Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Wednesday 11 December 1996

Treasury

Computers

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Bank of England is taking to ensure the single currency compliancy of its computer systems, and those with which they are connected; what is its budget for this purpose; and if he will make a statement. [6661]

The Bank of England's computer systems will be affected by the introduction of the euro whether or not the United Kingdom adopts the single currency. Work to assess the implications and to ensure preparedness started some time ago. The bank is also liaising with the Association for Payment Clearing Services, which oversees the banking payments systems, and with the commercial banks. No separate budget has yet been set for this process.

Tax Law Rewrite

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Inland Revenue will publish the document giving the plans and arrangements for the tax law rewrite, referred to in his 1996 Budget statement. [8931]

I am very pleased to be able to report on the good progress that has been made on the tax law rewrite. The Inland Revenue has today published a document which sets out the response to its consultations on this project to rewrite tax law in clearer and simpler language. I am placing copies in the Libraries of the House.This document takes full account of the comments received. It sets out the resulting plans and arrangements for taking the rewrite forward, so that the first rewrite Bill will be ready for enactment in the 1997–98 parliamentary Session.This is a very important and worthwhile project which will bring the benefits of clarity and certainty to businesses and ordinary taxpayers alike. We are committed to proceeding with it on the basis of full consultation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer who will be the members of the tax law rewrite steering committee being chaired by the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC. [8932]

The steering committee will play a crucial role in the rewrite project. Under the chairmanship of the right hon. the Lord Howe of Aberavon CH, QC, the committee will guide the project through the challenges that lie ahead, while ensuring that it keeps to its objectives.

The committee combines the talents and experience of a wide range of members drawn from Parliament, the legal and accountancy professions, consumer interests and the private sector.

I am delighted to announce today that the other members of the committee will be the right hon. Sir John Balcombe, Mr. Ian Barlow, Dr. John Avery Jones CBE, Mr. Steve Matheson CB, Dr. John Marek MP, Ms Sheila McKechnie OBE, Sir John Shaw and Mr. Tim Smith MP. I am sure that this important project will benefit greatly from their experience.

Taxation

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer to the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) of 26 February, Official Report, columns 339–52, to take account of (a) changes made in the Budget, and to provide his latest estimates of the burden of direct and indirect taxes for 1997–98, (b) revisions to figures for earlier years and (c) separate figures for (i) VAT, (ii) other indirect taxes and (iii) the council tax. [5195]

[holding answer 27 November 1996]: The tables show estimates of tax payments for the requested specimen households for the years 1994–95 to 1997–98.The main factors accounting for the increase in payments between years are growth in earnings and inflation. The figures for tax payments do not measure the effects of changes in tax rates, allowances, etcetera. A one-earner couple on average earnings with two children will pay £88 less in income tax and national insurance contributions next year than if these taxes had been left unchanged since 1991–92, apart from indexation.Real take-home pay for all these households will rise next year and will be substantially higher than in 1991–92. For the family on average earnings, the increase next year will be £370, bringing the total rise since 1991–92 to over £1,100. These increases take account of all taxes as well as earnings growth and inflation. Other factors are also boosting living standards, such as the lowest mortgage rates for 30 years and the rise in employment by ¾ million since 1992.The figures for tax payments are subject to important limitations. The estimates of indirect tax payments are very approximate. They are based on the assumption that these taxes are fully passed on in prices, which may not hold in practice. They also assume particular spending patterns by the households whereas in practice there are wide variations in spending on taxed goods, and hence in indirect tax payments, between households with similar incomes and compositions. Nor do the estimates include the effects of changes in tax on savings, particularly the reduction in the tax rate on savings income to 20 per cent. for basic rate payers or the growth in tax-free tax-exempt special savings accounts and personal equity plans, as the households specified have income only from earnings. The overall tax burden—total taxes and national insurance contributions as a percent of GDP—which includes the impact of all taxes is expected to be at the same level next year as in 1991–92.

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1994–95								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1,000	2,000
Single person
£ per week
Gross income	184.55	276.83	369.10	553.65	738.20	1,107.30	1,476.40	1,845.50	2,583.70	3,691.00	7,382.00
NICs	13.90	23.12	32.35	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44
Income tax	26.69	49.76	72.83	123.71	197.53	345.17	492.81	640.45	935.73	1,378.65	2,855.05
VAT		14.84	19.78	30.29
Other indirect taxes		20.05	25.53	37.19
Total excluding council tax		107.78	150.49	229.63
Council tax		7.10	7.34	7.87
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	151.79	215.02	278.26	412.77	529.52	763.01	996.50	1,230.00	1,696.98	2,397.46	4,732.38
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.5	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	14.5	18.0	19.7	22.3	26.8	31.2	33.4	34.7	36.2	37.4	38.7
VAT		5.4	5.4	5.5
Other indirect taxes		7.2	6.9	6.7
Total excluding council tax		38.9	40.8	41.5
Council tax		2.6	2.0	1.4
Married couple, one earner: no children
£ per week
Gross income	184.55	276.83	369.10	553.65	738.20	1,107.30	1,476.40	1,845.50	2,583.70	3,691.00	7,382.00
NICs	13.90	23.12	32.35	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44
Income tax	20.08	43.14	66.21	117.09	190.91	338.55	486.19	633.83	929.11	1,372.03	2,848.43
VAT		15.34	20.84	32.54
Other indirect taxes		21.47	25.61	34.43
Total excluding council tax		103.08	145.01	222.50
Council tax		9.36	10.06	11.54
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	158.76	222.00	285.24	419.75	536.49	769.98	1,003.48	1,236.97	1,703.%	2,404.43	4,739.36
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.5	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	10.9	15.6	17.9	21.1	25.9	30.6	32.9	34.3	36.0	37.2	38.6
VAT		5.5	5.6	5.9
Other indirect taxes		7.8	6.9	6.2
Total excluding council tax		37.2	39.3	40.2
Council tax		3.4	2.7	2.1
Married couple, one earner: 2 children
£ per week
Gross income	184.55	276.83	369.10	553.65	738.20	1,107.30	1,476.40	1,845.50	2,583.70	3,691.00	7,382.00
NICs	13.90	23.12	32.35	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44	38.44
Income tax (less child benefit)	1.63	24.69	47.76	98.64	172.46	320.10	467.74	615.38	910.66	1,353.58	2,829.98
VAT		15.33	20.30	30.88
Other indirect taxes		24.99	28.01	34.43
Total excluding council tax		88.13	128.42	202.40
Council tax		8.72	9.21	10.27
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	178.21	241.45	304.69	439.20	555.94	789.44	1,022.93	1,256.42	1,723.41	2,423.89	4,758.81
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.5	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax (less child benefit)	0.9	8.9	12.9	17.8	23.4	28.9	31.7	33.3	35.2	36.7	38.3
VAT		5.5	5.5	5.6
Other indirect taxes		9.0	7.6	6.2
Total excluding council tax		31.8	34.8	36.6
Council tax		3.1	2.5	1.9
Married couple, 2 earners: no children:
Earnings split 60:40
£ per week
Gross income	184.55	276.83	369.10	553.65	738.20	1,107.30	1,476.40	1,845.50	2,583.70	3,691.00	7,382.00
NICs	9.34	18.56	27.79	46.25	63.41	76.88	76.88	76.88	76.88	76.88	76.88
Income tax	3.79	24.36	46.77	92.90	139.04	252.67	388.44	536.08	831.36	1274.28	2750.68
VAT		16.67	22.14	32.98
Other indirect taxes		24.78	29.92	40.08
Total excluding council tax		84.37	126.62	212.20
Council tax		9.55	9.74	10.12
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	180.73	246.61	310.55	437.02	564.86	820.01	1,066.01	1,299.50	1,766.49	2,466.97	4,801.89

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1994–95								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1,000	2,000
Percentage of earnings
NICs	5.1	6.7	7.5	8.4	8.6	6.9	5.2	4.2	3.0	2.1	1.0
Income tax	2.1	8.8	12.7	16.8	18.8	22.8	26.3	29.0	32.2	34.5	37.3
VAT		6.0	6.0	6.0
Other indirect taxes		9.0	8.1	7.2
Total excluding council tax		30.5	34.3	38.3
Council tax		3.5	2.6	1.8

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1995–96								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1000	2000
Single person
£ per week
Gross income	190.60	285.90	381.20	571.80	762.40	1,143.60	1,524.80	1,906.00	2,668.40	3,812.00	7,624.00
NICs	14.42	23.95	33.48	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36
Income tax	27.63	51.45	75.28	128.43	204.67	357.15	509.63	662.11	967.07	1,424.51	2,949.31
VAT		15.06	20.08	30.75
Other indirect taxes		21.75	27.66	40.21
Total excluding council tax		112.20	156.49	238.76
Council tax		7.51	7.77	8.32
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	151.72	214.99	278.25	412.62	529.42	763.02	996.61	1,230.21	1,697.40	2,398.19	4,734.15
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	14.5	18.0	19.7	22.5	26.8	31.2	33.4	34.7	36.2	37.4	38.7
VAT		5.3	5.3	5.4
Other indirect taxes		7.6	7.3	7.0
Total excluding council taxes		39.2	41.1	41.8
Council tax		2.6	2.0	1.5
Married couple, one earner: no children
£ per week
Gross income	190.60	285.90	381.20	571.80	762.40	1,143.60	1,524.80	1,906.00	2,668.40	3,812.00	7,624.00
NICs	14.42	23.95	33.48	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36
Income tax	22.66	46.49	70.31	123.47	199.71	352.19	504.67	657.15	962.11	1,419.55	2,944.35
VAT		15.37	20.96	32.83
Other indirect taxes		23.45	27.87	37.27
Total excluding council tax		109.26	152.63	232.93
Council tax		9.87	10.60	12.15
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	156.79	220.05	283.32	417.69	534.49	768.08	1001.68	1235.28	1702.47	2403.26	4739.22
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	11.9	16.3	18.4	21.6	26.2	30.8	33.1	34.5	36.1	37.2	38.6
VAT		5.4	5.5	5.7
Other indirect taxes		8.2	7.3	6.5
Total excluding council tax		38.2	40.0	40.7
Council tax		3.5	2.8	2.1
Married couple, one earner: 2 children
£ per week
Gross income	190.60	285.90	381.20	571.80	762.40	1,143.60	1,524.80	1,906.00	2,668.40	3,812.00	7,624.00
NICs	14.42	23.95	33.48	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36	39.36
Income tax (less child benefit)	3.81	27.64	51.46	104.62	180.86	333.34	485.82	638.30	943.26	1,400.70	2,925.50
VAT		15.36	20.42	31.16
Other indirect taxes		27.34	30.60	37.51
Total excluding council tax		94.29	135.96	212.64
Council tax		9.20	9.72	10.82
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	176.04	239.31	302.57	436.94	553.74	787.33	1,020.93	1,254.53	1,721.72	2,422.51	4,758.47
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.9	5.2	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax (less child benefit)	2.0	9.7	13.5	18.3	23.7	29.1	31.9	33.5	35.3	36.7	38.4
VAT		5.4	5.4	5.4
Other indirect taxes		9.6	8.0	6.6
Total excluding council tax		33.0	35.7	37.2
Council tax		3.2	2.5	1.9

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1995–96								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1000	2000
Married couple, 2 earners, no children:
Earnings split 60:40
£ per week
Gross income	190.60	285.90	381.20	571.80	762.40	1,143.60	1,524.80	1,906.00	2,668.40	3,812.00	7,624.00
NICs	9.78	19.31	28.84	47.90	65.22	78.72	78.72	78.72	78.72	78.72	78.72
Income tax	6.04	27.21	50.29	97.94	145.59	263.55	404.38	556.86	861.82	1,319.26	2,844.06
VAT		16.69	22.27	33.28
Other indirect taxes		26.94	32.64	43.93
Total excluding council tax		90.15	134.04	223.05
Council tax		10.11	10.31	10.71
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	178.50	244.48	308.51	435.04	563.35	818.41	1063.91	1297.50	1764.69	2465.48	4801.44
Percentage of earnings
NICs	5.1	6.8	7.6	8.4	8.6	6.9	5.2	4.1	3.0	2.1	1.0
Income tax	3.2	9.5	13.2	17.1	19.1	23.0	26.5	29.2	32.3	34.6	37.3
VAT		5.8	5.8	5.8
Other indirect taxes		9.4	8.6	7.7
Total excluding council tax		31.5	35.2	39.0
Council tax		3.5	2.7	1.9

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1996–97								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1000	2000
Single person
£ per week
Gross income	197.75	296.63	395.50	593.25	791.00	1,186.50	1,582.00	1,977.50	2,768.50	3,955.00	7,910.00
NICs	14.90	24.78	34.67	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62
Income tax	27.08	50.81	74.54	126.88	205.98	364.18	522.38	680.58	996.98	1,471.58	3,053.58
VAT		16.41	21.91	33.66
Other indirect taxes		23.27	29.63	43.23
Total excluding council tax		115.27	160.75	244.38
Council tax		7.74	8.01	8.57
Real take-home pay Percentage of male average earnings (1996–97 prices)	155.77	221.03	286.29	425.75	544.40	781.70	1,019.00	1,256.30	1,730.90	2,442.80	4,815.80
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.8	5.1	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	13.7	17.1	18.8	21.4	26.0	30.7	33.0	34.4	36.0	37.2	38.6
VAT		5.5	5.5	5.7
Other indirect taxes		7.8	7.5	7.3
Total excluding council tax		38.9	40.6	41.2
Council tax		2.6	2.0	1.4
Married couple, one earner: no children
£ per week
Gross income	197.75	296.63	395.50	593.25	791.00	1,186.50	1.582.00	1,977.50	2,768.50	3,955.00	7,910.00
NICs	19.90	24.78	34.67	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62
Income tax	21.92	45.65	69.38	121.71	200.81	359.01	517.21	675.41	991.81	1,466.41	3,048.41
VAT		16.72	22.84	35.92
Other indirect taxes		25.07	29.78	39.85
Total excluding council tax		112.22	156.67	238.10
Council tax		10.15	10.90	12.51
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	160.94	226.19	291.45	430.92	549.57	786.87	1,024.87	1,261.47	1,736.07	2,447.97	4,820.97
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.8	5.1	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax	11.1	15.4	17.5	20.5	25.4	30.3	32.7	34.2	35.8	37.1	38.5
VAT		5.6	5.8	6.1
Other indirect taxes		8.5	7.5	6.7
Total excluding council tax		37.8	39.6	40.1
Council tax		3.4	2.8	2.1
Married couple, one earner: 2 children
£ per week
Gross income	197.75	296.63	395.50	593.25	791.00	1,186.50	1,582.00	1,977.50	2,768.50	3,955.00	7,910.00
NICs	14.90	24.78	34.67	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62	40.62
Income tax (less child benefit)	2.32	26.05	49.78	102.11	181.21	339.41	497.61	655.81	972.21	1,446.81	3,028.81
VAT		16.70	22.23	34.07
Other indirect taxes		29.53	33.00	40.42

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1996–97								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1000	2000
Total excluding council tax		97.06	139.68	217.22
Council tax		9.47	10.00	11.14
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	180.54	245.79	311.05	450.52	569.17	806.47	1,043.77	1,281.07	1,755.67	2,467.57	4.840.57
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.5	8.4	8.8	6.8	5.1	3.4	2.6	2.1	1.5	1.0	0.5
Income tax (less child benefit)	1.2	8.8	12.6	17.2	22.9	28.6	31.5	33.2	35.1	36.6	38.3
VAT		5.6	5.6	5.7
Other indirect taxes		10.0	8.3	6.8
Total excluding council tax		32.7	35.3	36.6
Council tax		32.2	2.5	1.9
Married couple, 2 earners, no children:
Earnings split 60:40
£ per week
Gross income	197.75	296.63	395.50	593.25	791.00	1,186.50	1,582.00	1,977.50	2,768.50	3,955.00	7.910.00
NICs	10.02	19.90	29.79	49.57	67.38	81.24	81.24	81.24	81.24	81.24	81.24
Income tax	5.42	26.42	49.00	96.46	143.92	262.70	406.79	564.99	881.39	1,355.99	2,937.99
VAT		18.07	24.20	36.26
Other indirect taxes		28.94	34.98	46.86
Total excluding council tax		93.34	137.98	229.15
Council tax		10.42	10.63	11.03
Real take-home pay (1996–96 prices)	182.31	250.30	317.71	447.22	579.70	842.56	1,093.97	1,331.27	1,805.87	2,517.77	4,890.77
Percentage of earnings
NICs	5.1	6.7	7.5	8.4	8.5	6.8	5.1	4.1	2.9	2.1	1.0
Income tax	2.7	8.9	12.4	16.3	18.2	22.1	25.7	28.6	31.8	34.3	37.1
VAT		6.1	6.1	6.1
Other indirect taxes		9.8	8.8	7.9
Total excluding council tax		31.5	34.9	38.6
Council tax		3.5	2.7	1.9

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1997–98								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1,000	2,000
Single person
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1,233.90	1,645.20	2,056.50	2,879.10	4,113.00	8,226.00
NICs	15.61	25.89	36.17	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54
Income tax	27.04	50.69	74.34	127.97	210.23	374.75	539.27	703.49	1,032.83	1,526.39	3,171.59
VAT		17.19	23.01	35.39
Other indirect taxes		25.09	32.07	46.93
Total excluding council tax		118.86	165.59	251.83
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	156.06	226.29	293.51	436.61	557.02	797.83	1,038.64	1,279.45	1,761.07	2,483.51	4,891.61
Increase since 1991– 92	13.66	19.25	24.84	34.13	38.04	54.73	71.42	88.11	121.49	171.56	338.46
Increase since 1996– 97	3.29	5.26	7.22	10.86	12.62	16.13	19.64	23.15	30.17	40.71	75.81
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.7	5.0	3.4	2.5	2.0	1.4	1.0	0.5
Income tax	13.1	16.4	18.1	20.7	25.6	30.4	32.8	34.2	35.9	37.1	38.6
VAT		5.6	5.6	5.7
Other indirect taxes		8.1	7.8	7.6
Total excluding council tax		38.5	40.3	40.8
Married couple, one earner: no children
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1,233.90	1,645.20	2,056.50	2,879.00	4,113.00	8,226.00
NICs	15.61	25.89	36.17	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54
Income tax	21.76	45.41	69.06	122.69	204.95	369.47	533.99	698.51	1,027.55	1,521.11	3,166.31
VAT		17.47	23.94	37.71
Other indirect taxes		27.10	32.20	43.06
Total excluding council tax		115.87	161.37	245.01
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	164.21	231.44	298.66	441.77	562.17	802.98	1,043.79	1,284.60	1,766.23	2,488.66	4,896.77
Increase since 1991– 92	9.41	15.01	20.59	29.90	28.15	44.84	61.53	78.22	111.61	161.68	328.59

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings 1997–98								Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	1,000	2,000
Increase since 1996–97	3.27	5.25	7.21	10.85	12.60	16.11	19.62	23.13	30.16	40.69	75.80
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.7	5.0	3.4	2.5	2.0	1.4	1.0	0.5
Income tax	10.6	14.7	16.8	19.9	24.9	29.9	32.5	34.0	35.7	37.0	38.5
VAT		5.7	5.8	6.1
Other indirect taxes		8.8	7.8	7.0
Total excluding council tax		37.6	39.2	39.7
Married couple one earner: 2 children
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1,233.90	1,645.20	2,056.50	2.879.10	4,113.00	8,226.00
NICs	15.61	25.89	36.17	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54	41.54
Income tax (less child benefit)	1.71	25.36	49.01	102.64	184.90	349.42	513.94	678.46	1,007.50	1,501.06	3,146.26
VAT		17.41	23.26	35.72
Other indirect taxes		31.92	35.73	43.84
Total excluding council tax		100.58	144.17	223.75
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	183.78	251.00	318.23	461.33	581.74	822.55	1,063.36	1,304.17	1,785.79	2,508.22	4,916.33
Increase since 1991– 92	10.65	16.24	21.83	31.13	29.40	46.09	62.78	79.47	112.85	162.91	329.82
Increase since 1996– 97	3.24	5.21	7.18	10.81	12.57	16.08	19.59	23.10	30.12	40.65	75.76
Percentage of earnings
NICs	7.6	8.4	8.8	6.7	5.0	3.4	2.5	2.0	1.4	1.0	0.5
Income tax (less child benefit)	0.8	8.2	11.9	16.6	22.5	28.3	31.2	33.0	35.0	36.5	38.2
VAT		5.6	5.7	5.8
Other indirect taxes		10.3	8.7	7.1
Total excluding council tax		32.6	35.1	36.3
Married couple, 2 earners, no children:
Earnings split 60:-40
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1,233.90	1,645.20	2,056.50	2,879.10	4,113.00	8,226.00
NICs	10.65	20.93	31.21	51.78	69.48	83.08	83.08	83.08	83.08	83.08	83.08
Income tax	4.74	26.15	48.81	96.11	143.41	265.31	415.19	579.71	908.75	1,402.31	3,047.51
VAT		18.78	25.24	37.99
Other indirect taxes		31.06	37.64	50.62
Total excluding council tax		96.92	142.90	236.49
Real take-home pay (1996–97 prices)	185.67	255.07	323.27	457.72	594.96	864.09	1,119.19	1,360.00	1,841.62	2,564.06	4,972.16
Increase since 1991– 92	8.73	16.50	23.06	34.25	47.77	56.46	66.19	82.88	116.26	166.34	333.23
Increase since 1996– 97	3.36	4.77	6.56	10.50	15.26	21.53	25.22	28.73	35.75	46.29	81.39
Percentage of earnings
NICs	5.2	6.8	7.6	8.4	8.4	6.7	5.0	4.0	2.9	2.0	1.0
Income tax	2.3	8.5	11.9	15.6	17.4	21.5	25.2	28.2	31.6	34.1	37.0
VAT		6.1	6.1	6.2
Other indirect taxes		10.1	9.2	8.2
Total excluding council tax		31.4	34.7	38.3

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings								1991–92 indexed to 1997–98
	Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	100	2000
Single person
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1233.90	1645.20	2056.50	2879.10	4113.00	8226.00
NICs	14.17	23.42	32.68	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51
Income tax	32.64	58.34	84.05	135.68	217.94	382.46	546.98	711.50	1040.54	1534.10	3179.30
Percentage of earnings
NICs	6.9	7.6	7.9	6.1	4.6	3.0	2.3	1.8	1.3	0.9	0.5
Income tax	15.9	18.9	20.4	22.0	26.5	31.0	33.2	34.6	36.1	37.3	38.6
Married couple, one earner: no children
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.45	411.30	616.95	822.60	1233.90	1645.20	2056.50	2879.10	4113.00	8226.00
NICs	14.17	23.42	32.68	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51
Income tax	22.83	48.54	74.24	125.66	202.25	366.77	531.29	695.81	1024.85	1518.41	3163.61

Income tax, national insurance and indirect taxes at multiples of average earnings								1991–92 indexed to 1997–98
	Percentage of male average earnings
	50	75	100	150	200	300	400	500	700	100	2000
Percentage of earnings
NICs	6.9	7.6	7.9	6.1	4.6	3.0	2.3	1.8	1.3	0.9	0.5
Income tax	11.1	15.7	18.1	20.4	24.6	29.7	32.3	33.8	35.6	36.9	38.5
Married couple, one earner: 2 children
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1233.90	1645.20	2056.30	2879.10	4113.00	8226.00
NICs	14.17	23.42	32.68	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51	37.51
Income tax (less child benefit)	2.78	28.49	54.19	105.61	182.20	346.72	511.24	675.76	1004.80	1498.36	3143.56
Percentage of earnings
NICs	6.9	7.6	7.9	6.1	4.6	3.0	2.3	1.8	1.3	0.9	0.5
Income tax (less child benefit)	1.4	9.2	13.2	17.1	22.1	28.1	31.1	32.9	34.9	36.4	38.2
Married couple, 2 earners, no children:
Earnings split 60:40
£ per week
Gross income	205.65	308.48	411.30	616.95	822.60	1233.90	1645.20	2056.50	2879.10	4113.00	8226.00
NICs	9.83	19.08	28.34	46.85	62.78	75.02	75.02	75.02	75.02	75.02	75.02
Income tax	4.06	29.76	55.47	106.88	158.29	273.96	420.20	584.72	913.76	1407.32	3052.52
Percentage of earnings
NICs	4.8	6.2	6.9	7.6	7.6	6.1	4.6	3.6	2.6	1.8	0.9
Income tax	2.0	9.6	13.5	17.3	19.2	22.2	25.5	28.4	31.7	34.2	37.1

Notes to Tables:

1. Income tax payments are calculated on the assumption that the households receive no tax reliefs other than the standard allowances and only have income from employment. All earner, including wives are assumed to pay Class 1 National Insurance contributions at the contracted-in rate. Child benefit is deducted from income tax so as to provide comparability with figures for earlier years when support was partly given through child tax allowances.

2. Earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of all full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. Estimates of earnings in 1996–97 and 1997–98 are based on earnings growth assumptions of 3 per cent. in 1996–97 and 4 per cent. in 1997–98 on line with the illustrative assumptions set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

3. The figures for an indexed 1991–92 tax system show the tax payments that would result if the 1991–92 income tax system had been indexed to 1997–98 using the increase in the Retail Prices Index between December 1990 and September 1996, and income tax and national insurance contributions rates had been kept at their 1991–92 levels.

4. Real take-home pay includes earnings and child benefit less direct tax payments (income tax and national insurance contributions) deflated to 1996–97 prices using the Retail Prices Index. Indirect taxes and council tax are included in the Retail Prices Index and therefore in the inflation adjustment. Those on low earnings may be entitled to income-related benefits not included in these calculations.

5. Figures for indirect taxes include estimates of the effects of the main intermediate taxes on households as well as the impact of taxes on final goods and services. Estimates of the impact of taxes on final goods and services assume that these taxes are fully incident on households. Estimates of the impact of intermediate taxes are based on the relation between intermediate production costs and final consumption derived using input-output techniques.

6. Figures for indirect taxes and council tax are estimated from expenditure patterns in the 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey uprated to later years using forecasts of aggregate tax receipts. All estimates are based on the illustrative assumption that 10 per cent. of disposable income is saved.

7. Estimates of indirect taxes are very approximate, even within the range for which figures are shown, because spending patterns vary widely between households with the same composition and income. The margin of error is even higher outside the range shown, and even illustrative estimates cannot be made. Because of sampling variation, there can be substantial differences between estimates obtained from Family Expenditure Surveys for different years, so reliable comparisons cannot be made between the estimates for different years.

Beer Taxes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was (a) the level of tax on beer in each year; since 1979 and (b) the percentage change between each year. [7254]

[holding answer 3 December 1996]: Tax revenues—excise duty and VAT—for a pint of bitter in licensed premises were as follows:

	Tax in pence	Percentage change
1979	12.2	23.1
1980	14.8	21.7
1981	19.3	29.7
1982	21.7	12.9
1983	23.1	6.1
1984	26.2	13.6

	Tax in pence	Percentage change
1985	28.3	8.0
1986	28.8	1.8
1987	29.2	1.4
1988	30.8	5.4
1989	31.6	2.5
1990	34.5	9.3
1991	40.6	17.8
1992	43.1	6.0
1993	45.2	4.9
1994	44.5	-1.5
1995	46.2	3.9
1996	46.9	1.6

For 1979, price relates to July. For 1980 to 1993 prices relate to April/May and from 1994 onwards they relate to January.

Tax on a pint of bitter in licensed premises is now the lowest proportion of the selling price in 30 years.

European Union Budget

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the net EU budget contributions for each member state in 1995 and their estimated contributions in 1996, indicating the sources of his figures. [7677]

[holding answer 5 December 1996]: The table sets out indicative figures for 1995. These are drawn from the European Court of Auditors' information on member states' total financial contributions to and receipts from the Community budget published this November in the "Annual Report covering the financial year 1995". The net contribution figures show the balance from the two sides of the budget by deducting total receipts from the gross contribution for each member state. A minus sign therefore indicates that a member state received more from the budget in 1995 than it paid.Comparable information from the European Court of Auditors relating to 1996 will not be available until November 1997. The figure for the UK's net contribution for 1996 is therefore the Treasury's most recent forecast. This calculation is not directly comparable with that of the European Court of Auditors, but the Government are confident that the UK's net contribution in 1996 will be considerably lower than in 1995 as we recover excess payments relating to the 1995 underspend.

Net contributions to the EU Budget in 1995
	Millions of ecu	£ million
Belgium	311	255
Denmark	-306	-251
Germany	13,431	10,999
Greece	-3,489	-2,857
Spain	-7,218	-5,911
France	1,727	1,414
Ireland	-1,887	-1,545
Italy	614	503
Luxembourg	45	37
Netherlands	2,005	1,642
Austria	905	741
Portugal	-2,381	-1,950
Finland	165	135
Sweden	937	767
UK (1995)	4,720	3,865
UK (1996)	1,892	1,603

Notes:

1. These figures are net of the UK's abatement.

2. Exchange rates used are 1.2211 ecu/£ for 1995 and 1.1803 ecu/E for 1996.

3. These figures can only be indicative of net contributions because the Court of Auditors does not allocate all Community spending by member state. In particular, administrative spending is not fully attributed.

4. Net contributions can vary significantly from year to year owing to adjustments in Own Resource payments and fluctuations in receipts. The UK's net contribution in 1995 was high because the Community Budget underspent in that year, leading to lower UK receipts than expected. The UK abatement in 1995 was also relatively lower than on average.

Source:

European Court of Auditors (UK 1996 figure HM Treasury, Cm 3350)

Christmas Expenditure

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for his Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7572]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: Two Christmas trees of type Nordmanianna, grown in England, have been purchased at a cost of around £500.

Economic Statistics

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his answer of 9 June 1995, Official Report, columns 339–40, on economic statistics relating to exports, investments, imports and gross domestic product of EU and G7 countries, to cover the period 1979 to 1995. [7820]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: G7 and EC growth, investment, exports and imports data can be found in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development publications "OECD Quarterly National Accounts" and the "OECD National Accounts, Vol. I", which are available in the House of Commons Library.

	Average annual export volume growth 1979–95 Percentage	Average annual GDP growth 1979–95 Percentage
G7
US	6.1	2.4
Canada	6.3	2.4
Japan	5.6	3.1
France	3.9	1.9
Italy	4.5	2.0
UK	3.6	1.9
West Germany	5.3	2.1
Rest of EC
Austria	4.4	2.2
Belgium¹	4.2	1.9
Denmark	4.5	1.9
Finland	4.3	2.0
Greece¹	5.7	1.4
Ireland¹	8.8	3.6
Luxembourg¹	3.9	3.0
Netherlands	4.2	1.9
Portugal¹	6.2	2.5
Spain	6.7	2.4
Sweden	4.6	1.4
¹ Latest available year 1994.

	Investment to GDP average ratio 1979–95	Imports to GDP average ratio 1979–95
G7
US	18.5	10.6
Canada	20.6	26.7
Japan	29.4	10.0
France	20.3	21.9
Italy	20.3	20.6
UK	17.1	26.3
West Germany¹	22.7	30.2
Rest of EC
Austria	24.1	37.7
Belgium¹	18.1	69.6
Denmark	17.4	32.0
Finland	22.7	27.9

	Investment to GDP average ratio 1979–95	Imports to GDP average ratio 1979–95
Greece¹	22.0	26.8
Ireland¹	20.7	57.3
Luxembourg¹	22.1	91.8
Netherlands	20.1	49.4
Portugal¹	28.1	37.2
Spain	21.4	20.1
Sweden	18.4	30.9
¹ Latest available year 1994.

Household Incomes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average gross weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for (a) all households, (b) one adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions, (c) one adult retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions, (d) one adult non-retired households, (e) one adult households with children, (f) two adult

Family Expenditure Survey 1995–96 Average Gross Normal Weekly Income by Decile Group
	Lowest ten per cent.	Second decile group	Third decile group	Fourth decile group	Fifth decile group	Sixth decile group	Seventh decile group	Eighth decile group	Ninth decile group	Highest ten per cent.	All households
All households
Number of households	680	679	680	680	680	679	680	680	679	680	797
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	65.30	102.00	145.20	201.20	270.90	342.80	417.40	514.20	659.40	1090.50	380.90
One adult retired households mainly dependent on state pensions
Number of households	51	51	50	51	51	51	51	50	51	51	508
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	61.20	65.60	67.70	70.60	72.30	75.30	82.40	92.80	110.30	146.00	84.40
One adult retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions
Number of households	42	42	41	42	42	42	42	41	42	42	418
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	83.40	99.60	113.70	125.20	136.80	152.80	176.30	209.70	270.30	528.30	189.70
One adult non-retired households
Number of households	90	89	90	89	90	89	90	89	90	89	895
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	44.40	67.70	103.80	156.80	201.80	247.00	292.90	343.70	422.10	640.50	251.80
One adult households with children
Number of households	44	44	44	44	45	44	44	44	44	44	441
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	63.10	77.80	84.80	93.50	105.80	122.00	156.50	211.30	279.90	493.30	168.70
Two adult households with children
Number of household	166	167	166	167	166	166	167	166	167	166	1,664
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	117.80	210.70	294.40	356.00	405.80	459.00	531.90	625.40	757.20	1,187.10	494.50
One man one woman non-retired households
Number of households	134	134	134	134	134	133	134	134	134	134	1,339
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	113.80	202.60	276.90	337.90	390.50	449.90	517.30	614.10	748.60	1,283.10	493.50
One man one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions
Number of households	24	24	23	24	24	24	24	23	24	24	238
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	90.00	106.50	111.90	119.30	125.70	133.50	144.90	160.20	177.10	230.40	140.00
One man one woman retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions
Number of households	44	44	44	44	44	43	44	44	44	44	439
Average gross normal weekly income (£)	141.20	168.70	189.50	213.70	238.10	269.60	309.50	364.00	449.00	780.90	312.50

Note:

households with children, (g) one man, one woman non-retired households, (h) one man, one woman retired households mainly dependent on state pensions and (i) one man, one woman retired households not mainly dependent on state pensions. [7826]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the chief executive of the Office for National Statistics. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Tim Holt to Mr. Alan Milburn, dated 11 December 1996:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to reply as the Director of the Office for National Statistics to your recent question on the average gross weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for certain household compositions.

Estimates from the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) for average gross normal weekly income in 1995–96 by decile group for these household compositions are shown in the attached table. The figures are subject to sampling variations; have been rounded to the nearest 10 pence; are averages for each household composition and have not been adjusted to reflect household composition.

Budget Effects

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish his Department's estimates of the distributional impact of changes made in the Budget (a) by household income decile and (b) by region. [7267]

[holding answer 10 December 1996]: Estimates of the impact of some of the main Budget tax measures on household income deciles are in the table. Estimates of the effects of other Budget measures and of the distributional impact by region are not available.The figures show the direct impact of the measures on households. They do not allow for the lasting prosperity, combining steady growth with low inflation, that has been secured by the Budget and is ensuring that living standards go on rising. A family on average earnings should be £370 better off next year than this, after earnings growth, tax and inflation, and over £1,100 a year better off than in 1991–92.

Average impact (- loss/+ gain) of main Budget tax measures in 1997– 98¹ (as a percentage of net income)
Household income decile²	Tobacco	Other measures
Bottom	-0.3	-0.2
2nd	-0.2	0.0
3rd	-0.2	0.1
4th	-0.2	0.3
5th	-0.1	0.4
6th	-0.1	0.6
7th	-0.1	0.7
8th	-0.1	0.7
9th	-0.1	0.8
Top	0.0	0.8
¹ Estimates based on 992–93 to 1994–95 Family Expenditure Survey data, uprated to 1997–98 price and earnings levels. Because of the limitations of the Survey data the estimates are only approximate, particularly at the top and bottom of the distribution. The figures include the main tax measures directly affecting households—real rises of £200 in personal allowances; real rise of £100 in lower rate band; lp reduction in the basic rate of income tax; freeze on beer, wine and cider duties; 4 per cent, cut in spirits duty; 5 per cent, real rise in tobacco duty; 3 per cent, real rise in road fuel duties and the increase in insurance premium tax of 1.5 per cent. The figures show the effects relative to indexed tax allowances and duty rates.
²Household incomes are adjusted for differences in composition before allocating households to deciles.

Tax Evasion

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of evasions of payments of (a) income tax and (b) other tax have been discovered in each of the last five years; and what has been the value of the revenue recovered in each category. [8306]

[holding answer 10 December 1996]: I refer the hon. Member to the written answer which I gave him on 26 October 1995, Official Report, columns 727–28, which covered the years 1989–90 to 1994–95.The equivalent figures for 1995–96 are:

Income tax investigations	Other investigations	Yield from counter-evasion work (£ million)
57,211	9,106	1,309

Splitting the yield figures for each of the last five years between income tax and other taxes could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Tax (Tobacco Products)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many representations he has received from members of the public calling for (a) maintaining present and (b) reducting rates of tax on tobacco products (i) since November 1995 and (ii) since September 1996; [6898](2) how many representations he has received from hon. Members calling for

(a) maintaining present and (b) reducting rates of tax on tobacco products since November 1995. [6920]

The precise information is not available, but the Prime Minister and Treasury Ministers have received many representations, in varying forms, from hon. Members, members of the public and health practitioners on many aspects of tobacco taxation. The Chancellor met hon. Members on 29 October, as did I on 30 October, to hear further representations on the subject of tobacco taxation.

Airport Passenger Taxes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the level of airport passenger taxes, where appropriate, in each of the OECD member states. [7450]

The information is not available in the form requested because the structure of air passenger taxes throughout OECD member states is very varied and complex. It includes embarkation taxes, departure charges, passenger service charges and air transport taxes as well as VAT-type taxes. They also vary, within a single state, according to factors such as airport of departure, place of destination, ticket price and weight of aircraft.

Prawns

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the verdict of the European Court on the duty liability of John and Celia Smith of Grimsby on prawns imported from the Faroe Islands with valid EUR 1 certificates, if he proposes to apply to the European Commission for a waiver on the duty. [7684]

The European Court of Justice has referred this matter back to the United Kingdom High Court for a decision as to duty liability. The judgment specifically stated that it is now for the national court to determine whether the conditions for waiver are met. It is the High Court which will decide this case, not the European Commission.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of retrospective duty was levied on German and Danish importers of prawns subsequently imported with valid EUR 1 certificates from Iceland and the Faroe Islands; and how many importers were affected. [7682]

We have no information on amounts of duty demanded retrospectively in Germany and Denmark, or on the number of importers affected. However UK customs is aware that demands have been issued in both countries and, as in the United Kingdom, appeals are working their way through the respectively legal systems.

Zaire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the allegations contained in the Cook report of June 1995 relating to arms transport to Zaire, a transcript of which has been sent to him. [7525]

The investigation and prosecution of any alleged breaches of UK legislation implementing arms embargoes is a matter for the commissioners of Customs and Excise. It is not customs' general practice to comment publicly about the existence or nature of any investigation of individuals or companies not yet accused of criminal offences since to do so could risk prejudicing any on-going inquiries or future criminal proceedings.I am, however, on this occasion able to tell the hon. Member that the allegations contained in the Cook report were taken into account in inquiries made by customs in 1995. These inquiries did not produce evidence to support any criminal proceedings.

British Artists (Germany)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his policy that British artists appearing in Germany should be able to recover or obtain credit for value added tax imposed in Germany on taxes withheld. [7660]

When UK artists appear in Germany an element for VAT is included in the calculation of taxes withheld there. A deduction in respect of that element may be made by UK artists in computing their income for the purposes of UK income tax.

Petrol And Diesel

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of total income to the Treasury resulting from an increase in petrol and diesel duties exclusive of value added tax of (a) 1p per litre, (b) 3p per litre and (c) 4.5p per litre. [7479]

Based on information in the "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs," increasing the duty rate on petrol and diesel by 1p, 3p and 4.5p per litre would yield approximately £0.5 billion, £1.4 billion and £2.1 billion respectively in the first full year. Costings take account of the effects on behaviour where they are likely to have a significant effect on the yield and any consequential changes in receipts from related taxes including VAT; and they are measured against a non-indexed base.

National Insurance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each source of taxation revenue and for national insurance, (i) the amounts received and what percentage that is of total revenue and (ii) the numbers of people paying in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 1995. [3044]

[pursuant to his reply, 9 December 1996, c. 27–28]: There was a transcription error in the tables. I apologise for this mistake. The correct figures are given in the following tables.Information on the amounts of tax received is in table 1. Figures for the numbers of people paying income tax, corporation tax, capital gains tax and inheritance tax are in table 2. Information on the numbers of people paying other taxes is not available.

Table 1: Tax and National Insurance Receipts (on a cash basis) £ billion
	1980–81	1985–86	1990–91	1995–96
Income tax	24.3	35.4	55.3	68.0
Corporation tax	4.6	10.7	21.5	23.6
Value added tax	11.0	19.3	31.0	43.1
Excise duties¹	8.9	14.9	19.9	28.4
Other taxes and royalties²	22.6	41.3	40.7	44.2
Social security contributions	14.1	24.5	35.4	44.5
Total	85.4	146.0	203.8	251.8
As a percentage of total
Income tax	28.4	24.2	27.1	27.0
Corporation tax	5.4	7.3	10.5	9.4
Value added tax	12.8	13.2	15.2	17.1
Excise duties¹	10.4	10.2	9.8	11.3
Other taxes and royalties²	26.4	28.3	20.0	17.6
National insurance contributions	16.S	16.8	17.4	17.7
Total	100	100	100	100
¹ Fuel, alcohol and tobacco duties.
² Includes local taxes as well as other central government taxes.

Source:

Office for National Statistics.

Table 2: Taxpayer numbers (thousands)
	1980–81	1985–86	1990–91	1995–96
Income tax¹	24,900	23,700	26,100	25,700
Corporation tax²	195	275	350	450
Capital gains tax	155	130	110	85
Inheritance tax
transfers on death	21	27	21	22
lifetime transfers	5	10	7	3
¹ Husbands and wives are counted separately.
² Taxpayers are companies.

Source:

Inland Revenue.

Private Finance Initiative (Universities)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many universities have made use of the private finance initiative to date; and what is the total expenditure involved. [8425]

I have been asked to reply.The Higher Education Funding Council for England has an active programme for seeking private finance initiative "pathfinder" projects which can be used as exemplars of good practice for the sector as a whole. So far, 12 institutions have been awarded this status and are progressing projects to a capital value of some £120 million. The funding council has recently closed round two of its "pathfinder" programme, and we expect announcements regarding additional successful projects early in the new year.Universities are autonomous institutions and make their own procurement decisions. It is therefore impossible to know the exact number of institutions which have procurement arrangements involving private finance. The Higher Education Funding Council for England estimates that total commercial funding in the sector to date exceeds £1.6 billion.

Environment

Departmental Staff (Local Government)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many personnel in his Department work full time on local government matters; at what cost; and if he will make a statement. [7773]

In the Department of the Environment, approximately 222 staff work full time on local government matters at a total administration cost of approximately £8.5 million.

Leader Project

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Leader project; how much funding from European Community resources is available for the United Kingdom, and in which financial years; to what extent matching funding from Her Majesty's Government are required; and which areas of England qualified to receive Leader funding. [8066]

The purpose of the Leader II initiative is to permit those engaged in the rural economy to implement measures which will help develop their own potential within an overall policy for stimulating rural development.The United Kingdom has been allocated £62.64 million up to the end of 1999. Leader II will pay up to 50 per cent. of the eligible costs of a project. The remaining match funding must be found by the applicant, and may come from the Government and other public and private sector sources. The initiative is targeted at objective 5b areas and those eligible in England are parts of the northern uplands, midlands uplands, Lincolnshire, East Anglia, the south-west and the west midlands marches.

Stockton City Challenge

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decision he has reached on the application by Stockton city challenge to redevelop the north end of Stockton high street. [8069]

The Secretary of State received the report of the inspector who conducted the public inquiry on 3 June 1996, and is considering it. Following receipt of the report, he was asked to reopen the public inquiry by one of the non-statutory objectors to the compulsory purchase order, and this required some further consultation with the parties involved in the inquiry.

Those consultations are now complete and are also being considered. The decision will be issued as soon as it is practicable to do so.

Rooms Over Shops

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on progress with the Government's scheme to encourage shopkeepers to use rooms over the shop for private tenancies; what financial incentives are available; and how many units are estimated to have become available since the scheme began. [8067]

My Department ran a demonstration flats over shops programme providing £25 million between 1992–93 and 1994–95 to bring empty space above retail premises into residential use. This created some 1,500 additional housing units directly and many more indirectly. Capital funding for such schemes has continued under the Government's housing partnership fund which provided £30 million a year in 1995–96 and 1996–97 for innovative housing projects including the provision of flats over shops. We will be publishing a research report by the South Bank university early in the new year which evaluates the flats over shops programme and other similar initiatives.

Battersea Power Station

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the London borough of Wandsworth last forwarded a report to his Department on the overall condition of (a) the structure and (b) the site of Battersea power station; and if he will place a copy of the report in the Library. [8515]

I have received no such reports. The building is regularly inspected by English Heritage. The last such inspection was on 5 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the state of the internal structure of Battersea power station. [8637]

No. The building is regularly inspected by English Heritage. The last such inspection was on 5 December and is a matter for the Secretary of State for National Heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when officials from his Department last visited the site of Battersea power station; what reports were published on their visit; and where such reports can be obtained. [8638]

Officials visited Battersea power station on 3 December for a presentation of the proposals to redevelop the site. No reports have been published.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of the site of Battersea power station. [8514]

I understand that the site is some 30 acres—12 hectares.

New Housing (Access)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has commissioned on the additional building costs involved in extending part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing; who will be consulted in the course of that research; and when he expects it to be completed. [8293]

My Department has not yet commissioned any such research, but we have agreed to undertake a joint study with the House-Builders Federation on the additional building costs involved in extending part M of the Building Regulations to improve access to new housing. To this end, officials have written to eight local authorities to ask for their help in selecting suitable schemes for the study. Once all the authorities have replied, the Department will be in a position to commission the research and establish a date for its completion.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the (i) total standard spending assessment and police grant and (ii) total external support including revenue support grant, non-domestic rates, SSA reduction grant and police grants to be received by (a) all local authorities, (b) each class of local authority, (c) education authorities, (d) authorities other than police authorities and (e) all authorities, in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97 and for each the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities, and the further transfer for responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will list each such adjustment and its monetary value; [8002]

Table 1: Total Standard Spending and Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities
	Adjusted 1996–97 (£ million)	Provisional 1997–98 (£ million)	Change (£ million)	Change Percentage
Total Standard Spending for Education Authorities	35,198.8	36,011.4	812.6	2.3
Total Standard Spending for Education Authorities (adjusted for 1997–98 Community Care STG)	35,517.5	36,011.4	494.0	1.4
Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities	27,426.3	27,879.8	453.5	1.7
Aggregate External Finance for Education Authorities (adjusted for 1997–98 Community Care STG)	27,745.0	27,879.8	134.90.5

Notes:

1. The aggregates for TSS and AEF presented in the table include only those types of specific and special grants which are allocated solely to education authorities (whether or not the grant relates to education). Some £150 million of further specific grants are allocated both to some Education Authorities and to other classes of authority. These are housing benefit administration grant, council tax benefit administration grant, national parks grant and part of the ethnic minorities (s11) grant.

2. The figures for adjusted TSS and AEF are derived from information about standard spending assessments for education authorities and total external support for education authorities set out in tables 3 and 4 of the information provided in the answer referred to above. The notes to those tables provide details of the derivation of the figures.

3. All figures for TSS and AEF exclude 1997–98 reorganisation SCAs. They also exclude funding for specified bodies, the city offset and reorganisation: transitional reduction grant.

(2) what is the (i) total standard spending and (ii) total aggregate external finance for (a) all local authorities and (b) all local authorities other than police authorities in England in 1997–98 and 1996–97, and for each the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 totals for changed local authority functions and responsibilities, and the further transfer for responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; and if he will list each such adjustment and its monetary value. [8003]

[holding answer 9 December 1996]: I have placed the information requested in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is (i) the total standard spending and (ii) the total aggregate external finance for (a) all local authorities and (b) all education authorities in England in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97; and in each case what was the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 totals for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98, and the further transfer of responsibilities for care in the community from central Government budgets in 1997–98; [8564](2) what are (i) the total standard spending assessments and police grant external support and (ii) the total external support to be received by

(a) all local authorities, (b) each class of authority, (c) education authorities, (d) all authorities other than policy authorities and (e) all authorities, in (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1996–97; and in each case what was the change over 1996–97 in pounds and percentages, adjusting 1996–97 amounts for local government reorganisation and for changed local authority functions and responsibilities in 1997–98. [8565]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier. The remaining information is contained in the table.

Access To Information

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to publish his reply to the first report of the House of Lords Select Committee on the European Communities on freedom of access to information on the environment, HL9; and if he will make a statement. [8465]

The recommendations in the report are being carefully considered. The Government's reply will be published in due course.

Genetically Modified Food

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will suspend imports of genetically modified maize until a full assessment has been made of the hazards to human health and a proper labelling regime is in place. [8129]

In accordance with Council directive 90/220/EEC on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically modified organisms, an assessment on the risks posed to human health and the environment for the genetically modified maize has been carried out by member states. It is now up to the European Commission to take a decision on the importation and marketing of the genetically modified maize. This decision will be in accordance with the provisions of the directive, which include provisions for labelling.

Energy Efficiency

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the ministerial group on energy efficiency last met; and if he will reconvene it. [8695]

The work of the former ministerial group on energy efficiency has been continued by Green Ministers, who met most recently on 28 October 1996.

Coastal Byelaws

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will publish the proposed discussion paper which reviews the byelaw-making powers for the coast. [8910]

The Department of the Environment has today published "Byelaw Powers for the Coast: A Discussion Paper". The paper sets out the main issues regarding current scope and use of the relevant powers in England, ways in which present arrangements might be improved and updated, and the relationship with broader management aims and initiatives. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of the House, and the paper will be widely distributed.

Sustainable Development

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the future of the UK round table on sustainable development. [9101]

The round table was set up in January 1995 and is now approaching the end of its initial two-year term. The Government are encouraged by the progress that the round table has made during this period in developing its role as a body which can build consensus on priorities and actions to assist the UK's pursuit of sustainable development. The round table is providing an increasingly valuable and welcome contribution to the continuing debate about integrating economic development and environmental protection and enhancement. I am therefore pleased to announce that its life will be extended for a further two years until January 1999. I am considering, in consultation with my colleagues, what the round table's membership should be during that period, with a view to strengthening it in some areas.

Overseas Development Administration

Cameroons

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the major development projects in the Cameroons which have received a United Kingdom contribution. [8434]

In the last decade we have funded the following major projects:

In-service teacher education and training in the Anglophone provinces.

Agricultural research.

Forest management and regeneration.

Community forestry development.

Conservation and management of natural resources on Mount Cameroon.

Rural development component of Korup national park conservation project.

The last three project are on-going.

World Bank (Environmental Impact Assessments)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to request the World bank to undertake an environmental impact assessment before approving funds for major development projects. [8410]

The World bank recently completed a report which took stock of the bank's progress in implementing its environmental assessment policy. We welcome the steps which the bank has taken to ensure that environmental concerns are properly reflected in its operations, and continue to press for further improvements.

Great Lakes Region

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current humanitarian requirements of the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8576]

According to the United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs on 2 December, £52 million had so far been pledged by donors in response to the UN inter-agency appeal for the Great Lakes region. This does not include a commitment of £129 million agreed by the European Union on 6 December. The appeal covered total estimated requirements for food aid up to June 1997 and certain other requirements up to January 1997 estimated altogether at £155 million. The Government of Rwanda have also revised their programme to reintegrate returning refugees and re-establish productive communities. On 20 November, my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a commitment of £10 million to address immediate needs in the Great Lakes region.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current security situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa; and if he will make a statement. [8575]

The region remains unstable and afflicted by violence. The security situation in Burundi is of particular concern. We continue to support regional efforts to resolve the underlying political problems, and welcome President Moi's intention to convene a further regional summit on Nairobi on 16 December. We also look forward to the report of the UN special envoy to Zaire and the Great Lakes, Ambassador Chretien.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking to facilitate the holding of an international conference on peace, security and development in the Great Lakes region of Africa. [8579]

We are committed with our EU partners to early preparations for a conference in peace, security and development in the Great Lakes, under UN-Organisation of Africa Unity auspices. EU envoy Aldo Ajello continues to work to facilitate such a conference. We await the report of UN special envoy Ambassador Chretien, who has been tasked to consider next steps on the conference. We see an important role for regional summits such as that planned for Nairobi on 16 December in preparing the ground for a wider conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has recently held with representatives of the Governments of (a) Zaire, (b) Rwanda, (c) Burundi, (d) Uganda and (e) Tanzania. [8577]

My right hon. and learned Friend met His Excellency the President of Tanzania on 11 November. We are in regular contact with representatives of the Governments in the region in the search for lasting peace and stability in the Great Lakes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the current refugee situation in the Great Lakes region of Africa, with particular reference to (a) the numbers of refugees, (b) the geographical situation of the refugees and (c) the health of the refugees. [8578]

On numbers and location, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development to Lord Judd in another place on 5 December, Official Report, House of Lords, column 61. The condition of refugees in camps in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda is generally good. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that substantial numbers of refugees remain beyond the current reach of aid agencies in eastern Zaire. Their condition is unknown but is a cause for concern. With the international community, we are pressing the parties to the conflict to allow access to those in need.

Nigeria

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent Commonwealth ministerial action group mission to Nigeria. [8580]

The Commonwealth ministerial action group visited Nigeria from 18 to 20 November. The CMAG met General Abacha, representatives of the National Electoral Commission and the transition committees, leaders of the recently registered political parties, traditional rulers and the chairman of the Nigerian Human Rights Commission. The group welcomed the release of three human rights activists during the visit, but pressed for the immediate release of all political prisoners, including Chief Abiola. The CMAG also urged Nigerians to resolve the case of the Ogoni 19, review prison conditions and restore accountable civilian government. My noble Friend Baroness Chalker also had bilateral discussions with human rights and pro-democracy groups. The group will meet again in the new year to consider next steps.

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the British Government have for continued participation in UNIDO; and what discussions he is currently having with representatives of UNIDO. [8688]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Atkinson) on 10 December, at column 100.

National Heritage

Publicity

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department has spent on promotional or public information campaigns in each of the last five years; and how much she estimates will be spent on these campaigns during the (i) current and (ii) next financial years. [7543]

My Department's public relations activities are normally met in-house. During 1993–94, my Department spent £62,500 contracting a company to assist with a programme of events to mark the 50th anniversary of D day.Other than that, there have been no individual promotional or public information campaigns undertaken by the Department since its inception in 1992. There are at present no plans for any such campaigns in the future.

National Lottery

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will make a statement on the eligibility of canal restoration schemes for funding from the national lottery funding bodies. [7949]

Canal restoration schemes are eligible to apply for funding from the national lottery. The distributing bodies make their funding decisions independently of Government, and against their published criteria.The Millennium Commission has awarded £11.9 million to the Rochdale canal trust to restore 32 miles of the Rochdale canal. The heritage lottery fund made its largest grant to date, £25.1 million, to British Waterways to secure the structure, operation, and environment of the 87-mile Kennet and Avon canal, making it accessible for the enjoyment of future generations.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if she will take steps to enable animal welfare groups to be eligible for lottery funding; and if she will make a statement. [7777]

Any organisation established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes, including animal welfare charities, is eligible to apply to the National Lottery Charities Board. Animal welfare charities are, therefore, welcome to make appropriate applications. The board makes grants to charities and voluntary organisations according to the priorities set for each grants round; I understand that chief executives of several animal welfare charities have welcomed this approach and agreed that the most appropriate round in which to apply is that aimed at improving people's living environment; this round is due to be launched next year.

Broadcasting

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to her answer of 3 December, Official Report, column 589, how the shortlist for the job of chairman of the BBC Broadcasting Council for Wales was drawn up; on what dates the interviews took place; on what dates the unsuccessful candidates were told the news; what assessment was made of the recommendations of the Nolan committee; and what use was made of the public appointments unit in processing this appointment. [7986]

In considering the appointment of the BBC national governor for Wales, who chairs the Broadcasting Council for Wales, we are applying the principles established by the Nolan committee as set out in guidance issued by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Further information about the process can be made available once the appointment has been made by Her Majesty in Council.

British Library Catalogue

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if all the books currently being transferred to the new British library have been catalogued. [8198]

Responsibility for transferring the books to the new British library building at St. Pancras falls to the British library. It has confirmed that all the books currently being transferred have been catalogued.

Television Licences (Revenue)

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total revenue from television licences over the last 12-month period for which figures are available in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Scotland. [8011]

Total television licence revenue in the United Kingdom for the financial year 1995–96 was £1,820 million, of which an estimated £156 million was collected in Scotland.

Christmas Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department will spend on Christmas trees and decorations this year; how many Christmas trees will be bought for her Department's headquarters; and what are the type and country of origin of the trees. [7564]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: A Christmas tree of British origin, Abis Nordmanniana, with decorations will be purchased at a total cost of £65 for one of my Department's HQ buildings.

Concessionary Television Licences

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the (a) cost and (b) percentage of the full television licence paid by (i) pensioners, (ii) registered blind people and (iii) registered deaf people; if she will make it her policy to reduce the cost of the television licence for each of these groups; and if she will make a statement. [7955]

[holding answer 6 December 1996]: Television licence fees are currently £89.50 for colour licences and £30 for black and white. Registered blind people are entitled to a reduction of £1.25 from the full licence fee. However, a sound-only television monitor, available from the Royal National Institute for the Blind, may be operated without a licence. Moreover, blind people can enjoy the full range of the BBC's radio services. There is no general concession for pensioners or for registered deaf people. However, pensioners and registered blind and deaf people living in qualifying accommodation can benefit from the concessionary television licence scheme, under which licences cost £5. If the Government introduced reduced-fee television licences for all pensioners and registered blind and deaf people, this would be very costly in terms of lost revenue for the BBC. it would lead to a significant rise in licence fees for all other viewers, irrespective of their means, which is why the Government have no such plans.The Government have encouraged the BBC to introduce a range of payment options to enable television licence fee payers to spread the cost of their licence. However, the Government do not consider the television licence fee a proper instrument of social policy: the appropriate way to help those with special needs is through the pensions and benefits system.

Mid-Week Lottery

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what discussions she has had with Office of the National Lottery on the numbers to be used by Camelot in the proposed mid-week lottery. [8041]

[holding answer 9 December 1996]: None. Camelot applied to hold a mid-week draw using the numbers 1 to 49. The decision to approve the mid-week draw was made by the Director General of the National Lottery who published a full statement of the reasons for his decision.

Prime Minister

The Union

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the strategic and economic interests which require the maintenance of the Union between Scotland and England and which do not apply to the Union with Northern Ireland. [7202]

I firmly believe that the maintenance of the Union is strongly in the interests of each part of the United Kingdom, as well as of the United Kingdom as a whole, but there are no strategic or economic interests which could override the democratic wishes of the people of each constituent part of the United Kingdom in relation to their place within it.

Health

Accident Prevention

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish the recommendations of the accident prevention task force. [7983]

The accident prevention task force concentrated its efforts on identifying outstanding research and information needs in accident prevention. Its conclusions were published in the following reports which have been placed in the Library:

Improving Information on Accidents (PHIS 19), DH 1995

Agreeing an Accident Information Structure (PHIS 19B), DH 1996

Health of the Nation Accident Reduction Targets - A Research Review: What Further Work is Needed? - Dr. Irene Higginson, DH June 1995.

The Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent Accidental Injury to Young Persons Aged 15–24 Years - Prof. Jon Nicholl et al.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has abolished the accident prevention task force. [7982]

The accident prevention task force was disbanded in May 1996 on completion of its work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his role on the interdepartmental group on accident prevention strategies; and if he will list the programme of work currently being undertaken by that group. [7984]

There is no such group.

Dental Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many dentists solely offered national health service treatment in (a) September 1992 and (b) September 1996. [7972]

Data on the number of dentists who offer solely national health service treatment are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 28 November, Official Report, column 372, if he will list the number of national health service dentists for each health authority in England on (a) 30 September 1992 and (b) 30 September 1996. [7985]

Data on the number of general dental service dentists were collected by family health services authority before 1 April 1996 and by health authority thereafter. The data at 30 September 1992 and 30 September 1996 are set out in tables 1 and 2.Boundary changes have taken place and even where the authorities have the same name the authority areas may not be identical.

Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
England	15,411
Cleveland	166

Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
Cumbria	143
Durham	142
Northumberland	83
Gateshead	64
Newcastle upon Tyne	96
North Tyneside	59
South Tyneside	45
Sunderland	70
Humberside	205
North Yorkshire	235
Bradford	144
Calderdale	56
Kirklees	116
Leeds	258
Wakefield	87
Derbyshire	257
Leicestershire	238
Lincolnshire	123
Nottinghamshire	272
Barnsley	62
Doncaster	85
Rotherham	62
Sheffield	165
Cambridgeshire	179
Norfolk	223
Suffolk	196
Bedfordshire	140
Hertfordshire	381
Barnet	139
Brent and Harrow	192
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	259
Hillingdon	80
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	209
Essex	438
Barking and Havering	99
Camden and Islington	175
City and East London	175
Enfield and Haringey	168
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	147
East Sussex	273
Kent	495
Greenwich and Bexley	150
Bromley	123
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	268
Surrey	455
West Sussex	283
Croydon	125
Kingston and Richmond	128
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	246
Dorset	229
Hampshire	512
Wiltshire	173
Isle of Wight	46
Berkshire	251
Buckinghamshire	243
Northamptonshire	140
Oxfordshire	191
Avon	360
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	141
Devon	366
Gloucestershire	204
Somerset	149
Hereford and Worcester	207
Salop	123
Staffordshire	237
Warwickshire	131

Table 1: General Dental Service: number of dentists by family health services authority, at 30 September 1992
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
Birmingham	300
Coventry	82
Dudley	74
Sandwell	71
Solihull	53
Walsall	59
Wolverhampton	64
Cheshire	331
Liverpool	146
St. Helens and Knowsley	89
Sefton	90
Wirral	112
Lancashire	421
Bolton	74
Bury	55
Manchester	177
Oldham	69
Rochdale	57
Salford	62
Stockport	107
Tameside	66
Trafford	85
Wigan	85

1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the family health services authority/health authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.

2. Some dentists have a contract with a more than one FHSA/HA, these dentists are counted only once.

3. The figures exclude salaried, hospital and community dentists.

Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
England	16,336
Bradford	141
Calderdale and Kirklees	180
East Riding	143
Gateshead and South Tyneside	122
Leeds	256
Newcastle and North Tyneside	157
North Cumbria	107
North Yorkshire	264
Northumberland	96
Sunderland	74
Tees	183
Wakefield	92
County Durham	151
Barnsley	54
South Humber	72
Doncaster	92
Leicestershire	257
Lincolnshire	134
North Derbyshire	108
North Nottinghamshire	106
Nottingham	200
Rotherham	68
Sheffield	181
South Derbyshire	156
Bedfordshire	150
Berkshire	276
Buckinghamshire	238
Cambridge and Huntingdon	121
East Norfolk	219

Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
Northamptonshire	158
North West Anglia	105
Oxfordshire	195
Suffolk	201
Enfield and Haringey	191
East London and The City	193
Barking and Havering	114
South Essex	210
Brent and Harrow	202
North Essex	266
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	316
Camden and Islington	185
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	203
Redbridge and Waltham forest	152
Barnet	141
Hillingdon	89
West Hertfordshire	214
East and North Hertfordshire	193
Bexley and Greenwich	146
Bromley	123
Croydon	134
Kingston and Richmond	139
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	253
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	276
East Surrey	195
West Surrey	271
East Kent	182
West Kent	358
East Sussex, Brighton and Hove	289
West Sussex	295
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	149
North and East Devon	166
South and West Devon	224
Somerset	163
Avon	379
Wiltshire	177
North and Mid Hampshire	178
Southampton and South-west Hampshire	177
Portsmouth and South-east Hampshire	167
Dorset	240
Isle of Wight	43
Gloucestershire	201
Herefordshire	62
Worcestershire	173
Shropshire	126
North Staffordshire	108
South Staffordshire	152
Warwickshire	144
Birmingham	304
Coventry	77
Dudley	84
Sandwell	84
Solihull	59
Walsall	58
Wolverhampton	64
Bury and Rochdale	122
East Lancashire	157
Liverpool	150
Manchester	172
Morecambe Bay	103
North Cheshire	89
North West Lancashire	159
St. Helens and Knowsley	96
Salford and Trafford	152
Sefton	92
South Cheshire	244

Table 2: General Dental Services: number of dentists, by health services authority, at 30 September 1996
England
Family Health Services Authority	Number of dentists
South Lancashire	83
Stockport	110
Wigan and Bolton	178
Wirral	129
West Pennine	154

1. The figures represent the number of dentists (principals) on the family health services authority/health authority list and their assistants and vocational trainees.

2. Some dentists have a contract with a more than one FHSA/HA, these dentists are counted only once.

3. The figures exclude salaried, hospital and community dentists.

Mental Health

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS executive's regional office network monitors the mental health services' implementation of the care programme approach; and if the results of the monitoring are publicly available. [8263]

Implementation of the care programme approach is monitored via quarterly returns made by health authorities to the national health service executive.The results of the monitoring are not routinely published.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 4 November, Official Report, columns 397–98, what was the average length of the previous stay in hospital of the 5,000 patients aged 16 to 64 years readmitted as emergencies within 90 days of discharge. [8259]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, column 197, what schemes for (i) residential and (ii) 24-hour nursed care accommodation for mentally ill patients under 65 years are currently being negotiated under the private finance initiative. [8257]

All capital schemes have to be tested for private finance. The table shows those schemes with a capital value of £1 million or more that are currently, or will be, tested for private finance and which are wholly or partly for 24-hour nursed care or residential accommodation for mentally ill patients under 65. Information on smaller schemes is not held centrally.

Trust	Scheme
Addenbrooke's NHS Trust	Mental Health Strategy Phase 2
Aylesbury Vale Community Healthcare NHS Trust	Mental Health Intensive Care Unit
Mid-Anglia Community Health NHS Trust	Acute mental Health—Ward G8
North West Anglia Healthcare NHS Trust	Mental Health Reprovision
Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust	Medium Secure Unit

Trust	Scheme
South Bedfordshire Community Healthcare NHS Trust	Fairfield Reprovision
Bolton Hospitals NHS Trust	Integrated Acute Psychiatric Services
Guild Community Healthcare NHS Trust	Medium Secure Unit
Calderstones NHS Trust	Medium Secure Unit
Portsmouth Healthcare NHS Trust	Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Schemes
Salisbury Healthcare NHS Trust	Inpatient Mental Health Scheme
Black Country Mental Health NHS Trust	Acute Psychiatric Unit
Northern Birmingham Mental Health Services NHS Trust	Reprovision of Community Based Facilities
Walsgrave Hospitals NHS Trust	Project 2002
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust	Reprovision of Mental Illness and Health Services
BHB Community Healthcare NHS Trust	Long Stay mental Health Reprovision
Hillingdon Hospital NHS Trust	Mental Health Reprovision
Riverside Mental Health NHS Trust	Long Stay Mental Health Reprovision
Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust	Reprovision of Mental Health Services
South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust	New Acute Mental Health Facilities
South Durham Healthcare NHS Trust	25 Bed Facility with Treatment Suites
Leeds Community and Mental Health Services Teaching NHS Trust	Seacroft Mental Health Unit
Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust	Centralisation of Acute Hospital Services
Community Healthcare: North Durham NHS Trust	Facilities for Difficult to Place Patients
Chichester Priority Services NHS Trust	Graylingwell Reprovision
Hastings and Rother NHS Trust	Mental Health Reprovision
North Downs Community Health NHS Trust	Farnham Hospital Development
Surrey Heartlands NHS Trust	West Park Hospital Reprovision
Worthing Priority Care NHS Trust	Homefield Hospital Redevelopment
North Kent Healthcare NHS Trust	Sheppey Community Hospital
Oxleas NHS Trust	Bexley Hospital Reprovision
Lewisham and Guys Mental Health NHS Trust	Adolescent Psychiatry Unit
Greenwich Healthcare NHS Trust	Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to discuss with the Royal College of Psychiatrists the reasons for the readmission of 5,000 patients aged 16 to 64 years to hospitals as emergencies within 90 days of previous discharge between April and June 1996. [8261]

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many psychiatric patients aged between 16 and 64 years who were discharged from hospital in the period from July to September were readmitted to hospital within 90 days of discharge or by the present date. [8260]

From the information collected centrally it is not possible to identify how many of the psychiatric patients aged 16 to 64 who were discharged during the period July to September have subsequently been readmitted as emergencies.

Meningitis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the link between over-prescribing of antibiotics and meningitis clusters. [8024]

We are aware of the recent publication of a scientific paper reporting on a study conducted by the Gloucester public health laboratory in 1987 which a Sunday newspaper reported as suggesting an association between meningitis and the high use of antibiotics. However, the scientific paper, which has produced some interesting observations, explores several possible explanations. Further work is necessary before any conclusions can be reached and the public health laboratory service's meningococcal committee is to consider recommendations on future work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of each strain of meningitis have been reported in England and Wales in each year since 1990. [8025]

The numbers of laboratory confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis since 1990 are given in the table:

Isolates of N Meningitidis received at the Public Health Laboratory Service's Meningococcal Reference Laboratory 1990–1996, England and Wales
Group	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996¹
A	13	6	1	2	1	0	0
B	997	959	923	929	789	921	736
C	466	394	326	319	291	468	507
Other groups	24	39	45	47	48	70	62
All groups	1,500	1,398	1,301	1,297	1,129	1,459	1,305
¹ To 15 November 1996 only.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were diagnosed as suffering from meningitis in each of the area health authorities in West Yorkshire in the past 12 months. [8092]

Information is not available in the form requested. Notification data are routinely collected by local authority and district rather than health authority. Provisional numbers of cases of meningitis notified to the Office for National Statistics, and the notification rates per 100,000 population, for the county of West Yorkshire for the last 12 months are given in the table:

Provisional numbers of meningitis notifications in West Yorkshire October 1995-September 1996.
County-West Yorkshire	Number of meningitis notifications¹	Annual notification rates per 100,000
County District
Bradford	41	8.5
Calderdale	9	4.7
Kirkless	15	3.9
Leeds	44	6.1
Wakefield	6	1.9
West Yorkshire	115	5.5
¹ Notifications are made on the suspicion of clinical disease, not all of which will be confirmed cases of meningitis.

Mr. O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice his Department has given or plans to give to local health authorities in respect of a possible winter meningitis outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [8093]

Guidelines on the control of meningococcal infection have been issued by the public health laboratory service since 1989. These are regularly updated and published and copies are sent to all directors of public health and consultants in communicable disease control. The most recent guidelines on the control of meningococcal infection were issued on 8 December 1995 in the PHLS's communicable disease review.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual total of recorded incidents of MRSA in England and Wales for each year since 1992 in (a) hospitals, (b) nursing homes and (c) other locations. [8029]

Data are not available in the form requested.The public health laboratory service publishes aggregate data on the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus from isolates voluntarily submitted by hospitals in England and Wales for specialist typing. The total numbers of incidents—three or more patients with the same strain of MRSA in a month from the same hospitals—since 1992 are as follows:

1992: 339
1993: 549
1994: 1.073
1995: 1,575
1996¹: 1,764

¹ to 31 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many fatalities have been recorded as due to MRSA in each year since 1990. [8031]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr Flynn) on 19 November at columns 532–33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the threat of MRSA in hospitals; and what precautions are taken against its spread. [8032]

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus is no more likely to cause infection and no worse infection than methicillin-sensitive strains of the organism. Because, however, MRSA is more difficult to treat, it can pose a threat to certain vulnerable patients. Most experts therefore believe efforts to prevent its spread are worth while.All hospitals have specialist infection control teams whose function is to advise on the precautions necessary, in the individual circumstances of each hospital and according to the type of patient, to prevent the spread of infection. The Department issued guidance to the national health service in September 1994 on the control of MRSA and in March 1995 on the general control of infections in hospitals, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent on research into MRSA in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8237]

The main agency through which the Government support medical and clinical research is the Medical Research Council. The council is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department of Trade and Industry. The council does not currently fund any research specifically into methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. However, the council does have a portfolio of research on staphylococcal bacteria in general, which underpins research into MRSA. This amounted to £200,000 in 1994–95 and £144,000 in 1995–96.In addition, two research projects have been funded at regional level, amounting to £47,706 in total.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA in 1995 occurred in (a) geriatric wards, (b) intensive care, (c) surgical wards, (d) general medical wards and (e) other wards. [8034]

The information requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors underlie the trend in reported incidents of MRSA in hospitals; and what evaluation he has made of the extent to which (a) standards of hygiene, (b) re-use of infected equipment and (c) patient turnover contribute to the spread of MRSA. [8037]

The trend in reported incidents of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus—three or more patients with the same strain of MRSA in a month from the same hospitals—reflects, in part, the emergence and spread, from the early 1990s, of two new strains of MRSA. Other factors include changes in medical practice, such as the transfer of more patients to specialist units in other hospitals.Good personal hygiene, such as thorough hand washing, is important in preventing the spread of all types of infections, including those caused by MRSA. The Department has made no evaluation of re-use of equipment and patient throughput on the spread of MRSA. These are matters for individual trusts and health authorities to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his Department's policy in respect of the practice of sending home patients with MRSA in order to prevent its spread in hospital. [8038]

The Department issued guidance to the national health service in September 1994 on the control of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. MRSA does not pose a risk to healthy people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of MRSA were reported during 1995 in (a) each member state of the European Community and (b) the United States of America. [8039]

We are not aware of any other country which routinely compiles national data on methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.

Multiple Sclerosis

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the drugs currently being trialled in the United Kingdom aimed at alleviating the symptoms of MS. [8214]

Such information is confidential. Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968 precludes the disclosure of confidential information received in pursuance of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those areas of the United Kingdom where there are MS clusters. [8197]

This information is not available centrally.Questions relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, respectively.

General Practitioner Fundholders

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each health authority the amount borrowed from the underspend by local general practitioner fundholders in each of the last five years; and how much of this amount has been repaid by each health authority to date. [8035]

The information requested is not held centrally. We expect health authorities and fundholding general practitioners to work together to make the best use of resources in year.

Repair And Maintenance Backlog

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the overall repair and maintenance backlog at NHS facilities within the areas controlled by each NHS executive regional office in each year since 1991. [8036]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 19 November 1996 at column 529.

Disability Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department proposes to take to monitor the impact of the changes to the disability allowance mobility component for hospital patients with reference to the extent to which (a) the mobility opportunities for hospital patients are fully maintained, (b) patients leave hospital treatment prematurely to avoid the cut-off point for the mobility component and (c) the rehabilitation of hospital patients is hindered. [8211]

None. This is a matter for local decision by health authorities and trusts.

Learning Difficulties

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he is issuing to local authorities concerning the evaluation of alternative care options for people with learning difficulties. [8209]

I will write to all directors of social services and chief executives of health authorities about the second phase of the research project evaluating various types of residential support for people with learning disabilities before Christmas. I intend to make it clear in my letter that departmental guidance remains as set out in LAC(92)15, copies of which are available in the Library, and that therefore all forms of residential provision including village communities remain options to be considered by those planning and purchasing services.

Nhs Dentistry Contracts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health for how long records relating to the payment of NHS dentistry contracts are retained. [8433]

The dental practice board retains dental claim forms in prior approval cases for 18 months and non-prior approval cases for 13 months. The dental payment schedules are retained on microfiche back to June 1989.

Vitamin B12 Unit

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the timetable for the independent review of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS trust; who are the members of the review body; and what are the terms of reference of the review. [8430]

The inquiry into the work of the vitamin B12 unit at the Chelsea and Westminster hospital is the responsibility of, and has been commissioned by, the Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare national health service trust.The members of the inquiry are Professor Albert Aynsley-Green, Nuffield professor of child health, and Professor Brian Neville, professor of paediatric neurosciences at the institute of child health, university of London. It is intended that the inquiry will finish by March 1997 and report to the trust board in April.The terms of reference are:

1. To review the process of the hospital's clinical management of the patients for whom the vitamin B12 unit has provided advice or resources for investigation from 1 April 1994 to date.

Number and average waiting time for specified operations
	1993–94		1994–95		¹ 1995–96
	Average waiting time		Average waiting time		Average waiting time
	Number	(days)	Number	(days)	Number	(days)
Hip replacements	1,649	161	1,842	152	1,793	138
Hysterectomies	3,487	85	3,427	86	3,542	91
Cataract extractions	8,489	170	9,374	138	10,491	145
Tonsillectomies	4,606	171	4,756	197	5,224	167
Kidney transplants	9	99	8	23	10	24
Hernia operations	3,748	91	3,918	103	3,975	110
¹ Data for 1995–96 are not comparable to earlier years as records are not yet available for all hospitals.

2. In particular to advise whether reasonable steps have been taken by the trust to ensure the appropriate treatment of the patients according to the principles of evidence-based medicine and effective and safe healthcare.

3. As necessary, to consider and review issues which may arise from an NHS point of view with regard to the management aspects of clinical research and the treatment associated with it.

4. To advise on the future NHS management arrangements by the trust for patients whose neurodevelopmental diagnosis and/or treatment may involve the services of the vitamin B12 unit.

Injury Prevention And Control

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8644]

The "Melbourne declaration" does not provide for formal endorsement by Government of its conclusions. The Government demonstrated their commitment to accident prevention by including it as a key area in their "The Health of the Nation" strategy launched in 1992.

Wales

Nhs Pension Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what actuarial reports have been carried out on the effect on the NHS pension scheme's overall liabilities of including general practitioners' staff in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the reports. [7482]

The Government are considering the case for allowing general practitioners' practice staff to enter the national health service pension scheme and a decision will be announced soon.

Hospital Waiting Times

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many (a) hip replacements, (b) hysterectomies, (c) cataract extractions, (d) tonsillectomies, (e) kidney transplants and (f) hernia operations were carried out by the NHS in Wales in each of the last three years; what was the average waiting time for each operation in each year; and if he will make a statement. [7468]

The information is given in the following table:

Dental Services

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many new NHS registrations in Wales with a dental practitioner occurred in each six-month period between January 1990 and January 1994 and in each month since January 1994; how many of these are estimated to have been duplicate registrations; and if he will make a statement. [7491]

Information on the number of new registrations is given in the following table. It is not possible to identify how many of the registrations were for patients who re-registered after lapsing, were already registered with another dentist, or who were completely new registrations.

Number of new NHS registrations with dentists in Wales
Period	Number	Period	Number
October-December 1990¹	449,989	March 1995	53,721
January-June 1991	640,040	April 1995	59,114
July-December 1991	386,458	May 1995	52,557
January-June 1992	385,586	June 1995	40,823
July-December 1992	350,665	July 1995	37,463
January-June 1993	350,340	August 1995	37,912
July-December 1993	285,074	September 1995	55,585
January 1994	36,814	October 1995	47,896
February 1994	71,366	November 1995	42,353
March 1994	57,521	December 1995	42,841
April 1994	46,531	January 1996	49,473
May 1994	56,672	February 1996	51,978
June 1994	52,790	March 1996	59,338
July 1994	52,585	April 1996	53,969
August 1994	44,855	May 1996	53,283
September 1994	45,615	June 1996	51,970
October 1994	45,527	July 1996	49,578
November 1994	61,153	August 1996	53,562
December 1994	50,976	September 1996	76,164
January 1995	40,295	October 1996	54,648
February 1995	78,188	November 1996	59,694
¹ There are no new registrations in October 1990, the first month of the new dental contract.

Council House Repairs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what amounts of cash were available for the modernisation and repair of council homes in (i) 1992, (ii) 1993 and (iii) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7772]

Credit approvals made available by the Department for capital expenditure on council housing can be supplemented by authorities' use of some capital receipts and revenue contributions. In addition, councils have some flexibility in the level of spending on revenue repairs within the housing revenue account. The following table, therefore, shows capital and revenue spending by Welsh councils in cash terms on modernisation and repair of council houses in 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1995–96.

£ million
	Revenue spending	Capital spending	Total
1992–93	112.4	75.4	187.8
1993–94	119.6	84.6	204.2
1994–95	126.3	88.4	214.7

Physiotherapy

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he proposes to reduce the waiting times for those seeking physiotherapy after suffering accidents and injuries; and if he will make a statement. [7774]

The number of training places for occupational therapy and physiotherapy being contracted for by the NHS in Wales has increased from an intake of 25 in 1993–94 to 57 in 1996–97 for occupational therapists. The number of training places has also increased for physiotherapy from an intake of 36 in 1993–94 to 69 in 1996–97. This increased level of training will be maintained in 1997–98.

Public Appointments

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many re-appointments to non-departmental public boards in Wales there were in 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7910]

I or my predecessor made 123 re-appointments to NDPBS or NHS bodies in Wales in 1995.

Housing

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the amount available to Tai Cymru in (a) 1992 and (b) the latest available year for new housing association homes in Wales. [7763]

The capital programme for housing associations, including private finance, in 199192 was £160.4 million. In the current financial year this is forecast to be £154.4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many social housing lettings were made in (a) 1992 and (b) 1995. [7767]

In the financial years 1992–93 and 1995–96, there were 17,089 and 21,088 lettings, excluding transfer and exchanges. These data are a combination of local authority lettings figures from annual returns, together with a summary of housing association lettings from the continual recording of the lettings system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of new homes required up to the year 2000. [7768]

Estimates of additional homes required were published in the 1992-based household projections, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. This report expected the average number of additional homes each year, up to the year 2000, to be 8,800.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many private homes were built in (a) 1992 and (b) 1995. [7769]

This information is in table 2.3 of Welsh housing statistics 1996, which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his estimate of the number of (a) council and (b) housing association homes required in each of the years to 2000. [7770]

A breakdown in the form requested is not available. Our estimate for subsidised dwellings for each years is between 2,500 and 3,500.

Departmental Running Costs

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the revenue costs of running his Department in (i) 1994 and (ii) 1995; and if he will make a statement. [7911]

My Department's running costs were £77.4 million in 1994–95 and £74.9 million in 1995–96.

Community Health Councils

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the future role of the community health councils. [8172]

I envisage no change in the statutory roles and functions of community health councils in Wales.

Graduate Unemployment

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many graduates are currently on the unemployed register in Wales. [8524]

The unemployment register does not hold details of the qualifications held by claimants so the information requested is not available.

Injury Prevention And Control

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if his Department has signed the Melbourne declaration on injury prevention and control, adopted on 22 February. [8642]

The Melbourne declaration does not provide for formal endorsement by Government of its conclusions. Its main recommendations are, however, already being taken forward in Wales through implementation of the "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Injuries". Injury prevention and control is also identified as a health priority area in "Caring for the Future". Welsh mortality rates for injury are now among the lowest in Europe.

Nhs Expenditure

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the current level of spending on the NHS in Wales; and what it was in 1993. [8171]

The level of provision for the NHS in Wales in 1993–94 was £1,975 million and in 1996–97 is £2,275 million.

Education And Employment

Part-Time Working

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she plans to take to assist people who are currently working part time who want to find a full-time job. [7067]

We shall continue to oppose unnecessary regulations, such as the social chapter, the national minimum wage and the working time directive which would make it harder for employees to choose freely between full-time and part-time work.

Clinical Staff Pay

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what proposals she has to ensure pay comparability between clinical academic staff and national health service staff. [7068]

My right hon. Friend has placed a condition of grant on the Higher Education Funding Council for England from 1997–98. This will require the council to enable universities and colleges to meet any additional costs for medical schools arising from any pay increase awarded by the Government to NHS clinicians.

Education Budget (London)

20.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what assessment she has made of the effect of the budget settlement on (a) class sizes and (b) education attainment in (i) Southwark and (ii) London local education authorities. [7070]

The effects of the settlement upon class sizes and the attainment of pupils will depend upon decisions taken by Southwark and other London LEAs. If they give priority to the chalk face and to improving teacher quality, there is no reason why class sizes should rise.

Lifetime Learning

21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to increase acceptance of the concept of a lifetime of learning. [7071]

We fully support the concept of lifetime learning. Copies of the Department's policy framework on lifetime learning published in June are available in the Library. Our most recent initiative to promote lifetime learning are learning line—a new free national telephone helpline on learning opportunities to be launched in September 1997—support for further development of local partnership activities, and our recently published strategic guidance "TECs Beyond 2000" which asks TECs to extend their work with employers and their other partners to create a culture for lifetime learning locally.

Higher Education Vouchers

22.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make it her policy to introduce a voucher system for higher education. [7072]

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to introduce a voucher system for higher education. She has set up an inquiry under Sir Ron Dearing to look at how our higher education system should develop to meet the needs of the UK over the next 20 years. We will consider carefully its recommendations on the future funding of higher education, when it reports next summer.

Examination Results

23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many (a) grant-maintained and (b) local education authority schools are represented in the top 50 state schools measured by A-level results. [7073]

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Spring).

Private Finance Initiative

24.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she will next meet the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals to discuss the role of the private finance initiative. [7074]

There are no plans to do so at present.

Assisted Places Scheme

25.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her most recent assessment of the impact of the assisted places scheme on the feeder schools from which the assisted pupils are drawn. [7075]

The assisted places scheme gives able children from low-income families the opportunity of an excellent education at good independent schools.

Job Creation

26.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to encourage the creation of more full-time jobs. [7076]

We shall continue to develop the policies and programmes which have reduced unemployment by nearly 1 million and increased employment by nearly three quarters of a million since 1993 and which have reduced unemployment in Scotland, Wales and every English region to below the average rate in the European Union.

Corporal Punishment

28.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her policy in respect of corporal punishment in the independent school sector. [7079]

We do not support any change in the present law which prohibits the use of corporal punishment for publicly funded pupils in independent schools. It is, however, still permissable for parents of privately funded pupils in independent schools on grounds of parental freedom to choose a school with disciplinary arrangements of which they approve. But where it is administered, the law requires that such punishment must not be inhuman or degrading.

Teachers (Payment For Extra Work)

29.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on her policy with regard to the payment of teachers for out-of-hours and extra-curriculum work. [7080]

The statutory conditions of employment for teachers set rates of pay for the whole of a teacher's job. Within that framework, governing bodies can at their discretion pay teachers for a variety of extra-curricular professional activities that might take place out of school hours.

Dyslexia

30.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what special provision she has made with respect to teaching pupils with dyslexia. [7081]

The code of practice on the identification and assessment of special educational needs emphasises the need for early identification of learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and sets out guidance to local education authorities and schools on the assessment of a dyslexic child. In 1995–96 almost £1 million of expenditure under the grants for education support and training programme supported training for teachers of dyslexic pupils. The Department is supporting research into assessment and teaching strategies for dyslexia with grants of more than £200,000 over the period 1992 to 1998. The Government propose that there should be a particular focus on literacy in the new national curriculum for initial teacher training; the Teacher Training Agency will be consulting on this in the new year, when comments from organisations representing dyslexia will be welcome.

Age Discrimination

31.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to reduce discrimination against potential employees on the grounds of age. [7082]

The Department promotes the Government's campaign for older workers which persuades employers to recruit, train and retain them on merit, disregarding age. Through the campaign, which is supported by complementary booklets, regional presentations to employers and media coverage, we offer help, advice and support to older people seeking work. There is sound evidence that the campaign is working; many employers are reviewing their practices and policies towards older workers.

Education Authority Expenditure

32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many local education authorities increased the amount spent on administration and reduced the amount spent on schools in the last year for which information is available. [7084]

In 1994–95, 14 LEAs increased spending on central administration while reducing spending on schools, by comparison with the previous year.

Primary School Standards

33.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what new measures she is taking to monitor standards in the primary sector. [7085]

The Government's policies now enable the performance of children of primary age to be closely monitored at national, local, school and pupil level. The two main mechanisms are the assessment of performance of pupils against the national curriculum, and the regular independent inspection of all schools. We published last month the national results of the 1996 statutory assessments of all seven and 11-year-olds in English, mathematics and science, and in March we shall publish primary school performance tables. Some 7,000 primary schools have been independently inspected, with a summary of the report sent to each parent. These measures enable parents, schools and others to monitor children's progress at this vital stage in education.

Project Work

34.

To ask the Secretary of Stale for Education and Employment what proportion of those participating in project work have gained permanent employment. [7086]

It is too early to make a proper assessment of the experience of those who leave project work, as the pilot has been running for only eight months. A full survey of those who leave project work is being carried out, and will include details of the jobs they have entered. Results of the survey will be published in 1997. Early indications, however, are that twice as many people leave project work to enter a job as leave a comparable group outside the pilot areas. There is no significant difference in the rates at which all those who leave project work, and those who leave a comparable group, return to the unemployment register.

School Discipline

35.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking with regard to discipline in schools. [7089]

The Education Bill introduced on 30 October includes a package of measures to strengthen schools' ability to take action in the face of poor behaviour and discipline; to help ensure there is proper support for schools in dealing with pupils with behaviour problems; and to promote effective provision for such pupils out of school where necessary.

Pupil Achievements (Gender Differences)

36.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has to address the gap between the achievements of girls and boys at school. [7090]

The Government's policies are intended to raise standards for all pupils, and are doing so. The improvement of girls has been even more rapid than for boys at certain ages. While this rapid improvement is very welcome, Her Majesty's chief inspector has drawn attention to the low attainment of some boys, especially at key stages 3 and 4. It is primarily for schools to address gaps in performance of different groups of pupils. In setting its annual performance targets, each school should consider how best to develop the potential of every category of pupil.

School Performance Tables

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment when she plans to publish value added performance tables. [7078]

The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority will be reporting on the development of value added measures in February 1997. Consideration will be given to the inclusion of such measures in school performance tables in the light of that report.

Schools Access Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to her answer of 5 November, Official Report, column 426, what financial provision she proposes to make in respect of the schools access initiative. [8053]

We are today announcing an extension of the schools access initiative. We will provide support totalling £12 million over the next three years for projects to make more mainstream schools accessible to pupils with disabilities. We shall encourage local education authorities and schools to seek local partnership funding to maximise the value of projects to be undertaken under the initiative.

Clinical Academic Salaries

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what recent representations she has received about changes in clinical academic salary levels. [8246]

My right hon. Friend has received numerous representations on this matter. She announced at the time of the Budget statement that she has placed a new condition of grant on the Higher Education Funding Council for England from 1997–98 requiring the council to enable universities and colleges to meet any additional costs for medical schools arising from any pay increase awarded by the Government to NHS clinicians.

Education And Community Values

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has received regarding the consultation exercise conducted by the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority on values in education and community; and if she will make a statement. [8292]

My right hon. Friend has received about 10 representations, mostly from people concerned that the distribution of questionnaires meant that the consultation was restricted. The questionnaires were distributed in accordance with prescribed samples. The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority has assured my right hon. Friend that it was at the same time open to anyone to ask for the consultation document and submit their views. SCAA will take account of all representations received to date.

Secondary School Funding

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list for each year from 1992 to 1996 (a) the total standard spending assessment for secondary schools, (b) this figure expressed as an amount per secondary pupil, (c) the amount spent on secondary pupils and (d) this figure expressed as an amount per pupil for the London borough of Hounslow. [8297]

The following table shows for Hounslow local education authority secondary education (a) standard spending assessment and (b) SSA per pupil for the years 1992–93 to 1995–96; and (c) net institutional expenditure and (d) NIE per pupil in LEA schools for the years 1992–93 to 1994–95, the latest year for which outturn figures are available. All figures are in cash terms, and have not been adjusted for changes in function.

Hounslow LEA secondary education
	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
(a) SSA (£m)	33.006	33.487	35.249	38.110
(b) SSA per pupil (£)	2,917	3,122	3,145	3,128
(c) NIE (£m)	33.383	29.530	32.691	n/a
(d) NIE per pupil (£)	2,419	2,282	2,582	n/a

Further Education Colleges (London)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total allocation of funding from the Further Education Funding Council to colleges in the Greater London region in each year since 1993 in (a) cash prices and (b) current prices. [8412]

The total allocation of funding by the Further Education Funding Council to colleges in the Greater London region since 1993 is as follows:

ITT target and actual intake in each subject area since 1993
		1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97 provisional	1997–98	1998–99	1999–00
England
Primary	Target	13,937	12,990	12,115	11,500	11,050	10,900	10,800
	Actual	15,775	13,743	13,603	12,470	—	—	—
		13 per cent.	6 per cent.	12 per cent.	8 per cent.
Secondary
Art	Target	725	810	825	900	950	1,000	1,000
	Actual	703	754	818	900	—	—	—
		-3 per cent.	-7 per cent.	-1 per cent.	0 per cent.
History	Target	605	790	780	850	900	900	900
	Actual	669	927	872	900	—	—	—
		11 per cent.	17 per cent.	12 per cent.	6 per cent.

	cash prices £ million	current prices £ million
1993–94	377.9	419.5
1994–95	396.7	422.7
1995–96	429.1	442.3
1996–97	427.1	427.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the level of funding per full-time equivalent student from the Further Education Funding Council for colleges in the Greater London region in each year since 1993 in current prices. [8413]

The Further Education Funding Council no longer funds colleges on the basis of full-time equivalent students.

Jobseeker's Allowance (Students)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if her Department will establish a review of students on part-time courses and their eligibility for the jobseeker's allowance. [8523]

During the passage of the Jobseekers Bill we said that we would collect more and better information on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the jobseeker's allowance rules on education and training. We are doing this. We are also considering this issue as part of the general JSA evaluation. In addition, on 6 November I announced the workskill pilots. These will evaluate new, more flexible arrangements for people to undertake employment-related education and training while receiving JSA. The pilots are due to start in April 1997 in four areas.

Teacher Training

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list, for each year since 1993–94 and up to 2001, the target and actual intake for initial teacher training in total, for (a) secondary, (b) primary and (c) secondary by subject, showing the percentage change between the target and actual intake and the revised targets for 1997–98; and if she will make a statement. [8609]

The following table shows the actual and target intakes to initial teacher training courses in England from 1993–94 to 1996–97 with target intakes for 1997–98 to 1999–2000.

ITT target and actual intake in each subject area since 1993
		1993–94	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97 provisional	1997–98	1998–99	1999–00
Music	Target	485	580	585	600	600	600	600
	Actual	461	490	548	510	—	—	—
		-5 per cent.	-16 per cent.	-6 per cent.	-15 per cent.
RE	Target	421	500	510	700	700	800	850
	Actual	367	448	494	660	—	—	—
		-13 per cent.	-10 percent.	-3 per cent.	-6 per cent.
English	Target	1,362	1,710	1,832	2,100	2,150	2,150	2,150
	Actual	1,465	1,829	1,877	2,080	—	—	—
		8 per cent.	7 per cent.	2 per cent.	-1 per cent.
Modern Language	Target	1,665	2,060	2,092	2,250	2,650	2,700	2,700
	Actual	1,542	1,789	1,790	1,750	—	—	—
		-7 per cent.	-13 per cent.	-14 per cent.	-22 per cent.
Geography	Target	560	645	700	850	900	950	1,000
	Actual	599	636	696	840	—	—	—
		7 per cent.	-1 per cent.	-1 per cent.	-1 per cent.
Maths	Target	1,755	2,230	2,267	2,550	2,250	1,950	1,950
	Actual	1,796	1,950	1,795	1,680	—	—	—
		1 per cent.	-13 per cent.	-21 per cent.	-34 per cent.
Science	Target	2,615	3,200	3,402	3,700	3,300	3,000	3,000
	Actual	2,373	2,918	2,794	2,930
		-9 per cent.	-9 per cent.	-18 per cent.	-21 per cent.
Technology	Target	2,119	2,360	2,312	2,700	3,200	3,200	3,200
	Actual	1,991	2,133	1,854	1,970	—	—	—
		-6 per cent.	-10 per cent.	-20 per cent.	-27 per cent.
PE	Target	1,156	1,255	1,250	1,300	1,550	1,550	1,550
	Actual	1,074	1,309	1,311	1,380	—	—	—
		-8 per cent.	4 per cent.	5 per cent.	6 per cent.
Other	Target	500	460	445	400	350	350	350
	Actual	481	327	378	380	—	—	—
		-4 per cent.	-29 per cent.	-15 per cent.	-5 per cent.
All Secondary	Target	13,968	16,600	17,000	18,900	19,500	19,150	19,250
	Actual	13,491	15,510	15,226	15,980	—	—	—
		-3 per cent.	-7 per cent.	-10 per cent.	-15 per cent.	—	—	—
Total	Target	27,905	29,590	29,115	30,550	30,050	30,050	30,050
	Actual	29,266	29,253	28,829	28,450	—	—	—

Notes:

All figures include School Centred Initial Teacher Training.

English includes Drama.

Technology includes Business Studies and Home Economics.

"Other" includes Classics, Economics and Social Sciences.

1996–97 actual figures are provisional and rounded to the nearest 10.

Vocational Qualifications

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total Government expenditure on national vocational qualifications, including Scottish vocational qualifications, in each year of their existence; if she will make a statement on the aims and objectives of the qualifications; and what research she has commissioned to examine the kinds of employment gained by people who gain national vocational qualifications. [8223]

Expenditure through the Department's programmes on development costs of national vocational qualifications between 1988 and March 1996 is £106 million. This figure includes £83 million from the standards programme and £23 million grant in aid to the National Council for Vocational Qualifications. For each year this is:

(£ million)
	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
Standards Programme	3	7	9	12	12	12	11	17
Grant in Aid	3.8	3	2.6	3.7	3.9	3.8	1.9	0
Total	6.8	10	11.6	15.7	15.9	15.8	12.9	17

The Department does not hold the information for Scottish vocational qualifications; this is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Scotland. However, the development of occupational standards through the standards programme serves both NVQs and SVQs.

National vocational qualifications provide a clear system which defines employers' needs in terms of occupational competence, assesses that competence when it has been achieved, ensures individuals undertake relevant and meaningful training and enables employers to know who has met the standards.

NVQs are gained by many different categories of individual, including those already in employment in firms as well as those entering the labour market and unemployed. Information on the employment destinations of those on youth training and training for work, many of whom gain NVQs during their training, is regularly published by the Department. Recent research published by the Department has indicated that 42 per cent. of employers using NVQs gave pay rewards to employees gaining NVQs and 58 per cent. gave greater opportunities in terms of further training, priority in promotion or work opportunities involving higher pay.

Gcse League Tables (Error)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of the costs incurred in correcting the programming error in respect of a number of local education authorities' entries in the recent GCSE league tables; and if she will make a statement. [8358]

[holding answer 10 December 1996]: None. Fewer than 10 LEAs are affected and corrections are being made under existing errata procedures.

School Rolls

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what steps she is taking to ensure (a) the provision of new school places required by rising rolls and (b) the elimination of surplus places no longer required; and if she will make a statement. [7301]

Section 14 of the Education Act 1996 places a duty on each local education authority to secure sufficient school places for its area unless the Secretary of State has made an order under section 27 of that Act, in which case the responsibility for providing sufficient school places may be shared with or held solely by the Funding Agency for Schools.We look to local education authorities to take action to remove surplus places in the first instance. My right hon. Friend has powers under the Education Act 1996 to direct an authority to bring forward rationalisation proposals where numbers of surplus places appear excessive.Both the provision of new places in areas of population growth and the cost-effective removal of surplus places are among our priority categories for capital support.

Sickness Absence

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many working days were lost through sickness by (a) teachers in England, (b) staff in the local education service and (c) staff in her Department in each of the last five years. [8616]

The Department for Education and Employment does not collect the information requested at (a) and (b).The numbers of working days lost through sickness by staff in my Department from 1992 to 1995 are shown in the following table. Information prior to 1992 is not available.

	1992	1993	1994	1995
Former Department for Education (including Teachers' Pensions Agency)	20,368	20,966	13,926	—
Former Employment Department (excluding Employment Service)	71,953	80,620	62,266	—
DfEE	—	—	—	¹72,857
¹ Includes data covering all staff in the former ED and DfEE up to the merger on 5 July 1995; and in the DfEE for the remainder of the year.

National Curriculum Publications

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many national curriculum publications have been sent by her Department to schools in England, in the academic years 1994–95 and 1995–96; if she will list them; which delivery service has been used; and what has been the cost. [8621]

The answer is confined to the national curriculum statutory documents which set out the mandatory programmes of study and attainment targets, since information on other documents bearing on the national curriculum could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. The figures include mailings to higher and further education establishments and local education authorities, as well as to schools, for which separate figures are not available. The great majority of mailings are to schools.All figures are to the nearest thousand.

Academic year 1994–95

3,000 documents containing programmes of study and attainment targets for the National Curriculum as it stood before the Dearing review were issued through Christians, a commercial mailing house. The documents were "English in the National Curriculum", "Mathematics in the National Curriculum", "Science in the National Curriculum", "Technology in the National Curriculum", "History in the National Curriculum", "Geography in the National Curriculum", "Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum", "Art in the National Curriculum", "Music in the National Curriculum", and "Physical Education in the National Curriculum".

In January and February 1995, a total of 774,000 documents containing programmes of study and attainment targets for the revised national curriculum were issued to all schools, higher and further education establishments and local education authorities in England through Prolog, a commercial mailing house. Up to August 1995 Christians issued a further 149,000. The revised national curriculum documents are "The National Curriculum", (covering all subjects at all key stages), "Key Stages 1 and 2 of the National Curriculum", "English in the National Curriculum", "Mathematics in the National Curriculum", "Science in the National Curriculum", "Design and Technology in the National Curriculum", "Information Technology in the National Curriculum", "History in the National Curriculum", "Geography in the National Curriculum", "Modern Foreign Languages in the National Curriculum", "Art in the National Curriculum", "Music in the National Curriculum", and "Physical Education in the National Curriculum".

Invoices for mailing house charges do not correspond exactly to the academic year. From June 1994 to August 1995 they totalled £298,000. The cost of printing revised national curriculum documents was £1,093,000.

Academic year 1995–96

Forty-five thousand documents for the revised national curriculum were issued through Christians. The total cost was £61,000 for mailing house charges only.

Lord Chancellor's Department

Public Defender Scheme

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will initiate a pilot public defender scheme in England. [7516]

It is not our intention to pilot such a scheme.

Rights Of Audience

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he plans to make an announcement about rights of audience of employed advocates. [7514]

The application for rights of audience for employed solicitors in the higher courts is still being considered by the Lord Chancellor and the designated judges, in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. They hope to be in a position to make an announcement in the new year.

Legal Education And Conduct (Report)

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct plans to publish its fifth annual report. [9010]

The Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct has today published its fifth annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Northern Ireland

Seat Belts

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many drivers have been prosecuted for allowing a child aged under 14 years to travel in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt or legal restraint in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8226]

The number of persons proceeded against for carrying a child aged under 14 years without a seat belt are set out in the list:

1991: 55
1992: 55
1993: 69
1994: 87
1995: 99.

Computerisation of penalties other than prosecutions commenced late 1995. For the period 20 October 1995 to 7 October 1996 a total of 35,016 "advice and warnings" were given and 2,211 fixed penalty notices issued for various seat belt offences.Operation Road Safe has been running since March 1995 and included in its priorities is the wearing of seat belts in vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will estimate how many (a) drivers, (b) front-seat passengers and (c) back-seat passengers have been (i) killed and (ii) injured as a result of not wearing a seat belt in a vehicle in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [8228]

The information requested is set out in the following table:

	Drivers		Front-seat passengers		Back-seat passengers
Year	Killed	Injured	Killed	Injured	Killed	Injured
1991	14	165	5	95	8	214
1992	10	231	4	124	4	222
1993	10	252	2	138	3	503
1994	10	137	1	84	9	447
1995	6	148	3	109	7	390

These figures exclude fatalities and casualties where seat belt usage is not known.The Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the National Safety Council in Ireland, and with private sector sponsorship, launched a seat belt campaign on 14 October 1996 covering both Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Schools

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of schools in Northern Ireland by the percentages which they attract from each of the major traditions in Northern Ireland. [971]

[pursuant to his reply, 2 November 1996, c. 473–74]: The breakdown of schools in Northern Ireland by the percentage which they attract from each of the major traditions is given in the tables.

Table 1a: Controlled nursery schools (attended mainly by Protestant pupils)
Percentage Catholic	Number of schools
0	13
.01–1	0
1.1–5	11
5.1–10	7
10.1–20	4
20.1–50	12
50.1+	18
Percentages relate only to the total number of Roman Catholic and Protestant pupils.

Table 1b: Maintained nursery schools (attended mainly by Catholic pupils)
Percentage Protestant	Number of Schools
0	22
.01–1	0
1.1–5	2
5.1–10	0
10.1–20	1
20.1–50	1
50.1+	0