To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of the Ross on Wye outbreak of Newcastle disease spreading; what measures have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease; and if he will make a statement. [11551]

All outbreaks of Newcastle disease pose a risk of the disease spreading. Following confirmation of the first outbreak of disease on premises near Ross on Wye, an order was made under the Animal Health Act 1981 imposing movement restrictions on poultry and hatching eggs within a 3 km protection zone and 10 km surveillance zone around the affected premises. The same action was taken following a further outbreak close to the original outbreak, and another outbreak—which may not be linked—in East Sussex. Restrictions are not lifted until 30 days after the infected premises have been disinfected assuming that there have been no further outbreaks. The State Veterinary Service is conducting investigations with the objective of tracing the source of the infection and preventing it from spreading.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidelines his Department gives to farmers in respect of a suspected Newcastle disease outbreak; and if he will make a statement. [11555]

All poultry farmers in the restricted areas are visited and given guidance as to the restrictions placed upon them, advice on the nature of the disease and how to avoid its being spread and the need to report to MAFF any suspicion of the disease.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many recognised outbreaks of Newcastle disease have been recorded on farms by area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement; [11550](2) how many

Other than the current outbreaks this year, there has been one incident of Newcastle disease in Great Britain since 1984, in May 1996. Following the death of 11 farmed pheasants on a farm in East Sussex, the remaining flock of about 3,600 birds and chicks was slaughtered.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of birds contracting Newcastle disease currently die; and if he will make a statement. [11554]

The rates of mortality depend upon the species and age of the bird and the virulence of the virus concerned. The virus isolated from birds in the current incident near Ross on Wye has proved to be more virulent for chickens than for turkeys.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into the causes of Newcastle disease in (i) farmed poultry, (ii) other captive birds, (iii) wild birds, (iv) other species and (v) humans; and if he will make a statement. [11553]

MAFF has funded a number of research projects into Newcastle disease in farmed poultry and continues to do so. The following research undertaken since 1991 into Newcastle disease virus has been completed and evaluated:

Molecular mechanisms of pathogenicity of Newcastle disease virus;

Evaluation of the antigenicity and immunogenicity of Newcastle disease virus;

Development of techniques for the rapid diagnosis of Newcastle disease and the characterisation of the virus.

The following research projects into Newcastle disease virus are currently in progress:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is her estimate of the cost of extending eligibility for jobsearch assistance to (a) partners of (i) unemployed claimants and (ii) sick and disabled people, (b) lone parents and (c) sick and disabled claimants. [10962]

All of these people can get help in looking for a job from the employment service. In addition, subject to certain eligibility conditions, people in each of these groups are eligible for our employment and training programmes. Any individual is eligible if he or she has been (a) in direct or indirect receipt of one or more of a number of relevant benefits for a specified minimum period, and (b) out of work for a specified minimum period. Some groups, including people with disabilities, are eligible for programmes whether or not they meet these conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many assisted places have been financed for pupils in each education authority, and at what public cost, in each of the last five years. [11077]

Information on the local education authority area in which assisted pupils reside is not collected centrally. Schools participating in the scheme recruit widely beyond the area in which they are situated and admit pupils from a number of different LEA areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many maintained schools use (a) formal and (b) informal teaching methods. [11218]

Information is not collected in this form. Schools generally use a range of teaching methods. The Government's education reforms encourage the use of the most effective methods to maximise the attainment of pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans she has for funding increased in-service training for (a) primary teachers teaching science and (b) science teachers in secondary schools. [10957]

The Government support in-service teacher training, for both primary and secondary school teachers, through elements of the grants for education support and training programme. GEST-supported expenditure will rise from £266.4 million in 1996–97 to £296.8 million in 1997–98. Schools generally have considerable flexibility in deciding how to spend GEST funds, although some is ring-fenced, including funding to enhance primary teachers' subject knowledge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the current proportion of 11-year-olds achieving a reading age appropriate to their age; what the figure was two years ago in (a) England, (b) the north-west region and (c) Bolton; and what action she is taking to improve the reading abilities of 11-year-olds. [11032]

National curriculum assessment results for English encompass reading, writing, speaking and listening. In 1995, the first year of national curriculum assessment for 11-year-olds, 48 per cent. achieved the level expected for their age in tests and 56 per cent. did so in teacher assessments. In 1996, these figures had improved to 58 per cent. and 60 per cent. respectively. The first primary school performance tables will report by school and LEA the 1996 key stage 2 results including English. In 1997, the key stage 2 reading test will generate separate optional national curriculum levels and age standardised scores. The Government have a range of strategies to improve literacy standards, including their network of literacy centres national curriculum for initial teacher training and family literacy initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many personalised number plates there are in the ownership of the executive agencies operated by her Department; and if she will list them. [11414]

None.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the results of the bids for trade fair and overseas seminar support for 1997–89. [12007]

I am pleased to announce that, under the trade fairs support scheme, about 260 groups of firms will be offered support totalling £17 million for exhibitions world-wide in 1997–98. This will be a major fillip, especially to small and medium firms which otherwise would not exhibit their products to potential customers in this way. In addition, this year, for the first time, similar export promotion activities will be eligible for the sector challenge competition, the results of which will be announced in March. I am pleased to report that a number of such applications have been invited to prepare full bids under the challenge.Of the 260 exhibitions being announced now, nearly half will be in Europe, about one fifth in the Asia Pacific and another fifth in the Americas. The full programme will be published in my Department's overseas promotions guide later this week. Copies will be sent to business links and trade associations and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House.Against a background of considerable demand for this support and in order to maintain a substantial programme while containing public expenditure, I have decided to reduce the rate of grant on the approved cost of renting space and constructing stands at trade fairs from 50 per cent. to 45 per cent. I have also decided not to revalue the price levels on which construction grants are based. These changes will apply to all events for which my Department announces support from today. Offers of grant and firm announcements of support already made will continue to attract grant at current rates. I am not yet in a position to take decisions on supporting some events which would involve new expenditure in 1998–99.Inclusion of the trade fairs programme in the sector challenge should bring significant benefits to exporters by allowing new and more flexible approaches to exhibiting. I will be reviewing the way that we support trade fairs after the first sector challenge but my intention is to make all support for the trade fairs after this round available through the sector challenge. Consequently, the existing understanding to support automatically a core programme of events will continue only up to 31 March 1999.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the Government observations on the fifth report of the Trade and Industry Committee on business links—House of Commons 301 of Session 1995–96—what steps the Government have taken to reduce bureaucracy and relate funding to outputs; and what targets he intends to set for each business link. [12030]

From 1997–98, each business link will have a single budget for the core services that it is required to provide and my Department will make its contribution to the cost of business link services against proposals set out in the relevant training and enterprise council business plan for meeting the needs of the area. Funding will no longer depend in a mechanistic way on the precise levels of activity on each service, but each business link partnership will need to meet targets related to (a) the fees paid to the business link by assisted businesses, (b) the number of businesses with at least one employee using business link services and (c) the number of businesses that have an established fee-based relationship with the business link. The numerical targets for each business link will depend on local circumstances such as how long the business link has been operating.These targets reflect the fact that business links are commercial organisations operating in the private sector, although with a public purpose. If they are to be credible in providing business advice to their client customers, it is particularly important that they also operate commercially. Charging helps the assisted business to appreciate the value of the services provided and helps business links to generate additional funds so that the business link can increase the volume, quality and range of services it offers. In order to ensure that all business links make progress in this area, I have decided to set a minimum level for fee income from assisted businesses. Consequently, by their fifth year of operations—or by 1998–99 for business links that will reach their fifth year in 1997–98—business links should be earning at least 25 per cent. of their income from the assistance they provide to businesses. In earlier years, they will he expected to be making clear and defined progress towards this target. This approach gives business links considerable freedom in deciding how to charge their customers, while ensuring a broad minimum overall level of income from assisted businesses across all business link areas.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many projects have been won with overseas projects fund assistance in each of the last five years; and if he will identify each project. [11444]

• 1991–92: 4
• 1992–93: 3
• 1993–94: 5
• 1994–95: 5
• 1995–96: 1
• 1996–97 to date: 3.

Information about individual projects is confidential between the company and the Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Hyndburn (Mr Pope) of 11 November, Official Report, column 14, on the overseas projects fund, if he will identify each of the projects assisted in each of the last five years. [11446]

Information about individual projects is confidential between the company and the Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the Arbitration Act 1996 will come into force; and if he will make a statement. [12008]

I am pleased to announce that, before the House rose for the Christmas recess, I made an order to bring the main provisions of the Arbitration Act 1996 into force on 31 January 1997. I have decided not to bring sections 85 to 87 of the Act, which make certain special provisions for domestic arbitration agreements, into force. A draft order to repeal these sections will be laid before both Houses as soon as is practicable.The new Act will apply to all arbitration proceedings which are commenced on or after 31 January, no matter when the agreement to arbitrate was made. The only exception is the provision at section 46(1)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the age of (a) the youngest and (b) the oldest person who was electronically tagged in England and Wales during 1996. [10884]

The answers are: (a) 16; (b) 60.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) men and (b) women were electronically tagged in England and Wales during 1996. [10885]

Two hundred and thirteen men and 16 women were sentenced to curfew orders monitored electronically in the three trial areas during 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if non-purpose-bred dogs and cats used for research in the United Kingdom are obtained from non-designated supplying establishments situated within the United Kingdom. [11171]

In Great Britain during 1995, the only year for which figures are available, 66 dogs but no cats used in scientific procedures were obtained from sources within the United Kingdom not designated breeding or supplying establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his appointments to the Animal Procedures Committee. [11929]

I have appointed the following persons to be members of the Animal Procedures Committee for four years with effect from 1 January 1997:

Professor Robin Dunbar, professor of psychology, university of Liverpool;

Mr. John Gregory, fellow, Institute of Animal Technicians;

Professor John Turner, professor of evolutionary genetics, university of Leeds.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum number of items of information a police officer has to provide in order to initiate the prosecution of a juvenile delinquent for shoplifting; and if he will make a statement. [10761]

Six forms are needed in the prosecution file in the case of a juvenile offender where a guilty plea is expected. These are:

• a file front sheet which includes the defendant's details;
• a copy of the charge sheet/summons;
• the defendant's previous convictions, if any;
• a compensation form completed by the victim;
• a short descriptive note; and
• a note of how the decision to prosecute was reached.

More information is required where a not guilty plea is expected. There are also other forms and documents which are completed or taken into account which are not directly associated with the prosecution process; these include property registers, custody records and fingerprint forms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what training police receive in communicating and making contact with deaf-blind people. [9471]

[holding answer 16 January 1997]: There is no national training aimed specifically at how police officers should communicate or make contact with deaf-blind people although the probationer foundation training programme seeks to establish a general awareness and understanding of the special needs of people the police are likely to encounter. There are, however, special provisions for dealing with people in police custody who appear to be blind or deaf and training in the requirements of the relevant Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 codes of practice is included in the custody officer training package which is available to all forces.It is the responsibility of individual chief officers to ensure that their officers are suitably trained for the duties that they undertake.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what estimate he has made of the number of (i) small businesses which will close and (ii) jobs which will be lost as a result of the implementation of the Firearms (Amendment) Bill; [11219](2) what is the size of the budget which the Government are proposing to compensate

[holding answers 16 January 1997]: Our estimate of the costs that will need to be paid to compensate all those who surrender guns and accessories is as set out in the financial memorandum to the Firearms (Amendment) Bill.It has not been possible to estimate the full impact of the measures that would be introduced by the Bill on businesses and employment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to ban interviews between journalists and convicted murderers on prison premises; and if he will make a statement. [10658]

[holding answer 13 January 1997]: Visits to prisoners by journalists or authors in their professional capacity are generally not permitted. Where, exceptionally, a visit is permitted, journalists or authors are required to give a written undertaking which limits the subject and conditions of the interview. The Government have considered the recent High Court judgment in the case of Simms and O'Brien and have decided to appeal.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list the five hon. Members who most frequently had one of the first five oral questions to the Prime Minister on the Order Paper since the beginning of the Session. [9951]

The hon. Members listed have appeared more than once in the top five on the Order Paper for oral questions to the Prime Minister between the start of the current Session and 18 December. In that period, there were 15 Prime Minister's Question Times. The total number of times each Member has appeared is shown in brackets after their name.

• Mr. Edward O'Hara (3)
• Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (2)
• Mr. Malcolm Chisholm (2)
• Roseanna Cunningham (2)
• Mr. Harry Greenway (2)
• Mr. John Hutton (2)
• Mr. John Marshall (2)
• Sir Irvine Patnick (2)
• Mr. Dennis Skinner (2).

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many hon. Members have had questions lost since the contract with the Stationery Office commenced. [10728]

I have been advised that there has been one incident, on 17 December, when a single batch of eight questions from five hon. Members was lost.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when he expects to receive an apology from the Stationery Office about hon. Members' lost questions; and when he expects hon. Members to receive apologies. [10725]

I am advised that the chairman of the Stationery Office wrote to the Speaker on 19 December, apologising for the incident. He also sent a letter of apology to four of the five hon. Members whose questions were lost. I understand that the fifth has not yet been identified.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what assessment he has made of the security of hon. Member's questions at the Stationery Office. [10708]

I am advised that a review of the process for dealing with Members' questions is being undertaken by the Stationery Office in consultation with House officials. In the meantime, the photocopying of Members' questions immediately on arrival at the Parliamentary Press has been introduced as a safeguard.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if arrangement are in hand for hon. Members to take the oath following the next election in accordance with the recommendations in the first report of Session 1995–96 on proceeding at the start of Parliament [HC 386] of the Procedure Committee. [11475]

As I explained to the House on 11 July 1996 Official Report, column 636, this is a matter for Madam Speaker.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors underlie the increase in the provision for gross running costs of civil Departments compared with revised plans as set out in the Red Book paragraph 5.30; and if he will provide a breakdown of the increase by Department, indicating, where possible, executive agencies separately. [8277]

[holding answer 9 December 1996]: Compared with an estimated 1996–97 outturn of £14,919 million for running costs of civil Departments, the Government's planned expenditure on running costs of £14,736 million in 1999–2000 represents a fall of 7 per cent. in real terms over three years.The increases in running costs provision for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are more than accounted for by increases on anti-fraud and anti-evasion measures—an additional £760 million of running costs over three years—and on prisons. Additional provision has also been given to the agriculture Departments to fund the continuing package of measures to counter BSE.The table following compares the Government's plans published in the public expenditure statistical analyses—PESA—1996–97 with new plans for each departmental group. New plans may be subject to further revision before the Government's plans are set out in detail in the 1997 departmental reports, due to be published in March 1997, which will include information on the running costs of executive agencies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much his Department has received in revenue from betting duty in each quarter of each of the last three financial years; [10999](2) what estimate he has made of the loss of betting duty as a result of recent cancellations of horse race meetings. [11000]

[holding answer 16 January 1997]: The betting duty receipts—that is, general betting duty—for each quarter of the last three financial years are as follows. All figures are £ million.

Quarter	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
1	138	138	120
2	140	137	124
3	122	118	—
4	108	96	—

No estimate has been made of the loss of betting duty as a result of recent cancellations of horse race meetings. There is no duty due in respect of bets made at a racecourse. Off course betting has continued for Irish and other foreign horse racing and for all-weather courses in this country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the most recent fire involving a train being used as part of the new emergency procedures in the channel tunnel. [11515]

On 19 December 1996, smoke was detected in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit of an empty tourist shuttle train on stand-by at a platform on the Folkestone terminal. Kent fire brigade attended and extinguished a small electrical fire.A second tourist shuttle was immediately prepared for use as a replacement stand-by train.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what property his Department holds for the purposes of the present and previously planned roads programme, indicating (a) the number of houses, (b) the number of other properties and (c) the extent of land holdings; and what was the total amount spent in purchasing the property in each of these categories. [10846]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action (a) his Department and (b) the Civil Aviation Authority has taken following the recent announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration relating to Thailand's non-compliance with international aviation standards; [11529](2) if he will list those airlines registered in Thailand operating to or from United Kingdom airports. [11528]

Thailand's civil aviation authority has been assessed by the Federal Aviation Administration under its international aviation safety assessment programme as "Category II, Conditional". This means that FAA inspectors found areas that in their opinion did not meet international safety standards, but services by the country's carriers continue to be permitted to the United States under heightened FAA surveillance.We take FAA assessments into account in deciding whether to ask the Civil Aviation Authority to inspect a particular country's aircraft operating into the United Kingdom. We also take into account whether the country is participating in the International Civil Aviation Organisation's safety oversight programme. Thailand has been assessed by ICAO and we are awaiting the outcome of that mission.One airline registered in Thailand operates into the United Kingdom. Thai Airways International operates a daily scheduled service into Heathrow: the Department does not currently plan to ask the CAA to ramp check its aircraft but will keep the matter under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he received from chief officers and the board of (a) London Transport and (b) the City of London about the Government's annual settlement for London Transport; what they told him about the effect of the settlement on London Transport's investment programme and existing infrastructure; and if he will make a statement. [11063]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport and I meet the chairman and other members of the board of London Transport on a regular basis and discuss this and other matters. No representations have been received from the Corporation of the City of London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his timetable for the privatisation of London Underground power generation facilities; what consultation he has had on this; what guarantees in respect of future investment will be required; and what assurances he expects in respect of its continuing reliability. [11081]

The provision of power supplies to the underground is an operational matter for London Underground. It is currently in negotiation with two short-listed bidders for a project under the private finance initiative which would meet the underground's future power generation and distribution requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the consultants, outside organisations and individuals employed by London Underground Ltd., for advice on introducing a private sector element into the (a) organisation, (b) operation and (c) funding of (i) the London underground system and (ii) London Underground Ltd., the duration of their employment and the total cost of their employment in each of the years 1992 to 1997. [11096]

This is a matter for London Underground Ltd. However I understand that it employs outside parties from time to time to advise on matters including disposals, contracting out and projects under the private finance initiative.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the consultants, outside organisations and individuals employed by (a) his Department and (b) its agencies, for advice on introducing a private sector element into the (i) organisation, (ii) operation and (iii) funding of (1) the London underground system and (2) London Underground Ltd., the duration of their employment and the total cost of their employment in each of the years 1992 to 1997. [11097]

The Department has made no such appointments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for a fast rail link between Heathrow and central London other than the Heathrow to Paddington service; what interim station stops are being considered for inclusion; and if he will make a statement. [11013]

BAA has recently announced that it is considering the introduction of a sister service to the Heathrow express, which will operate between St. Pancras and Heathrow. This service would start to operate from 1999 and possible stops being considered include West Hampstead, Ealing Broadway, Hayes and Harlington.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to ensure that incentives aimed at reducing absenteeism do not extend to absenteeism as a result of work-related injuries. [11085]

None. My Department has no responsibilities for reducing absenteeism from work. The Health and Safety Executive is, however, constantly looking at ways of reducing work-related injuries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the research carried out by his Department, since January 1994, into possible environmental health problems caused by opencast coal operations indicating (a) the commissioning dates of the investigations, (b) the name of organisations or agencies commissioned to undertake investigations and (c) the expected dates for publication of results; and if he will provide summaries of the investigations undertaken. [11357]

The Departments of Health and Environment commissioned a joint research project on the impact of particulate matter from opencast coal sites on public health in August 1996. The research is being undertaken by the university of Newcastle medical school and the work is expected to be complete in late October 1998. This work is still in its early stages and I will write to the hon. Member with details of what it involves.

	1995–96		1994–95		1993–94
Health Board	Number of patients	Total value of contracts	Number of patients	Total value of contracts	Number of patients	Total value of contracts
Argyll and Clyde	586	178,585	298	222,245	Nil	—
Ayrshire and Arran	81	1,990,000	83	1,750,000	60	1,500,000
Borders	16	224,976	32	224,842	Not disclosed	31,431
Dumfries and Galloway	347	168,450	176	48,000	Nil	—
Fife	65	67,184	Nil	—	Nil	—
Forth Valley	1>1,175	980,800	1>713	657,358	1>295	368,475
Grampian	5	116,250	138	207,801	10	118,000
Greater Glasgow	110	398,235	28	110,700	615	404,758
Highland	12	90,362	5	37,860	26	141,850
Lanarkshire	185	2,832,322	162	2,616,080	150	2,486,963
Lothian	Nil	—	85	50,901	90	87,133
Orkney	Nil	—	Nil	—	Nil	—
Shetland	Nil	—	13	3,250	Nil	—
Tayside	58	471,789	45	278,071	19	276,997
Western Isles	Nil	—	2	3,950	Nil	—
1 Precise figure not disclosed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been affected with Newcastle disease in Scotland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11546]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: No cases have been recorded in the last five years.

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 14 January concerning emergency capacity in the national health service, Official Report, column 130, if he will make a statement on the extent of this capacity indicating the basis on which the amount of such capacity is calculated, and the approximate costs of maintaining spare beds. [11439]The Deputy Prime Minister: It is the responsibility of health authorities and national health service trusts to ensure that NHS emergency services can meet demand. In the last financial year, over 3.5 million patients received

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each health board the names of the private health providers with which they have had contracts, the value of each contract, and the number of patients covered by each contract for (i) 1993–94, (ii) 1994–95 and (iii) 1995–96. [10967]Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: The information requested is not collected centrally on a routine basis.In response to a request by the hon. Member, the information in the table was obtained specifically from health boards. The further details requested by the hon. Member cannot be provided centrally without risking a breach of patient confidentiality.emergency in-patient care in NHS hospitals. Within the context of overall growth in the NHS, we have recently made available additional funding to help meet key service objectives in the current financial year. This funding includes money for intensive care beds and to improve discharge arrangements, thus making extra beds available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 13, which Departments (a) have implemented and (b) have not implemented their action plans in response to the efficiency unit's report on external consultants. [11440]

Each Department is best placed to provide the most up-to-date account of its progress in implementing the recommendations of the efficiency unit's report; I refer the hon. Gentleman therefore to the answers supplied by Departments to his recent questions about progress on implementation.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, pursuant to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 13, if he will make a statement on the assessment made by the efficiency unit of the monitoring of Departments' expenditure on consultants. [11441]

The efficiency unit estimates that ministerial Departments and the Attorney-General's Office spent approximately £510 million on external consultants in 1995–96 at 1996 prices. This figure excludes spending by the Department for Education and Employment. When this latter figure is available, I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in, the Library.Many factors effect the level of departmental spending on consultants and expenditure should not be taken as a sole indicator of the impact of the efficiency unit's scrutiny report, the prime purpose of which was to increase control and accountability and to secure improvements in procurement and project management.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what have been the costs of efficiency training for managers in the civil service and agencies; and how many staff have participated in each of the last five years. [11443]

In line with the civil service White Paper, "Continuity and Change", responsibility for efficiency planning and the training of staff is delegated to Departments. The information requested is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the appointment of the Public Affairs Officer to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland was made; how many persons applied for the position; in which newspapers the position was advertised; and how many of the applicants were perceived to be (a) Protestants and (b) Roman Catholics. [10780]

The appointment of the public affairs officer with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland was made on 12 May 1995. There were 38 applicants for the post. The vacancy was advertised in the Irish News, Newsletter and Belfast Telegraph. Of the 38 applicants, 21 were perceived to be from the Protestant community, 15 from the Roman Catholic community and two non-determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons applied for the position of education and training officer to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland; in which newspapers in (a) the UK and (b) the Republic of Ireland this vacancy was advertised; and how many of the applicants were perceived to be (i) Protestants and (ii) Roman Catholics. [10781]

The post of education and training officer with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland was first advertised in August 1995. Of 18 applicants, only one was considered suitable but declined the appointment. The post was re-advertised in October 1996 and there were 28 applicants.On both occasions, the vacancy was advertised in the

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schools involved in the raising school standards initiative and the criteria by which they were chosen. [10939]

Secondary schools were identified for inclusion in the initiative by means of a performance index, which took account of both the number and level of GCSE and vocational qualifications over the three years 1990–91 to 1992–93. Primary schools were selected for invitation to participate in RSSI on the following basis:

only those primary schools contributing 10 per cent. or more to the year eight intake of any participating secondary school were considered;

these primary schools were ranked using a points system based on transfer grades, combined with the proportions of pupils entitled to free school meals;

where this approach excluded a school which contributed 30 or more to the participating secondary school's year eight intake, this school was selected.

I will write to the hon. Member listing the participating schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the changes in discretionary support for teachers embarking on courses to obtain additional qualifications, showing the financial allocations. [10985]

As schools' budgets have been given priority, funds will not be available for new applicants for discretionary awards from and including the 1997–98 academic year. Teachers already receiving financial support will continue to have their tuition fees, travelling and subsistence expenses met under the existing terms and conditions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many recognised outbreaks of Newcastle disease have been recorded on farms in Northern Ireland by area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11544]

No outbreaks of Newcastle disease were recorded on farms in Northern Ireland in 1992 to 1995. One outbreak was recorded in County Antrim in 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) chickens, (b) turkeys and (c) other birds have been affected by Newcastle disease in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11542]

One outbreak of Newcastle disease occurred in Northern Ireland in 1996, affecting approximately 2,500 chickens. Some 59,000 in-contact chickens were slaughtered during the outbreak.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been affected with Newcastle disease in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11543]

There were no recorded cases of Newcastle disease in humans in Northern Ireland during the last five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will (a) place in the Library and (b) circulate to members of the Social Security Committee the draft contract to be issued on 19 December to private sector companies shortlisted for the contractorisation of the Benefits Agency medical services; [10273](2) pursuant to his answer of 11 November,

The information requested cannot be provided, as disclosure would prejudice the competitive position of the Department in its negotiations with the shortlisted companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if an asylum seeker in receipt of income support is allowed to undertake a full-time course of education or training. [10266]

Asylum seekers in receipt of income support are subject to the same rules on study as other recipients. However, an asylum seeker who has been granted refugee status may continue to receive benefit for up to nine months while attending a course for more than 15 hours a week to learn English in order to enable him to gain employment, provided that, on the date the course started, he had been in Great Britain for not more than 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish data on the spread of income of pensioners on the lowest decile of income and the highest decile of income in 1978–79 and 1994–95. [10743]

The information is in the table. The figures represent the amount of the spread in income of pensioners between the 25th and the 75th percentile of each of the lowest decile and highest decile of the income distribution.

Inter-quartile range
	1979£	1994–95£
Bottom decile	30.40	28.20
Top decile	116.70	205.60

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were the start-up costs of the information technology system needed to run the jobseeker's allowance payment scheme. [10510]

The information is set out in the table:

£million
Year	Information Technology Services Agency	Benefits Agency/ Employment Service	Total
1994–95	2,395	0,394	2,789
1995–96	15,385	3,235	18,620
1996–97	7,051	2,239	9,290
Total	24,831	5,868	30.699

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the estimated annual running costs of the jobseeker's allowance payment scheme. [10511]

The information is not yet available. However, it is estimated that the annual costs of administering jobseeker's allowance will be broadly similar to those for the previous benefits, unemployment benefit and income support for unemployed people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the tendering for the new ACCORD—access to corporate data—information technology system. [10512]

The ACCORD project is intended to deliver, through the private finance initiative, a set of services to support the Department's information systems—information technology strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 November 1996, Official Report, column 400, if he will place in the Library a copy of the version of the draft regulations to which the comments of the president of the Independent Tribunal Service referred. [11045]

I have placed a copy of the draft regulations in the Library.There were some changes made before laying before the House in order to make the drafting clearer and to correct minor drafting errors, as well as amendments following the consultation with the president of the Independent Tribunal Service and the Council on Tribunals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people were claiming (a) invalidity benefit and (b) incapacity benefit in the Barrow and Furness parliamentary constituency in each year between 1990 and 1996. [11023]

The administration of invalidity benefit and incapacity benefit is a matter for Peter Mathison, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which bodies are responsible for ensuring adequate minimum standards of establishment and functions of deputising services for general practitioners. [10901]

Health authorities are responsible for ensuring that general practitioners only use deputising services which are of a satisfactory standard.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance is given to NHS trusts about cash handed over for safekeeping on admission to the care of the trust. [11243]

Guidance on safeguarding patients' property formed part of the national health service executive's model standing financial instructions issued to all NHS trusts in 1994. The guidance sets out the trust's responsibility to provide safe custody for money and other personal property handed in by patients.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of cases of meningitis in the last three months of 1996; and if he will make a statement. [11064]

There were 368 laboratory confirmed reports of meningococcal infection by the Public Health Laboratory Service's meningococcal reference laboratory in the last three months of 1996. The latest mid-year to mid-year data show the number of cases in 1996 are currently running very slightly lower than in 1995:

	PHLS confirmed laboratory reports of meningococcal infection
1 July-22 December 1995	654
1 July-22 December 1996	585

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the incidence of (a) tuberculosis and (b) rickets among those aged 0 to 19 years in each health authority area in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11604]

Information on the numbers of notifications of tuberculosis is not available in the form requested. The number of notifications to the Office for National Statistics under the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988 are published by local authority district or by age in the publications, "MB2 Communicable Disease Statistics" annually and "MB2 Infectious Disease Statistics" quarterly. Copies are available in the Library. Total notifications for 0 to 19-year-olds for the last five years are:

Numbers of tuberculosis notifications, excluding chemoprophylaxis, England and Wales, 0 to 19-year-olds
	Tuberculosis notifications
1992	730
1993	785
1994	615
1995	631
1996 (first 39 weeks)	1429
1 Provisional.

The United Kingdom has an excellent record of tuberculosis control and we are determined that this should remain the case through the BCG immunisation programme, treatment of identified cases and screening of their close contacts, screening and treatment for immigrants and active surveillance of tuberculosis.Rickets is not a notifiable disease and data are not collected centrally. There are anecdotal reports of rickets in the medical literature, but these tend to be associated with extreme diets and insufficient exposure to sunlight. There is no reliable evidence that rickets is on the increase, and some evidence that rickets which used to be prevalent among Asian communities is now rare. The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy has established an expert sub-group which is considering the nutritional aspects of bone health in the UK population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what monitoring he has undertaken of the incidence of (a) anaemia, (b) calcium deficiency and (c) vitamin D deficiency among those aged 0 to 19 years. [11605]

The nutritional status of 0 to 19-year-olds has been monitored by the Government's programme of nutrition and health surveys.(a)Anaemia: The prevalence of anaemia has been monitored among young children by the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of Children Aged 11/2-441/2 years" published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office in 1995; among those aged 18 to 24 years by the "National Diet and Nutrition Survey of British adults" published by HMSO in 1990, and among 16 to 24 year olds by the 1994 Health Survey for England published by HMSO in 1996. No survey has been analysed in respect of the specific age range 0 to 19 years. The results were as follows:

Prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin below 11.0g/dl)
	Males1 Percentage	Females2 Percentage
NDNS 1½ to 4½ years	7	9
NDNS British Adults 18–24 years	1	6
Health Survey for England 16–24 years	0.2	2.1
1 1.0 per cent. below 13g/dl.
2 7.7 per cent. below 12g/dl.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will update the estimates set out on 22 May 1995, Official Report, column 406, relating to the average cost of keeping an elderly infirm person in a (a) hospital bed, (b) nursing home and (c) residential care home. [10210]

The Department does not collect information on the average cost for the elderly and infirm of a place in a hospital, residential care home or a nursing home, but the Laing and Buisson market survey estimates, on the basis of the latest survey of independent sector homes, the average fees were £333 and £239 per week at August 1995 for nursing homes and residential care homes, respectively. These figures do not include contributions from individuals' income or from public sources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many district nurses there were per 5,000 people in each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement; [9774](2) how many district nurses there were in each year since 1979

The information requested is shown in the tables.