year since 1979. [35250]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The following table shows the number of reports about misconduct, or alleged misconduct, by teachers, and people whose work involves regular contact with children and young persons in education, that the Department has received in each year since 1 April 1979. Information about notifications to the Department of Health consultancy index is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

Year	Reports Received
1 April 1979–31 March 1980	435
1 April 1980–31 March 1981	422
1 April 1981–31 March 1982	340
1 April 1982–31 March 1983	360
1 April 1983–31 March 1984	338
1 April 1984–31 March 1985	325
1 April 1985–31 March 1986	348
1 April 1986–31 March 1987	320
1 April 1987–31 March 1988	350

Year	Reports Received
1 April 1988–31 March 1989	333
1 April 1989–31 march 1990	334
1 April 1990–31 March 1991	373
1 April 1991–31 March 1992	387
1 April 1992–31 March 1993	382
1 April 1993–31 March 1994	542
1 April 1994–31 March 1995	636
1 April 1995–31 March 1996	561

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is in each local education authority the average amount spent per (a) pupil, (b) primary pupil and (c) secondary pupil. [35448]

The following table sets out, for each local education authority, net institutional expenditure per (a) pre-primary/primary and secondary pupil combined (b) pre-primary/primary pupil and (c) secondary pupil in LEA maintained schools in England for 1994–95, the latest for which figures are available.

£
	(a)	(b)	(c)
Net Institutional Expenditure Per Pupil 1994–95	Pre-Primary/ Primary and Secondary	Pre-Primary and Primary	Secondary
Corporation of London	3,635	3,635	0
Camden	2,376	2,057	2,790
Greenwich	2,331	2,028	2,772
Hackney	2,521	2,249	3,138
Hammersmith and Fulham	2,759	2,482	3,316
Islington	2,247	2,055	2,657
Kensington and Chelsea	2,672	2,397	3,327
Lambeth	2,750	2,573	3,782
Lewisham	2,304	2,097	2,677
Southwark	2,091	1,898	2,681
Tower Hamlets	2,664	2,393	3,194
Wandsworth	2,366	2,268	3,053
Westminster	2,613	2,440	2,825
Barking and Dagenham	2,069	1,891	2,353
Barnet	1,953	1,763	2,415
Bexley	1,792	1,536	2,232
Brent	1,752	1,718	2,033
Bromley	1,768	1,634	2,231
Croydon	1,835	1,725	2,165
Ealing	2,087	1,969	2,457
Enfield	1,969	1,761	2,359
Haringey	2,525	2,300	2,986
Harrow	2,205	2,043	2,598
Havering	2,019	1,715	2,570
Hillingdon	1,874	1,777	2,625
Hounslow	2,195	1,931	2,582
Kingston upon Thames	1,987	1,730	2,518
Merton	2,169	1,931	2,663
Newham	2,033	1,711	2,623
Redbridge	2,056	1,678	2,553
Richmond upon Thames	2,090	1,884	2,373
Sutton	2,045	1,860	2,514
Waltham Forest	1,989	1,792	2,395
Birmingham	1,925	1,721	2,356
Coventry	1,988	1,705	2,418
Dudley	1,781	1,575	2,205
Sandwell	1,876	1,666	2,244
Solihull	1,865	1,605	2,225
Walsall	1,877	1,664	2,314
Wolverhampton	1,894	1,648	2,341
Knowsley	1,783	1,575	2,227
Liverpool	1,988	1,634	2,603
St. Helens	1,820	1,521	2,247
Sefton	1,797	1,487	2,227
Wirral	1,846	1,567	2,294
Bolton	1,862	1,646	2,261
Bury	1,701	1,492	2,032

£
	(a)	(b)	(c)
Net Institutional Expenditure Per Pupil 1994–95	Pre-Primary/ Primary and Secondary	Pre-Primary and Primary	Secondary
Manchester	1,841	1,558	2,435
Oldham	1,894	1,621	2,293
Rochdale	1,794	1,552	2,225
Salford	1,714	1,507	2,151
Stockport	1,792	1,566	2,152
Tameside	1,646	1,447	2,046
Trafford	1,743	1,477	2,319
Wigan	1,740	1,474	2,130
Barnsley	1,764	1,550	2,102
Doncaster	1,707	1,444	2,025
Rotherham	1,938	1,719	2,220
Sheffield	1,799	1,612	2,110
Bradford	1,869	1,681	2,041
Calderdale	1,775	1,651	2,104
Kirklees	1,864	1,607	2,256
Leeds	1,873	1,645	2,223
Wakefield	1,779	1,590	2,046
Gateshead	1,886	1,638	2,257
Newcastle upon Tyne	1,945	1,660	2,314
North Tyneside	1,877	1,636	2,145
South Tyneside	1,792	1,623	2,062
Sunderland	1,802	1,576	2,142
Isles of Scilly	3,356	2,471	4,484
Avon	1,898	1,613	2,336
Bedfordshire	1,930	1,674	2,231
Berkshire	1,869	1,630	2,238
Buckinghamshire	1,834	1,636	2,256
Cambridgeshire	1,734	1,540	2,160
Cheshire	1,796	1,529	2,176
Cleveland	1,758	1,505	2,172
Cornwall	1,865	1,615	2,202
Cumbria	1,714	1,541	2,034
Derbyshire	1,832	1,596	2,290
Devon	1,818	1,554	2,203
Dorset	1,743	1,510	2.061
Durham	1,905	1,757	2,122
East Sussex	1,964	1,692	2,359
Essex	1,864	1,734	2,321
Gloucestershire	1,416	1,274	1,937
Hampshire	1,825	1,645	2,177
Hereford and Worcester	1,841	1,643	2,063
Hertfordshire	1,918	1,717	2,264
Humberside	1,917	1,652	2,304
Isle of Wight	1,859	1,.607	2,030
Kent	1,765	1,555	2,276
Lancashire	1,918	1,661	2,345
Leicestershire	1,890	1,612	2,274
Lincolnshire	1,846	1,588	2,384
Norfolk	1,862	1,600	2,342
North Yorkshire	1,838	1,577	2,180
Northamptonshire	1,894	1,618	2,265
Northumberland	1,773	1,528	1,944
Nottinghamshire	1,986	1,692	2,396
Oxfordshire	1,959	1,680	2,285
Shropshire	1,910	1,605	2,413
Somerset	1,857	1,660	2,113
Staffordshire	1,787	1,565	2,104
Suffolk	1,949	1,690	2,182
Surrey	1,906	1,744	2,234
Warwickshire	1,876	1,665	2,349
West Sussex	1,913	1,668	2,240
Wiltshire	1,735	1,548	2,125
England	1,890	1,661	2,270

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is for each local education authority the percentage of (i) the total number of pupils and (ii) the number of pupils taking school meals who receive a free meal. [35365]

The latest available information is in the following table:

Day pupils taking free school meals In maintained schools in each Local Education Authority area in England January 1995
	Day pupils taking free meals as a percentage of: all day pupils	pupils taking a meal
Corporation of London	47	62
Camden	28	50
Greenwich	30	60
Hackney	45	66
Hammersmith and Fulham	35	52
Islington	39	63
Kensington and Chelsea	34	51
Lambeth	39	58
Lewisham	31	54
Southwark	39	61
Tower Hamlets	47	77
Wandsworth	30	48
Westminster	37	58
Barking and Dagenham	19	44
Barnet	14	26
Bexley	12	35
Brent	24	53
Bromley	13	30
Croydon	20	41
Ealing	23	48
Enfield	16	41
Haringey	33	57
Harrow	10	54
Havering	11	25
Hillingdon	11	37
Hounslow	19	39
Kingston upon Thames	7	37
Merton	16	43
Newham	29	65
Redbridge	14	29
Richmond upon Thames	11	30
Sutton	10	23
Waltham Forest	27	50
Birmingham	30	54
Coventry	20	63
Dudley	15	36
Sandwell	20	53
Solihull	13	26
Walsall	20	42
Wolverhampton	21	49
Knowsley	36	70
Liverpool	32	59
St. Helens	18	37
Sefton	18	43
Wirral	23	45
Bolton	17	31
Bury	14	28
Manchester	39	65
Oldham	22	39
Rochdale	24	43
Salford	28	52
Stockport	14	29
Tameside	19	37
Trafford	16	38
Wigan	16	38
Barnsley	20	40
Doncaster	21	35
Rotheram	17	45
Sheffield	20	46
Bradford	23	44
Calderdale	17	33
Kirklees	17	35
Leeds	16	39
Wakefield	15	40
Gateshead	20	46

Day pupils taking free school meals in maintained schools in each Local Education Authority area in England January 1995
	Day pupils taking free meals as a percentage of: all day pupils	pupils taking a meal
Newcastle upon Tyne	28	52
North Tyneside	18	35
South Tyneside	27	45
Sunderland	21	48
Isles of Scilly	19	43
Avon	15	39
Bedfordshire	16	31
Berkshire	10	28
Buckinghamshire	7	40
Cambridge	12	32
Cheshire	13	29
Cleveland	24	48
Cornwall	15	34
Cumbria	12	25
Derbyshire	14	25
Devon	15	33
Dorset	8	39
Durham	18	36
East Sussex	16	39
Essex	13	33
Gloucestershire	11	35
Hampshire	12	34
Hereford and Worcester	9	34
Hertfordshire	10	23
Humberside	16	30
Isle of Wight	18	44
Kent	14	36
Lancashire	18	38
Leicestershire	13	31
Lincolnshire	7	32
Norfolk	12	33
North Yorkshire	9	19
Northamptonshire	10	43
Northumberland	13	25
Nottinghamshire	18	42
Oxfordshire	9	29
Shropshire	14	25
Somerset	10	37
Staffordshire	14	30
Suffolk	11	30
Surrey	9	18
Warwickshire	10	25
West Sussex	10	29
Wiltshire	11	30
England	17	38

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the damage to fuel pins at Hunterston B nuclear power station with particular reference to the causes, cost, anticipated period of repair and implications for each nuclear power stations. [35231]

Currently available details are contained in the British Energy prospectus that was issued on 26 June and appear under the heading "fuel brace fretting" on page 66.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will list the animal welfare issues for which his Department has responsibility; [34290](2) if he will list by group, division or other work unit the number of grades of staff working within his Department on animal welfare issues. [34292]

[holding answer 25 June 1996]: My Department has no direct responsibility for animal welfare issues. However, this is one of the many factors that are taken into account when Ministers and officials consider aspects of the Department's policies in the normal course of their duties.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many licences for the export of equipment assessed by his Department as capable of being used for torture are currently under review by his Department. [35209]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: The Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994 does not cover a category of goods "capable of being used for torture". There is a vast range of otherwise innocuous goods that could be so misused. The most likely categories of controlled goods to include those that might be used for torture are PL5001a and PL5001d of group 1 of part III of schedule 1 to the order. No export licence applications in respect of any such goods are currently under review.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 30 April, Official Report, column 471, if he will list (a) the United Kingdom businesses action single market has helped, (b) the single market trade barriers he has helped them to overcome and (c) the number and location of the wider network of staff who work in British embassies overseas assessing and pursuing complaints. [35033]

[holding answer 1 July 1996]: Action single market has helped UK businesses overcome a wide range of problems. These include: homologation (type approval) procedures in Spain; Dutch insistence on retesting of electric fencing; Irish regulations on the labelling of canned fruit; delays in securing German type approval for road cones; Spanish regulations on sizes of cider bottles; a Belgian refusal to accept a British fire certificate for carpets; Greek rules on the fruit juice content of soft drinks; Belgian customs officials asking for inappropriate documentation; Italian failure to implement an EU directive concerned with paints; a Danish levy on imported goods; and Greek restrictions on electronic cash registers.Company details are passed to action single market on a commercially confidential basis, and cannot be divulged unless specific permission has been given. Some companies that action single market has helped have given permission for their details to appear in recent Government publications. These include H P Bulmer Ltd. Swintex Ltd. Del Monte Foods International Ltd. and Rutland Electric Fencing Co. Ltd.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many individuals saved inheritance tax as a result of the conditionally exempt works of art list in (a) 1995, (b) 1980 and (c) the list's first year of existence. [34219]

The number of estates granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax in respect of works of art and chattels that can be viewed by appointment was 31 in 1995 and eight in 1982, the earliest year for which figures were available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking in response to the conclusions of the joint Treasury and Department for Education and Employment study group examining the scope for the private finance initiative in higher education. [34354]

The higher education sector has a long and impressive history of entrepreneurial activity, with universities already having raised some £1.5 billion from commercial sources. There remains, however, considerable untapped potential for private finance initiative schemes.The group to which my hon. Friend refers is one of two joint working groups with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and the Standing Committee of Principals. It was set up in February at their request by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment. Treasury officials attended the groups as observers. Like every year, and like other representations on public expenditure, the groups' reports will be taken into account in the review of the Government's expenditure plans in the 1996 public expenditure survey along with other relevant considerations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the role of his Department in relation to the powers of the Welsh Development Agency in securing inward investment. [34942]

The powers of the Welsh Development Agency are set out in the Welsh Development Agency Act 1975.Guidelines to the agency in relation to its inward investment activities are issued by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. The Treasury approves the guidelines and a copy of the current version, issued in March 1995, can be found in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many deaths in each of the past five years dothiepin was mentioned as (a) the only drug involved and (b) one of the drugs involved. [34673]

The numbers of deaths registered in 1991 and 1992 in England and Wales in which dothiepin was mentioned as (a) the only drug involved and (b) one of the drugs involved are published in table 10 of "Mortality Statistics: injury and poisoning, England and Wales", series DH4, Nos. 17 and 18, respectively. Copies of these may be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The table shows how many of the deaths mentioned alcohol.The figures for 1993 to 1995, which relate to deaths occurring in 1993 and 1994. and deaths registered in 1995, are shown in the table:

Deaths by poisoning with a mention of dothiepin, England and Wales, 1993–95
	1993	1994	1995
Deaths by poisoning—accident	44(15)	38 (9)	23 (6)
—dothiepin only	31(8)	31 (8)	17(5)
—dothiepin with other drugs	13(7)	7(1)	6(1)
Deaths by poisoning—suicide	94(9)	132(12)	126(8)
—dothiepin only	68(7)	103(7)	99(5)
—dothiepin with other drugs	26(2)	29(5)	27(3)
Deaths by poisoning—
undetermined	64(7)	84(15)	88(20)
—dothiepin only	54(4)	64(9)	70(14)
—dothiepin with other drugs	10(3)	20(6)	18(6)

The figures in brackets show the number of deaths involving dothiepin with a mention of alcohol. These figures are already included in the unbracketed totals and should not be added to them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the value in constant 1996 prices of an increase of 1p in income tax from (a) each of the 22 unitary authorities in Wales, (b) Wales and (c) the UK in (i) 1995–96, (ii) 1996–97 and (iii) 1997–98. [34073]

Available information was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Gordon (Mr. Bruce) on 27 March 1996, Official Report, column 609.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total cost of the millennium date change to (a) the public sector and (b) the private sector; what provision he has made in the projections for the public finances for this change; and if he will make a statement. [33883]

[holding answer 21 June 1996]: The Minister for Science and Technology set out the latest position on 6 June 1996 at columns 816–20. Departments are assessing the extent to which their systems are affected and are preparing plans to effect any necessary action. The Government have not estimated the total cost to the public sector, which will be met within existing plans. Ministers with industry sponsorship responsibilities are taking steps to ensure that the sectors in which they have an interest are fully aware of the problem and are taking appropriate measures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice has been issued since March to agencies engaged in crisis support work following homicides and other serious offences with regard to the approach to be adopted. [34602]

On 18 June, we published a new victims charter. This tells victims of crime what happens after the offence has been reported and the standards of service they can expect to receive. The charter recognises the special position of families bereaved by homicide and victims of other serious offences by setting out, where appropriate, the additional support they can expect from the relevant criminal justice services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of violent offences against the person consist of incidents of domestic violence. [35050]

Overall, 31 per cent. of incidents of violence in 1993 were classified as domestic violence by the 1994 British crime survey. The proportion for female victims of violence was 52 per cent. and for male victims, 15 per cent. Domestic incidents included those committed by a current or ex-partner, relative or other household member. The BCS definition of violence is broader than the definition of violence against the person which is used in the recorded crime series, in that it includes common assault.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps he plans to take to curb crimes of violence and sexual attacks. [35055]

On 17 June my right hon. and learned Friend announced proposals, in a consultation paper on the supervision and sentencing of sex offenders, which are designed to improve protection from such offenders and to enhance opportunities for their treatment. In addition, the recently published White Paper, "Protecting the Public", makes new proposals on sentencing which seek to ensure that the public receive proper protection from persistent violent or sex offenders.My right hon. and learned Friend has, further, established as one of the key national objectives for the police in 1996–97 a target to maintain, and where possible increase, the number of detections for violent crime.Interdepartmental groups of Ministers and of officials are also due to meet shortly to review and develop initiatives aimed at promoting more co-ordinated national and local responses to the problems associated with domestic violence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the legal basis for the distinctions made between people who were granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom before and after 26 July 1994 when they apply for travel documents. [34941]

The policy on access to travel documents for asylum seekers granted exceptional leave to remain in the United Kingdom was introduced on 1 January 1994 and announced on 16 December 1993, Official Report, column 787.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who had applied at some time for asylum were (a) detained in and (b) deported from Doncaster prison in each month since January 1996; what were their nationalities; and to what country they were deported. [34983]

The information available is in the table. The nationalities involved were Jamaican. Indian and Turkish.

Number of asylum detainees1 recorded at HMP Doncaster as at 31 January, 29 February, 29 March. 30 April, 31 May
Date detained	Number of asylum-seekers detained	Number of asylum-seekers deported in preceding month
31 January	2	0
29 February	2	0
29 March	1	0
30 April	2	0
31 May	3	0
1 Persons detained solely under the powers contained in schedules 2 or 3 to the Immigration Act 1971. In some cases the asylum application will have been lodged subsequent to the applicant being detained. The figures include both detained asylum applicants who applied at ports and those detained in after-entry enforcement work and include those awaiting removal following refusal of asylum, as well as those whose applications were under consideration or subject to appeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what proportion of the cases brought under the Litter Act 1983, during the most recent year for which statistics are available, the prosecution was successful; [35049](2) what was the average fine imposed under the Litter Act 1983 during the most recent year for which statistics are available. [35048]

Under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which repealed section 1(3) of the Litter Act 1983 there were in 1994—latest available figures—1,164 prosecutions in England and Wales for the offence of depositing litter. Of these, 82 per cent.—952—were found guilty. The average fine for the offence was £90.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are employed on the beat at any one time, per head of the population (a) nationally and (b) in the Greater Manchester area. [35053]

This information is not centrally collected. The latest available information shows that, at the end of March 1995, 68,240 officers were deployed to patrol duties in England and Wales including 3,552 officers in the Greater Manchester police area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum applications are currently waiting to be heard. [35052]

The number of asylum applications awaiting an initial decision as at 31 May was 66,400.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Civil Protection Council held on 23 May. [35495]

Mr. David Bostock, the deputy permanent representative to the European Union, represented the United Kingdom at the Council in Brussels. In accordance with the policy outlined in the Prime Minister's statement on 21 May, he was unable to agree to any decisions requiring unanimity in the Council other than those which were purely formal or procedural.Three agenda items were blocked and a statement made on the Government's policy of non-co-operation in the European Union. The three matters dealt with at the Council were as follows:The Council discussed a compromise proposal for a decision establishing a community action programme in the field of civil protection, designed to support and supplement member states' own work in the area of civil protection. The presidency expressed the hope that this question would be further dealt with in the months ahead with a view to reaching agreement.The Council considered a draft resolution on strengthening Community co-operation in the field of civil protection research. The presidency took note of the Commission's intention to consider the need for research in this area.The Council also discussed a draft resolution on co-operation with the associated central and eastern European countries and Cyprus and Malta on civil protection, in preparation for their accession.The Government do not accept that civil protection is an appropriate field for Community action. The Government take the view that in this particular field member states have, and must continue to have, primary responsibility for taking action. The Government will therefore be arguing at the intergovernmental conference that article 3(t) should be removed from the treaty, at least where civil protection is concerned, and any future European Union level co-operation should be pursued on an intergovernmental basis.At the Civil Protection Council on 23 May, the Government reiterated that position while explaining why we could not agree to the proposed Council resolutions and Council decision on civil protection.It follows that the Government do not consider that it would be useful for the Commission to being forward proposals for research in this field. The Government do accept that, in preparation for the eventual accession of the associated central and eastern European countries, efforts should be made to forge appropriate links in the field of civil protection. However, it sees no reason why the Community should be invited to take the lead.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases of rape persons charged by the police have not had their cases proceeded with by the Crown Prosecution Service. [34939]

I have been asked to reply.The Crown Prosecution Service holds no central records in respect of specific offences. The information is held on individual case files, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Home Office records include details of court proceedings in respect of specific offences. This information shows that the total number of persons proceeded against for rape in 1994 was 1,625. Of this total, 297 proceedings were recorded as "terminated early". However, the definition of this outcome is much wider than proceedings discontinued by the CPS, and includes proceedings where a bench warrant for the arrest of the defendant remained unexecuted; where the defendant could not be traced by the police; and where proceedings were adjourned indefinitely.The present discontinuance rate for all CPS cases is 12 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what sums have been (a) spent on and (b) committed to the Trident programme to date. [35002]

As at the end of January this year—the latest date for which aggregated figures are available—a total of £8.3 billion net at outturn prices had been spent on the Trident acquisition programme, from a commitment of £9 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for market testing of (a) the Army Base Storage and Distribution Agency, (b) the Naval Repair Organisation and (c) the Queen Victoria School; and if he will make a statement. [34981]

Chief executives of all defence agencies are required as part of their business planning to seek efficiencies and to explore the scope for greater private sector involvement through competition. They are able to draw upon a range of efficiency-related measures, including market testing their activities by enabling commercial bidders to compete with the existing in-house suppliers. There are currently no plans for market testing in the three defence agencies in question, although other efficiency measures involving the private sector have been taken or are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 25 June, Official Report, column 63, when the time required by the statutory demand on Mr. Gordon Foxley will expire. [35064]

The statutory demand was served effectively on Mr. Gordon Foxley on 19 June. He has 18 calendar days in which to seek to have it set aside or to make an arrangement with regard to payment, or 21 calendar days in which to pay in full. These time limits expire at midnight 8 and 10 July respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what factors led to the removal of the atomic weapons establishment, Foulness from the list of bodies given trading status by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Trading Fund Order 1995. [34862]

The atomic weapons establishment, Foulness is not part of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency. It forms part of the Atomic Weapons Establishment, whose headquarters are at Aldermaston, Berkshire, and which is managed by Hunting BRAE plc on behalf of my Department. Rationalisation plans, announced in January 1995, are for AWE to withdraw from Foulness and for the site to be transferred to the DERA during 1997.The inclusion of Foulness in the list of bodies to which the operation of the Defence Research Agency trading fund was extended by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Trading Fund Order 1995 was premature. Subsequent legal advice was that for as long as the site remains managed by Hunting BRAE plc it is not legally possible for it to be included in the order. It was therefore necessary to lay before the House an amendment order, SI 1447 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the key performance indicators for the RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency for the financial year 1996–97. [35575]

The RAF Maintenance Group Defence Agency's key performance indicators for 1996–97 are: to achieve at least 98 per cent. of the specified aerosystems maintenance task to standard and on time; to achieve the "Joint Service Publication 336 Defence Supply Manual" speed of issue and pipeline targets for at least 95 per cent.. of the depot supply task; to keep within the group's allocated budget; to reduce the cost per unit of output by 3 per cent.; to pursue the competing for quality initiative by achieving contract award for the designated functions at RAF Sealand by December 1996 and by issuing the invitation to tender at RAF St. Athan by 31 August 1996; to continue the comprehensive rationalisation of functions within the agency by achieving the closure of RAF Carlisle by 31 March 1997 and by achieving the closure of RAF Quedgeley by 31 March 1997; to apply for investors in people status for the agency by September 1996; and to continue the third party certification of units within the agency to the ISO 9000 standard by achieving certification of RAF Cardington by June 1996 and by achieving certification of the ground radio servicing centre, RAF North Luffenham, by December 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list (a) the number of service married quarters, (b) the number vacant, (c) the number sold and (d) the receipts from sales for each year since 1990. [35230]

Figures for (a) the number of families quarters, (b) the number vacant, (c) the number sold and (d) the receipts from sales are as follows. It should be noted that the figures for (a) and (b) are as at 31 March in each financial year.

Financial year	(a)	(b)	(c)	(d) £ million
1989–90	77,470	14,220	1,380	46
1990–91	75,263	11,912	2,121	44
1991–92	74,176	11,247	1,306	51
1992–93	73,614	11,027	857	33
1993–94	72,631	11,401	1,254	24
1994–95	73,719	13,178	1,102	1n/a
1995–96	73,539	14,351	1,344	1n/a
1 Due to a change in accountancy procedures, figures for receipts from sales of surplus quarters are no longer held centrally and cannot be provided for 1994–95 and 1995–96 without disproportionate cost.

Receipts do not always relate directly to the number of houses sold in a particular year because of stage payments and accountancy procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will set out the Government's policy for British troops in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the elections are held under the Dayton accord. [35234]

The United Kingdom will continue to make a substantial contribution to the implementation force until the expiry of its mandate at the end of the year.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to (a) establish a second ombudsman and (b) give additional resources to the present department to facilitate dealing with Child Support Agency cases. [35329]

There are no plans to establish a second ombudsman department to deal with Child Support Agency cases. The present office of the parliamentary ombudsman has already received increased funding for additional staff to cope with the widening of his jurisdiction and the growth in the number of cases, many of which are against the CSA.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster who is responsible for determining the print run of new legislation and the reprint runs of extant legislation. [34863]

Responsibility rests with HMSO under its chief executive, Mike Lynn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if all extant legislation is currently available in print from Her Majesty's Stationery Office. [34864]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to HMSO under its chief executive, Mike Lynn. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor intends to publish his conclusions on the reform of the legal aid system in England and Wales. [35650]

The Lord Chancellor has today published a White Paper, "Striking the Balance", which sets out the Government's policy for the reform of legal aid in England and Wales. Copies of the White Paper are available in the Vote Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure fair competition between direct service organisations and the private sector in the tendering of contracts for local authority services. [33936]

We propose to amend the framework for white collar compulsory competitive tendering and to take vigorous enforcement action when our new guidance is breached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his plans to ensure fair competition between direct service organisations and the private sector in the tendering of contracts for local authority services. [33948]

We propose to amend the framework for the white collar CCT and to take vigorous enforcement action when our new guidance is breached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent representations he has received regarding environmental measures in respect of forestry. [33947]

This Department receives many representations on the environmental aspects of forestry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the progress of his review of the area cost adjustment. [33949]

The work of the independent review team on the area cost adjustment has invited comments from local government on a draft report. It expects to present the final report next week.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many large-scale voluntary transfers of housing stock have been completed; and if he will make a statement. [33950]

Fifty-one local authorities have transferred over 223,000 dwellings, generating over £3.6 billion in private finance. The 1996–97 disposals programme includes a further six authorities and 25,000 dwellings.Additionally, we are encouraging transfers in urban areas through the estates renewal challenge fund. We recently announced that 11 authorities will receive a total of £174 million to improve 19,000 homes on 29 of the most run-down and needy estates through transfers over the next three years. This will bring in a further £250 million in private investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring his Department is conducting into the effects of the installation of water key pre-payment devices. [33951]

This is a matter for the Director General of Water Services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress made in discussions with local authority association and insurance companies regarding the publication of reports commissioned by local authorities into allegations of serious misconduct by them. [33952]

My officials have had preliminary discussions with local authority associations and their discussions continue. We understand that the associations are writing to their member authorities to draw attention to the associations' code of practice on ad hoc inquiries in local government, published in August 1980, and that, in the context of their discussions with my officials arid with the Association of British Insurers, they intend to review the principles contained in the code.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in dealing with water pollution from old mine workings. [33953]

Considerable progress has been made, and work to prevent pollution is under way at several sites. In addition, the Environment Agency and Coal Authority have identified a shortlist of abandoned coal mines which are causing deterioration in river water quality. Work is currently in progress to investigate feasible solutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage higher standards of design in town and country development. [33955]

I take this opportunity to encourage higher standards of design and we are considering what further national guidance might be useful. We have already launched the "quality in town and country" initiative and we recently set up a national urban design campaign, which will be the subject of a major exhibition in October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the Audit Commission about the issuing of public interest notices. [33956]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the chairman of the Audit Commission from time to time to discuss a range of issues affecting local authority audit. However, the conduct of auditors' work is a matter for auditors and the Audit Commission, which appoints them. Auditors are obliged to follow procedures laid down in statute and amplified in the Audit Commission's code of audit practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent discussions he has had with the controller of the Audit Commission concerning the work of district auditors. [33957]

None. The conduct of auditors' work is a matter for auditors and the Audit Commission, which appoints them. Auditors are obliged to follow procedures laid down in statute and amplified in the Audit Commission's code of audit practice.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with local authority associations about the response of authorities to district auditors' reports. [33958]

None. An authority's response to an appointed auditor's public interest report is a matter for the authority, their auditor and the Audit Commission, which appoints auditors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures his Department is taking to protect and encourage biodiversity on the south Pennines moorlands. [33959]

On 29 March 1996 I announced the classification of the Peak district moors—phase 1 of south Pennine moors—as a special protection area under EC directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds. Officials are currently considering the results of consultations with other Government Departments, and owners and occupiers on the classification of phase 2 of the south Pennines moors as a special protection area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received urging that the Government introduce a tier of regional government above the existing framework of local government. [33960]

My right hon. Friend receives representations from time to time. The Government see no case for setting up new bodies to provide regional government, which would simply add an unwanted and unnecessary additional tier of bureaucracy and cost to existing arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the value for money criteria set by English Partnerships in considering applications for assistance; and what variation there is by region. [34420]