To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been prosecuted in each of the last five years for incitement to racial hatred. [61]

For the years 1992 to 1996, I have granted consent to the institution of proceedings for incitement to racial hatred against the following number of defendants:

• 1992: 3
• 1993: 2
• 1994: 2
• 1995: 7
• 1996: 4 (to date)

During the last five years, I have declined to give my consent in a total of two cases.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what conclusion has been reached on the review of the dual support transfer. [2111]

Following extensive consultations, the Government have decided that, to address the evident concerns of the effect of the dual support transfer on research infrastructure, the contribution to indirect costs in research council grants should be increased from 40 to 45 per cent. of approved staff costs for all grant payments on new and existing grants from 1 April 1997.Additionally, the research councils and funding councils have been asked to identify and implement further measures by next April to ensure that the transfer achieves its original intentions. In particular, it is important that those making research grant applications include all eligible direct costs, and that the research councils meet these wherever possible.In announcing these measures, I should like to acknowledge the considerable assistance provided by all concerned. As those consulted plainly recognise, the difficult issues raised by the review require a finely balanced judgment to be made. From the consultation, it was clear that the major concern was with departmental infrastructure associated with grant-funded research projects, and hence the Government hope that universities will deploy the increase in the indirect costs contribution to support such infrastructure.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many manufacturing jobs with foreign-owned companies operating in the United Kingdom have been lost in the past 12 months. [315]

My Department does not collect such information on a systematic basis.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) what account he has taken of the size of the chambers of commerce and industry when setting criteria of eligibility in respect of outward trade missions; [41](2) if he will give for each of the last four years and for 1997–98 details of the awards given to outward trade missions; [40](3) what assessment he has made of the implications of the first stage announcement in respect of DTI-supported outward trade missions for north Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement. [42]

The size of the organisation seeking support is but one factor in determining its suitability to run a mission supported by the Department. Other criteria which a chamber of commerce, trade association, business link or similar organisation must fulfil is that it is based in the United Kingdom; represents a substantial proportion of the companies in its industry and/or area, and is of good standing; it must have adequate staff and financial resources to recruit and organise an effective group promotion overseas; and show an active and continuing role in export promotion activities.All proposals for support are considered on their merits, with account taken of various factors including, for example, the case made for support; how well the proposal meets priorities identified in the country market plan; sponsor's past record. I need also to balance demand against the budget available.I am confident that the implications of the recent announcement of the 1997–98 stage 1 mission programme for north Staffordshire and indeed the whole of the west midlands are good. In addition to the three offers to the north Staffordshire chamber, 24 offers have been made to other chambers in the region. As participation is not restricted by membership or geographical location, north Staffordshire-based companies can apply to join any of these missions. They may also apply to join all the others which comprise the existing programme.Trade missions are an important promotional tool. Some 151 missions were supported in 1993–94; 149 in 1994–95 and 210 in 1995–96. Support has been offered for 281 to take place in 1996–97, and a further 230 under stage 1 of the 1997–98 programme. Subject to the availability of additional funding, further offers will be announced in the new year.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received in respect of the proposal of the Office of Fair Trading to abolish resale price maintenance on certain medicines; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement. [482]

[holding answer 28 October 1996]: The Director General of Fair Trading announced on 18 October that he was seeking leave of the restrictive practices court to apply for a discharge of its 1970 order in respect of resale price maintenance on certain medicines. If leave is given, it will be for the court to decide whether the 1970 order remains in the public interest. The director general is content to receive further information relevant to the preparation of the application for leave. The Secretary of State has no statutory role or discretion in relation to the director general's application nor in relation to the court's consideration of the case. In the period between the announcement and the 29 October 1996, he has received one representation on this matter, which has been passed to the director general.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade (1) when was the last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil or gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of produced water; and if he will list the number of occasions that such inspections have been undertaken in each of the last eight years; [511](2) when was the last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil or gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of contamination on drill cuttings; and if he will list the number of occasions that such inspections have been undertaken in each of the last eight years. [512]

[holding answers 30 October 1996]: The last occasion that a field inspection of an offshore oil and gas installation was undertaken by a Government official in order to confirm the composition of produced water was on the 25 of October 1996.As the hon. Member was advised earlier this year on 3 July,

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what are the total volumes of unrecovered oil-based drilling muds and of water-based drilling muds that were discharged from offshore oil and gas installations on the UK continental shelf in each of the last eight years. [513]

[holding answer 30 October 1996]: The total volumes of unrecovered oil-based drilling muds discharged offshore oil and gas installations on the United Kingdom continental shelf for the last eight years are routinely recorded in the "Energy Report", which is published annually and is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many environmental inspections have been carried out in respect of North sea oil rigs in each year since 1980; and how many inspectors carried out this work in each of those years. [1016]

[holding answer 29 October 1996]: Numerous inspections of offshore installations have been undertaken by my inspector in each of the last 16 years, although figures are not available apart from at disproportionate cost due to the relocation of the office responsible to Aberdeen and the subsequent archiving of files. I refer the hon. Member to my reply given earlier this year to the hon. Member for Lewisham and Deptford (Ms Ruddock) on 3 July, Official Report, column 457.There were two inspectors until the end of 1989, but, until 1992, 10 safety inspectors also carried out environmental checks. From 1992 to 1994, there was only one inspector but other staff visiting offshore installations carried out environmental checks. The Department now has six inspectors.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much oil was discharged in (a) the United Kingdom sector and (b) the Norwegian sector of the North sea in each year since 1980; and what the figures were for each United Kingdom offshore installation in each of these years. [1017]

[holding answer 29 October 1996]: The total amount of oil discharged from United Kingdom offshore installations is published annually in the "Energy Report". Copies of this are available in the Library of the House.Available figures for discharges of oil (in tonnes) in the Norwegian sector are given below:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what progress his Department has made in its inquiry into (a) the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station in Hong Kong in 1992 and (b) the safety of similar power stations in the United Kingdom. [983]

[holding answer 29 October 1996]: The safety of power stations in Hong Kong is a matter for the Hong Kong Government. However, I understand that a police inquiry being conducted in Hong Kong has not yet reached any conclusions and in view of this we cannot tell whether it may have any relevance to the question of safety at power stations.The Health and Safety Executive consulted the electricity industry through the Electricity Association's generation safety managers group and asked what action had been taken to avoid a possible read across of the Castle Peak incident to UK power stations. A reply was received from the Electricity Association which detailed the action taken by the five companies that had or operated hydrogen generating plant. I understand that either the design and/or the operation of the plants are different from that at Castle Peak, or that any necessary modifications have been made.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many power stations in the United Kingdom are equipped with hydrogen plants similar to the Hong Kong Castle Peak B plant which exploded; and what steps have been taken to warn them of the possibility of a similar occurrence here. [985]

[holding answer 29 October 1996]: Five electricity companies operate hydrogen plants in the United Kingdom. The detailed design of the plants is different to that at Castle Peak. While some plant similar to that used at Castle Peak is installed in one United Kingdom power station, detailed consideration of that plant's design by the utility and the manufacturer following the accident confirmed that the plant's design was such not to make it susceptible to the type of incident which occurred at Castle Peak.

	LA Rent arrears1 at end March 1995		LA vacants2 at 1 April 1995
	Amount (£000)	Percentage of rent roll	Number	Percentage of dwellings	Council Tax arrears3 (£000)	Community charge arrears (£000)
Barking and Dagenham	942	2.0	427	1.6	1,440	1,558
Barnet	1,401	3.8	124	0.9	6,678	10,281
Bexley	505	2.5	139	1.6	1,679	2,644
Brent	13,750	29.3	301	1.8	8,892	26,035
Bromley	0	0.0	5	6.3	1,963	1,944
Camden	8,986	10.7	543	1.8	12,379	22,095
City of London	256	4.2	24	1.1	n/a	n/a
Croydon	2,208	4.7	265	1.6	5,392	4,246
Ealing	10,809	19.1	210	1.3	n/a	n/a
Enfield	4,037	9.9	342	2.2	8,815	8,396
Greenwich	14,984	19.6	795	2.5	6,494	9,737
Hackney	32,675	31.6	3,894	9.8	4,588	10,470
Hammersmith and Fulham	6,553	15.1	343	2.1	6,752	7,186
Haringey	20,318	33.4	303	1.5	n/a	n/a
Harrow	793	3.6	108	1.6	3,595	4,787
Havering	561	2.2	219	1.6	1,506	3,628
Hillingdon	933	2.2	159	1.2	4,857	6,586
Hounslow	2,483	7.1	333	2.0	4,087	15,618
Islington	16,072	16	1,483	4.0	n/a	n/a
Kensington and Chelsea	2,351	9.4	108	1.4	4,672	5,083
Kingston upon Thames	507	3.0	97	1.7	n/a	n/a
Lambeth	19,491	19.8	2,176	5.1	40,172	75,423
Lewisham	7,482	9.3	1,051	3.0	n/a	n/a
Merton	1,168	4.5	89	0.9	3,211	4,238
Newham	7,886	13.6	735	2.8	12,052	24,397
Redbridge	1,142	5	515	7.6	n/a	n/a
Richmond upon Thames	1,062	5.5	246	3.2	1,887	4,056
Southwark	26,160	20.8	1,129	2.1	10,811	25,290

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what account his Department's inquiry into the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station in Hong Kong in 1992 has taken of (a) reports by the Hong Kong Governor's board of inquiry and (b) the investigation by the Hong Kong police into a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. [984]

[holding answer 29 October 1996]: Investigations by the Hong Kong police are matters for the Hong Kong Government.Following a request by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Health and Safety Executive consulted the electricity industry through the Electricity Association's generation safety managers group on what action had been taken to avoid a possible read across of the Castle Peak incident to United Kingdom power stations. This included forwarding to the association a copy of the technical report by the China Light and Power Company which had been prepared on the recommendation of the coroner who investigated the cause of the explosion at Castle Peak B power station.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list (a) the level of rent arrears, (b) the number of empty council houses and (c) the level of council tax and similar arrears for each London local authority. [238]

The latest available information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many hostel places have been provided under the rough sleepers initiative; and what has been their occupancy rate during the past two years. [463]

Since the rough sleepers initiative in central London began in 1990, my Department has provided funding for 986 places in nightshelters and hostels. Most of these places were in temporary hostels which have now closed either because the lease on the building has expired or the site has been redeveloped, in some cases to provide hostel accommodation of an improved standard. During 1996–97, my Department is funding 126 places in two nightshelters and two hostels. Occupancy rates exceed 95 per cent. in two of them and are between 85 and 90 per cent. in the other two.Under the rough sleepers initiative, my Department also provides funding for an annual programme of winter shelters, open from December to March. In 1994–95, 331 places were provided in seven shelters, with occupancy rates of about 89 per cent. In 1995–96, 315 places were provided in seven shelters with occupancy rates in excess of 89 per cent. My Department hopes to fund an enhanced winter shelter programme in 1996–97, providing up to 450 places in central London and 36 places in Bristol, where the rough sleepers initiative also now operates.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how he plans to respond to the findings of evaluations of the extent of rough sleeping in 23 areas identified in the Government's strategy paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative—The Next Challenge". [2112]

The success of the rough sleepers initiative has been clearly demonstrated in central London, where it has been operating since 1990. In that time, the number of people sleeping rough on any night has fallen from estimates of over 1,000 to less than 300.On 4 March this year, I announced that the Government would be making £73 million available for a third phase of the initiative from 1996–97 to 1998–99. The interdepartmental strategy paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative—The Next Challenge" set out our plans for continuing the initiative in central London, where the problem is greatest; expanding the initiative to Bristol, where a major rough sleeping problem had been demonstrated; and assisting evaluations of the extent of rough sleeping in 23 other areas where some evidence of a rough sleeping problem existed, with a view to providing further assistance.Evaluations of the extent of rough sleeping in 23 areas around the country, undertaken by Shelter on contract to my Department, have now been completed. In total, 375 people were found sleeping rough during single night head counts in all 23 areas. I have considered the findings, along with the range of other information collected as part of each evaluation, including the amount and availability of direct-access hostel provision, the range of existing local services providing help for people sleeping rough, and local authority policies on providing housing for people sleeping rough. From this evidence, I have decided that further assistance should fall into three main categories.First, I have decided to create new rough sleepers initiative zones in Brighton, Kensington and Chelsea and Hammersmith and Fulham, where significant rough sleeping problems have been identified. The local authorities for these areas will be invited to form consortiums of statutory and voluntary sector agencies to develop a local strategy for tackling rough sleeping and to bid for rough sleepers initiative funding, which may be made available for capital projects—such as hostels and permanent accommodation—or revenue projects—such as outreach and resettlement work. I expect the strategies to be based closely on the findings of the evaluations in these areas. The local authorities for Kensington and Chelsea and for Hammersmith and Fulham are being invited to form a single consortium to focus resources on the areas within both boroughs where people sleep rough.Additionally, I have decided to expand the area covered by the existing central London rough sleepers initiative zones to include parts of the W1 and W2 postal districts in Westminster. My Department will be discussing the arrangements for this expansion with Westminster city council and the chairmen of the existing central London rough sleepers initiative consortiums.Secondly, I have decided to create a new rough sleepers revenue fund to which local voluntary sector agencies can submit applications for funding of projects, such as outreach and resettlement work. Local authorities, working in close consultation with voluntary sector agencies, will be invited to prepare joint statutory and voluntary sector local strategies for tackling rough sleeping and to identify suitable revenue projects for which applications for funding could be sought. Funding decisions will be based on the strength of the local strategies and on the value for money offered by applications. Initially, I will be inviting the local authorities for Bath, Bournemouth, Cambridge, Ealing, Exeter, Leicester, Manchester, Nottingham, Oxford and Richmond upon Thames, where rough sleeping problems have been identified, to prepare and submit such strategies. I expect the strategies to be based closely on the findings of the evaluations in these areas.Subsequently, my Department will be publishing guidance for local authorities on evaluating the extent of rough sleeping in their areas and developing strategies for tackling any problems which exist. In the light of responses to this guidance, I will consider inviting other local authorities to prepare strategies and suggest projects which might be considered for grants from the rough sleepers revenue fund.Up to £25 million will be available from 1 April 1997 to 31 March 1999 to fund the new rough sleepers initiative zones and the rough sleepers revenue fund.The Department of Health will also be making available nearly £2 million over the next three years in areas which have been targeted for help under the rough sleepers initiative and the new rough sleepers revenue fund. This help is being made available through the extension of the homeless mentally ill initiative. It will be available to assist local authorities with outreach services and care costs for those people sleeping rough who have mental health problems. One of the primary aims of this additional funding will be to ensure that this vulnerable group is reintroduced to the services which comprise the spectrum of care for mentally ill people.Thirdly, my Department will be contacting the local authorities for Barnet, Basingstoke, Birmingham, Gloucester, Norwich, Reading, Tower Hamlets, Tunbridge Wells, Waltham Forest and York to offer advice on the findings of the evaluations and action which they might consider to tackle the relatively minor problems of rough sleeping identified in those areas.I am determined that the hard core of people who sleep rough are given every opportunity to get off the streets and into a better life. These further measures demonstrate the Government's commitment to ensuring that there is no necessity for people to sleep rough. Shelter, Homeless Network, Centrepoint, CHAR and Crisis have indicated their willingness to work nationally with Government, local authorities and other voluntary sector agencies to help make it unnecessary for people to sleep rough.In addition to these measures to tackle rough sleeping, grants are available from my Department to voluntary sector agencies for the prevention and relief of single homelessness. Some £25 million is being made available through these grants between 1996–97 and 1998–99, under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985.Copies of the final report on the evaluation exercise have been placed in the Libraries of the House and are available on request from my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the Government's current policy on the import or export of poisonous industrial waste substances out of, or into, the United Kingdom; what are the latest trends in respect to such trade; and if he will make a statement. [130]

The Government's policies on the import and export of hazardous wastes are set out in the United Kingdom management plan for exports and imports of waste. Under the plan, which is legally binding throughout the United Kingdom, all exports of waste for disposal are banned, as are most imports for disposal other than in exceptional cases where wider environmental considerations apply. Exports of waste for recovery to countries within the OECD may continue but, subject to limited exceptions, exports of hazardous waste for recovery to non-OECD countries are banned. Imports of waste for genuine recovery operations may continue.The plan, which was published on 16 May 1996 and came into effect on 1 June, provides the means to implement the Government's long-standing policy of self-sufficiency in waste disposal, while preserving legitimate trade in wastes moving for recovery.Imports of hazardous waste into the UK for disposal in the period 1988–89 to 1993–94 are as follows:

	Imports (tonnes)
1988–89	40,027
1989–90	31,918
1990–91	44,517
1991–92	46,920
1992–93	47,018
1993–94	67,993

Some 525 tonnes were exported from Northern Ireland to Finland between 1990–91 and 1991–92. No waste has been exported from the UK for disposal since 1992. More detailed information is available in my Department's digest of environmental statistics No 18 for 1996. The Department did not collect data on shipments for recovery before May 1994. Information on imports and exports of waste for recovery or disposal in more recent years is currently in preparation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what reasons were given by Castle Cement for its decision to withdraw its appeal against the conditions imposed by the Environment Agency on the operation of the plant; [901](2) whether Castle Cement has undertaken to comply with the conditions set by the Environment Agency relating to the operation of the plant at Clitheroe. [902]

Castle Cement withdrew its appeal in a letter dated 11 October. I have today placed a copy of that letter in the House Library.Also, in answer to the question of whether the company has now undertaken to comply with the conditions of authorisation, the company was, and continues to be, legally obliged to comply with any condition of authorisation pending the outcome of its appeal. Any breach of a condition is a criminal offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the occasions on which he has used discretionary powers to (a) revoke and (b) challenge planning permission for out-of-town or edge-of-town retail developments since 1990, giving the date in each case. [864]

None. The revocation of any planning permission is rare. Slightly more usual is for my right hon. Friend to call in for his own determination certain planning applications which are required to be referred to him. An application cannot be called in once permission has been granted. An application for retail development in Alnwick, Northumberland, was not referred to my right hon. Friend and was granted permission in 1993, These circumstances will be examined at a local public inquiry and my right hon. Friend will then decide whether to invoke his powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of regional water authorities' debt written off before privatisation. [1521]

Debts to the Exchequer of £5,028 million were written off as part of the capital restructuring of the water industry in England and Wales for privatisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to issue the proposed best practice guide for coastal zone management. [2185]

The Department of the Environment has today published "Coastal Zone Management—Towards Best Practice". The guide takes a practical look at the main issues which arise in coastal management and it highlights numerous examples of good practice which are at present being used. We have arranged for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House, and the guide will be extensively distributed to interested organisations and individuals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Government to respond to the Environment Committee's report on world trade and the environment. [2293]

My right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, the President of the Board of Trade, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister for Overseas Development and I have today published the Government response to the Environment Committee report on world trade and the environment and have placed copies in the libraries of both Houses.The Government wish to take the opportunity presented by the preparation of this document to set out an overview of their evolving approach to trade and the environment. This comprises part I of the response; part II contains the detailed response to the Committee's conclusions and recommendations.The Government have always held the view that economic development makes a vital contribution to improving environmental standards. An open and non-discriminatory world trading system is crucial to future economic development throughout the world. However, to deliver high environmental standards, economic development must take place within a framework which ensures sustainable development.There has been much debate about the impact of trade on the environment; and the impact of environmental controls on trade.The challenge for the world community, both at the forthcoming ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organisation this December in Singapore and more widely, is to move away from the misleading rhetoric of trade versus environment to focus more closely on the principles of sustainable development. The Government are determined to ensure that the European Union takes the lead in promoting these principles.Further work on trade and environment will be required both in the WTO and in other forums such as the United Nations Environment Programme. We have identified six topics as the focus of major international effort in the near future:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for the sale of the Housing Corporation's loan portfolios to the private sector to proceed. [2294]

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration announced on 28 November 1995 the Government's decision in principle to sell the loans provided to housing associations by the Housing Corporation, Scottish Homes and Housing for Wales. We subsequently appointed N M Rothschild and Sons Ltd. as the Government's financial advisers for the project and asked them to evaluate the options for selling these loans to the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what programme of research he has commissioned into mine clearance and detection. [396]

My Department has commissioned work by the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, including research into detection using hand-held equipment; location and destruction of mines for route clearance; and the remote detection of minefields. DERA's centre for post-conflict battle area clearance technologies and techniques is primarily concerned with work for military purposes, but also undertakes studies of mine clearance funded by other bodies such as the ODA and the EU.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now review all parliamentary answers given in both Houses on the subject of exposure to chemicals of British service personnel serving in the Gulf during Operation Granby since March 1991, and publish correct answers where required. [196]

When new information came to light that there had been wider use of organophosphate pesticides by British troops during the Gulf war, I wrote immediately to those Members of Parliament who had tabled questions or had inquired of my Department about pesticides to correct the pubic record. My noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence wrote similarly to the Countess of Mar. Copies of the letters have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he was first informed that British troops and military medical staff were exposed to organophosphate pesticides during their service in Operation Granby in the Gulf war; what action he then took; and if he will place in the Library copies of all documentation on organophosphates held by his Department. [232]

I was first made aware last month that British troops had made wider use of organophosphate pesticides during the Gulf war than we had previously been led to believe. As soon as this information came to light, we commissioned a detailed comprehensive investigation into the use of organophosphate pesticides by British troops. When this investigation is complete, I will make a full report to the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to utilize St. Helena for military exercises. [837]

There are currently no plans to utilise St. Helena for military exercises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many United States nuclear weapons are currently situated on the United Kingdom mainland; and if he will make a statement. [1539]

It has been the practice of successive Governments neither to confirm nor deny the presence of nuclear weapons in specific locations at specific times. All allies remain committed to the maintenance of nuclear forces in Europe as an essential political and military link between the European and North American members of the alliance. The United Kingdom continues to make available facilities for United States' nuclear forces within the UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries in which there is a United Kingdom military presence. [1478]

British service personnel are currently providing a UK military presence either on operations or at permanent bases in the following countries:

• Ascension Island
• Belize
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Brunei
• Canada
• Croatia
• Cyprus
• Diego Garcia
• Falkland Islands
• Georgia
• Germany
• Gibraltar
• Hong Kong
• Italy
• Kuwait
• Saudi Arabia
• South Georgia
• Turkey
• United Kingdom

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total defence expenditure on (a) the Polaris and (b) the Trident programmes in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [1477]

For the years in question, expenditure, in £ million and at outturn prices was:

	1993–94	1994–95
(a) Polaris	103	65
(b) Trident	979	723

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much British beef (a) in weight and (b) in value, was supplied to the British armed forces in each of the last three years. [1381]

The procurement of food for the Armed Forces is contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes. My Department does not specify the source of origin from which NAAFI should obtain beef (or any other meat), but expects it to seek the best market price for the product. The majority of our requirements are for frozen beef which is not readily available from the British market. Records for the last three years are not available, however in the financial year 1995–96 and in the first six months of the current financial year, NAAFI purchased some 690,000 kg of UK beef, including sirloin, forerib, diced mince and a range of manufactured products; these were valued at £1.3 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Army Technical Services Agency at Malvern. [1380]

On 25 October, Official Report, columns 14–15, I announced that the Army Technical Support Agency collocation would be taken forward as a private finance initiative project. The future of the ATSA at Malvern will depend on the outcome of the PFI solution for ATSA collocation.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Vote Office copies of the consolidated press lobby briefing on the Queen's Speech. [833]

Copies of the background notes have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) whether (i) the security services and (ii) GCHQ have registered under the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement; [151](2) if the intelligence services have registered under the Data Protection Act 1984; and if he will make a statement. [207]

No. Agencies holding personal data for the purpose of safeguarding national security are exempt from registration under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984. The exemption is kept under review.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 31 October. [996]

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 31 October. [997]

This morning, I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what severance payments were paid to (a) Ms Sue De Gilio of Plymouth Community Services NHS trust and (b) Ms Jenny Parsonage of Thameslink Healthcare Services NHS trust upon their resignations. [453]

Severance payments for trust staff are a matter for the trusts concerned, taking into account the guidance issued to trusts by the national health service executive in May 1994. The hon. Member may wish to contact Miss Louise Churchill, chairman of Plymouth Community Services NHS trust and Mr. Ron March, chairman of Thameslink Healthcare Services NHS trust for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many schools which have experienced outbreaks of dysentery in the last year have pupils from families whose water has been cut off. [426]

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish the results of the study commissioned by his Department from the British Association of Plastic Surgeons on private cosmetic surgery started in July 1995. [421]

It is for the researchers to publish the report. The information from the study indicated that there was only very small usage of NHS resources in the treatment of the problems of aesthetic surgery carried out in the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which schemes for the provision of services for psychiatric patients have been approved under the private finance initiative. [1032]

Seven schemes providing services for psychiatric patients have been approved under the private finance initiative. Four of these schemes have been completed, one is under way and two are negotiating contract signature. They are:

Tees health authority: residential accommodation for elderly and mental ill patients. Capital value: £2.0 million. (Completed).

North Bedfordshire health authority: residential accommodation for elderly severely mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.4 million. (Completed).

Brent and Harrow health authority: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.1 million. (Completed).

Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth health authority: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.0 million. (Completed).

Barnet Health NHS trust: residential accommodation for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £1.5 million. (Under way).

Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS trust: north west community unit for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.5 million. (Approved but not yet under way).

Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS trust: west central community unit for elderly mentally ill patients. Capital value: £2.5 million. (Approved but not yet under way).

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his Green Paper on the future management of mental health services; and if he will make a statement. [1063]

Much progress has been made in developing and implementing policies for the delivery of comprehensive health and social care services to people with mental illness, but concerns are now being expressed that particular structural and organisational barriers may be impeding further progress. We are therefore examining the legal and other structural obstacles which might be inhibiting effective working between agencies and will shortly be issuing a consultation document seeking views on which options for change would be most supported by those working in the mental health field and by service users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects an announcement on the composition of the General Chiropractic Council. [1064]

Work on establishing the General Chiropractic Council is proceeding well and we expect to be able to announce its membership shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many places are available in secure accommodation for juvenile offenders in England arid Wales; how many extra places will be provided during 1996; and if he will make a statement. [856]

There are presently 309 places available for use in local authority secure units in England arid Wales. A further 40 places are available at Glenthorne youth treatment centre. We are on course to bring into use another 33 places by the end of 1996, making a total of 94 additional places provided during the year. All these places are available not only for young offenders but for children who need help with severe emotional and behavioural problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the basis for the current national health service cost inflation; and into which categories of patient care it is applied by district health service by his (a) Department and (b) district health services. [879]

Estimates of national health service cost inflation are not calculated. A retrospective measure of current inflation in the hospital and community health services—HCHS—sector of the national health service is calculated annually. The inflation measure is calculated as a weighted average of HCHS staff pay inflation and inflation in the purchase of goods and services within HCHS current expenditure.The inflation estimate is calculated only at the national level, and is not disaggregated by category of patient care.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what has been the extent of the failure of compliance of Staffordshire county council with the requirement in each of the last three years that 85 per cent. of special transitional grant for community care should go to private sector homes; what action Her Majesty's Government are proposing to take as a result; and if he will make a statement. [1050]

The independent sector condition attached to the special transitional grant required local authorities to spend at least 85 per cent. of the Department of Social Security transfer element of the grant on community care services purchased in the independent sector. The audited figures for 1993–94 show Staffordshire county council expenditure in the independent sector of £6.439 million compared with the minimum requirement of £7.958 million, thus failing the requirement by £1.5 million. The Secretary of State exercised his discretion not to require the repayment of the grant after taking account of the representations made by Staffordshire. In 1994–95, its expenditure in the independent sector amounted to £17.618 million, falling short of the minimum requirement of £18.166 by £0.5 million. No decisions have yet been made on the consequences of this failure. Audited figures for 1995–96 will not be available until 31 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many nurses were employed by the school health service in each of the past five years. [1101]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for York (Mr. Bayley) on 21 May 1996, Official Report columns 87–88. Information for later years is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients had been waiting for operations in excess of the patients charter waiting time standards at 1 September 1996. [1113]

The latest information available centrally is for 30 June 1996. This shows that, on that date, seven patients waiting for operations had been waiting more than 18 months from the date they were placed on a waiting list. Also, 109 patients did not receive coronary artery bypass grafts and associated procedures within the 12 months standard set by the patients charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died of AIDS in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [1116]

The number of deaths in reported AIDS cases by the end of September 1996 are shown in the table. These data are affected by reporting delays and under-reporting. The figures given exclude deaths reported in HIV-infected individuals who either died without reaching the AIDS case definition of whose AIDS status at the time of death has yet to be confirmed.

Year of death	England and Wales
1990	736
1991	892
1992	1,013
1993	1,192
1994	1,236
1995	1,130
Total	6,199

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people have died of CJD in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [1117]

As at 29 October 1996, the number of deaths in confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in England and Wales, including sporadic, iatrogenic, familial, new-variant CJD and Gertsmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome in each year since 1990 are as follows:

Year	Confirmed deaths
1990	27
1991	31
1992	45
1993	38
1994	55
1995	42
19961	29
1 Up to end of September 1996. Comparable figures for the United Kingdom were published in the chief medical officer's "Update" issue 12, published on 28 October, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with lung cancer were over 75 in the following years (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; and what proportion of the total these figures represent. [1118]

Information is held centrally in the hospital episode system—HES—for diagnosis using specific codes under ICD9 classification, copies of which are available in the Library. The latest year available is 1994–95. Data for the number of finished consultant episodes with primary diagnosis "Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung"—ICD code 162—in NHS hospitals in England are shown in the table:

Data year	Total cases	75 years and over	Percentage of 75 years and over of total
1993–94	57,822	13,620	24
1994–95	57,823	13,138	23
Episodes where the age of the person was unknown have been allocated pro rata.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of breast cancer were identified in women of 65 years and over for each year since 1992; and what proportion they represent of all women diagnosed as having breast cancer. [1114]

Provisional numbers of registrations of breast cancer diagnosed in 1991 in England and Wales were published in the Office for National Statistics "Monitor" MBI 96/1, copies of which are available in the Library. Figures for 1992 and 1993 will be published shortly by the Office for National Statistics and copies will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what decision has been made on the findings of the review of the NHS health advisory service. [2037]

We have decided to merge the NHS health advisory service, from April 1997, with a consortium led by the Royal College of Psychiatrists research unit and comprising members from the Royal College of Nursing Institute, Office for Public Management and British Geriatrics Society.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding of health authorities in Manchester in the remaining months of the financial year; which authorities expect a shortfall; and if he will make a statement. [1378]

All health authorities are expected to remain within their allocated cash limit. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newham, South (Mr. Spearing) on 17 October 1996 Official Report, columns 1104–05, which provided the estimated outturn position for all English health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria are applied to assess the suitability of prisoners in an open prison for work carried out in the community as part of their rehabilitation. [1083]

Prisoners who are held in open prisoners are thoroughly assessed to ensure that they do not pose a risk to the public. Open prisons will allocate prisoners to work in the local community only when this is considered to be of benefit to both the community and to the prisoner. Particular attention is always paid to the offences committed by the prisoner and to his or her background as part of this process. The overriding concern in such allocation is always the safety of the public; if such concern exists, the prisoner does not undertake work in the community, and may be transferred to a closed and more secure prison.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedures exist to assess a prisoner's suitability for transfer to an open prison; who is responsible for their implementation; and what assessment he has made of their effectiveness. [1084]

Determinate sentence prisoners must be reallocated to the lowest security category before their transfer from a closed to an open prison. This involves an assessment of any risk posed to the public by the prisoner, together with the risk of escape or abscond. Such reallocation and transfer will take place only if the staff of the closed prison are satisfied that the prisoner is not a risk to the public and is not likely to escape or abscond. The prisoner will undergo a further risk assessment at the open prison to ensure that he or she is suitable for open conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all (a) planned new prisons and (b) detention centres to be financed through (i) public capital expenditure and (ii) the private finance initiative. [55]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were detained in Birmingham prison during (a) July, (b) August and (c) September; and what were the nationalities of those detained; [1037](2) how many people who had applied at some stage for asylum were deported from Birmingham prison during

The available information on asylum seekers detained in Her Majesty's prison Birmingham is given in the table.There were no failed asylum seekers recorded as being deported from Her Majesty's prison Birmingham during each of the months July to September 1996.This does not include asylum seekers removed as illegal entrants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to declare a country as one in which there has been a fundamental change of circumstances under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. [972]

My right hon. and learned Friend has no plans at present to declare that any country has undergone a major upheaval such that we would not seek to return people there for the time being.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total number of asylum seekers held in detention at the end of (a) June, (b) July, (c) August and (d) September; in which establishments they were held; what were the nationalities of those detained; what were the gender of those detained; and how many were deported and from which establishments. [1044]

The available information on asylum seekers detained, and on those deported from detention, is given in the tables. The number deported does not include those who are removed as illegal entrants or under port refusal procedures.

Number1 of asylum detainees deported2 during June, July, August and September
	Number of deported asylum detainees
June	11
July	6
August	7
September	3
1Provisional figures.
2 Removed under the deport process, including those removed voluntarily prior to the initiation of deportation action.

Table 1: Number of people recorded as detailed on 17 June, 31 July, 4 September, and I October 19961 who sought asylum at some stage, by gender
Gender	As at 27 June	As at 31 July	As at 4 September	As at 1 October
Male	720	716	727	783
Female	52	60	82	81
Total	772	776	809	864
1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a breakdown of the number of asylum seekers currently detained under Immigration Act powers by (i) nationality, (ii) gender, (iii) place of detention, (iv) length of detention and (v) immigration status at the time of application. [882]

The information requested on detained asylum seekers is given in the tables.

Table 1: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by gender and immigration status
Gender	Port	Illegal entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Male	481	258	44	783
Female	62	14	5	81
Total	543	272	49	864
1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.

Table 2: Number of people recorded as detained on 1 October 19961 who had sought asylum at some stage, by stage of application and immigration status
Stage of application	Port	Illegal Entrants	Subject to deportation order	Total
Awaiting initial decision	157	53	8	218
Awaiting result of appeal	256	139	32	427
Awaiting removal after refusal	130	80	9	219
Total	543	272	49	864
1 These figures include people who have been in detention for less than a month. Because of the delay in recording receptions into, and releases from, detention and the large number of persons detained for a short period, the figures should be used with caution.