To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many cases of misuse of the legal aid scheme by solicitors have been reported to his Department since 1992; and how many cases resulted in prosecutions in each of the legal aid committee areas. [5273]

The Legal Aid Board investigates all cases of suspected misuse of the legal aid scheme. Between April 1992 and March 1996, 458 investigations were carried out into suspected misuse by firms of solicitors. There was a total of nine prosecutions during the same period in the following legal aid areas:

• Birmingham: 1
• Bristol: 1
• Cardiff: 1
• Liverpool: 1
• London: 1
• Manchester: 2
• Newcastle: 1
• Reading: 1.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps he is taking to ensure that there is no manipulation of the funds available to the legal aid scheme by solicitors operating within the scheme. [5272]

Under the Legal Aid Act 1988, the Legal Aid Board is responsible for the administration of the legal aid scheme in England and Wales. All cases of suspected abuse of the scheme are investigated by the Legal Aid Board. Where appropriate, cases are subject to detailed examination by the board's investigation unit. To help in the early detection of irregularities, the Legal Aid Board has introduced a new green form and a new computer system. Consideration is being given to tightening up the green form scheme further by restricting the location where advice can be given to the solicitor's office.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were fined under the Litter Act 1983 in 1995; and what proportion of these received the maximum fine. [5890]

Under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 which replaced section 1(3) of the Litter Act 1983 there were 677 offenders fined in 1995 for the offence of depositing litter. No offender received a fine of £2,500, the maximum for this level 4 offence. Five offenders each received the largest fine awarded in 1995 of £1,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the police forces currently using (a) CS and (b) pepper sprays; and if he will make a statement. [6107]

I understand from a recent survey conducted by the Association of Chief Police Officers that the following forces in England and Wales have issued, or have decided to issue, CS sprays to officers:

• Avon and Somerset
• Cambridgeshire
• Cleveland
• Cumbria
• Derbyshire
• Devon and Cornwall
• Dorset
• Durham
• Dyfed-Powys
• Gloucestershire
• Greater Manchester
• Gwent
• Hampshire
• Kent
• Leicestershire
• Metropolitan
• North Wales
• North Yorkshire
• Northamptonshire
• Staffordshire
• Surrey
• Warwickshire
• Wiltshire
• West Mercia
• West Yorkshire.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what information is collated by his Department in respect of people whose convictions have been quashed because of doubts over police evidence; [6189](2) if he will list the names and rank of members of the West Midlands serious crimes squad who gave evidence in the cases of prisoners whose convictions were subsequently overturned, together with the names of the persons they helped to convict; and if he will indicate what disciplinary action was taken against each officer together with the outcome of such actions; [6190]

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Irish republican prisoners have now been transferred from Britain to the Republic of Ireland (i) directly and (ii) via Her Majesty's prisons in Northern Ireland; and how many applications (a) are still outstanding because of lack of response from the Republic of Ireland, (b) are awaiting determination by him and (c) he has refused. [5018]

Four prisoners have been transferred to the Republic from prisons in England and Wales. One prisoner has been transferred to the Republic from Northern Ireland, having previously been temporarily transferred there. Some 37 repatriation requests are currently under consideration by the Republic of Ireland and 40 are under consideration in England and Wales. One repatriation request has been refused.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to allow Irish republican prisoners transferred for a limited period of time to remain in prison in Northern Ireland subject only to the good behaviour of the prisoner. [5019]

Prisoners temporarily transferred to Northern Ireland must continue to fulfil all the transfer criteria in order to be allowed to remain there for the maximum duration of any period of temporary transfer. At that point, it is open to prisoners to seek a further period of transfer. Such requests are considered in the light of all the relevant circumstances and against the transfer criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for compassionate temporary release have been made by Irish republican prisoners transferred to Northern Ireland; how many have (a) been granted, (b) been refused and (c) are subject to further consideration by him; and if the same criteria for temporary release apply to prisoners convicted in Northern Ireland and England and Wales. [5020]

Prison Service records show that 10 applications for compassionate temporary release have been received from prisoners who are nationals of the Irish Republic and who are temporarily transferred to Northern Ireland. Of these, three have been granted and seven refused. None are currently being considered by my right hon. and learned Friend.Prisoners convicted in England and Wales and temporarily transferred to Northern Ireland are considered for temporary release by the Home Secretary with reference to the rules which apply in England and Wales. Prisoners convicted in, or permanently transferred to. Northern Ireland are considered for temporary release by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the rules which apply in that jurisdiction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to apply the same criteria for Christmas and summer home leave for Irish republican prisoners transferred to Northern Ireland from England as apply to prisoners convicted in Northern Ireland. [5021]

No. It would not be right for prisoners temporarily transferred to Northern Ireland and who remain under the jurisdiction of the Home Secretary to be treated differently from other prisoners convicted and held in England and Wales.Permanently transferred prisoners are subject to the home leave arrangements applying to prisoners convicted and held in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out his Department's proposals for the future funding of projects currently supported under section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966. [6078]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 13 November 1996, Official Report, column 242.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the key objectives and associated performance indicators will be for the police service in 1997–98. [6907]

The key objectives for the police service in 1997–98 will be:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new appointments have been made to the Police Complaints Authority. [6908]

Mrs. Margaret Scorer and Ms Josephine Dobry have accepted my invitation to serve as members of the Police Complaints Authority. Mrs. Scorer previously served with Her Majesty's magistrates courts inspectorate; Ms Dobry has been in pupilage at the Bar and previously worked as a radio journalist and producer. Mrs. Scorer and Ms Dobry will serve for three years from 21 October and 4 November 1996 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to announce the (a) allocations of police grant for individual police authorities in 1997–98 and (b) allocations of the next instalment of funding for 5,000 extra officers; and if he will make a statement on the impact of these allocations on the overall funding of police authorities in that year. [6909]

I have today put a copy of my proposals for the allocation of police grant for 1997–98 in the Library. I intend to implement these proposals subject to consideration of any representations I receive about them.The police service has indicated its support in principle for the continued distribution of police grant in accordance with a needs-based formula, and I am therefore proposing to continue to allocate the greater part of police grant according to the police funding formula.I am, however, proposing several changes to the formula to reflect the latest data now available, and in response to the representation I have received. The principle changes I propose are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he plans to publish the Caddy report on incidences of contamination at Government forensic laboratories; and what estimate he has made of the number of cases affected. [5606]

[holding answer 26 November 1996]: Professor Caddy's report into the contamination of the centrifuge at the forensic explosive laboratory with RDX, a component of semtex, will be published shortly. The legal representatives of 14 people convicted of criminal offences have been advised that their cases were to be reviewedaspartofProfessorCaddy' sinquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the ways in which his Department has (a) demonstrated by example and (b) promoted externally, the ability to improve efficiency and competitiveness through environmental auditing; and if he will make a statement. [4541]

My Department has in place a committee and management structure to ensure that environmental issues are managed effectively and that environmental concerns are taken into account in policy decisions at all levels.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many separate computer programmes his Department operates; [5518](2) how many lines of computer code there are in his Department's computer systems. [5519]

Information concerning the number of lines of computer code contained in my Department's computer systems and how many computer programmes are operated is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the number of MOD airfields in Yorkshire. [5727]

There are eight MOD airfields in Yorkshire. These are RAF Catterick, RAF Church Fenton, RAF Topcliffe, RAF Dishforth, RAF Elvington, RAF Leeming, RAF Linton on Ouse and RAF Finningley. The airfields at Finningley and Elvington are currently in disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 6 November, Official Report, column 521, on the defence helicopter flying school, what arrangements have been made for industrial participation in respect of the purchase of helicopters for this school. [6018]

The suppliers of the AS350 and of the Bell 412 for the defence helicopter flying school have both committed to 100 per cent. industrial participation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities are made available by his Department for training on Hawk aircraft in (a) Scotland, (b) Wales and (c) England. [5913]

Facilities for training on Hawk aircraft are centred at RAF Valley in north Wales. In addition to the facilities based at the station and its relief landing ground at RAF Mona, the students make use of United Kingdom airspace and may deploy to suitable airfields throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The students also use the weapons range at RAF Pembrey in south Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of cadets in the Sea Cadets in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the current number. [6240]

The total number of cadets, including juniors, in the Sea Cadets in each year was as follows:

• 1993: 16,464
• 1994: 16,233
• 1995: 15,531
• 1996: 15,697.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of commissioned reserve officers serving with the Air Training Corps in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the present number. [6244]

The total number of commissioned reserve officers serving with the Air Training Corps in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was as follows:

• As at 31 March 1993: 2,929
• As at 31 March 1994: 2,944
• As at 31 March 1995: 2,984.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total cost of running the Air Training Corps in (a) 1993–94, (b) 1994–95 and (c) 1995–96; and what is the estimated cost of running the corps in this financial year at 1996 prices. [6242]

The total cost of running the Air Training Corps in the last three financial years was as follows:

• FY 1993–94: £19.0 million
• FY 1994–95: £19.8 million
• FY 1995–96: £21.0 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the total numbers of squadrons in the Air Training Corps in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the latest figure. [6241]

The total number of squadrons in the Air Training Corps in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was as follows:

• As at 31 March 1993: 928
• As at 31 March 1994: 928
• As at 31 March 1995: 927.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of civilian instructors serving with the Air Training Corps in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the number currently serving. [6243]

The total number of civilian instructors serving with the Air Training Corps in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was as follows:

• As at 31 March 1993: 4,556
• As at 31 March 1994: 4,656
• As at 31 March 1995: 4,603.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of cadets in the Air Training Corps in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the present total. [6245]

The total number of cadets in the Air Training Corps in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was as follows:

• As at 31 March 1993: 35,381
• As at 31 March 1994: 35,474
• As at 31 March 1995: 35,343.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of cadets in the Army Cadet Force in (a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995; and what is the current number. [6237]

The average total number of cadets in the Army Cadet Force in 1993, 1994 and 1995 was 40,281, 40,786 and 40,181 respectively. The current number is 39,652.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans the United Kingdom has for a contribution to a successor to the implementation force; and if he will make a statement. [6775]

The international community is still developing its political strategy for Bosnia in 1997 and it remains too early to make any final decisions, but it seems increasingly likely that a military presence will be required to support the continuing civilian effort.The Government have therefore decided that, in principle, the UK is prepared to make a contribution of some 5,000 ground troops to such a force, subject to the outcome of the London conference, to a satisfactory military plan being developed by NATO and to appropriate contributions from our major allies.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what representations she has received in connection with the Magna Steel heritage project in Templeborough, Rotherham; [3914](2) what representations she has received about the Magna Steel heritage project in Templeborough, Rotherham. [4843]

I have received no such representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many separate computer programmes her Department operates. [5513]

There is no universal definition of what constitutes a computer programme. Assuming a programme is a complete application, the Department of National Heritage operates 96 separate computer programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what steps she is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of her Department's policies on women. [5492]

In July of this year, the model guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment was revised and circulated at Cabinet level for Departments to adapt to their own circumstances. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differently on women and men, to assess whether this is justified in policy terms, and to adjust the policy if it is not. My permanent secretary wrote to all senior officials in my Department in July about policy appraisal and the need for the Department and its sponsored bodies to reflect the guidance in future. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State intends to monitor the effect of this guidance.The recent Government report "One year On" outlines action taken by the Government to benefit women since the world conference on women, and also includes baseline statistics against which future progress can be measured.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many lines of computer code there are in her Department's computer systems. [5512]

The Department uses a number of proprietary software packages and, for these, information on the number of programmes or lines of source code is known only to the supplier. An inventory is being carried out of that bespoke software which is likely still to be in use in 2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the most recent occasion on which her Department discussed the wreck of the Amsterdam with the Dutch Government; what assurances she was then given that the Dutch recognise their responsibility for the protection of the wreck and intend to take appropriate action to that end; and if she will make a statement. [6300]

An official from the Department of National Heritage met an official from the Dutch embassy on 16 October to discuss the Amsterdam. The matter has also been discussed more recently on the telephone. The Amsterdam is the property of the Dutch Government and, therefore, responsibility for decisions about the future of the site rests primarily with them. The Dutch Government are currently considering the most appropriate course of action for the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the cost to her Department of (a) the ceremony and (b) the reception for the switching on of the new lighting in Trafalgar square in 1995; and on how many occasions her officials and their families received hospitality from the sponsors of the new lighting. [6260]

[holding answer 26 November 1996]: The cost to the Department was £13.463 for the ceremony and £6,839 for the reception which marked the switching on of the new Trafalgar square lighting scheme by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales in November 1995. A departmental official had one working lunch with the sponsor beforehand, in order to discuss the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress her Department is making with the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting; and in respect of which financial year she expects to publish the first set of resource accounts. [4988]

[holding answer 21 November 1996]: The Department of National Heritage has this month introduced a new accounting system which will enable the concurrent production of cash and accruals based information. This new system will give the Department the ability to continue to produce the existing cash information required by Treasury, while at the same time develop the commercial style accounts required from 1998–99. The Department continues to discuss with Treasury the development of appropriate accounting policies, output and performance measures for the new resource accounts, as well as discuss how best to implement a resource based public expenditure survey. As set out in Cm 2929, the first published resource accounts for the Department will be in respect of 1999–2000.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many (a) full-time jobs, (b) part-time jobs, (c) full-time jobs which are on (i) renewable and (ii) unrenewable fixed-term contracts, (d) part-time jobs which are on (i) renewable and (ii) unrenewable fixed-term contracts, (e) temporary jobs and (f) jobs classified as casual there have been in (1) her Department and (2) executive agencies of her Department for each year since 1992. [5423]

[holding answer 25 November 1996]: The numbers of full-time and part-time posts within the Department of National Heritage since 1992 are shown in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will commission research into the problems caused by the operation of private lettings agencies; [5876](2) what plans he has to set up a system whereby private lettings agencies are required to register with local authorities; [5874](3) what plans he has to introduce measures to regulate the operation of private lettings agencies. [5875]

We have no plans to regulate the operation of private letting agencies or to require them to register with local authorities. However, we are keen to encourage self-regulation. My right hon. Friend has now approved the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors' code of practice for management of residential property, to be published next March 1997. This is aimed primarily at agents who offer a full management service but also contains much that lettings-only agents can draw on.Research for the Department in 1995 suggests that, where an agent was used, 88 per cent. of landlords expressed themselves to be very or fairly satisfied with the service provided. We have no plans to commission further research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals there are to serve a Crown notice of improvement on the Employment Service, requiring a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks of violence to staff to be carried out at the Camberwell jobcentre; and if he will make a statement. [5888]

Enforcement is a matter for the Health and Safety Executive. I am informed that a notice of intention to serve an improvement notice was given to the Employment Service on 16 September 1996, in accordance with HSE procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans (a) to complete consultation and (b) to issue a final circular in respect of the role of public inquiries and informal hearings in determining planning appeals; and he will make a statement. [5877]

Consultation on the draft circular on planning appeal procedures was completed at the end of April and the final document was published as DOE circular 15/96 on 20 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the advantages of changing the rules which make householders responsible for repair of drains up to the junction with the main drain. [6322]

This issue was addressed in a review of water and sewerage law in 1986. The view was taken that, if the responsibility for private drains and sewers was transferred to sewerage undertakers, the cost of maintaining and repairing them could be very high and this could have a significant effect on the charges which have to be met by sewerage undertakers' customers generally. This was not considered to be equitable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how often the Green Ministers in each Whitehall Department have met collectively in each year. [6321]

Since their inception in 1992, Green Ministers have met once in 1992, once in 1993, twice in 1994, once in 1995 and twice in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set out the basis of his calculations of the distributable amount of non-domestic rates for 1997–98. [6552]

The distributable amount of non-domestic rates in England for 1997–98 will be £12,027 million. This is based on a non-domestic rate multiplier of 0.458 and includes an allowance of £400 million for an Exchequer payment to the non-domestic rates pool, to compensate for the shortfall which would otherwise occur as a result of regulations under section 58 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988.The calculation for 1997–98, and the prior-year figures on which this is based, are set out in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many lines of computer code there are in her Department's computer systems. [5345]

The Department uses a number of proprietary software packages and, for these, information on the number of programmes or lines of source code is known only to the supplier.The Department is carrying out an inventory of that bespoke and proprietary software which is likely still to be in use in the year 2000 as part of our strategy for dealing with the year 2000 date change issue, but compilation of the inventory is not yet complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many separate computer programmes her Department operates. [5354]

There is no universal definition of what constitutes a computer program. A formula or a simple line of executable code could be said to be a program; however, the Department is at present responsible for 106 major software systems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated annual administrative cost, including staff time, for processing (a) new unemployment-related benefit claims and (b) terminating unemployment-related benefit claims. [5463]

[holding answer 21 November 1996]: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place to ensure that fraudulent claims are not made after the death of a person receiving a teacher's pension. [5968]

Notification of the death of a teacher pensioner can come from a variety of sources. Generally, it comes from the family, but the registrars of births, marriages and deaths also notify public sector pension scheme administrators of the death of one of their members.This process is backed up by issuing periodic declarations to pensioners to ensure continued entitlement to benefits. The declarations are issues at age 75, then at five—yearly intervals until age 90 when they are issued annually. For those living abroad, regular declarations are required from all pensioners.Each declaration is required to be signed by the pensioner or declarant and witnessed by a qualified person. the returned declarations are examined on receipt to check signature and ensure they have been correctly completed and witnessed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many tenders were received when the Teachers Pensions Agency was market-tested. [5967]

Four tenders were received for the administration of the teachers superannuation scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what consultations she undertook with organisations representing those receiving teachers' pensions, before market testing for those agencies involved in the administration of teachers' pensions. [5969]

Management consultants were commissioned to consider the feasibility of letting a contract to the private sector for the administration of teachers' pensions. Their findings were published in January 1995, and formed the basis of an extensive consultation exercise during which we sought the views of a wide audience, including representatives of members of the scheme, their employers and other interested parties. The consultation period ended in April 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the number of appeals made by parents on the grounds of non-admission of their child to the school of their choice, in each local education authority, in the latest year for which figures are available. [5899]

The information for the academic year 1994–95 is shown in the following table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what monitoring of former invalidity benefit claimants and ex-incapacity benefit claimants who have signed on as unemployed is being undertaken (a) by her Department and (b) on behalf of the Department of Social Security. [6192]

The Employment Service records the number of people leaving incapacity benefits due to the all work test who subsequently inquire at jobcentres. Records cover the numbers: who claim unemployment benefits during each month; who start a job with Employment Service help; who take a place on an Employment Service programme or training for work; who Employment Service staff know leave unemployment to claim another benefit, including family credit; who leave unemployment for any other reason known to the Employment Service; and those whose claim is referred to an adjudication officer, with the outcome of that adjudication. The Employment Service also counts the number who are unemployed on one particular day each month and the number each month who inquire about unemployment benefits but do not pursue a claim. No distinction is made in any of these records between former invalidity benefit and ex-incapacity benefit claimants. Summaries of this information at national level are provided to the Department of Social Security and the Benefits Agency each month. The following table sets out the latest information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what (a) legislative changes and (b) other measures she plans to eradicate discrimination against transsexuals in the workplace following the European Court of Justice ruling in the case of P v. S and Cornwall county council. [6141]

The Government are still considering whether it is necessary to make any changes to UK legislation. Meanwhile the industrial tribunals have interpreted one or two cases under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 consistently with the ruling.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list those schools which have a 5 per cent. or more deficit on their school budget for 1996–97. [6385]

In respect of schools maintained by local education authorities, the Department does not collect the information requested. The Funding Agency for Schools has responsibility for the financial monitoring of grant-maintained schools and is able to collate the information sought in respect of GM schools for 1996–97. I have written to Sir Christopher Benson, asking him to reply to this question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, with dates, those meetings she has personally had with representatives of individual schools from 1 October to 22 November 1996. [6386]

The answer is as follows:

• 2 October 1996: Ilford Jewish High School, Ilford, Essex.
• 2 October 1996: King Solomon High School, Ilford, Essex.
• 2 October 1996: Coopers' Company and Coburn School, Ilford, Essex.
• 4 October 1996: Hamond's High School, Swaffham, Norfolk.
• x4 October 1996: Denver VC Primary School, Swaffham, Norfolk.
• 15 October 1996: Westwood High School, Leek, Staffordshire.
• 18 October 1996: Sheringham High School, Sheringham, Norfolk.
• 22 October 1996: St. Martin's School, Brentwood, Essex.
• 29 October 1996: Heathside GM School, Weybridge, Surrey.
• 30 October 1996: Cardinal Vaughan Memorial GM School.
• 12 November 1996: Haywood High School, Hereford.
• 22 November 1996: Meeting with Staffordshire Headteachers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, with dates, those meetings she has personally had with representatives of local education authorities from 1 October to 22 November 1996. [6387]

I have not had meetings with representatives of local education authorities from 1 October to 22 November 1996. My ministerial colleagues regularly meet delegations from LEAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will give details of the support that will be available to students through mandatory awards and student loans in the academic year 1997–98. [6718]

My right hon. Friend announced on 26 November, Official Report, columns 174–79, that the total level of support available to students through the main rates of grant and loan together in 1997–98 will be 2.5 per cent. higher than for 1996–97, in line with forecast price increases. I am placing a memorandum in the Library giving full details of the new grant and fee rates for 1997–98. These rates will be incorporated in the Education (Mandatory Awards) Regulations and the Education (Student Loans) Regulations to be laid before Parliament in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of unemployed people registered disabled as a proportion of the total number of unemployed people in each Employment Service district in Wales. [5131]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the level of registered disability in Blaenau Gwent. [5917]

At 31 March 1996, there were 4,553 people on the register of persons with a physical or sensory disability in Blaenau Gwent and 368 on the register of persons with learning disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the adequacy of provision of extra home heating, special food, appropriate transport, special medical care and additional clothing to those with a registered disability in Wales. [6072]

My right hon. Friend and I have made no such assessment. Local authorities are responsible for assessing the community care and public transport needs of their local communities, including people with registered disabilities, and for arranging to meet those needs. Health authorities, NHS trusts and GPs are responsible for health care. Benefits to support people with disabilities are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many nurses were employed in Clwyd in (a) 1992 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [5555]

The information is given in the following table.

Nursing and midwifery staff (excluding pre-registration learners) in post (whole-time equivalent number) at 30 September

1992¹: 3,347

1995²: 3,260

¹ Staff employed by the former Clwyd Health Authority.

² Staff employed by the former Clwyd Health Authority and by NHS Trusts which are situated within the geographical boundaries of the former Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to measure and evaluate the effect of his Department's policies on women. [5479]

In July this year, the model guidance on policy appraisal for equal treatment was revised and circulated at Cabinet level for Departments to adapt to their own circumstances. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. This guidance requires officials to identify policy issues which might impact differently on women and men, and other groups, to assess whether this is justified in policy terms, and to adjust the policy if it is not. This advice is incorporated in my Department's rules and procedures for handling departmental business.The recent Government report "One Year On"outlines the action taken by Government to benefit women since the world conference on women, and also includes baseline statistics against which future progress can be measured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average number of day care hours available to day care recipients. [5551]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many day care centres there are in (a) Wales and (b) Flintshire. [5553]

The information requested is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Clwyd received day care in 1995–96. [5550]

There are 1,628 first attendances of patients using NHS day care facilities in Clwyd during 1995–96. Information on the numbers attending local authority day care centres is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many administrative health staff there were in Clwyd in (a) 1992 and (b) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [5556]

The information is given in the following table.

Administrative and clerical stuff (including managerial staff) in post (whole-time equivalent number) at 30 September

1992¹: 1,080

1995¹: 1,072

¹ Staff employed by the former Clwyd Health Authority and directly employed by the former Clwyd Family Health Services Authority.

² Staff employed by the former Clwyd Health Authority directly employed by the former Clwyd Family Health Services Authority and by NHS Trusts which are situated within the geographical boundaries of the former Authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many home helps there are in Flintshire. [5552]