Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Monday 17 February 1997

Home Department

Telephone Tapping

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what cases of surreptitious recording of telephone conversations and other complaints of surveillance falling outside the scope of the Interception of Communications Act 1985 (a) have been brought against the Government and (b) have been drawn to the attention of Ministers; and what steps (i) have been and (ii) are proposed to be taken by the Government in consequence, with special reference to the implementation of compliance measures. [15440]

The Interception of Communications Act 1985 is concerned only with the interception of communications in the course of transmission by post or by means of a public telecommunications system, and not with other forms of surveillance. I am aware of three cases regarding alleged interception of telephone calls outside the scope of the Act since it came into force. One of these is currently before the European Court of Human Rights and the other two were decided in 1994: one by the Court of Appeal and the other by the House of Lords. Two cases involving police surveillance operations have been drawn to my attention. One is currently before the European Commission on Human Rights and the other was decided by the House of Lords in July 1996. The Police Bill, which is currently before the House, places police operations involving interference with property on a statutory basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what safeguards exist to protect the privacy of people against interference with private telephone conversations; and what inadequacies in the present law have been identified in research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated. [15432]

Under the Interception of Communications Act 1985, it is a criminal offence intentionally to intercept a communication in the course of its transmission by means of a public telecommunications system except in obedience to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or in certain other circumstances described in section 1 of the Act. Section 6 of the Act requires arrangements to be made to ensure that disclosure of material intercepted under warrant is kept to the minimum that is necessary. The legislation is kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his consent is required before the police intercept calls on mobile phones. [16248]

The Interception of Communications Act 1985 provides that communications may lawfully be intercepted in the course of their transmission by means of a public telecommunications system only in obedience to a warrant issued by the Secretary of State or in certain other circumstances specified in section 1(2) and (3) of the Act. This applies equally to mobile and fixed telephone systems.

Animal Experiments

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to review the effectiveness of the current provisions to prevent undue pain and suffering to live animals used in experiments. [14986]

The operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 is currently being reviewed by the Animal Procedures Committee. I understand that it hopes to submit a first report to my right hon. and learned Friend by the end of July this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many lethal dose toxicity tests on animals have been authorised over each of the last five years for which figures are available. [14987]

The number of these procedures performed is published annually in "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain". The latest figures available are for the calender year 1995. The figures for acute lethal toxicity are:

Year	Number
1995	¹148,708
1994	²116,493
1993	²154,880
1992	²153,222
1991	²131,760
¹ Table 12.
² Table 14(8) and 14(9).

Differences in the way these types of procedures are now classified mean that direct comparison between the 1995 figure and those for earlier years is not possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make representations to (a) pharmaceutical and (b) other commercial companies undertaking tests on live animals to move towards alternative methods of testing. [14988]

All applicants for project licences, commercial or otherwise, are required by the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 to consider the use of non-animal tests, where they are available and where they are consistent with the achievement of the scientific objectives of the project.The Home Office is also working with regulatory agencies and with organisations representing commercial interests to encourage the use of alternative methods of testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to encourage provision for alternative methods to experimentation on live animals for basic research in toxicity testing and drug development; and if he will make a statement. [14989]

Research on alternative methods is funded through the research budget of the Animal Procedures Committee. The Government support the operations of the European centre for the validation of alternative methods in co-ordinating research into alternative methods across all areas of scientific activity which use animals in regulated procedures. This includes methods to reduce the number of animals, to refine the severity of procedures, and to replace animal use.Officials meet regulatory agencies and other Government Departments to establish principles for the use of animals in safety testing. In addition, all applicants for project licences under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are required to consider the use of alternatives where these are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list those organisations which have received Government grants for research into alternatives to experimentation on live animals indicating in each case the amount of the grant for each of the last five years. [14990]

The following organisations have received grants through the Animal Procedures Committee:

	£
Calendar year 1992
Fund for Replacement of Animals in Medical Experiments, Nottingham	31,500
Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow	6,785
Division of Biologics, Porton Down	14,557
Department of Microbiology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham	13,395
Department of Biomedical Science and Biomedical Ethics, University of Birmingham	20,075
ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham	44,000
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton	28,750
Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge	30,000
Welsh School of Pharmacy, University of Wales	31,380
Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London	21,603
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol	35,546
Royal Veterinary College, London	32,000
Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes	23,763
Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading	41,075
National Institute for Biomedical Standards and Control, Potters Bar	33,500
Calendar year 1993
Royal Veterinary College, London	33,314
ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham	44,000
Biomedical Sciences Division, Kings College, London	23,645
Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow	38,000
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton	32,343
Central Veterinary Laboratory, Weybridge	45,974
Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholmews Hospital	34,304
Department of Microbiology, University of Glasgow	3,209
Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes	26,010
Department of Animal Husbandry University of Bristol	22,780
Applied Statistics, University of Reading	41,250
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar	36,000
Calendar year 1994
Royal Veterinary College, London	42,755
ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory and Department of Zoology, University of Nottingham	36,000
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton	22,880
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol	25,034
Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London	35,107
Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes	22,750

	£
Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading	45,052
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar	39,000
Calendar year 1995
Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton	12,320
Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, University of Bristol	13,480
Department of Toxicology, St. Bartholomews Hospital, London	16,000
Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes	25,250
Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Bristol	30,000
Department of Applied Statistics, University of Reading	16,485
Royal Veterinary College, London	11,025
National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar	30,000
Central Public Health Laboratory, London	16,820
Department of Surgery, University of Edinburgh	7,634
Department of Biological Sciences, Heriot-Watt University	14,673
Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh	13,379
Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow	5,500
Calendar year 1996
Hoechst Animal Health, Milton Keynes	7,000
Central Public Health Laboratory, London	37,820
Department of Surgery, University of Edinburgh	8,280
Department of Biological Sciences, Heriot-Watt University	27,045
Moredun Research Institute, Edinburgh	13,379
Department of Pharmacology, University of Glasgow	12,830
Sheffield Hybridomas, University of Sheffield	13,810

Criminal Cases Review Commission

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Criminal Cases Review Commission will publish its code of practice. [15596]

The Criminal Cases Review Commission will take on responsibility for considering cases on 31 March 1997. It will then determine in what form to make available information about the way it will carry out its work.

Obscenity Law

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions have taken place under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 for material found on the Internet in the last two years. [15851]

Court proceedings data held centrally for offences under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 do not identify the type of medium used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times the interdepartmental working group on obscenity has met; on what dates; and what subjects have that discussed. [156845]

The interdepartmental group on obscenity has met seven times so far. The main subjects discussed have been the availability of pornographic material on the Internet and self-regulation by Internet service providers; police enforcement of the law on obscenity and child pornography; the display of indecent publications in newsagents; guidance on the sexual contents of teenage magazines; the international treaties on obscenity; the workings of the Obscene Publications Act 1959; unlicensed sex establishments; satellite pornography; the Home Office research study "Testing obscenity: an international comparison of laws and controls relating to obscene material"; and Lord Halsbury's Bill on obscenity. The group has met on the following dates:

27 March 1995
6 June 1995
21 September 1995
30 January 1996
14 May 1996
26 July 1996
24 September 1996

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) consultations and (b) discussions are being undertaken on a definition of obscenity to replace that in the Obscene Publications Act 1959. [15846]

The Government have undertaken no formal consultations or discussions on the definition of obscenity contained in the 1959 Act. We are, however, aware of the concerns expressed in some quarters about

Number of defendants prosecuted at magistrates courts and convicted¹at all courts for offences under (a) the Obscene Publications Act 1959²and (b) the Protection of Children Act 1978³by area, 1980 to 1995
England and Wales
	Obscene Publications Act 1959²			Protection of Children Act 1978³
Year		Metropolitan Police Area⁴	Other Forces	England and Wales	Metropolitan Police Area⁴	Other Forces	England and Wales
1980	Prosecutions	104	79	183	-	13	13
	Convictions	72	12	84	-	13	13
1981	Prosecutions	199	208	407	2	11	13
	Convictions	91	132	223	2	12	14
1982	Prosecutions	118	164	282	-	9	9
	Convictions	119	115	234	2	10	12
1983	Prosecutions	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Convictions	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
1984	Prosecutions	63	520	583	4	14	18
	Convictions	94	335	429	4	15	19
1985	Prosecutions	29	246	275	8	14	22
	Convictions	43	183	226	7	17	24
1986	Prosecutions	34	95	129	-	10	10
	Convictions	49	77	126	1	10	11
1987	Prosecutions	17	104	121	2	21	23
	Convictions	22	71	93	7	22	29
1988	Prosecutions	50	108	158	3	29	32
	Convictions	45	85	130	5	26	31
1989	Prosecutions	40	85	125	3	41	44
	Convictions	32	64	96	6	33	39
1990	Prosecutions	53	121	174	6	38	44
	Convictions	25	91	116	4	31	35
1991	Prosecutions	227	136	363	3	37	40
	Convictions	102	116	218	7	32	39
1992	Prosecutions	105	108	213	5	41	46
	Convictions	89	83	172	5	39	44
1993	Prosecutions	206	87	293	9	33	42
	Convictions	140	69	209	10	27	37
1994	Prosecutions	215	94	309	4	36	40
	Convictions	187	79	266	2	25	27
1995	Prosecutions	219	138	357	9	44	53
	Convictions	154	105	259	6	38	44
¹ Includes persons proceeded against in earlier years or for other offences.
² Obscene Publications Act 1959 as amended by the Obscene Publications Act 1964.
³ Protection of Children Act 1978 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 section 84.
⁴ Includes the City of London.
n/a = Not available.

the continuing appropriateness of the test, and undertook to follow up any possible ways forward that might emerge from consideration of Lord Halsbury's Bill on this subject. It is clear that there is as yet no consensus on a workable alternative approach.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements the Government have put in place to monitor the effectiveness of the Internet Watch Foundation in reducing child pornography on the Internet. [15847]

Officials have held meetings with the Internet Watch Foundation to discuss its work, and we receive reports from the foundation providing regular updates on its progress.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) how many (a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London; [15848](2) how many

(a) prosecutions and (b) convictions there have been under the Protection of Children Act 1978 in the past 15 years; and how many of these took place in courts outside London. [15849]

The information is given in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many items have been seized under the Obscene Publications Act 1959 in the past 15 years. [15850]

This information is not collected centrally.

Repatriated Prisoners (Sentences)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the sentencing provisions set out in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill will apply to prisoners who are repatriated to England and Wales from overseas in order to serve the remainder of their sentences. [16640]

Prisoners repatriated to England and Wales, whose offences overseas are committed after the commencement of the provisions set out in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill, will be treated as if the balances to serve here of their overseas sentences were their sentences for the purposes of this jurisdiction, and in particular for the purposes of earned early release and post-release supervision. They will be eligible to earn early release on the balance to serve of their original sentences accordingly. Where the balance to serve is more than 12 months' imprisonment, they will be required to undergo a period of post-release supervision equal to 25 per cent. of the balance to serve in this country or three months, whichever is the greater.In calculating the balance of the prisoner's sentence remaining to be served following repatriation here, account will be taken, as at present, of the time the prisoner has spent in prison abroad, including, where applicable, any remand time, with any remission to which he is eligible for that period. Both periods will be deducted from the original sentence.In appropriate cases, the resulting balance will be further reduced by a period equal to that of the post-release supervision period which the prisoner will be required to undergo following release from custody. Accordingly, the time to be served in prison by a repatriated prisoner on return here and the required period of supervision, when added together, will not exceed the remaining part of the term of the sentence imposed in the foreign jurisdiction.This method of calculating the period to be served in prison will not apply to prisoners repatriated from foreign jurisdiction operating sentencing provisions equivalent to those contained in chapter I of part II of the Crime (Sentences) Bill.Prisoners seeking to be repatriated from overseas will continue to receive full information about the way in which their sentences will be administered on their return here. This will enable them to make an informed decision about whether to consent to repatriation.

Defence

Resolution Class Submarines

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list when (a) HMS Resolution, (b) HMS Revenge, (c) HMS Repulse and (d) HMS Renown were unavailable because they were undergoing docking and essential defects or refit in the last five years. [15716]

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Ships Support Agency, I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Roger Babington to Mr. Alan Simpson, dated 17 February 1997:

I am replying to your question to the Secretary of State for Defence about the refits and defect rectification periods of Resolution Class submarines during the last five years, as this matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief Executive of the Ships Support Agency.

Resolution Class submarines were subject to an annual 'programmed' docking between refits. Occasionally operational requirements lead to the submarines being docked at short notice, which are reflected in the table below as 'unprogrammed' dockings. The Total number of dockings, both programmed and unprogrammed, for the four Resolution Class submarines during the last five years is reflected in the table below:

		Programmed	Unprogrammed
Resolution	1992	46 days
	1993	35 days	10 days
	1994	13 days
Renown	1992	365 days
	1993	70 days	31 days
	1994	17 days	4 days
	1995	13 days
Revenge	1992	20 days
Repulse	1992	20 days	15 days
	1993	52 days	5 days
	1994	8 days	13 days
	1995	37 days
	1996		15 days

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when (a) HMS Resolution, (b) HMS Revenge, (c) HMS Repulse and (d) HMS Renown performed their last patrols. [15714]

I have decided under exemption 1 of the code of practice on access to government information to continue to withhold details of the strategic submarine operational programme. However, the decommissioning dates of the four Resolution class submarines were:

HMS Revenge: 25 July 1994
HMS Resolution: 22 October 1994
HMS Renown: 24 February 1996
HMS Repulse: 28 August 1996.

Military Personnel (Wales)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are temporarily stationed in Wales for training purposes each year. [16033]

Statistics are not maintained in a way that would enable this information to be provided except at disproportionate cost. However, the hon. Member may be interested to note the following.

The Royal Navy has no major establishments in Wales. There are a number of Reserve training centres which cater for the training of local volunteers, and small numbers of RN personnel undertake elements of resource and initiative training from time to time in some areas of the Principality.

For the Army, collective training in Wales is conducted at two Army field training centres, Sennybridge and Castlemartin, and five divisional ranges and training areas. Sennybridge and Castlemartin accounted for 389,462 and 80,000 man training days respectively during 1995–96. The infantry training centre at Brecon and the joint service mountain training centre at Tywyn accommodate respectively 2,400 to 2,700 and 1,100 to 1,300 students per year.

The RAF has approximately 6,200 training places in Wales each year. This includes outdoor activity/leadership training at the RAF resource and initiative training centre at Fairbourne, the joint service adventurous training instructors school at Llanrwst and the joint service hang gliding and paragliding centre at Crickhowell, but excludes detachments at RAF Valley, summer camps and station-organised adventurous training expeditions.

As their name implies, joint service establishments cater for personnel from more than one service and, indeed, some foreign and Commonwealth training.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel are stationed in Wales. [16029]

On 1 April 1996 there were some 5,400 military personnel stationed in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters there are for military personnel in Wales. [16030]

There are currently 2,169 married quarters in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many military personnel were recruited in Wales during the last decade. [16031]

Information about the number of military personnel recruited in Wales during the past 10 year is not available for all three services. Such information that is available about recruitment in Wales is detailed:

Royal Navy: 529 in the last 5 years
Army: 10,292 personnel since 1987
Royal Air Force: 825 from 1991–92-to date.

The figures for all three services represent personnel recruited through careers offices located in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of (a) RAF, (b) Army and (c) Navy units in each Welsh county. [16032]

The information is as follows:

County	RAF	Units Army	Navy
Clwyd	2	6	-
Dyfed	2	5	2
Gwent	-	6	-
Gwynedd	2	2	-
Mid Glamorgan	-	3	-
Powys	-	3	-
South Glamorgan	2	5	1
West Glamorgan	1	3	-

Note:

Figures include Reserve Centres and exclude Careers Information Offices.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many service personnel give their next of kin as resident in Wales. [16035]

Departmental records show that as at 14 February 1997 the numbers of service personnel who give their next of kin as resident in Wales are as follows:

Royal Navy¹: 1,341
Army: 4,662
Royal Air Force: 1,360

¹ Includes Royal Marines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average annual number of military discharges in Wales for (a) medical and (b) psychiatric reasons in the past five years. [16036]

This answer could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Quantock School

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if his Department intends to send the Office for Standards in Education report on the Quantock school, Somerset, to the parents of service families whose children attend the school; [16118](2) if he will make a statement on the suitability of the Quantock school, Somerset, to remain on the service children education authorities admissible schools list; [16120](3) what recommendations the Service Children's Education Agency has made to his Department in response to the Ofsted report on Quantock school, Taunton; and if he will make a statement. [16122]

Following the recent Ofsted inspection and report on Quantock school, the Service Children's Education Agency has recommended that copies of the report should be sent to service parents whose children attend the school and that the weaknesses identified in that report should be drawn to the attention of parents, that the school should be removed from the admissible school list and that parents who currently have children at the school should be allowed to place them in other schools if they so wish. Quantock school may be considered for readmission to the admissible list at a later date if it is able to meet the criteria proposed for inclusion on the list.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many pupils attending the Quantock school, Somerset, are participants in the service children's boarding school allowance scheme; and at what cost to his Department. [16117]

The Total number of service children attending Quantock school, and whose parents were in receipt of boarding school allowance, was 48 in the autumn term 1996-the latest term for which detailed statistics are available. Information on how much individual schools have received in BSA payments is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Boarding Schools Allowance Scheme

To ask the Secretary of state for Defence what was the cost to his Department of the service children's boarding schools allowance scheme in the last year for which figures are available. [16119]

The cost to my Department of boarding school allowance for financial year 1995–96, the last year for which figures are available, was £110.6 million.

Land Mines

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the international agreements covering the sale and manufacture of land mines and related equipment, and indicate which have been signed by the United Kingdom. [16004]

Amended protocol II to the United Nations convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or have indiscriminate effects regulates the use and transfer of certain types of mines. This amended protocol was adopted on 3 May 1996. The United Kingdom signed the convention on 10 April 1981. There are no international agreements covering the manufacture of land mines or related equipment.

Bowman Project

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress on awarding the contract for the Bowman project. [15807]

Procurement options for the Bowman production phase are currently being evaluated by the Ministry of Defence. A decision on the way ahead will be announced shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate his Department has made of the extra cost of sustaining Clansman during the delay in ordering Bowman. [15808]

The net additional cost of maintaining Clansman in service owing to delays to the Bowman programme is estimated to be some £8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the impact on operational efficiency in the Army of the delay in the Bowman project; and if he will make a statement. [15809]

We expect Bowman to enter service in 2002. Until then, the Clansman family of radios will remain in service and provide a worthwhile, though reducing, capability.

Firing Ranges (Schools)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on Government policy on the use of school land and premises as locations for armouries and firing ranges. [15884]

We often work in partnership with schools to promote the benefits of the cadet force movement to young people. Where possible, training facilities, including armouries and ranges, are provided in co-operation with local schools on their premises. This provides a secure and convenient basis for cadet force activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost for the construction and provision of a firing range and armoury at Longhill high school, Brighton. [15887]

The estimated cost for the construction of an armoury and conversion of existing accommodation into a firing range at Longhill high school, Brighton is £95,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list those schools in the state and local education authority sector which have had provided for them a school armoury and firing ranges by the Minister of Defence. [15886]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Polaris

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, columns 128–29, for what reasons the operating costs of Polaris (a) fell in the financial year 1984–85, (b) rose in the financial year 1985–86 and (c) fell in the financial year 1988–89. [15722]

Details of calculations pertaining to the 1980s are no longer available. Annual cost changes would have resulted primarily from the operational and maintenance cycles of individual submarines.

Raf Bases (Running Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what were the annual running costs of (a) RAF Marham, (b) RAF Honington and (c) RAF Bruggen in financial years (i) 1994–95 and (ii) 1995–96. [15715]

The annual running costs, including staff costs, utilities, contract services and property management of RAF Marham, RAF Honington and RAF Bruggen in the financial years 1994–95 and 1995–96 were as follows:

£ million
Station	1994–95	1995–96
RAF Marham	62	64
RAF Brüggen	97	98
RAF Honington	31	30

Welsh Regiments

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Welsh regiments have been involved in armed conflict since 1987. [16034]

None. However, a detachment of the Queens Dragoon Guards provided reconnaissance for 7th Armoured Brigade and served as a sub-unit with the 16/5th the Queens Royal Lancers in the Gulf in 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what have been the casualty figures for Welsh regiments in (a) the Gulf war, (b) Cyprus and (c) Northern Ireland since 1967. [16037]

Casualty figures, defined in terms of those killed in action, including those who died of wounds, for the Welsh regiments are:

Gulf war: 0
Cyprus: 3
Northern Ireland since 1967: 17.

Empty Homes (Disposal)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress his Department has made in the disposal of empty homes; and if he will make a statement. [16606]

The targets for disposal of 1,500 homes by April 1996 and a further 2,500 by the end of summer 1996 was not only achieved but significantly exceeded, as the Total number of disposals reached 5,348 properties.

Gurkhas

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce the result of his Department's review of Gurkha terms and conditions of service; and if he will make a statement. [16554]

Terms and conditions of service for Gurkhas serving in the British Army are set out in the 1947 tripartite agreement-TPA-between the Governments of Nepal, India and the United Kingdom to enable Gurkha troops to be recruited and employed in the Indian and British Armies on a broadly comparable basis. The last major review of Gurkha terms and conditions of service took place in 1955. Since then, the British Army Gurkhas have been increasingly widely deployed and dispersed. Conditions of service have necessarily been adjusted to take account of local factors, although basic pay and the level of accompanied service have not departed from the guidelines set out in the TPA. Over time, such adjustments have led to significant anomalies. For example, Gurkhas are currently paid markedly different rates, depending on the country in which they serve, their marital status and whether they are accompanied, with a consequent threat to the morale of those on significantly lower incomes.Taking advantage of the drawdown in Hong Kong and the relocation of most of the brigade to the UK, the MOD has undertaken a major review to restore fairness and equity across the brigade. As a result, revised terms and conditions of service will be introduced from July 1997. The main elements are set out:

Basic pay will continue to be set in accordance with the Indian army pay code in line with the requirements of the TPA, but a universal addition to basic pay will be introduced in place of the current anomalous system of allowances. This will standardise Gurkha pay across different geographical areas, and bring Gurkha take-home pay broadly into line with that received by British soldiers. So far as Gurkhas stationed in the United Kingdom are concerned, no soldier will suffer a reduction and many will gain. In Brunei and Nepal, the great majority of soldiers-those who are married unaccompanied ranks-will benefit from the changes. Gurkha married accompanied personnel in Brunei and Nepal will, however, experience a reduction in their take-home pay, which is currently significantly higher than that of other members of the brigade.

Married accompanied service is to be made available in the United Kingdom. In keeping with the tripartite agreement, which specifies that up to 25 per cent. of Gurkha officers and soldiers will be provided with family accommodation, sergeants and below will be granted one three-year accompanied tour and the more senior ranks will be permanently accompanied. This reflects the basis upon which married accompanied service is available in Brunei and Nepal and was provided to those serving in Hong Kong. Some 450 married quarters will be made available at locations in the United Kingdom where about 2,000 members of the brigade of Gurkhas will be stationed. We expect that under these arrangements some 900 Gurkha dependants, wives and children, will come to the United Kingdom.

Gurkha parents will have the option of sending their children to school in the UK or of taking advantage of a new Gurkha education allowance to enable them to enjoy the benefits of continuity of education within the Nepali system. We expect that most will choose the latter course, relying on Nepali boarding schools and looking to relatives to provide care and support for the children in their absence. There will be an entitlement of one free flight a year to enable children to be united with their parents in the UK during the long Nepali school holiday.

The present entitlement of Gurkha soldiers to long leave every three years will remain. This recognises the continuing importance we attach to keeping the Gurkha soldier in touch with his home culture and roots. But the entitlement will be reduced from six to five months to take account of improved internal communications in Nepal.

We also intend to transfer resettlement training from Nepal to the United Kingdom. This will provide Gurkhas with a much wider choice of training, while ensuring they continue to undertake a reorientation course in Nepal before discharge from the British Army. We intend to retain the Queens Gurkha officer commission for the majority of officers in Gurkha units, but we shall also take the opportunity to introduce a new Gurkha short service commission for a limited number of suitably qualified Gurkha officers to allow them to gain wider employment within the wider British Army.

I am confident that this package represents a significant improvement over current arrangements while continuing to respect the tripartite agreement. It also recognises and gives continued substance to the Gurkhas' position as an integral and valued component of the British Army. I am sure that it will be well received by the brigade.

National Heritage

Sports Council Lottery Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for National

Sports Council Awards
		Year of Award
Sport		1995	1996	1997	Total
Angling	Total award amount	£118,923	£411,139	£39,850	£569,912
	Number of awards	3	15	2	20
Archery	Total award amount	£11,331	£70,320	0	£81,651
	Number of awards	2	1	0	3
Athletics	Total award amount	£11,487,187	£9,237,754	£1,674,900	£22,399,841
	Number of awards	11	18	3	32
Badminton	Total award amount	£2,208,929	£3,084,362	£555,746	£5,849,037
	Number of awards	11	11	5	27
Basketball	Total of amount	£2,213,425	£7,499,116	£787,863	£10,500,404
	Number of awards	7	16	2	25
Billiards/snooker	Total award amount	£28,857	£27,469	0	£56,326
	Number of awards	2	1	0	3
Bobsleigh	Total award amount	£62,556	0	0	£62,556
	Number of awards	1	0	0	1
Bowls	Total award amount	£4,529,712	£7,999,746	£832,120	£13,361,578
	Number of awards	62	112	19	193
Boxing	Total award amount	£83,304	£63,240	0	£146,544
	Number of awards	3	4	0	0
Canoeing	Total award amount	£443,969	£2,221,709	£222,851	£2,888,529
	Number of awards	6	8	2	16
Caving	Total award amount	0	£18,975	0	£18,975
	Number of awards	0	2	0	2
Cricket	Total award amount	£2,896,489	£21,393,447	£4,330,719	£28,620,655
	Number of awards	95	176	15	286
Croquet	Total award amount	0	£14,437	£35,985	£50,422
	Number of awards	0	2	1	3
Cycling	Total award amount	£9,412	£436,661	0	£446,073
	Number of awards	1	5	0	6
Disability sport	Total award amount	£776,004	£809,340	£6,021	£1,591,365
	Number of awards	6	7	1	14
Dragon boat racing	Total award amount	0	£6,621	0	£6,621
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Equestrian	Total award amount	£529,601	£1,425,259	0	£1,954,860
	Number of awards	8	6	0	14
Exercise and fitness	Total award amount	£1,554,882	£2,028,133	£571,750	£4,154,765
	Number of awards	11	13	2	26
Football	Total award amount	£5,259,547	£19,714,924	£2,109,239	£27,083,710
	Number of awards	97	171	18	286
Gliding	Total award amount	£59,950	£138,065	£64,469	£262,484
	Number of awards	3	5	1	9
Golf	Total award amount	£428,280	£2,878,171	£38,239	£3,344,690
	Number of awards	5	13	1	19
Gymnastics	Total award amount	£1,794,507	£2,979,352	£94,109	£4,867,968
	Number of awards	12	15	3	30
Hang gliding	Total award amount	0	£13,199	£4,616	£17,815
	Number of awards	0	1	1	2
Hockey	Total award amount	£2,934,497	£11,247,436	£2,107,468	£16,289,401
	Number of awards	20	38	6	64
Ice skating	Total award amount	0	£12,500,000	0	£12,500,000
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Judo	Total award amount	£200,000	£306,972	0	£506,972
	Number of awards	1	3	0	4
Lacrosse	Total award amount	£32,744	0	0	£32,744
	Number of awards	1	0	0	1
Motor sports	Total award amount	0	£46,550	£22,680	£69,230
	Number of awards	0	2	1	3

Heritage how many sports have benefited from awards made by the Sports Council lottery fund; and if she will list them together with the Total value of the awards for each year since the introduction of the national lottery. [13522]

Fifty-nine sports have benefited in England from awards made by the lottery sports fund to a Total value of £371,374,314. In 1995, 607 awards were made, Totalling £104,731,747. In 1996, 1,094 awards were made, Totalling £245,722,611. To February 1997, 135 awards have been made, Totalling £20,919,956. Full details are provided in the table:

Sports Council Awards
	Year of Award
Sport		1995	1996	1997	Total
Mountaineering	Total award amount	£683,701	£1,090,853	£22,445	£1,796,999
	Number of awards	4	10	2	16
Movement and dance	Total award amount	£276,000	£415,216	0	£691,216
	Number of awards	1	1	0	2
Multi sports	Total award amount	£17,135,491	£50,357,655	£1,154,154	£68,647,300
	Number of awards	34	63	5	102
Netball	Total award amount	£128,144	£6,535,095	£109,276	£6,772,515
	Number of awards	4	14	1	19
Orienteering	Total award amount	0	£4,721	0	£4,721
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Racketball	Total award amount	0	£45,000	0	£45,000
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Rambling	Total award amount	£2,070	£301,023	£4,324	£307,417
	Number of awards	1	2	1	4
Real tennis	Total award amount	£468,913	0	0	£468,913
	Number of awards	2	0	0	2
Roller skating	Total award amount	0	0	£27,950	£27,950
	Number of awards	0	0	1	1
Rowing	Total award amount	£1,344,295	£9,213,810	£1,533,640	£12,091,745
	Number of awards	12	12	2	26
Rugby league	Total award amount	£352,201	£973,285	0	£1,325,486
	Number of awards	5	9	0	14
Rugby union	Total award amount	£3,791,761	£5,860,022	£597,089	£10,248,872
	Number of awards	27	41	5	73
Sailing	Total award amount	£8,475,539	£2,733,339	£627,475	£11,836,353
	Number of awards	21	43	7	71
Sand and land yachting	Total award amount	0	£47,660	0	£47,660
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Shooting	Total award amount	£30,400	£257,935	0	£288,335
	Number of awards	2	7	0	9
Skateboarding	Total award amount	0	£151,965	0	£151,965
	Number of awards	0	2	0	2
Skiing	Total award amount	0	£218,360	0	£218,360
	Number of awards	0	2	0	2
Softball	Total award amount	£9,050	0	0	£9,050
	Number of awards	1	0	0	1
Squash	Total award amount	£1,223,954	£73,514	£255,500	£1,552,968
	Number of awards	7	2	1	10
Sub aqua	Total award amount	£58,922	£345,554	£44,600	£449,076
	Number of awards	4	23	4	31
Surf life saving	Total award amount	0	£49,145	0	£49,145
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Surfing	Total award amount	0	0	£5,845	£5,845
	Number of awards	0	0	1	1
Swimming	Total award amount	£24,815,642	£39,390,893	£949,005	£65,155,540
	Number of awards	23	39	6	68
Table tennis	Total award amount	£806,120	£3,150,078	0	£3,956,198
	Number of awards	8	10	0	18
Tennis	Total award amount	£5,589,805	£10,540,508	£2,090,028	£18,220,341
	Number of awards	78	149	16	243
Trampolining	Total award amount	£763,283	£91,740	0	£855,023
	Number of awards	3	3	0	6
Tug of war	Total award amount	0	£9,955	0	£9,955
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Volleyball	Total award amount	0	£7,046,075	0	£7,046,075
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Water skiing	Total award amount	£1,112,350	£26,000	0	£1,138,350
	Number of awards	2	1	0	3
Weightlifting	Total award amount	0	£196,762	0	£196,762
	Number of awards	0	7	0	7
Wrestling	Total award amount	0	£24,051	0	£24,051
	Number of awards	0	1	0	1
Grand Totals		£104,731,747	£245,722,611	£20,919,956	£371,374,314
		607	1,094	135	1,836

Data up to and including February 1997 awards.

House Of Commons

Towels

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what is the annual cost of (a) purchasing, (b) laundering and (c) distributing the individual hand towels supplied in washrooms throughout the House. [15723]

(a) Hand towels are purchased when required, in blocks of 5,000, at a cost of £1.09 each. (b) The annual cost of laundering hand towels is £7,300. (c) The staff costs involved in distribution are £3,200 per annum.

New Parliamentary Building

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what was the original estimate for the cost of building the new building for parliamentary use at Bridge street, Westminster; and what is his latest estimate of this cost. [16436]

The House of Commons Commission approved the final sketch design estimate in 1993 at the prices then prevailing with an allowance forecasting the possible rate of inflation in construction costs until the work is completed in 2000. Since 1993, instructions have been given to the project team for various changes to the brief and the date when work is to start. These account for the difference between the 1993 forecast of £219 million and the current figure of £225 million.

Trade And Industry

Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 23 January, Official Report, columns 708–709, if the export licence includes (a) machine guns, (b) automatic cannon and (c) other weapons for installation in Indonesia. [14303]

The licences issued to Procurement Services International and Alvis do not list any weapons for installation in Indonesia.The Alvis armoured cars licensed for export are equipped with a 90 mm gun and two machine guns as standard. All but two of the other vehicles have either one or two machine guns fitted as standard.The licence issued to Procurement Services International is for vehicles which were detailed in my reply of 23 January 1997. None of these vehicles is fitted with machine guns or automatic cannon.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, column 29, if he will list the types and amounts of ammunition that are included in the export licence granted to Alvis. [14260]

Details of goods listed on export licences are a matter between the company and the licensing authority. However, in this case, I can confirm that the export licence granted to Alvis covers a limited quantity of 90 mm ammunition and phosphorous grenades for acceptance testing and training purposes.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 9 December, Official Report, columns 29–30, if he will list the types and quantities of ammunition included in the licence for Procurement Services International. [14267]

No ammunition was included in the licence issued to Procurement Services International.

Sellafield

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to ensure that the nuclear installations inspectorate requires British Nuclear Fuels plc to adhere to appropriate safety regulations in respect of the highly radioactive waste tanks at Sellafield. [15467]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 6 February 1997, Official Report,, column 677.I have every confidence that the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate will continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities in the regulation of safety standards throughout the civil nuclear industry.

Industrial Tribunals

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the expenses and allowances paid to parties and witnesses appearing before industrial tribunals. [16558]

Parties, witnesses and some unpaid representatives appearing before industrial tribunals may claim certain expenses and allowances. These have been reviewed recently by my Department. With effect from 1 April 1997, the following may be paid: travel expenses in excess of £5, including the costs of travel by public transport-standard class-or, if a private motor vehicle is used, a mileage allowance of 15p per mile; loss of earnings-or national insurance benefit which would otherwise be payable-subject to a maximum of £40 per day; an overnight allowance of £64.30 (inner London) or £54.30 (elsewhere) to meet hotel and other costs where a night's absence is unavoidable; and other reasonable expenses, subject to certain limits. Such expenses include interpreters' fees, essential child care costs and expenses incurred in securing locum cover.The daily subsistence allowance presently paid to those absent from home for more than five hours is being withdrawn. The Government do not believe the continued payment of such allowances to those involved in essentially private law disputes is justified.

British Shipbuilders

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the external financing limit of British Shipbuilders. [16555]

The external financing limit has been adjusted from-£21 million to-£1 million. The original figure rested on the assumption that agreement would be reached this year with regard to a claim for payment to British Shipbuilders of £20 million. The matter has now gone to arbitration and receipt is not now expected in this financial year.

British Gas

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if British Gas plc will pay stamp duty on demerger. [16594]

Section 75 of the Finance Act 1986 makes provision for the exemption of demergers from stamp duty if certain criteria are met. The intention of the legislation is to ensure that demergers involving no real change of ownership, as is the case with the British Gas demerger, qualify for relief from the duty. There must be an issue of shares to all shareholders of the transferor company, in this case British Gas plc, and after the transfer of shares, the proportion of shares held by each shareholder in the transferor company must be the same as the proportion of shares held by those shareholders in the transferee company, in this case Centrica plc. Except for the Government's special share, the British Gas demerger meets these requirements. The Government intend to continue to hold a special share in British Gas plc which, after the demerger, will be known as BG plc. In order, therefore, to allow the British Gas demerger to qualify for exemption from stamp duty, prior to the demerger, two ordinary shares, one in BG plc and one in Centrica plc, will be transferred to the Secretary of State and, on the demerger taking effect, a further share in Centrica plc will be issued to the Secretary of State. These arrangements will ensure that the British Gas demerger meets the conditions for this relief.

Land Mines

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the British companies involved in (a) the manufacture and (b) the export of land mines and related equipment. [16003]

I refer the hon. Member to the response given by my hon. Friend the Minister for Defence Procurement to the hon. Member for Blaneau Gwent (Mr. Smith) on 12 February 1997, Official Report, columns 180–81.

Treasury

Taxes And National Insurance

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will translate the column headed "Non-North Sea oil taxes and NICs" in table 4A9, page 88 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1997–98", into cash figures at 1997–98 prices. [15253]

[holding answer 11 February 1997]: The table shows the information requested. However, cash figures for tax receipts over a long run of years-even if measured at constant prices-are of only very limited interest if they are not set in the context of what has happened to national income over the same period. This is why the historical time series for spending, receipts and borrowing in tables 4.A8 and 4.A9 of the 1997–98 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" are all expressed as ratios to gross domestic products.

Non-North sea taxes and NICs (£ billion, 1997–98 prices)
	Cash figure
1965–66	109.1
1966–67	107.9
1967–68	119.5
1968–69	135.1
1969–70	142.4
1970–71	144.1
1971–72	144.3
1972–73	143.5
1973–74	160.6
1974–75	168.2
1975–76	174.7
1976–77	186.5
1977–78	182.6
1978–79	180.8
1979–80	188.1
1980–81	188.6
1981–82	195.6
1982–83	199.8
1983–84	211.8
1984–85	216.7
1985–86	225.8
1986–87	244.6
1987–88	257.5
1988–89	266.3
1989–90	268.3
1990–91	253.0
1991–92	244.9
1992–93	232.3
1993–94	234.6
1994–95	252.3
1995–96	262.1
1996–97	268.9
1997–98	280.9
1998–99	292
1999–00	304
2000–01	316
2001–02	327

Non-North sea taxes and NICs are rebased to 1997–98 prices using the GDP deflator. Forecasts and projections of the GDP deflator were published in table 3.11 and 5A.1 of the 1996 "Financial Statement and Budget Report".

Departmental Publicity

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) his Department's budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13456]

It is not possible to provide the information in the form requested. However, I refer to the answers I gave on 14 January 1997 to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe), Official Report, columns 201–202.

Deaths

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths from (a) influenza, (b) pneumonia and (c) bronchitis occurred during January 1997; and what were the equivalent figures for January (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996. [15215]

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 John Fox to Mr. Rhodri Morgan, dated 17 February 1997:

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked the Director of the Office for National Statistics to reply to your recent question on how many deaths occurred from influenza, pneumonia, and bronchitis during January 1997. The Director has asked me to reply in his absence.

The figures for England and Wales are given in the table below.

Deaths occurring in January, 1994 to 1997, England and Wales
	Influenza ICD9 ¹ 487	Pneumonia ICD9 ¹ 480–486	Bronchitis ICD9 ¹ 466,491
1994	28	6,245	461
1995	29	6,474	402
1996²	105	8,386	437
1997²	255	10,940	435
¹ International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision.
² Death occurrences for 1996 and 1997 are provisional. Figures for 1997 are the latest available. They will be incomplete due to some January deaths awaiting to be registered and added to the ONS database.

Dorneywood

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 31 January, Official Report, column 421, if he will list the dates (a) he and (b) his predecessor have been in residence at Dorneywood since 1993. [15656]

Since 1993, my predecessor and I have resided at Dorneywood on a number of occasions. These stays have not been at the expense of public funds or the taxpayer.

Profit-Related Pay Schemes

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 6 February, Official Report, column 733, how many companies notified the Inland Revenue of their intention of introducing a profit-related pay scheme during (a) the first eight months of 1997, (b) 1996, (c) 1995 and (d) 1994. [15657]

The available information is in the table.

	Number of applications for registration of profit-related pay schemes¹
1994	7,200
1995	9,500
1996	12,800
¹ Rounded to the nearest 100.

From 1 January to 31 January 1997-the most recent period for which figures are available-the Inland Revenue received about 760 applications.All these figures include some businesses which have previously had a registered scheme and some which have not.

Health

Gp Fundholders

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the number of fundholding (a) general practitioners and (b) practices by health authority (i) in Total and (ii) as a percentage of all general practitioners and practices. [13245]

Current year information on the number of fundholding practices and general practitioners is given in the table. These figures are available only as Totals and not as percentages. The corresponding figures, including percentages, are available for 1995–96 and this information is in the Library.

Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97
Health authority	Practices	GPs	Populations covered (percentage)
Northern and Yorkshire
East Riding	46	180	66
North Yorkshire	67	295	69
Bradford	41	165	60
Calderdale and Kirklees	24	98	35
Leeds	43	207	51
Wakefield	33	136	82
Tees	18	88	34
North Cumbria	19	96	48
County Durham	40	154	50
Northumberland	30	138	71
Gateshead and South Tyneside	19	81	41
Newcastle and North Tyneside	24	96	35
Sunderland	20	70	50
Trent
Barnsley	16	40	35
North Debyshire	54	180	91
South Derbyshire	65	240	79
Doncaster	28	96	64
Leicestershire	60	238	50
Lincolnshire	61	217	66
North Nottinghamshire	19	76	41
Nottingham	27	80	26
Rotherham	21	56	49
Sheffield	45	159	52
South Humber	32	114	69
Anglia and Oxford
Bedfordshire	20	96	34
Berkshire	63	262	62
Buckinghamshire	57	249	71
Cambridge and Huntingdon	12	58	26
East Norfolk	37	183	55
Northamptonshire	34	148	50
North West Anglia	25	108	49
Oxfordshire	40	194	54
Suffolk	25	136	37
North Thames
Barking and Havering	49	111	62
Barnet	26	69	39
Brent and Harrow	65	168	64
Camden and Islington	9	18	10

Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97
Health authority	Practices	GPs	Populations covered (percentage)
Ealing, Hammersmith and Hounslow	61	130	38
East London and The City	41	94	35
Enfield and Haringey	18	55	27
East and North Hertfordshire	43	201	76
West Hertfordshire	48	214	77
Hillingdon	22	67	51
Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster	38	84	49
North Essex	59	212	57
Redbridge and Waltham Forest	60	116	59
South Essex	62	153	48
South Thames
East Sussex, Brighton and Hove	56	197	52
West Sussex	55	245	63
East Surrey	24	94	42
West Surrey	45	232	67
Kingston and Richmond	42	154	77
Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham	18	61	18
Bexley and Greenwich	36	110	54
Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth	39	137	44
Croydon	12	43	27
East Kent	54	180	58
West Kent	91	296	55
Bromley	12	36	27
South and West
Avon	42	182	37
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly	18	96	32
South and West Devon	33	152	39
North and East Devon	33	144	48
Dorset	46	208	50
Gloucestershire	25	124	39
Isle of Wight	15	63	84
North and Mid Hampshire	33	170	64
Portsmouth and South East Hampshire	12	69	23
Somerset	29	128	44
Southampton and South West Hampshire	38	160	54
Wiltshire	45	183	60
West Midlands
Birmingham	108	283	49
Coventry	32	79	54
Dudley	25	70	45
Herefordshire	18	77	80
Worcestershire	55	239	82
Sandwell	44	108	74
Shropshire	19	97	45
Solihull	21	114	82
South Staffordshire	43	144	55
North Staffordshire	48	124	55
Walsall	35	72	53

Numbers of general practitioner fundholders-1996–97
Health authority	Practices	GPs	Populations covered (percentage)
Warwickshire	59	220	84
Wolverhampton	18	49	39
North West
Bury and Rochdale	62	170	81
East Lancashire	58	153	63
Liverpool	40	110	48
Manchester	20	64	25
Morecambe Bay	30	126	71
North Cheshire	19	85	52
North West Lancashire	35	121	50
Salford and Trafford	39	95	42
Sefton	23	71	47
South Cheshire	62	283	75
South Lancashire	24	66	46
Stockport	29	89	60
St. Helens and Knowsley	38	100	56
West Pennine	39	104	46
Wigan and Bolton	45	126	44
Wirral	28	94	49

Source:

NHS executive regional offices.

Senior House Officers (West Midlands)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the main findings of the inquiry of the chairman of the task force into the implementation of proposals in respect of medical senior house officers at the North Staffordshire medical assessment unit; and if he will make a statement. [14313]

The West Midlands regional task force on junior doctors' hours provides both formal and informal advice to local health authorities and trusts when necessary, as part of their on-going role in helping to ensure compliance with the new deal for junior doctors' hours. The issues raised are a matter for local discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of additional senior medical house officers required in (a) North Staffordshire and (b) the West Midlands. [14314]

The postgraduate dean, with advice from the West Midlands regional task force on junior doctors' hours, is currently considering numbers of senior house officers in all areas of the west midlands to ensure an appropriate balance of doctors and to help to implement the new deal for junior doctors, hours, copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for the West Midlands NHS trust the ratio of senior medical house officers to the number of acute medical admissions (a) in day-time hours and (b) out of hours. [14318]

Information on the number of admissions by time of day is not available centrally.

Staff Training (North Staffordshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will visit the North Staffordshire NHS trust medical assessment unit to congratulate staff on their achievements in respect of the gold standard in training initiatives. [14316]

We are always pleased to acknowledge the achievements of staff in the national health service. Unfortunately, due to commitments already made, both I and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be unable to visit the unit in the foreseeable future. I have undertaken to write to the staff acknowledging their achievement.

Strokes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment he has made of the recent publication "Stoke: National Tragedy, National Priority", published by the Stroke Association; and if he will make a statement; [15640](2) what measures he proposes to assist district stroke services. [15642](3) if he will make it his policy to ensure that all people who have had strokes are

(a) treated as emergency cases by A and E units and (b) assessed and diagnosed at hospital shortly after admission. [15641]

We are sure that local health authorities will find the Stroke Association's publication "Stroke: National Tragedy, National Priority" a useful aid to commissioning services for its areas for people who have had a stroke.The Department of Health has awarded the Stroke Association a number of grants, under the section 64 general scheme, for projects to enhance the provision of stroke services in primary care. Reducing the death rate from stroke is a target of "The Health of the Nation". This is supported by a number of high-profile campaigns such as promoting physical activity and sensible drinking and encouraging people to stop smoking. The national health service executive has produced recommendations on the provision of rehabilitation services for stroke patients which have been distributed to the NHS to assist local health authorities in making decisions about how to organise their services. Copies of this document-an effective health care bulletin entitled "Stroke Rehabilitation"-are available in the Library.Decisions on when and where to refer for treatment are a clinical matter for the patient's doctor. Under the patients charter, patients in an accident and emergency department can expect to be seen immediately and have their need for treatment assessed. In addition, health authorities should set local standards on times patients can expect to wait to receive treatment in accident and emergency departments after their need for treatment has been assessed.

Junior Doctors

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of junior doctors are working on (a) part-time contracts and (b) flexible training programmes. [15908]

At 30 September 1995, 3 per cent. of junior doctors were working on part-time contracts. Separate information on flexible training programmes is not collected centrally.

Blood Products

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which blood products the blood transfusion service sells to the private sector. [15721]

The bio products laboratory, which, like the former blood transfusion service, forms part of the National Blood Authority, manufactures a wide variety of blood products, which are sold both to the national health service and to the private sector.

Dentures

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received concerning the wish of denturists to be allowed to fit false teeth. [16225]

On several occasions, we have received representations from the Clinical Dental Technicians Associations requesting that the Dentists Act 1984 be amended.

Hospital Waiting Lists

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were on the waiting list for operations in the north-west of England in 1979. [16160]

Information in the form requested is not available centrally.

Abortion

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that general practitioner fundholders who accept funding for abortion services provide those services. [16112]

The accountability framework for general practitioner fundholding EL (95)54 provides the mechanism for agreeing and reviewing fundholder plans and performance, including for the purchase of terminations of pregnancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to review the provision of abortion on the NHS by region. [16113]

None.

Education And Employment

Assisted Places Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the schools offering assisted places in 1995–96 showing for each (a) the number of places offered, (b) the amount of income received and (c) the proportion of the school's intake covered by assisted places. [15490]

The table gives the information requested for the 293 schools participating in the assisted places scheme in England in the academic year 1995–96. Information on the proportion of each school's first year intake covered by assisted places is not collected centrally. The table therefore shows Total assisted pupil numbers as a proportion of Total pupils on roll.

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
Abbey School, Reading	116	126	4.90
Abingdon School	107	314	11.64
Ackworth School, Pontefract	31	92	6.06
Aldenham School, Elstree	35	221	8.26
Alice Ottley School, Worcester	90	333	12.52
Alleyn's School, Dulwich	208	950	17.96
Ardingly College, Haywards Heath	36	239	5.42
Arnold School, Blackpool	80	258	6.84
Ashford School, Kent	60	149	6.87
Ashville College	22	93	2.63
Austin Friars School	23	88	7.67
Bancroft's School, Woodford	80	312	8.40
Barnard Castle School	30	81	4.23
Bath High School GPDST	128	296	14.67
Batley Grammar School	275	794	49.73
Bedales School, Petersfield	10	22	0.62
Bedford High School	131	431	11.89
Bedford Modern School	132	511	13.00
Bedford School	131	557	9.45
Belevedere School GPDST Liverpool	185	512	27.51
Berkhamsted School	28	113	3.72
Berkhamsted School for Girls	34	94	4.68
Birkenhead High School GPDST	290	714	25.82
Birkenhead School	273	467	17.64
Bishop's Stortford College	55	338	8.99
Blackheath High School GPDST	108	323	15.93
Bloxham School, Banbury	26	160	7.32
Bolton School (Boys)	275	835	24.76
Bolton School (Girls)	276	767	20.59
Bootham School, York	35	153	9.65
Bradfield College, Reading	6	37	1.01
Bradford Girls Grammar	68	214	7.03
Bradford Grammar School	238	689	20.75
Brentwood School	136	439	8.84
Brighton and Hove High School GPDST	216	483	21.76
Brighton College	116	685	24.95
Bristol Cathedral School	151	424	28.54
Bristol Grammar School	291	835	21.96
Bromley High School GPDST	145	322	12.17
Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire	29	141	2.38
Bruton School for Girls	150	392	26.47
Burgess Hill School for Girls	34	122	4.21
Bury Grammar School (Boys)	220	586	25.06
Bury Grammar School (Girls)	255	642	22.42
Canford School, Wimborne	35	268	6.97
Carmel College, Wallingford	110	567	41.41
Casterton School, Cumbria	58	202	12.07
Caterham School	144	546	19.72
Central Newcastle High School GPDST	136	333	14.08
Charterhouse, near Godalming	10	68	1.11
Cheadle Hulme School	149	421	13.80
Cheltenham Ladies' College	35	207	3.92
Chigwell School	76	382	10.57
Christ's Hospital	41	263	5.10
Churcher's College, Petersfield	143	490	17.18

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
City of London Freemen's School, Ashtead	24	60	1.66
City of London School	151	679	16.17
City of London School for Girls	148	480	19.79
Clifton College, Bristol	70	418	6.16
Clifton High School, Bristol	62	215	7.97
Colfe's School, London SE12	221	650	19.82
Colston's Collegiate School, Bristol	101	470	14.76
Colston's Girls School	178	568	36.85
Coventry School, Bablake	150	586	21.61
Coventry School, King Henry VIII	147	268	9.49
Cranleigh School	46	218	4.89
Croham Hurst School, Croydon	35	116	7.23
Croydon High School GPDST	143	364	11.33
Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds	51	254	7.83
Dame Alice Harpur School	132	456	15.40
Dame Allan's Boys School, Newcastle	191	291	24.83
Dame Allan's Girls School	150	397	31.60
Dauntsey's School, Devizes	70	362	11.15
Denstone College, Uttoxeter	119	653	40.27
Derby High School	30	98	5.26
Douai School, Reading	35	168	17.33
Dover College	27	141	11.30
Downe House School, Newbury	34	141	3.59
Dulwich College	304	1,340	19.67
Durham School	50	274	11.21
Edgbaston C of E College for Girls	35	120	12.08
Edgehill College, Bideford	144	641	31.84
Ellesmere College	22	134	6.01
Eltham College, London SE9	126	495	15.42
Emanuel School, London SW11	338	1,178	41.29
Epsom College	39	147	4.03
Exeter School	170	551	20.78
Farnborough Hill School	244	450	27.62
Felsted School, Dunmow	63	383	9.32
Forest School, London E17	157	524	10.62
Framlingham College	23	124	2.99
Francis Holland School, London NW1	34	105	11.64
Friends School, Saffron Walden	106	496	26.42
Giggleswick School, Settle	30	121	5.84
Godolphin and Latymer School, London W6	191	734	24.69
Godolphin School, Salisbury	35	150	7.19
Gresham's School, Norfolk	10	85	1.52
Guildford High School for Girls	35	125	4.34
Haberdashers' Aske's School	253	855	17.56
Haberdashers' Aske's Schools for Girls	150	376	11.24
Haileybury and Imperial Service College	35	173	5.12
Hampton School	219	686	22.05
Harrogate Ladies' College	31	119	8.04
Headington School, Oxford	35	101	3.91
Heathfield School GPDST	21	43	3.16
Hereford Cathedral School	245	877	38.26
Highgate School	40	186	3.36
Hipperholme Grammar School	25	67	7.81
Holy Child School	30	135	10.68
Hulme Grammar, Boys, Oldham	220	620	26.13

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
Hulme Grammar, Girls, Oldham	220	533	29.91
Hurstpierpoint College, Hassocks	28	195	7.92
Hymers College, Hull	199	417	16.97
Ipswich High School GPDST	178	299	17.68
Ispwich School	80	301	10.35
James Allen's Girls School	180	708	15.71
John Lyon School, Harrow	118	433	21.36
Kent College, Canterbury	88	396	17.31
Kimbolton School, Cambridge	41	165	5.62
King Edward VI High School, Birmingham	185	396	25.87
King Edward VI School, Southampton	245	737	23.92
King Edward VII School, Lytham	244	576	47.05
King Edward's School at Bath	113	320	12.65
King Edward's School, Birmingham	300	783	28.12
King Edward's School, Witley	88	330	12.98
King's College School, Wimbledon	60	222	3.82
King's High School for Girls, Warwick	210	340	24.96
King's School, Bruton	31	186	9.06
King's School, Chester	122	234	14.80
King's School, Macclesfield	216	670	14.87
King's School, Rochester	66	283	9.68
King's School, Tynemouth	38	118	4.24
King's School, Worcester	203	731	18.52
Kingsley School	30	88	4.69
Kingston Grammar School	179	631	28.24
Kingswood School, Bath	47	181	9.67
Kirkham Grammar School	80	247	10.93
La Sagesse Convent School, Newcastle	181	536	35.08
Lady Eleanor Holies School, Hampton	85	170	5.48
Latymer Upper School, London W6	339	836	22.47
Laxton School	35	20	4.02
Leeds Girls High School	118	257	8.80
Leeds Grammar School	240	579	15.68
Leicester Grammar School	53	172	8.91
Leighton Park School, Reading	29	194	7.65
Leys School, Cambridge	37	266	9.29
Liverpool College	195	775	19.65
Lord Wandsworth College, Basingstoke	81	492	17.12
Loreto Convent Grammar School, Altrincham	96	95	4.76
Loughborough Grammar	130	345	13.27
Loughborough High School	104	231	17.77
Magdalen College School,
Oxford	145	375	24.37
Malvern College	113	725	13.49
Manchester Grammar School	290	816	18.57
Manchester High School	185	566	19.71
Marist Convent Senior School, Ascot	35	80	6.65
Maynard School, Exeter	185	573	31.92
Merchant Taylors' Girls, Liverpool	206	623	22.50
Merchant Taylors', Liverpool	231	691	26.65
Merchant Taylors' Northwood	100	406	11.46
Mill Hill School	88	412	14.45
Monkton Combe School, Bath	41	268	12.81

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
Mount Carmel School, Cheshire	35	109	6.38
Mount School, York	35	180	10.90
Mount St. Mary's College, Near Sheffield	71	309	24.57
Newcastle Under Lyme School, Staffordshire	474	964	30.05
Newcastle Upon Tyne Church High School	35	78	5.24
North London Collegiate School, Edgware	100	304	9.23
Northampton High School	208	564	19.11
Norwich High School GPDST	220	461	19.60
Norwich School	118	351	13.59
Notting Hill and Ealing High GPDST	136	344	14.66
Nottingham Girls High School GPDST	220	529	17.91
Nottingham High School	185	498	21.01
Oakham School, Rutland	33	160	3.25
Old Palace School, Croydon	255	682	28.30
Oxford High School GPDST	144	130	8.55
Pangbourne College, Reading	30	202	8.29
Perse School for Boys, Cambridge	66	128	6.17
Perse School for Girls	114	252	11.94
Plymouth College	226	810	22.83
Pocklington School, near York	160	615	21.36
Polam Hall School, Darlington	59	148	11.32
Portsmouth Grammar School	221	492	14.95
Portsmouth High School GPDST	175	337	18.54
Prior Park College, Bath	33	116	6.19
Putney High School GPDST	148	290	11.89
Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Blackburn	275	848	25.05
Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Wakefield	177	420	19.15
Queen Elizabeth Hospital School, Bristol	185	614	33.97
Queen Mary School, Lytham	269	607	33.43
Queen's College Taunton	70	312	9.38
Queen's College, London W1	80	381	21.31
Queen's School, Chester	81	152	9.15
Ratcliffe College, Leicestershire	82	362	16.29
Red Maids' College, Bristol	185	584	30.72
Redland High School, Bristol	102	342	15.96
Reed's School, Cobham	32	198	9.40
Reigate Grammar School	115	361	12.59
Rendcomb College, Cirencester	35	196	14.16
Repton School near Derby	63	429	11.62
Rossall School, Fleetwood	50	223	7.24
Royal Grammar School, Guildford	145	493	14.34
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle	375	480	20.28
Royal Grammar School, Worcester	298	914	29.09
Ryde School	24	99	3.65
Salesian College, Farnborough	130	173	17.02
Scarborough College	44	181	11.80
Sedbergh School	34	286	9.88
Sevenoaks School, Kent	41	153	3.30
Sheffield High School, GPDST	122	280	12.44
Shrewsbury High School GPDST	102	255	15.22

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
Silcoates School Sir William Perkins's	18	82	3.02
School, Chertsey	115	205	14.33
Solihull School	45	103	4.32
South Hampstead High School GPDST	80	245	8.19
St. Albans High School for Girls	80	172	7.98
St. Albans School	150	479	21.22
St. Ambrose College, Altrincham	109	136	6.20
St. Bede's College, Manchester	220	770	18.18
St. Bees School, Cumbria	77	438	25.77
St. Benedict's School, Ealing	81	309	13.13
St. Catherine's School, Bramley	62	137	4.91
St. Dunstan's College, Catford	185	646	19.35
St. Edmund's College, Ware	80	383	15.27
St. Edward's College, Liverpool	396	1,237	35.70
St. Felix School, Southwold	36	180	16.83
St. George's College, Weybridge	40	216	7.50
St. Helen and St. Katherine, Abingdon	114	198	15.19
St. Helen's School, Northwood	53	189	5.42
St. John's College, Southsea	202	603	28.43
St. John's School, Leatherhead	22	111	5.32
St. Joseph's College, Ipswich	81	294	11.48
St. Joseph's College, Stoke-on Trent	30	94	6.29
St. Joseph's Convent, Reading	150	470	38.18
St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate	36	209	9.84
St. Margaret's School, Bushey	31	134	7.49
St. Margaret's School, Exeter	36	128	8.43
St. Mary and St. Anne	32	183	10.88
St. Mary's College, Crosby	283	859	30.60
St. Mary's Hall, Brighton	73	387	17.68
St. Mary's School, Cambridge	145	333	21.36
St. Maurs Convent, Weybridge	79	237	11.39
St. Paul's Girls School, Hammersmith	80	312	11.57
St. Paul's School, Barnes	99	455	6.54
St. Peter's School, York	149	480	14.23
St. Swithun's School, Winchester	6	19	0.46
Stafford Independent Grammar School	30	97	10.10
Stamford High School	114	336	12.00
Stamford School	110	208	9.72
Stockport Grammar School	290	687	20.47

Assisted places scheme 1995–96 academic year
School name	APs offered	Cost £000s	Percentage of APs
Stonyhurst College, near Blackburn	38	215	9.51
Stowe School, near Buckingham	6	48	1.10
Streatham Hill and Clapham High GPDST	178	518	24.62
Surbiton High School	35	120	3.74
Sutton High School GPDST	92	212	9.33
Sutton Valence School, near Maidstone	78	428	26.71
Sydenham High School GPDST	136	428	19.35
Talbot Heath School, Bournemouth	179	525	24.47
Taunton School	52	312	5.62
Teesside High School	30	73	4.55
Tonbridge School	6	29	0.74
Tormead School, Guildford	35	104	4.50
Trent College, Derbyshire	136	608	19.57
Trinity School of John Whitgift, Croydon	150	549	17.49
Truro High School	80	273	18.68
Truro School	110	481	15.27
University College School, London NW3	80	348	8.44
Ursuline Convent School, Kent	35	147	8.56
Ursuline High School, Ilford	150	489	39.89
Wakefield High School	160	390	13.66
Walthamstow Hall, Sevenoaks	88	207	10.20
Warwick School	170	464	14.12
Wellingborough School	70	277	8.58
Wellington College, Berkshire	44	263	5.08
Wellington School, Somerset	241	812	30.21
Wells Cathedral School	78	322	9.81
West Buckland School, Barnstaple	85	368	15.22
Westholme School, Blackburn	37	125	3.66
Westminster School	64	362	9.24
Whitgift School, Croydon	114	459	10.27
William Hulme Grammar School	220	747	28.57
Wimbledon High School GPDST	80	227	8.98
Winchester College	25	142	3.13
Wisbech Grammar School	339	1,287	52.46
Withington Girls School, Manchester	111	217	14.31
Wolverhampton Grammar School	314	947	37.50
Woodbridge School, Suffolk	127	592	25.10
Woodhouse Grove School, Bradford	149	476	16.90
Worksop College, Nottingham	27	131	8.04
Wrekin College	15	75	5.81
Wycliffe College, Stonehouse	43	309	6.39
Yarm School	53	203	10.79

Attendance Database (Bolton)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will disseminate nationally as a model of good practice the pupil attendance database established by Bolton education authority; and if she will make a statement on (a) the correlation between the database and the child benefit register and (b) access by the local education authority to information concerning families claiming housing benefit. [15644]

Following a series of contacts with the local authority associations and other interested parties on issues raised by the West case, the Department has issued a consultative letter on tightening up procedures

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1991			1992			1993
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Corporation of London	1,766	2	0.1	1,773	2	0.1	1,795	5	0.3
Camden	25,475	480	1.9	26,649	525	2.0	27,541	609	2.2
Greenwich	37,411	1,069	2.9	38,085	1,092	2.9	38,182	1,122	2.9
Hackney	27,411	887	3.2	28,194	866	3.1	28,246	898	3.2
Hammersmith	19,181	583	3.0	19,352	554	2.9	19,601	573	2.9
Islington	22,688	559	2.5	23,537	598	2.5	23,295	639	2.7
Kensington and Chelsea	20,136	151	0.7	29,387	188	0.9	20,365	207	1.0
Lambeth	27,534	1,107	4.0	27,885	930	3.3	28,366	856	3.0
Lewisham	34,047	640	1.9	34,697	667	1.9	35,046	827	2.4
Southwark	34,630	633	1.8	35,750	680	1.9	36,788	730	2.0
Tower Hamlets	31.194	546	1.8	32,286	612	1.9	33,841	753	2.2
Wandsworth	30,379	1,097	3.6	31,217	968	3.1	32,304	1,094	3.4
Westminster	21,836	219	1.0	22,185	340	1.5	22,616	336	1.5
Barking	23,673	304	1.3	24,695	333	1.3	25,373	358	1.4
Barnet	47,418	550	1.2	48,411	557	1.2	48,850	666	1.4
Bexley	32,920	569	1.7	33,583	671	2.0	34,112	743	2.2
Brent	34,150	400	1.2	35,266	435	1.2	37,168	580	1.6
Bromley	40,735	775	1.9	41,574	783	1.9	43,202	876	2.0
Croydon	48,228	846	1.8	49,335	854	1.7	50,660	799	1.6
Ealing	45,108	670	1.5	45,615	745	1.6	45,378	919	2.0
Enfield	39,867	257	0.6	40,969	191	0.5	42,479	278	0.7
Haringey	29,297	243	0.8	30,359	346	1.1	31,106	451	1.4
Harrow	31,131	397	1.3	31,445	458	1.5	31,983	518	1.6
Havering	35,864	490	1.4	35,349	591	1.7	35,353	617	1.7
Hillingdon	36,103	552	1.5	36,625	542	1.5	37,753	532	1.4
Hounslow	33,215	999	3.0	33,787	964	2.9	34,493	1,023	3.0
Kingston upon Thames	20,793	348	1.7	21,129	405	1.9	21,623	407	1.9
Merton	24,486	403	1.6	25,197	448	1.8	25,980	491	1.9
Newham	38,303	688	1.8	39,095	705	1.8	40,266	729	1.8
Redbridge	35,249	288	0.8	36,557	481	1.3	38,043	540	1.4
Richmond upon Thames	23,933	346	1.4	24,326	386	1.6	25,040	443	1.8
Sutton	24,988	533	2.1	25,597	580	2.3	26.232	584	2.2
Waltham Forest	31,972	659	2.1	32,505	827	2.5	33,357	851	2.6
Birmingham	177,519	3,098	1.7	179,886	3,125	1.7	182,760	3,608	2.0
Coventry	50,777	934	1.8	51,459	930	1.8	52,194	988	1.9
Dudley	45,369	840	1.9	45,707	805	1.8	46,472	845	1.8
Sandwell	49,757	735	1.5	50,548	731	1.4	51,203	697	1.4

governing the transfer of pupil records and reports. My right hon. Friend will consider whether there is a case for disseminating any particular model of database, or any other example of good practice, in the light of the outcomes of that consultation.

Special Needs

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what were (a) the number and (b) the percentage of children with statements of special need (i) in each local education authority area in England and (ii) in Total, in each year since 1992. [15481]

The information requested is shown in the table and is taken from the Department's statistical bulletin 12/97.

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1991			1992			1993
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Solihull	34,475	509	1.5	35,359	607	1.7	36,329	643	1.8
Walsall	47,751	807	1.7	48,443	895	1.8	49,300	1,039	2.1
Wolverhampton	42,885	811	1.9	43,169	853	2.0	44,517	991	2.2
Knowsley	27,885	704	2.5	771	28,213	2.7	848	28,566	3.0
Liverpool	83,463	1,777	2.1	1,817	84,471	2.2	2,073	85,654	2.4
St. Helens	30,327	744	2.5	776	30,282	2.6	965	30,364	3.2
Sefton	49,475	1,093	2.2	1,110	49,859	2.2	1,195	50,388	2.4
Wirral	56,863	1,177	2.1	1,255	57,386	2.2	1,482	58,175	2.5
Bolton	46,458	677	1.5	642	46,825	1.4	811	47,480	1.7
Bury	28,777	720	2.5	796	29,182	2.7	892	29,854	3.0
Manchester	74,651	969	1.3	75,588	815	1.1	76,543	1,071	1.4
Oldham	41,687	793	1.9	42,416	897	2.1	42,913	869	2.0
Rochdale	35,451	787	2.2	35,454	621	1.8	35,977	751	2,1
Salford	36,879	377	1.0	37,211	485	1.3	37,883	477	1.3
Stockport	45,908	1,264	2.8	46,790	1,427	3.0	47,414	1,462	3.1
Tameside	35,403	692	2.0	35,959	778	2.2	36,722	976	2.7
Trafford	34,026	700	2.1	34,926	673	1.9	35,665	698	2.0
Wigan	49,508	1,252	2.5	49,506	885	1.8	49,944	1,465	2.9

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1994			1995			1996
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Corporation of London	1,833	2	0.1	1,839	0	0.0	1,827	2	0.1
Camden	27,996	684	2.4	28,535	837	2.9	29,127	955	3.3
Greenwich	38,267	1,157	3.0	38,454	1,369	3.6	39,021	1,391	3.6
Hackney	28,414	881	3.1	29,818	877	2.9	29,841	865	2.9
Hammersmith	19,692	581	3.0	20,136	662	3.3	19,965	703	3.5
Islington	24,051	752	3.1	24,832	827	3.3	25,183	887	3.5
Kensington and Chelsea	20,455	202	1.0	20,619	242	1.2	21,028	258	1.2
Lambeth	28,283	818	2.9	28,633	848	3.0	28,782	835	2.9
Lewisham	35,623	919	26	36,265	1,050	2.9	36,270	1,090	3.0
Southwark	38,533	785	2.0	38,766	929	2.4	38,888	1,029	2.6
Tower Hamlets	35,086	901	2.6	35,974	1,089	3.0	36,712	1,252	3.4
Wandsworth	33,050	1,148	3.5	33,941	1,220	3.6	35,037	1,288	3.7
Westminster	22,850	289	1.3	23,075	373	1.6	23,036	403	1.7
Barking	26,030	445	1.7	27,382	559	2.0	27,817	630	2.3
Barnet	49,514	748	1.5	50,722	915	1.8	51,193	972	1.9
Bexley	35,060	787	2.2	36,700	858	2.3	37,709	857	2.3
Brent	37,744	685	1.8	38,388	736	1.9	38,752	892	2.3
Bromley	45,256	1,029	2.3	46,504	1,221	2.6	47,589	1,426	3.0
Croydon	51,859	818	1.6	53,711	864	1.6	54,940	905	1.6
Ealing	45,567	1,034	2.5	46,642	755	1.6	47,841	876	1.8
Enfield	43,419	382	0.9	44,555	666	1.5	45,903	904	2.0
Haringey	32,043	539	1.7	33,312	627	1.9	34,406	821	2.4
Harrow	32,592	649	2.0	32,900	643	2.0	33,255	810	2.4
Havering	35,935	729	2.0	36,330	810	2.2	36,421	971	2.7
Hillingdon	38,578	888	2.3	39,672	1,135	2.9	40,781	1,207	3.0
Hounslow	35,220	1,034	2.9	35,801	1,012	2.8	36,188	1,007	2.8
Kingston upon Thames	22,205	473	2.1	22,641	507	2.2	23,100	551	2.4
Merton	26,619	573	2.2	27,000	551	2.0	27,512	708	2.6
Newham	41,028	381	2.0	43,588	990	2.3	44,625	1,121	2.5
Redbridge	39,140	617	1.6	39,554	676	1.7	40,978	718	1.8
Richmond upon Thames	25,663	434	1.7	26,121	497	1.9	26,778	482	1.8
Sutton	27,040	662	2.4	27,806	694	2.5	28,460	763	2.7
Waltham Forest	34,218	862	2.5	34,990	986	2.8	35,859	1,117	3.1
Birmingham	184,475	3,954	2.1	186,688	4,327	2.3	189,079	4,475	2.4
Coventry	52,680	1,049	2.0	53,180	1,084	2.0	53,453	1,152	2.2
Dudley	48,735	863	1.8	49,475	923	1.9	50,313	971	1.9
Sandwell	51,927	710	1.4	52,869	814	1.5	53,244	961	1.8
Solihull	37,119	693	1.9	38,268	746	1.9	39,145	775	2.0
Walsall	49,932	1,122	2.2	50,357	1,294	2.6	50,637	1,369	2.7
Wolverhampton	44,826	1,034	2.3	45,245	1,095	2.4	45,477	1,089	2.4
Knowsley	837	28,723	2.9	910	30,225	3.0	30,281	963	3.2
Liverpool	2,276	87,701	2.6	2,512	87,081	2.9	87,467	2,494	2.9

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1994			1995			1996
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
St. Helens	1,211	30,601	4.0	1,430	30,786	4.6	30,933	1,399	4.5
Sefton	1,384	51,020	2.7	1,468	51,960	2.8	52,279	1,495	2.9
Wirral	1,487	58,859	2.5	1,570	59,244	2.7	59,599	1,808	3.0
Bolton	899	48,334	1.9	1,054	49,081	2.1	49,768	1,234	2.5
Bury	967	30,557	3.2	1,042	31,188	3.3	31,882	1,041	3.3
Manchester	76,854	1,156	1.5	77,449	1,523	2.0	77,328	1,798	2.3
Oldham	43,513	615	1.4	43,941	607	1.4	44,198	628	1.4
Rochdale	36,542	759	2.1	36,958	876	2.4	37,420	832	2.2
Salford	38,550	666	1.7	39,602	723	1.8	40,006	668	1.7
Stockport	48,201	1,545	3.2	48,917	1,536	3.1	48,550	1,464	3.0
Tameside	37,600	949	2.5	38,308	1,034	2.7	38,803	1,048	2.7
Trafford	36,701	716	2.0	37,662	742	2.0	38,663	795	2.1
Wigan	50,621	1,719	3.4	51,015	1,933	3.8	51,321	2,112	4.1

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1991			1992			1993
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Barnsley	33,700	432	1.3	33,752	491	1.5	34,221	632	1.8
Doncaster	50,812	1,122	2.2	51,675	1,198	2.3	52,278	1,298	2.5
Rotherham	42,518	909	2.1	42,848	1,095	2.6	43,587	1,172	2.7
Sheffield	72,638	1,384	1.9	73,447	1,473	2.0	74,487	1,503	2.0
Bradford	88,304	1,155	1.3	89,861	1,123	1.2	92,063	1,317	1.4
Calderdale	33,261	454	1.4	33,679	456	1.4	34,345	506	1.5
Kirklees	63,122	1,347	2.1	63,628	1,455	2.3	64,240	1,583	2.5
Leeds	111,961	2,837	2.5	113,725	2,861	2.5	115,990	2,997	2.6
Wakefield	53,083	751	1.4	53,687	848	1.6	54,520	806	1.5
Gateshead	30,972	439	1.4	31,225	452	1.4	31,711	440	1.4
Newcastle upon Tyne	45,610	1,081	2.4	46,011	1,136	2.5	46,367	1,097	2.4
North Tyneside	31,963	806	2.5	32,257	893	2.8	32,620	954	2.9
South Tyneside	25,280	485	1.9	25,682	553	2.2	26,125	564	2.2
Sunderland	50,765	994	2.0	51,122	1,080	2.1	51,762	1,194	2.3
Isles of Scilly	285	0	0.0	285	0	0.0	282	1	0.4
Avon	146,887	3,188	2.2	149,357	3,253	2.2	151,664	3,559	2.3
Bedfordshire	91,734	1,656	1.8	93,252	1,777	1.9	95,048	2,100	2.2
Berkshire	126,551	2,430	1.9	127,448	2,897	2.3	128,493	3,190	2.5
Buckinghamshire	105,522	2,901	2.7	106,681	2,969	2.8	108,659	3,371	3.1
Cambridgeshire	104,505	1,821	1.7	106,076	1,751	1.7	107,607	1,893	1.8
Cheshire	159,960	3,815	2.4	160,405	3,969	2.5	162,217	4,215	2.6
Cleveland	102,308	2,239	2.2	103,767	2,181	2.1	104,718	2,278	2.2
Cornwall	70,717	1,887	2.7	71,254	2,076	2.9	72,407	2,463	3.4
Cumbria	76,692	1,866	2.4	77,123	2,038	2.6	77,872	2,592	3.3
Derbyshire	147,040	3,972	2.7	147,790	3,758	2.5	149,862	4,429	3.0
Devon	147,151	4,686	3.2	148,708	5,116	3.4	151,459	5,037	3.3
Dorset	92,913	1,898	2.0	93,682	2,029	2.2	95,282	2,203	2.3
Durham	96,845	1,576	1.6	98,148	1,782	1.8	99,214	2,070	2.1
East Sussex	94,797	2,292	2.4	96,091	2,358	2.5	98,284	2,696	2.7
Essex	228,740	4,432	1.9	229,755	4,234	1.8	231,780	4,623	2.0
Gloucestershire	83,136	1,234	1.5	83,643	1,558	1.9	85,011	1,814	2.1
Hampshire	224,906	5,947	2.6	226,686	6,072	2.7	230,973	6,810	2.9
Hereford and Worcester	106,503	1,374	1.3	107,057	1,430	1.3	107,726	1,977	1.8
Hertfordshire	167,789	3,474	2.1	169,753	3,639	2.1	172,273	3,963	2.3
Humberside	141,629	2,010	1.4	143,028	2,206	1.5	145,645	2,450	1.7
Isle of Wight	18,759	382	2.0	18,800	391	2.1	19,005	409	2.2
Kent	243,963	5,045	2.1	247,446	5,533	2.2	251,214	5,975	2.4
Lancashire	223,285	5,208	2.3	224,843	5,779	2.6	227,866	6,460	2.8
Leicestershire	144,845	2,305	1.6	146,193	2,634	1.8	148,013	2,973	2.0
Lincolnshire	88,905	2,123	2.4	2,323	89,967	2.6	2,567	91,813	2.8
Norfolk	107,913	2,786	2.6	108,875	2,818	2.6	110,573	3,121	2.8
North Yorkshire	108,553	2,156	2.0	109,866	2,222	2.0	112,214	2,356	2.1
Northamptonshire	100,293	1,656	1.7	101,669	1,737	1.7	103,060	1,817	1.8
Northumberland	50,315	946	1.9	51,228	977	1.9	52,155	1,093	2.1
Nottinghamshire	159,394	2,192	1.4	160,785	2,051	1.3	163,363	1,988	1.2
Oxfordshire	87,580	974	1.1	88,403	1,074	1.2	89,774	1,294	1.4
Shropshire	65,741	1,906	2.9	65,656	2,099	3.2	67,169	2,187	3.3

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1991 to 1993, January each year
	1991			1992			1993
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Somerset	71,507	1,541	2.2	72,253	1,597	2.2	73,260	1,751	2.4
Staffordshire	165,583	3,078	1.9	167,633	3,043	1.8	170,542	3,751	2.2
Suffolk	98,480	2,416	2.5	99,680	2,819	2.8	100,542	3,069	3.1
Surrey	152,032	4,130	2.7	152,303	4,414	2.9	153,063	4,705	3.1
Warwickshire	77,507	1,478	1.9	78,020	1,430	1.8	79,107	1,609	2.0
West Sussex	100,917	1,526	1.5	102,568	1,629	1.6	104,485	2,069	2.0
Wiltshire	84,017	2,736	3.3	85,328	2,964	3.5	87,914	3,138	3.6
England	7,536,603	153,228	2.0	7,626,159	160,759	2.1	7,748,678	178,029	2.3

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1994 to 1996, January each year
	1994			1995			1996
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
Barnsley	34,639	786	2.3	35,096	996	2.8	35,313	1,054	3.0
Doncaster	52,987	1,507	2.8	53,620	1,931	3.6	53,806	2,470	4.6
Rotherham	44,425	1,284	2.9	45,375	1,374	3.0	45,998	1,463	3.2
Sheffield	75,538	1,635	2.2	76,604	1,761	2.3	77,529	1,848	2.4
Bradford	93,499	1,577	1.7	94,595	1,639	1.7	94,884	2,076	2.2
Calderdale	34,734	591	1.7	35,383	679	1.9	35,726	821	2.3
Kirklees	65,795	1,952	3.0	66,532	2,113	3.2	66,928	2,244	3.4
Leeds	119,443	3,295	2.8	121,193	3,510	2.9	121,807	3,896	3.2
Wakefield	55,456	1,117	2.0	56,730	1,244	2.2	57,304	1,458	2.5
Gateshead	32,033	511	1.6	32,378	588	1.8	32,695	653	2.0
Newcastle
upon Tyne	46,507	1,241	2.7	46,901	1,259	2.7	46,843	1,260	2.7
North
Tyneside	32,814	994	3.0	33,309	1,035	3.1	33,294	1,015	3.0
South Tyneside	26,455	569	2.2	26,980	656	2.4	27,084	713	2.6
Sunderland	52,442	1,327	2.5	52,511	1,561	3.0	52,657	1,785	3.4
Isles of Scilly	291	0	0.0	283	4	1.4	265	4	1.5
Aaron	153,705	3,805	2.5	155,145	4,341	2.8	156,555	4,817	3.1
Bedfordshire	97,196	2,513	2.6	98,333	2,425	2.5	99,269	2,736	2.8
Berkshire	130,925	3,371	2.6	132,885	3,591	2.7	134,615	3,849	2.9
Buckinghamshire	110,372	3,592	3.3	112,555	3,336	3.0	114,247	3,703	3.2
Cambridgeshire	109,051	2,273	2.1	110,671	2,718	2.5	111,848	3,060	2.7
Cheshire	164,329	4,630	2.8	166,375	5,140	3.1	167,965	5,354	3.2
Cleveland	105,780	2,360	2.2	106,710	2,524	2.4	107,342	2,744	2.6
Cornwall	72,718	2,759	3.8	73,548	2,908	4.0	74,256	3,113	4.2
Cumbria	78,464	3,070	3.9	79,292	3,205	4.0	80,636	3,222	4.0
Derbyshire	151,995	4,810	3.2	154,152	5,251	3.4	156,541	5,360	3.4
Devon	153,703	5,317	3.5	156,946	5,338	3.4	158,983	5,497	3.5
Dorset	97,002	2,419	2.5	98,982	2,470	2.5	100,601	2,477	2.5
Durham	100,307	2,486	2.5	101,089	2,942	2.9	101,447	3,264	3.2
East Sussex	100,729	3,106	3.1	102,771	3,534	3.4	104,728	3,619	3.5
Essex	235,028	5,208	2.2	240,015	5,492	2.3	244,362	5,536	2.3
Gloucestershire	86,389	2,157	2.5	88,238	2,282	2.6	89,539	2,481	2.8
Hampshire	241,202	7,374	3.1	244,391	7,739	3.2	247,911	7,454	3.0
Hereford and Worcester	109,605	2,121	1.9	111,176	2,608	2.3	111,720	3,110	2.8
Hertfordshire	175,448	4,231	2.4	179,547	4,599	2.6	183,009	4,881	2.7
Humberside	147,616	2,719	1.8	149,402	3,222	2.2	151,089	3,352	2.2
Isle of Wight	19,173	313	1.6	19,415	487	2.5	19,581	594	3.0
Kent	255,085	6,513	2.6	259,604	7,256	2.8	262,785	7,844	3.0
Lancashire	231,773	7,183	3.1	235,187	7,815	3.3	237,413	8,472	3.6
Leicestershire	150,601	3,274	2.2	152,673	3,683	2.4	154,219	4,291	2.8
Lincolnshire	2,820	93,475	3.0	3,048	95,993	3.2	97,785	3,180	3.3
Norfolk	111,581	3,589	3.2	113,356	3,759	3.3	114,012	4,368	3.8
North Yorkshire	113,893	2,508	2.2	116,138	2,616	2.3	117,701	2,787	2.4
Northamptonshire	104,885	2,117	2.0	106,641	2,316	2.2	108,468	2,561	2.4
Northumberland	52,469	1,211	2.3	52,820	1,155	2.2	53,001	1,416	2.7
Nottinghamshire	166,054	1,896	1.1	168,405	1,932	1.1	170,543	2,011	1.2
Oxfordshire	91,819	1,646	1.8	94,184	1,875	2.0	95,946	2,157	2.2
Shropshire	68,547	2,288	3.3	69,875	2,449	3.5	70,881	2,662	3.8
Somerset	74,611	1,876	2.5	75,761	1,974	2.6	76,605	2,234	2.9
Staffordshire	172,827	3,806	2.2	175,101	4,543	2.6	177,041	4,864	2.7
Suffolk	101,885	3,149	3.1	103,934	3,049	2.9	104,967	3,473	3.3
Surrey	156,433	4,669	3.0	162,758	5,074	3.1	166,114	5,156	3.1
Warwickshire	80,023	1,773	2.2	81,038	1,771	2.2	81,933	2,006	2.4

Pupils with statements by local education authority area in England: 1994 to 1996, January each year
	1994			1995			1996
	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage	Total pupils	Pupils with statements	Percentage
West Sussex	106,535	2,409	2.3	108,797	2,598	2.4	110,297	3,129	2.8
Wiltshire	89,610	2,845	3.2	91,732	2,624	2.9	93,774	2,463	2.6
England	7,882,835	194,541	2.5	8,017,830	211,307	2.6	8,116,532	227,324	2.8

1. Figures are taken from schools' returns under the annual schools census. They include all nursery, primary, middle, secondary and special schools, city technology colleges and pupil referral units; including maintained, grant-maintained, non-maintained and independent schools.

2. The table shows numbers and percentages of pupils educated in schools in each LEA area. For any particular LEA, this will include pupils with statements placed by other LEAs, and exclude such pupils placed by the LEA in other areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many appeal hearings have been considered by the special educational needs tribunal (a) in respect of each local education authority in England and (b) in Total, in each year since the tribunal began operating. [15480]

The tribunal maintains records of the number of appeals registered-and decisions issued-rather than the number of appeal hearings.The number of appeals registered for individual LEAs is set out in the table: 1,092 appeals against decisions by English LEAs were registered in 1994–95 and 1,551 in 1995–96. Some 40 per cent. of all appeals registered to date have been withdrawn before a hearing.

Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996
	1994–95 Number of appeals	1995–96 Number of appeals
Avon¹	18	38
Barking and Dagenham	1	5
Barnet	23	25
Barnsley	2	4
Bedfordshire	20	29
Berkshire	20	27
Bexley	15	20
Birmingham	8	5
Bolton	4	3
Bradford	3	17
Brent	7	13
Bromley	1	7
Buckinghamshire	6	15
Bury	5	11
Calderdale	4	3
Cambridge	6	20
Camden	7	25
Cheshire	40	34
City of London	0	0
Cleveland¹	0	1
Cornwall	5	13
Coventry	2	1
Croydon	5	6
Cumbria	30	37
Derbyshire	4	5
Devon	13	19
Doncaster		5
Dorset	22	18
Dudley	13	14
Durham	0	8
Ealing	22	37
East Sussex	51	61
Enfield	7	6
Essex	44	72
Gateshead	0	1
Gloucestershire	18	10
Greenwich	12	20
Hackney	5	8

Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996
	1994–95 Number of appeals	1995–96 Number of appeals
Hammersmith and Fulham	3	9
Hampshire	62	52
Haringey	10	10
Harrow	12	6
Havering	2	12
Hereford and Worcester	5	26
Hertfordshire	20	34
Hillingdon	7	3
Hounslow	6	7
Humberside¹	58	53
Isle of Wight	0	3
Isles of Scilly	0	0
Islington	6	6
Kensington and Chelsea	4	5
Kent	38	56
Kingston upon Thames	3	13
Kirklees	5	8
Knowsley	1	0
Lambeth	6	10
Lancashire	15	20
Leeds	9	22
Leicestershire	6	26
Lewisham	5	25
Lincolnshire	8	19
Liverpool	7	14
Manchester	6	20
Merton	23	13
Newcastle upon Tyne	3	7
Newham	9	12
Norfolk	18	16
North Tyneside	4	9
North Yorkshire¹	10	11
Northamptonshire	11	12
Northumberland	2	1
Nottinghamshire	11	23
Oldham	1	0
Oxfordshire	7	8
Redbridge	14	13
Richmond upon Thames	12	14
Rochdale	0	9
Rotherham	3	3
Salford	1	2
Sandwell	0	4
Sefton	13	11
Sheffield	4	12
Shropshire	3	6
Solihull	7	14
Somerset	7	18
South Tyneside	1	0
Southwark	7	4
St. Helens	1	4
Staffordshire	23	25
Stockport	6	3
Suffolk	15	20
Sunderland	4	6
Surrey	25	38
Sutton	0	4

Appeals registered from 1 September 1994 to 31 August 1996
	1994–95	1995–96
Tameside	1	2
Tower Hamlets	0	0
Trafford	3	4
Wakefield	4	10
Walsall	5	7
Waltham Forest	6	9
Wandsworth	23	17
Warwickshire	10	13
West Sussex	22	33
Westminster	3	4
Wigan	2	0
Wiltshire	3	8
Wirral	10	18
Wolverhampton	1	2
¹ These figures include appeals registered against the new authorities created on 1 April 1996.

Employment Directions (Eu)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will list the directions relating to employment in force in the EU and indicate which are issued under the social chapter. [15990]

Fourteen directives relating to employment are currently in force in the EU. There are a number of other directives on health and safety at work.

Directives falling within the policy responsibilities of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment:

Council directive 75/117/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to the application of the principle of equal pay for men and women.

Council directive 76/207/EEC on the implementation of the principle of equal treatment for men and women as regards access to employment, vocational training and promotion, and working conditions.

Council directive 86/613/EEC on the application of the principle of equal treatment between men and women engaged in an activity, including agriculture, in a self-employed capacity, and on the protection of self-employed women during pregnancy and motherhood.

Directives falling within the policy responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade:

Council directive 75/129/EEC on the approximation of the laws of the member states relating to collective redundancies.

Council directive 77/187/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the safeguarding of employees' rights in the event of transfers of undertakings, businesses or parts of businesses.

Council directive 80/987/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to the protection of employees in the event of the insolvency of their employer.

Council directive 91/533/EEC on an employer's obligation to inform employees of the conditions applicable to the contract or employment relationship.

Council directive 92/56/EEC amending directive 75/129/EEC on the approximation of the laws of member states relating to collective redundancies.

Council directive 92/85/EEC on the introduction of measures to encourage the safety and health of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding-this directive includes provisions related to employment.

Council directive 94/104/EC concerning certain aspects of the organisation of working time.

Council directive 94/33/EC on the protection of young people at work.

*Council directive 94/45/EC on the establishment of a European works council or a procedure in community-scale undertakings and community-scale groups of undertakings, for the purposes of informing and consulting employees.

*Council directive 96/34/EC on the framework agreement on parental leave concluded by UNICE, CEEP and the ETUC.

Council directive 96/71/EC concerning the posting of workers in the framework of the provision of services.

Directives marked with an asterisk have been ' promulgated under the agreement on social policy, known as the social chapter, and are not, therefore, applicable to the UK.

Jobmatch Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what is the estimated annual cost of the national jobmatch scheme for under-25-year-olds. [15800]

In 1997–98, the jobmatch scheme will offer 4,000 opportunities at a cost of some £4.8 million

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of (a) the costs and (b) the numbers gaining if the jobmatch scheme for under-25-year-olds was available to those (i) unemployed for one year and (ii) unemployed for 26 weeks; and what is her estimate of the cost of reinstating bonus payments after 26 weeks in work. [15801]

To extend the availability of the jobmatch scheme to people under 25 who have been unemployed for one year would require some 10,000 opportunities at a cost of about £12 million; to extend it to those unemployed for 26 weeks would require up to 19,000 opportunities at a cost of some £23 million. To reinstate the additional payments in 1997–98 for young people unemployed for two years would cost about £300,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if Employment Service advisers will be authorised to issue a jobseeker's direction to a claimant aged 18 to 24 years directing him to apply for a part-time vacancy under the jobmatch scheme. [16124]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Terry Rooney, dated 17 February 1997:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about whether Employment Service Advisers have the authority to issue Jobseeker's Directions to 18 to 24 year old jobseekers for a part-time vacancy under Jobmatch. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of the Agency.

It may be helpful if I explain that the purpose of a Jobseeker's Direction is to make sure that jobseekers who may not be properly or effectively looking for work undertake a specific job search activity which will put them in a better position to find a job. A Jobseeker's Direction can fall into one of four categories:- those which underpin active jobsearch; referral to Employment Service (ES) programmes; other referrals to non ES programmes (eg Training for Work); and a personal direction related to behaviour/appearance. A Direction will only be given if the jobseeker has gone through the usual advisory interview process, and has not been influenced or persuaded to undertake a particular activity which is reasonable and will improve their chances of finding work.

It follows that an ES adviser would be able to issue a Jobseeker's Direction to a jobseeker aged 18–24, who has been employed for two years or more to apply for a part-time vacancy, which would qualify them for Jobmatch.

I hope this clarifies the position.

Jobseeker's Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many unemployed people receiving the jobseeker's allowance are involved in self-build schemes; how many have been refused the jobseeker's allowance because they have been deemed unavailable for work while involved in self-build schemes; and what is her estimate of (a) the cost and (b) the numbers who are aged (i) under 25 years and (ii) over 25 years from deeming availability during a period on a self-build project. [15830]

The Employment Service does not collect specific information about unemployed people who receive JSA and who participate in self-build schemes. It is not possible, therefore, to provide any of the estimates requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what estimate she has made of (a) the costs and (b) the numbers of under-25-year-olds gaining from (i) the abolition of the 16-hour rule for the jobseeker's allowance, (ii) introducing part-time availability for work to those undertaking part-time study under the 16-hour rule and (iii) removing the requirement on those in part-time study to give up a course if suitable work is available until such time as the course has ended. [15803]

We have made no such estimates. The evaluation of the workskill pilots, which we plan to introduce on 7 April 1997, is intended to provide some information of this kind.

Bridging Allowance

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many young people claimed the bridging allowance during 1995–96; what was the average period during which payments were made; and how many claims were refused, by reason for refusal. [15802]

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Leigh Lewis to Mr. Alan Howarth, dated 17 February 1997:

The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions about the number of young people claiming bridging allowance during 1995–96.

The Employment Service does not hold figures on the number of claims for Youth Training Bridging Allowance (YTBA) by young people; the average period during which payment is made; how many claims are refused or the reason for refusal.

The Employment Service does, however, record the Total number of young people in receipt of YTBA. In the period April 1995 to March 1996 the Total was 41,815.

I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

School Uniforms

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment which metropolitan cities have banned school uniforms from local education authority schools; when bans were originally enforced; and if she will make a statement. [16020]

Information about school uniform policies is not collected centrally. School governing bodies are free to decide for themselves whether their schools should have a uniform.

Teacher (Early Retirement)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what procedures are in place for auditing the cost to the teachers superannuation scheme of early retirements though ill health and for monitoring the causes of variations between local education authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health. [16099]

The teachers superannuation scheme is subject to an actuarial inquiry every five years, carried out by the Government Actuary's Department. Its report deals with the finances of the scheme and makes recommendations on the Total contributions payable by teachers and employers which will meet the cost of benefits-including early retirements-debited to the teachers superannuation account.We do not monitor the causes of variations between local authorities in the numbers of early retirements through ill health; each application is assessed on an individual basis.

Quantock School

To ask the Secretary of Education and Employment what action her Department has taken in response to the recent Office for Standards in Education report on Quantock school, Somerset; and if she will make a statement. [16121]

Officials have written to the school about the weaknesses identified in the recently published Ofsted report and have sought firm commitments within two months on remedial action. We will consider what further steps may be necessary in the light of the response.

Transport

Minimum Age Requirements

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the minimum age requirements enforced by his Department. [15922]

I will write to the hon. Member when the information he requests is available and place a copy of my reply in the Library.

Drink Driving

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his current estimate of the average number of people each week driving with illegal levels of alcohol; and what were the equivalent figures in 1987. [15841]

Information is not available in this form as drivers are tested only following an accident, or on suspicion of having consumed alcohol or of having committed a traffic offence in a moving vehicle.For several years, male drivers have been asked, in surveys conducted before the Department's Christmas drink-drive campaigns, if at any time in the previous week they had driven after having drunk six or more units of alcohol. In 1987, 7 per cent. admitted to doing this; by 1995, the latest year for which the figure is available, this had fallen to 4 per cent. The effect of consuming six units varies between individuals and circumstances and so this cannot be closely aligned with the legal limit. It does, however, give some indication of the trend.

Mv Derbyshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 10 February, Official Report, column 68, what financial arrangements have been made with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel; who will have editorial control over the programme; and if he will make a statement. [16039]

This is a matter for negotiation between Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Discovery Channel.

Attorney-General

Prosecution Guidelines

27.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Attorney-General's guidelines on the prosecution of offences were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement. [14437]

The Attorney-General's criteria for prosecution issued in 1983 were superseded in 1986 by the code for Crown prosecutors. This was last amended in 1994 to clarify the realistic prospect of conviction test and the public interest factors in favour of prosecution. The fundamental principles have remained unchanged throughout.

Asil Nadir

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the current position on the prosecution of Asil Nadir. [14431]

Asil Nadir stands indicted before the central criminal court on 13 counts of theft. The Crown is ready to proceed. Mr. Nadir should return to the country forthwith.

Government Property Lawyers

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the work of the Government property lawyers. [14438]

The Government Property Lawyers is an executive agency of the Treasury Solicitor's Department. It provides conveyancing and comprehensive lands advisory services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies in England and Wales. The conveyancing services include purchases of land and properties, sales of surplus land, leases of office buildings and various other land transactions. Further information about the work of the agency is obtainable from the annual report and accounts 1995–96, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Albania

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for democracy in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15780]

There has been significant progress in democracy in Albania in recent years. However, Council of Europe reports make it clear that deficiencies remain. We continue to press the Albanian Government both bilaterally and through the EU for improvements in democratic practices and for the involvement of all parties in the process of constitutional reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist to ensure that payments from the know-how fund and other aid funds to Albania are used effectively and are not subject to any corrupt practices; and if he will make a statement. [15784]

The know-how fund provides support for Albania by funding the costs of British expertise, or know-how, for specific projects. The fund closely monitors and evaluates all its projects, both as they are running and after they are complete. In this way, it can ensure that the projects are correctly and cost-effectively implemented and have achieved their objectives. The fund also employs independent consultants to assess the success and impact of the projects it funds.Other British aid funds to Albania come from the emergency aid department of the Overseas Development Administration. In 1996–97 its support has so far consisted of a single grant of £100,000 to a World Health Organisation programme for prevention of poliomyelitis. This programme was evaluated in January 1997 by an EMAD staff member and found to be satisfactory.For EC programmes, to which we also contribute, there are separate procedures, agreed by the member states, for ensuring that funds are correctly spent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Albanian authorities about the conduct of the Albanian police in dealing with recent public protests; and if he will make a statement. [15778]

We are appalled by the violence used by both police and demonstrators in Vlora. We have made clear our views to the Albanian authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the (a) role and (b) profits of United Kingdom consultancy firms in Albania; and if he will make a statement. [15779]

There are a number of UK consultancies active in Albania, working under contract to a variety of organisations. We do not hold information on their respective profits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the contribution of smuggling to the Albanian economy; and if he will make a statement. [15781]

There are no reliable estimates of the effect of smuggling on the Albanian economy. Our aim is to see a prosperous and stable Albania. We therefore strongly support the work of the International Monetary Fund, which has implemented an economic reform programme in Albania.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received about the level of pyramid selling in Albania; when he expects that problem to be resolved; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government are making to resolving the problem. [15783]

Albanian media reports suggest that 50 to 70 per cent. of the population may have invested money in pyramid schemes. The problem is therefore unlikely to be resolved quickly. The United Kingdom has offered technical expertise through the UK know-how fund to help the Albanian Government. With our EU partners, we are considering whether there is a role for the EU.

European Institutions (Running Costs)

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his current estimate of the annual running costs of (a) the European Commission, (b) the European Parliament, (c) the European Court of Justice and (d) other EU institutions. [15727]

The running costs of EU institutions in 1995, 1996 and 1997 are as follows:

	1995	1996	1997
Commission	2,538.6	2,696.7	2,798.1
Parliament	832.1	802.7	887.2
Council	306.2	307.0	320.3
Court of Justice	112.9	169.7	123.1
Court of Auditors	50.0	56.2	57.7
Economic and Social Committee	25.0	27.6	27.9
Committee of the Regions	10.5	16.1	15.6

	1995	1996	1997
Joint organisational structure (supports the Economic and Social Committee of the Regions)	49.8	52.6	53.8

All figures are commitments in mecu and are rounded to the nearest 0.1 mecu. The 1995 figures are taken from the Court of Auditors annual report concerning the financial year 1995. The 1996 and 1997 figures have been taken from the general budget of the European Union for these years.

Un Rapid Deployment Brigade

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will support the joint appeal by the Foreign Ministers of Canada, Denmark and the Netherlands for the creation of a UN rapid deployment brigade; and if he will make a statement. [15825]

We welcome this initiative. We are, however, concerned that earmarking specific troops for the proposed force would place restrictions on our ability to provide the most appropriate UK contribution in a particular UN operation. We would also be concerned about the possible effect on our other operational responsibilities.We support the UN Secretary-General's standby force planning arrangements, under which UN member states declare the forces and assets they are prepared to provide on a case-by-case basis. We have provided the UN secretariat with detailed information on UK forces we might make available, and have encouraged others to do the same.

Sudan

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to assist the combatant parties in Sudan to reach a negotiated settlement which provides for self-determination for the southern population; what measures he has taken to date to assist the peace process; and if he will make a statement. [15794]

We have fully supported the peace initiative of the intergovernmental authority for development. The declaration of principles produced under that initiative included the right of self-determination for southern Sudan. In our frequent contacts with the parties, we continue to urge a negotiated end to the war.

Israel

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of Israel's compliance with the EU-Israel association agreement. [16110]

The EU-Israel association agreement is not yet in force. When it is in force, the association committee to be established under article 70 and to be made up of officials representing both parties will be responsible for the implementation of the agreement. Any major issues arising under the agreement will be examined by the association council to be established under article 67 with representatives from both parties which will meet at ministerial level. It has the power to take decisions binding on the parties for the purpose of attaining the objectives of the agreement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the compliance of the Israeli authorities with the EU's Dublin declaration relating to the immediate lifting of the blockade in Palestine. [16123]

There has been some increase in the number of permits available for Palestinians to work in Israel. We will continue to press for freer passage for Palestinian goods. We welcome the parties' renewed commitment to tackle outstanding issues from the interim agreement, such as the opening of Gaza airport and the construction of Gaza port. With our full backing, the EU special envoy to the peace process has begun a constructive dialogue with both sides on how to remove the remaining problems.

China

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions Her Majesty's Government have had with the Government of China concerning their contributions to global warming; and if he will make a statement. [15946]

We are in regular discussion with all countries, including China, which are part of the negotiating process to mitigate climate change under the framework convention on climate change. We have urged all countries to contribute to a successful outcome to the third conference of the parties at Kyoto in December, and have proposed that developed countries should take the lead by reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 5 to 10 per cent. below 1990 levels by 2010.

Northern Ireland

Terrorism

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons have been (a) murdered and (b) injured in (i) Roman Catholic and (ii) Protestant places of worship by terrorists in Northern Ireland since 1968. [13848]

The information regarding murders is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The information requested on injuries is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholic maintained schools, (b) Roman Catholic churches, (c) controlled schools, (d) Protestant church properties and (e) Orange halls have been attacked in each year since 1968 in Northern Ireland. [13846]

The information is not held in precisely the format requested and is not available for the full period requested.The information that is available is as follows:

(a), (c) Attacks on School Property
1994: 23
1995: 39
1996: 60.

(b), (d) Attacks on Church Property
1994: 20
1995: 52
1996: 53.

(e) Attacks on Orange Halls
1990: 6
1991: 11
1992: 17
1993: 12
1994: 8
1995: 42
1996: 32.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many (a) Roman Catholic churches and (b) Protestant churches have closed in each year since 1968 because of terrorist attack in Northern Ireland. [13847]

The information requested is not available.

Newcastle Disease

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease had been given the vaccine prior to contamination; and if he will make a statement. [13606]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: None of the birds involved in the recent outbreak of Newcastle disease in Northern Ireland had been given vaccine prior to becoming infected with the disease.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of (a) chickens and (b) turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland are currently vaccinated against Newcastle disease; and if he will make a statement. [13603]

[holding answer 31 January 1997]: Vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease is normally prohibited in Northern Ireland.Following an outbreak of the disease on a broiler production unit near Lurgan, County Armagh on 7 February 1997, ring vaccination has been carried out by the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland within a 10 km zone of the infected premises: 52,000 chickens-0.35 per cent. of chickens in Northern Ireland-and 2,000 turkeys-0.50 per cent. of turkeys on farms in Northern Ireland-were vaccinated.

Arthur Andersen

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the current status of his Department's litigation against Arthur Andersen over the demise of DeLorean Motors. [14811]

The Department of Economic Development legal action against Arthur Andersen and Company in the US remains. The judge in the case has decided, following a hearing in New York on 28 and 29 October 1996, to dismiss the Department's federal law claims and transfer the common law claims to state court. The Department is considering whether to appeal this judgment.

Gun Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many letters he has received concerning the proposed changes in gun laws; how many and what proportion (a) favoured and (b) did not favour the complete banning of handguns; and if he will make a statement about the time scale for his proposals as regards the law in Northern Ireland. [14837]

To date a Total of 96 letters has been received about the possible implications for Northern Ireland of the Government's proposals for firearms reform in Great Britain following Lord Cullen's report. Of these, two-2.8 per cent.-were in favour of and 90–93.75 per cent.-were opposed to a Total ban on handguns. A further four letters were received which were of a simple inquiry nature. The Secretary of State has yet to decide what reforms he would like to see introduced but, on current plans, it remains his intention to have the amending legislation in place during the latter part of the 1997–98 parliamentary Session.

Private Finance Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which projects have been given private finance initiative approval; which projects have been authorised to seek PFI funding; which projects are being considered as suitable for PH funding; and if he will make a statement on the progress of the PFI in Northern Ireland. [15321]

The private finance initiative in Northern Ireland is beginning to gather momentum. NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office are committed to making the maximum use of private finance opportunities, and have appointed appropriate personnel to advance the initiative as effectively as possible within their own programmes. Projects approved under the private finance initiative to date include a contract energy services scheme at Holywell hospital, car parking facilities at the Royal group of hospitals, and leasing of medical and other equipment. All capital projects are required to consider private finance solutions, details of projects which are currently under consideration for PFI are given in the table.

	Project
Bangor and Kinnegar sewerage treatment works	Design, build, finance and operate
Hydro electric project	Hydro electric scheme
Westlink urban motorway	Design, build, finance and operate
Motorway emergency telephone system	Replace and operate system
Strangford ferry	Replace ferry
Holywood road, social security office	Government office accommodation
Hydebank	Government office accommodation
DVTA vehicle testing project	Vehicle testing and information technology
Land registry IT system	Computerisation
Planning service IT system	Computerisation
Antrim bus station/library	Bus station/library
Ulsterbus/Citybus	Bus replacement

	Project
Northern Ireland railways	Class 80 rolling stock replacement
Ulster folk and transport museum	Visitors centre
North west institute of further and higher education	Additional teaching accommodation
Belfast institute of further and higher education	Additional teaching accommodation
St. Genevieve's high school	New accommodation
Drumglass high school	New accommodation
Wellington college	Refurbishment
Balmoral high school	Refurbishment
Ulster hospital	Extension/refurbishment
Downe hospital	New block/refurbishment
Belfast city hospital	New renal dialysis facilities
Belfast city hospital	Car park facilities on site
Causeway hospital	Contract energy services
Daisy Hill hospital	Renal dialysis facilities
Craigavon area hospital	Contract energy services
Clinical waste disposal	Development of clinical waste facility
Royal group of hospitals	Theatres and intensive care equipment
T and EA IT system	Computerisation

In addition to the projects listed on the table, the Department of Education is also undertaking a market sounding study of its schools estate in order to assess the wider potential for PFI in respect of more than 100 high-priority schools projects.

Farm And Countryside Enhancement Scheme

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what payments have been made in respect of each of the approved applications for the farm and countryside enhancement scheme. [15468][Mr. Ancram: None of the applications received has been approved and no payments have been made under the farm and countryside enhancement scheme.

Health Clinic Facilities (Armagh)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what public funds are involved in the proposed purchase of Thompson's egg store, Dobbin street, Armagh, to provide additional health clinic facilities; and if he will make a statement; [15471](2) what plans he has to sell the doctors' health clinic at Dobbin street, Armagh; and if he will make a statement. [15472]

Responsibility for the subjects in these questions has been delegated to Health Estates under its chief executive, Mr. R. H. Browne. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from R. H. Browne to Mr. John D. Taylor, dated 14 February 1997:

I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions to the Secretary of State regarding plans to sell the health centre at Dobbin Street Lane, Armagh and the use of public funds in the purchase of Thompson's Egg Store, Armagh.

Whilst no formal approach has been made, it is understood that the general practitioners who operate from the health centre are interested in buying the property. In the event of an approach being received from the general practitioners, the property would be offered to them at a price negotiated by the Valuation and Lands Agency. The sale would be conditional upon a lease-back arrangement in respect of the accommodation occupied by staff of Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust.

As regards Thompson's Egg Store, I am not aware of any proposal, involving public funds, to purchase the store for the provision of additional health facilities.

I hope you find this information helpful.

Queen's University (Student Intake)

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many children progressed from each (a) controlled, (b) maintained and (c) other schools to Queen's university in (i) 1994, (ii) 1995 and (iii) 1996. [15473]

The last educational institutions attended by Northern Ireland domiciled first year full-time undergraduate students aged under 21 were as follows:

	1994–95	1995–96	1996–97
Controlled schools	449	461	n/a
Maintained schools	128	113	n/a
Other schools	1,281	1,390	n/a
FE/unknown/other	362	377	n/a
Total	2,220	2,341	-

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many students went to Queen's university from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Great Britain, (c) the Republic of Ireland and (d) elsewhere in each of the last three years. [15474]

The information for full-time undergraduate students is as follows:

Domicile	1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
Northern Ireland	2,557	2,494	2,642
Great Britain	68	52	104
Republic of Ireland	201	200	275
Elsewhere	157	171	241
Total	2,983	2,917	3,262

Union Flag

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown at the Department of Agriculture, the Mall, Armagh city on 6 February; if a Union flag has been provided for this public building; if a schedule of dates for flying the Union flag has been advised to the staff; if the person responsible was prepared to carry out this duty; and if he will make a statement. [15573]

I regret that the Union flag was not flown on the day of Her Majesty's accession. This building was completely refurbished recently and reoccupied by new staff who were unable to trace the original flag which had been moved to another location. A flag has been ordered, a list of dates for flying the flag provided and arrangements are now in place to have a person responsible for carrying out this duty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Union flag was not flown at the Department of Agriculture, 2 Newry road, Armagh city on 6 February; if a Union flag has been provided for this public building; if the schedule of dates for flying the Union flag has been advised to the staff; if the person responsible was prepared to carry out this duty; and if he will make a statement. [15572]

I regret that the Union flag was not flown on the day of Her Majesty's accession due to an oversight. A Union flag is available for the building and a list of dates had been advised. The person responsible is prepared to carry out the duty and steps have been taken to ensure that the mistake is not repeated.

Raising School Standards Initiative

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the schools which (a) have participated and (b) are participating in the raising school standards initiative; and if he will make a statement. [16006]

The information has been placed in the Library.

Wales

Job Creation

11.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made to define specific targets for the Welsh Development Agency and other bodies involved in the creation of new jobs in Wales, to secure a larger number of job opportunities in the western parts. [14451]

I have already announced that I will be setting new and far more demanding targets for jobs outside the eastern M4 and A55 corridors.

18.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the number of jobs created by inward investment since 1979. [14458]

Since April 1983, when the Welsh Development Agency began a database of investment into Wales, more than 59,000 new jobs have been promised by overseas-generated projects.

19.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many jobs have been (a) created and (b) safeguarded since 1992; and what estimate he has made of the number of jobs to be created in the next financial year as a result of Government policies to assist (i) employment creation and (ii) inward investment. [14459]

The information is not available in the form requested. On the basis of projects involving regional selective assistance since April 1992, firms have forecast some 43,000 new jobs to be created and 19,800 safeguarded. Of these, more than 22,500 new jobs and 12,600 safeguarded jobs involve overseas-owned firms.

Hospital Admissions (Suspension)

12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh hospitals have had to suspend non-emergency admissions in the past three months. [14452]

I understand that 15 Welsh hospitals have closed at different times to non-emergency admissions since the beginning of November.I have been impressed by the way in which health authorities and trusts have worked together to minimise the impact of medical emergency admissions on elective cases. This is a significant improvement over previous years.

Job Insecurity

13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of job insecurity in Wales. [14453]

In spring 1996, according to the labour force survey, 8.3 per cent. of Welsh employees were in temporary employment.

Activity Centres (Safety)

14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement regarding the implementation of the Activity Centres (Young Person's Safety) Act 1995 in Wales. [14454]

During the transitional period for inspecting and licensing existing providers, Tourism Quality Services Ltd., the designated licensing authority, will be carrying out inspections of all operators on Wales falling within the scope of the Act. Good progress is being made and Tourism Quality Services is on course to complete its inspections by 1 October.

Roads Expenditure

16.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much has been spent by his Department on (a) motorways and (b) major trunk roads in Wales in each of the past five years, at constant prices. [14456]

Separate figures for motorways and major trunk roads are not available. Total expenditure on motorways and trunk roads in Wales in each of the past five years at 1995–96 prices was:

	£ million
1991–92	151.0
1992–93	188.0
1993–94	208.2
1994–95	199.4
1995–96	193.8

Devolved Government

17.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received on the introduction of devolved government in Wales; and if he will make a statement. [14457]

Eleven since the beginning of January 1996, the majority being against the creation of a Welsh Assembly.

Unemployment

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent measures he has taken to reduce unemployment in Wales. [14455]

I have set-and continue to set-challenging job creation targets for the various Government agencies in Wales. These targets are being met or exceeded.

Technical Advice

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the (a) individuals and their relevant work establishment and (b) organisations which were sent copies of each of the draft technical advice notes which his Department has published for consultation; if he will list those which have submitted responses to date; and if he will make a statement; [15239](2) if he will list the

(a) individuals and their relevant work establishment and (b) organisations who were sent copies of each of the technical advice notes which his Department has now published; if he will list those that submitted responses; and if he will make a statement. [15240]

The following lists have been placed in the Library of the House:

1. Planning Guidance (Wales), Technical Advice Notes (Wales). Recipients of consultation.

2. Planning Guidance (Wales), Technical Advice Notes (Wales). Recipients (1) of published advice notes. There have been no responses to the published documents.

3. Respondents to the public consultation versions of the published advice notes 1–8.

4. Respondents to date, to the public consultation exercise on advice notes 9–23. This public consultation exercise ends on 21 February 1997.

5. Consultees on advice notes on "Planning and the Historic Environment: Historic Buildings and Conservation Areas" and "Planning and the Historic Environment: Archaeology" (2).

(ii) Respondents to the consultation.

(iii) Recipients of the published circulars (1).

Note:(1) Those to whom copies were sent by the Welsh Office.(2) These advice notes were published by Cadw as circulars.

St Asaph Business Park

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the original targets set for (a) the number of units, (b) the acreage of land and (c) the number of jobs created in respect of the St. Asaph business park; what percentage of these targets have been met; what has been the cost of the business park; and what funding has been received from European grant aid. [16109]

This is an operational matter for the Welsh Development Agency. I have asked the agency's acting chief executive to write to the hon. Member with the details requested and I shall arrange for a copy of the reply to be placed in the Library of the House.

Welsh Development Agency

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) of 3 February, Official Report, columns 517–18, what part of the additional expenditure under the (a) industry and (b) other sub-heads expenditure in (i) 1997–98 and (ii) 1998–99 will count towards the eligible expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency under its (1) approved and (2) proposed financial limits. [16198]

The planned additional expenditure that will count towards the eligible expenditure of the Welsh Development Agency shown in the table that I provided on 3 February 1997, Official Report, columns 517–18, is as follows:

	1997–98 £ million Cash prices	1998–99 £ million Cash prices
Industry	44.7	82.4

It is expected that there will be sufficient headroom for the 1997–98 provision to be accommodated within the current financial limit. However, the limit will need to be raised to accommodate the 1998–99 provision.

Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996; and if he will make a statement. [14446]

The Government intend to bring the Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 into force on 1 April 1997. The implementation of the Act will be monitored as part of the Department's general monitoring of community care.

Environment

Water Pollution

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list (a) the location of and (b) the number of fish killed in each of the (i) category 1 and (ii) category 2 pollution incidents caused by each of the water and sewerage companies in 1995; [14979](2) how many fish were killed in

(a) category 1 and (b) category 2 pollution incidents caused by the water and sewerage companies in each year from 1989 to 1995. [14980]

[holding answer 10 February 1997]: I have arranged for the relevant details of category 1 and 2 water pollution incidents which occurred in 1995 and were attributed by the Environment Agency to water and sewerage companies in each agency region to be placed in the Libraries of the House. Data are not available on the numbers of fish killed as a result of incidents that took place before 1995.

Nuclear Waste

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new documentation will be considered in the extended period of evaluation announced on 5 February, in respect of the Nirex application to contract a rock characterisation facility at Longlands farm, Gosforth, in Cumbria; if he proposes the inspector at the public inquiry on the RCF should review this new documentation; and if he will make a statement. [15448]

Before reaching a decision on the planning appeal concerning this application I am considering the evidence brought to my attention which is relevant. I am also considering how any relevant evidence should be reviewed.

Commission For The New Towns (Corby)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the Total sum realised by the sale of assets by the Commission for the New Towns in Corby for each year since 1979–80. [15733]

The Commission for the New Towns took over from the Corby new town development corporation in 1980. The Total sum realised by the sale of assets in Corby each year since then is as follows:

Year	Amount £ million
1980–81	0.913
1981–82	0.557
1982–83	5.723
1983–84	2.495
1984–85	1.470
1985–86	1.772
1986–87	4.220
1987–88	10.249
1988–89	17.410
1989–90	38.087
1990–91	7.541
1991–92	2.498
1992–93	0.558
1993–94	0.368
1994–95	9.507
1995–96	1.943
Total	105.311

Local Authority Employees (Northamptonshire)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by each local authority in Northamptonshire (a) full time and (b) part time in each year since 1992. [15732]

The information is given in the table.The levels of employment in individual authorities are not directly comparable because of variations in population structure, social characteristics, hours worked by part-time staff, and the extent to which they use private firms and contractors or act as agents for other authorities.

Numbers employed directly by local authorities in Northamptonshire: (excluding Law and Order) At June of each year
	1992		1993		1994		1995		1996
Authority	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Northamptonshire²	8,911	10,262	7,640	9,707	¹-	¹-	7,247	10,088	¹-	¹-
Corby	613	133	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	527	130	505	114
Daventry	315	86	312	89	344	96	311	128	315	111
East Northamptonshire	203	57	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-
Kettering	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	¹-	365	190	363	235
Northamptonshire	1,518	151	1,429	255	1,396	180	1,351	299	1,343	311
South
Northampton	342	43	336	74	334	63	294	109	267	53
Wellingborough	383	119	346	116	339	112	325	111	308	108
Source:
Joint Staffing Watch.
1996 figures are provisional.
¹ Data not available.
² In making comparisons between years it should be noted that staffing levels within county councils have been affected by (a) the removal of further education institutions from the local authority sector and (b) local authorities taking on responsibility for Community Care. Both these changes took place from April 1993.

Environment Agency (Prosecutions)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the prosecutions carried out in England and Wales by the Environment Agency for waste offences, in each month since 1 April 1996, indicating (a) the person or company prosecuted, (b) the date and outcome of the prosecution, (c) the nature of the offence and (d) the penalty imposed. [15671]

Data relating to prosecutions by the Environment Agency for waste offences are not yet held centrally, although detailed records are held at a local level.The agency does, of course, recognise the need to collate and manage its data effectively and has already taken significant steps towards drawing up a coherent national policy on data management, addressing the many disparate data collection and information systems inherited by the agency on 1 April 1996. It is also considering a number of policy options that will enable information relating to all of its enforcement activities to be made fully available. As I said in my answer of 16 October 1996,

Official Report, columns 1045–46, when data on waste offences are centrally available I will write to the hon. Member about it.

Global Warming

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what sums were provided to institutions and research bodies in connection with research and information on global warming in the most recent year for which figures are available; and what amount is planned to be spent in the coming year. [15945]

In 1996–97, the Department of Environment is providing about £14.5 million to institutions and research bodies for research and information specifically related to climate change. A similar amount is likely to be spent in the coming financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's current estimates of global temperature rises over the 1951 to 1980 average; and if he will list the sources of research from which the estimates are drawn. [15947]

The global temperature in 1996 was 0.265 deg. C above the 1951 to 1980 average; this was the eighth warmest year since instrumental records began in 1860.The global temperature in 1995 was 0.425 deg. C above the 1951 to 1980 average; this was the warmest year since instrumental records began.These data are compiled from observations made at more than 1,000 land meteorological stations and a similar number of ships and buoys around the world; analysis of the data is undertaken by the UK Meteorological Office, which supplied those statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have been held within the European Council on the European contribution to global warming; and if he will make a statement. [15944]

The Environment Council regularly discusses climate change issues, including the sources and scale of European greenhouse gas emissions and the action which should be taken under the framework convention on climate change to counter the threat of climate change.

Factory Shop Complex (Ashford)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the next stage of the proposed factory shop complex in Ashford. [15707]

We are considering the representations made on this matter and hope to issue our decision as soon as possible.

Estate Action Schemes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the forecast level of local authority matching funding contribution required by the Department of the Environemnt in 1997–98 and the next two financial years to fund estate action schemes. [15888]

The phasing of estate action grant by scheme in 1997–98 and the next two years-and hence the phasing of local authorities' required contributions to schemes-is currently being finalised. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the requested figures are available.

Local Government Finance

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answers of 13 January, Official Report, columns 98–100, and 11 December 1996, Official Report, columns 213–14, if he will now update the answers based on the final local government financial settlement for 1997–98. [15952]

I have place in the Library a table for standard spending assessment plus police grant for all local authorities and a table showing the adjustments made to the 1996–97 amounts.The remaining tables, for Total standard spending and aggregate exchequer finance for the main local authority groups, Total external support for individual authorities, and for regional analyses, will be placed in the Library shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each individual local authority and class of local authority in England at 31 March 1996 (a) the Total value of fixed assets, (b) the long-term and temporary external debt outstanding and (c) the value of fixed assets net of Total external debt ranked by the value of fixed assets net of external debt. [15852]

I have today placed the information requested in the Library of the House.

Climate Change Convention

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to submit a report to the United Nations, setting out the United Kingdom's progress in meeting its commitments under the UN framework convention on climate change; and if he will make a statement. [16443]

I intend to publish, tomorrow, the United Kingdom's second report under the framework convention on climate change, "Climate Change, the UK Programme", copies of which will be placed in the Library of the House.

Rough Sleeping

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to encourage local authorities to assess levels of rough sleeping in their areas and to develop strategies to tackle any problem that they identify. [16303]

Under the rough sleepers initiative, my Department has encouraged and assisted head counts of people sleeping rough in a number of areas. Following the Government's announcement in March 1996 that they would continue the rough sleepers initiative in central London and extend it to Bristol, my Department commissioned Shelter to co-ordinate evaluations of the level of rough sleeping in 23 areas where some evidence of a problem had been mentioned in consultation with local authorities and other statutory and voluntary sector agencies. The evaluations were conducted during June and July 1996 and Shelter's report to the Department informed the Government's decisions, announced on 31 October, Official Report, column 187, to expand the rough sleepers initiative in London and extend it to Brighton; and to offer financial support from a new rough sleepers revenue fund for strategies to tackle rough sleeping in 10 other areas.As part of that announcement, I said that the Department would publish guidance to help all local authorities to assess the extent of rough sleeping in their areas and to develop effective strategies to help people sleeping rough. I am pleased to announce publication today of that guidance, which is being made available free to all housing authorities and voluntary sector agencies working with people sleeping rough. Copies have been placed in the Library.My Department's housing strategies guidance to local authorities advises them that they should aim to make it unnecessary for anyone to sleep rough within their area and that they should aim to provide a strategic framework of assistance covering all the agencies involved in meeting the needs of single homeless people, including people sleeping rough. That guidance advises local authorities to consider undertaking a count of rough sleepers to assist in assessing local needs. I hope that local authorities for areas in which rough sleeping problems exist will make use of the more detailed guidance published today. The Government will consider extending funding under the rough sleepers initiative and the rough sleepers revenue fund to areas where the guidance has been followed, where major rough sleeping problems have been demonstrated and where local authorities take a lead in developing joint statutory and voluntary sector strategies to tackle rough sleeping.

Minerals Compensation Regulations

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the results of public consultation on new minerals compensation regulations; and if he will make a statement. [16305]

Public consultation on the new minerals compensation regulations closed on 24 January. Thirty-three responses were received by my Department. A summary of the key points has been placed in the House Library together with the Government response. The regulations have been laid before Parliament today and are subject to approval by affirmative resolution in both Houses.I am also making available in the Library a monitoring report, published in October 1996, which shows how the compliance costs associated with the minerals reforms introduced by the Environment Act 1995 have been assessed.

Estates Renewal Challenge Fund

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will announce the allocation for the 1997–98 round of the estates renewal challenge fund. [16304]

I shall be announcing allocations for the 1997–98 round of the estates renewal challenge fund tomorrow and shall place copies of the press notice detailing the successful authorities in the Libraries of both Houses.

Asbestos

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response he has made to the Health and Safety Commission's recommendations relating to the future of the regulatory regime for asbestos; and if he will make a statement. [16442]

I have written to the Health and Safety Commission welcoming and accepting its timely advice on a range of asbestos issues. It has recommended that we maintain our existing policy, to work with our EU partners to extend the ban on asbestos to all types of asbestos, with a limited number of exceptions for genuinely essential uses where safe and effective substitutes cannot be found at affordable cost.The HSC has also said that, in the light of responses to its May 1996 discussion document "The future of the lead and asbestos regulations", it has asked the Health and Safety Executive to consider and develop, where appropriate, proposals for some changes to the Asbestos (Licensing) Regulations 1983 and the Control of Asbestos at Work Regulations 1987. It plans to publish a consultative document in 1998. This represents a progressive yet sensible approach to this difficult subject, and I welcome the initiative.

Waste Recycling

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his plans for the development of the local authority role in waste recycling. [16556]

A review group on the local authority role in recycling was established last year, comprising members from local government, from private sector producers, waste disposal operators and users of recycled waste, from community groups, and from central government. Its report has now been finalised and submitted to me and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales. It contains a number of proposals, including for local authorities to work together to produce municipal waste management strategies, and emphasises the importance of an integrated approach to waste management. I and my right hon. Friend are today issuing the report for consultation, and will consider its recommendations in the light of comments received. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.Local authorities have a vital role to play in helping to achieve the goal of sustainable development. I welcome the group's report as a positive contribution to the development of that role, and am grateful to its members for the time and effort they have put into the group's work.

Sustainable Development

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the White Paper on sustainable development will be published; and if he will make a statement. [16557]

We will publish "This Common Inheritance: UK Annual Report 1997" tomorrow, Tuesday 18 February 1997. Copies will be placed in the Library.The White Paper reports progress during 1966 in meeting the commitments we made in previous White Papers and in the 1994 UK sustainable development strategy, as well as making commitments for future action. In particular, it highlights our new priorities for the year ahead and brings together the key quantified targets already agreed by Government or under consideration.

Cash Limits

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to change the 1996–97 cash limits and running cost limits for which he is responsible. [14301]

[pursuant to his answer, 31 January 1997, c. 389]: The Department of the Environment/European regional development fund non-voted cash limit was incorrectly shown as being reduced by £4,995,000 from £183,295,000 to £178,300,000. This should have shown the DOE/ERDF non-voted cash limit as being reduced by £4,965,000 from £182,782,000 to £177,817,000. This reflects transfers of £4,518,000 to sections M and N on vote 2-regeneration and countryside and wildlife-and £447,000 to the Department of Transport.

Social Security

Pensioner Incomes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the value of the 25p age addition to the retirement pension in 1997–98 if it had been uprated by (a) prices and (b) earnings since its introduction; and if he will estimate how much it would cost to increase it to these levels. [14281]

The 25p age addition to the retirement pension was first introduced in September 1971. In 1997–98 it would be worth £1.70 if uprated by prices and £3.80 if uprated by average earnings¹. The estimated costs are in the table²:

Age addition in 1997–98	Uprated by prices to £1.70	Uprated by earnings to £3.80
Gross cost	£180 million	£440 million
Net cost	£110 million	£260 million
¹ The uprated value of the age addition has been calculated by assuming that it was uprated each time Retirement Pension was uprated and all calculations were rounded to the nearest 5p at each uprating date. The upratings have been calculated using either the Average Earnings Index (whole economy unadjusted) as published by the Office for National Statistics or the Retail Prices Index (all items) as appropriate.
²All costs are rounded to the nearest £10 million. The gross costs of uprating were estimated by the Government Actuary's Department. The costs net of the impact on income-related benefits have been calculated using offset ratios of 42 per cent.

National Insurance

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 28 January, Official Report, columns 191–92, if he will list (a) Total expenditure on national insurance benefits, including administration but not including incentives to personal

	(A) National Insurance Benefit expenditure and administration cost¹(£ billion)	(B) Total National Insurance Fund receipts^{1 2}£ billion)	(C) Column B-Column A¹	(D) Percentage of Column B over Column A
1979–80	32.6	34.1	1.6	104.8
1980–81	33.6	34.7	1.1	103.3
1981–82	35.5	33.7	-1.8	95.0
1982–83	35.7	35.8	0.1	100.3
1983–84	36.1	37.2	1.2	103.2
1984–85	36.4	37.2	0.8	102.2
1985–86	36.8	37.4	0.6	101.6
1986–87	38.3	39.2	0.9	102.4
1987–88	37.6	40.1	2.6	106.8
1988–89	36.2	41.1	4.9	113.6
1989–90	35.8	39.2	3.3	109.3
1990–91	36.5	41.1	4.6	112.5
1991–92	39.5	38.9	-0.7	98.3
1992–93	40.4	38.4	-2.0	95.0
1993–94	41.9	46.4	4.5	110.8
1994–95	41.7	46.4	4.7	111.3
Notes:
¹ Figures have been independently rounded to the nearest £0.1 billion.
² Excludes income from National Insurance contributions allocated to the National Health Service. Includes Treasury Supplement from 1979–80 to 1988–89 inclusive and Treasury Grant for 1993–94 to 1994–95.

Source:

National Insurance Fund Accounts.

Social Security Appeals

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 23 January, Official Report, column 721, how many of the 51 notices issued by the clerk to the social security appeal tribunal covering the Newport, Gwent, area in the week commencing 9 December 1996 resulted in requests for oral hearings by (a) the claimant only, (b) the adjudication officer only and (c) both the claimant and the adjudication officer; and how many of those requests were made within 10 days of receipt of the notice. [15735]

This is a matter for the independent tribunal service.

National Insurance Numbers

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if a consistent policy or practice has been specified for the various departments of social security offices as regards the procedure for issuing national insurance numbers; if he will set out the criteria that have to be fulfilled to obtain a national insurance number; and if he will publish procedural (a) guidelines or (b) advice he has issued. [16222]

The Department of Social Security has a corporate policy and guidance for staff on allocation and registration of national insurance numbers.Most young people who live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland, and for whom child benefit is in payment, are automatically registered for NI and issued with a plastic NINO card shortly before they reach 16.

pensions, (b) Total receipts of the national insurance funds, (c) the amount of the surplus over receipts and (d) the percentage of (b) and (a) in each year from 1979–80 to 1995, at 1995–96 prices. [14274]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.In other circumstances, most usually for people entering this country from abroad, a person applies to be registered by calling into their social security office, taking with them acceptable evidence of identity, and completing an application for NINO allocation and registration.Thorough checks are made to ensure that the person does not already have a NINO and their identity is established in accordance with the departmental guidance outlined in the "Evidence of Identity Handbook", a copy of which is available in the Library.

Disabled Ex-Service Personnel

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disabled ex-service personnel are registered in Wales. [16038]

As at 31 March 1996, the latest date on which figures are available, a Total of 22,123 ex-service men and women resident in Wales were receiving war disablement pensions.

Rent Allowances

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the forecast level of growth in expenditure on rent allowances in cash and real terms over the next three years expressed as (a) Total rent allowances and (b) private rented sector allowances excluding registered social landlords; and what is the forecast for changes in the level of investment in local authority and registered social landlord housing stock over the same period. [15889]

Rent allowance expenditure forecasts
£ million
	1995–96	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99	Total change
Cash terms	5,378	5,749	6,285	7,029	-
Change	-	370	536	744	1,651
Percentage	-	7	9	12	31
Real 1996–97 prices	5,486	5,749	6,162	6,756	-
Change	-	263	413	594	1,270
Percentage change	-	5	7	10	20

Source:

DSS rent allowance expenditure forecasts. Cash data based on figures contained in the Social Security Departmental Report "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1996– to 1998–99". Real figures have been based on cash figures adjusted by the GDP deflator.

Public housing investment
£ million
	1996–97	1997–98	1998–99
Cash terms
Local authority	775	499	436
Housing corporation	1,075	692	635
Total	1,850	1,191	1,071
Real 1996–97 prices
Local authority	775	489	419
Housing corporation	1,075	678	610
Total	1,850	1,168	1,029

Note:

1. The forecast showing a split between private rented sector allowances and registered social landlords is not available.

Source:

Department of the Environment projected public expenditure provision for local authorities' credit approvals for housing. Real figures have been based on cash figures adjusted by the GDP deflator.

Child Support

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends that existing clients of the Child Support Agency will be invited to consider making an application for a variation of their maintenance assessment under the new departures scheme. [16608]

Two hundred and seventy-three thousand of the Child Support Agency's clients have already been invited to apply for a variation of their maintenance assessment under the new departures scheme. The agency expects to be in a position to contact all remaining clients to invite them to apply by April of this year.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Sheep Dips

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of the review of organophosphorus sheep dips carried out by the Veterinary Products Committee; and if he will make a statement. [16274]

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is set out in the table:

The VPC has carefully and thoroughly examined the effectiveness of the certificate of competence scheme and other issues relating to the use of OP sheep dips. It confirmed earlier advice that, provided that they are used safely and in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, there is no scientific justification for withdrawing OP sheep dips from the market.The VPC recommended that the certificate of competence should apply to the use of OP sheep dips as well as their purchase. This objective will be achieved by strengthening measures to secure compliance with existing statutory duties. New guidance will be issued by the Health and Safety Executive which will explain and emphasise the duties placed on farmers under the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974, the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1988, and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 and the linked codes of practice to train and instruct their dippers and to maintain their competence. The guidance will contain information about the certificate of competence scheme operated by the National Proficiency Tests Council and will commend certification as a structured approach to these duties and as valuable evidence that adequate training had been given and competence achieved.The VPC had found some evidence to suggest that a small minority of veterinarians were occasionally supplying OP sheep dips to clients who did not hold a certificate of competence. We will be asking the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to make a clear reference to the undesirability of this practice in its guide to professional conduct.We also accept the VPC's advice that the reclassification of OP sheep dips from pharmacy and merchants list to prescription-only status would be unnecessary as it would not improve the protection of human safety and, if it deterred farmers from using OP dips prophylactically, it could lead to increased levels of ectoparasitic diseases in sheep.Officials at the Veterinary Medicines Directorate will examine the current labelling requirements for OP sheep dip products and will submit proposals to the VPC, the objective of which will be to make the information simpler to follow.

The VPC has advised that, in order to improve controls over the disposal of sheep dips, including both OPs and synthetic pyrethroids, there should be a mechanism whereby farmers should notify the water regulators-the environment agencies-that they are using dips and of their proposed methods of disposal. We accept this advice, and the Government are considering what improvements should be made to existing mechanisms for control over the disposal of sheep dips. Any eventual proposals will be subject to public consultation.

The VPC has advised that further basic research into OPs should be carried out, and we accept this advice. We shall be seeking to establish research projects with the further help of the VPC's sub-committee, the medical and scientific panel.

The VPC has suggested that a review of non-OP sheep dips should be conducted to consider whether existing controls on OP dips should be extended to these products. We have asked the VPC to proceed with this review, not least because dips in which the active ingredient is a synthetic pyrethroid are intrinsically hazardous to aquatic life and great care is needed in their use and disposal.

In addition, we have asked the VPC to review the safety of veterinary medicines other than sheep dips which have an organophosphate as the active ingredient.

I would like to thank Professor Aitken, his predecessor Professor Sir James Armour, and the committee for the care and diligence with which they have considered these important issues and all the information put to them, and for their clear advice.

The report setting out the VPC's recommendations to the licensing authority-Agriculture and Health Ministers-is today being placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research is currently being undertaken or financed by his Department into the treatment of sheep dip waste in the context of its disposal in an environmentally safe manner; what recent representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement. [16007]

The Ministry has commissioned no research into the treatment of sheep dip waste and we have received no recent representations on this matter. No veterinary medicine is authorised for use unless it meets stringent statutory criteria of safety, quality and efficacy. Safety includes risk to the environment. Applications for marketing authorisations must be supported by information to satisfy the statutory criteria, including details of relevant research. Product labels include warnings about the safe disposal of sheep dips and guidance is available from the agriculture Departments.

Dairy Products

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to encourage the manufacture of cheese by farmers who process milk from their own herds or flocks into milk products. [14991]

The decision by farmers whether to process milk from their own herds or flocks into milk products is a commercial one. However, by deregulating the milk market, the Government have encouraged conditions for competition and initiative to flourish.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek a modification of the existing milk quota system to encourage the production of specialist and traditional dairy products by means of a producer-processor's milk quota allowance for small producers to allow the first tranche of milk quota to be used at double its face value. [14992]

Substantive discussions on the future of the milk quota regime are due to begin later this year in Brussels. The Government have already signalled their preferred approach. We wish to free the whole of the dairy industry, including specialist and traditional producers, from the restrictions of the quota system. This would be achieved through a combination of progressive price cuts and relaxation of production controls. We do not believe that the introduction of a producer-processor allowance for small producers is a negotiable way forward. It would add to the complexity of administering and enforcing the quota system and increase the costs of the dairy regime.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he proposes for producer-processors and specialist dairy products to mitigate the compliance costs of the milk and food hygiene directives. [14993]

The compliance cost assessment for the Diary Products (Hygiene) Regulations 1995 was placed in the Libraries of the House on 28 April 1995. It indicated that small businesses would incur minimal extra costs resulting from implementation of the milk hygiene directive. The Compliance Cost Assessment for the Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995, placed in the Library of the House on 12 July 1995, estimated that the only identifiable cost for businesses arising from implementation of the food hygiene directive related to the new requirement to train and/or instruct food handlers. In the circumstances I have no plans for assistance.

Beef (Intervention Stocks)

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much British beef has been bought into intervention since 1 March 1996; and what has been the Total cost to public funds. [15477]

Since 1 March 1996, the amount of beef taken into intervention and paid for in the UK is 70,107 tonnes at a cost to public funds of £128 million. In addition, contracts have been awarded for a further 8,036 tonnes of beef only some of which has been delivered to store and none of which is yet due for payment.

Scotland

Departmental Publicity

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide (a) his Department's budgeted expenditure on (i) advertising, (ii) publicity and (iii) public information campaigns for the period January to March 1997 and (b) the actual expenditure on (1) advertising, (2) publicity and (3) public information campaigns in the period January to March in each of the past five years. [13462]

[holding answer 13 February 1997]: All expenditure by my Department on publicity is in support of public information campaigns. Advertising forms part of publicity.Details of estimated expenditure by my Department for the period January to March 1997 are:

	Advertising £	Publications/exhibitions £	Total publicity £
Violent crime	102,000
Organ donors	42,000
Young driver	20,000
Fire action plan	164,000
Severe weather
warning	35,000
Pre-school
vouchers	950,000
Total	1,313,000	512,000	1,825,000

Details of actual expenditure for the same period in each of the past five financial years are set out in the table:

	Advertising £	Publications/exhibitions £	Total publicity £
January to March 1996	291,000	425,500	716,500
January to March 1995	330,500	574,000	904,500
January to March 1994	494,000	¹379,000	873,000
January to March 1993	297,500	¹557,500	855,000
January to March 1992	216,000	¹329,500	545,500
¹ These figures do not include publications/exhibition expenditure by Historic Scotland. Details for these years are not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Equal Opportunities

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed by his Department to provide advice on the application of equal opportunities; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [14470]

	Rank order	Advice and assistance £	Civil £	Criminal £	Total £
Ross Harper and Murphy	1	885,312	790,251	2,025,745	3,701,308
More and Co.	2	147,558	4,916	1,715,638	1,868,112
Bruce Short and Co.	3	269,936	38,452	1,471,055	1,779,443
Ian McCarry	4	191,109	17,848	1,273,538	1,482,495

There are four full-time equivalent-23 members of staff-employed in the application of equal opportunities policies in the Scottish Office. The Total staff cost is £86,546.

Scots Pines, Loch Fleet

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between officials from his Department, officials from Scottish Natural Heritage and representatives of the Sutherland estates concerning the proposed felling of Scots pines at Loch Fleet, near Golspie; and if he will make 4statement. [14481]

There have been several discussions involving officials from the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage and representatives of the Sutherland estates about the management of Scots pines at Loch Fleet. Scottish Natural Heritage is currently negotiating the terms of a proposed management agreement with the Sutherland estates.

Computer Crime

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions in each of the last five years computer systems have been illegally accessed by computer hackers in his Department. [14546]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The Scottish Office is not aware of any such incidents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of computer hacking, fraud and theft, including theft of computer chips, his Department has recorded in the last five years. [14547]

[holding answer 6 February 1997]: The Scottish Office is unaware of any cases of computer hacking or fraud in the last five years. There have been 49 unexplained disappearances of computer equipment recorded during this time, seven of which involved computer chips.

Legal Aid

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the 20 firms earning most from civil and criminal legal aid for the year to 31 March 1996; and if he will indicate the number of fee earners per firm and the fees per fee earner. [15356]

The information on payments to firms in respect of advice and assistance and civil and criminal legal aid is set out in the table and includes outlays, payments to advocates and VAT. Information on the number of fee earners and fees per fee earner is not available.

	Rank order	Advice and assistance £	Civil £	Criminal £	Total £
Blair and Bryden	5	357,405	367,440	655,725	1,380,570
Gordon Thomson and Co.	6	303,231	34,184	985,998	1,323,413
George Mathers and Co.	7	269,343	132,117	870,109	1,271,569
Drummond Miller	8	240,517	923,995	106,510	1,271,022'
Gilfedder and McInnes	9	146,295	0	1,078,586	1,233,881
Gallen and Co.	10	236,680	148,411	847,881	1,232,972
Grady and Co.	11	111,699	0	1,049,307	1,161,006
Adams	12	67,963	0	1,038,048	1,106,011
Robert Kerr	13	95,979	0	985,573	1,081,552
McKay and Norwell	14	139,010	217,006	656,609	1,012,625
Livingstone Brown	15	235,161	102,043	669,038	1,006,242
J. C. Hughes and Co.	16	67,303	0	877,700	945,003
Turnbull McCarron	17	218,450	67,343	625,396	911,189
Sinclairs	18	81,180	532	763,323	845,035
Milligan Telford and Morrow	19	72,473	29,176	733,594	835,243
Trainor Alston	20	239,036	192,627	381,460	813,123
Total					26,261,814

M80 Extension

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a public local inquiry into his Department's decision on the route of the M80 motorway extension between Stepps and Haggs; and if he will make a statement. [15810]

Drafts of the necessary statutory schemes and orders, including the compulsory purchase order, will be published later this

Name	Position	Current term expires	Occupation	Remuneration per annum £
Magnus Magnusson KBE	Chairman	31 March 1999	Broadcaster	36,070
Professor T. Christopher Smout CBE	Deputy Chairman	31 March 1998	Director, Institute of Environmental History, St. Andrew's University	15,538
Roy Dennis OBE	-	31 March 1997	Land use consultant	6,474
Alan Blackshaw OBE	-	31 March 1997	Management and Environmental consultant	6,474
Barbara Kelly CBE	Chairman, South West Region	31 March 1998	Partner in dairy business	15,538
Professor Seaton Baxter	Chairman, North East Region	31 March 1998	Professor and reader at Robert Gordon's University	15,538
Professor Roger Wheater OBE	-	31 March 1998	Director, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland	6,474
Nan Burnett OBE	Chairman, South East Region	31 March 1999	Farmer	15,538
Councillor Peter Peacock	-	31 March 1999	Convenor, Highland Council	6,474
Professor Fred Last	-	31 March 1999	Retired Scientist	6,474
Bill Ritchie	Chairman, North West Region	31 March 2000	Crofter, fisherman, countryside ranger	15,538
David Laird	-	31 March 2000	Estate factor, Solicitor	6,474

M74

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many entrance and exit junctions there will be on the M74 motorway when it is completed. [16197]

There are two junctions on the M74 between the Maryville interchange and the present end of the motorway at Fullarton road interchange. South Lanarkshire and City of Glasgow councils have planning permission to construct an extension to the motorway form Fullarton road

year, and the public response to the proposals will be taken into account in any decision as to the need for a public local inquiry.

Scottish Natural Heritage

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the names and occupations of the executive members of Scottish Natural Heritage, indicating their remuneration and the dates upon which their terms of office will end. [15625]

The information for SNH board members is set out in the table.interchange to an interchange with the M8 at the Kingston bridge, which would create a Total of seven intermediate junctions between Maryville and Kingston bridge.

Nurses

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nurses were employed by each NHS trust in each year from 1994–96; and if he will make a statement. [16016]

The information, which is not yet available centrally for 1996, is set out in the tables:

Nursing staff ¹ employed in each NHS trust, in the Scottish health service; by headcount and whole time equivalent: at 30 September 1994
	30 September 1994		30 September 1995
	Headcount	Whole-time Equivalent	Headcount	Whole-time Equivalent
Aberdeen Royal Hospitals NHS Trust	2,178	1,770.8	2,208	1,789.3
Angus NHS Trust	1,162	960.9	1,143	946.2
Argyll and Bute Unit²	821	670.7	813	657.4
Ayshire and Arran Community Health Care NHS Trust	1,468	1,268.2	1,482	1,273.2
Borders Community Health Services²	699	571.5	719	580.5
Borders General Hospital Acute Unit²	548	446.7	560	457.5
Caithness and Sutherland NHS Trust	356	281.4	386	306.8
Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust	2,119	1,858.8	2,002	1,747.1
Dumbarton Unit²	768	579.0	-	-
Dumfries and Galloway Acute and Maternity Hospitals NHS Trust	854	672.0	873	687.7
Dumfries and Galloway Community Services Unit²	1,273	1,011.9	1,216	995.0
Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust	1,527	1,357.2	1,528	1,355.7
Dundee Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust	1,895	1,521.8	1,900	1,539.7
East and Midlothian NHS Trust	1,464	1,142.5	1,450	1,124.6
Edinburgh Healthcare NHS Trust	2,216	1,822.9	2,333	1,928.3
Edinburgh Sick Children's NHS Trust	404	305.1	463	359.7
Falkirk and District Royal Infirmary NHS Trust	684	546.7	692	557.1
Fife Healthcare NHS Trust	2,055	1,736.0	2,022	1,715.3
Glasgow Dental Hospital and School Unit²	11	10.0	11	10.0
Glasgow Royal Infirmary University NHS Trust	2,116	1,705.8	2,265	1,881.7
Grampian Healthcare NHS Trust	3,322	2,770.3	3,176	2,627.2
Greater Glasgow Care for the Elderly Unit	816	637.8	-	-
Greater Glasgow Community and Mental Health Services NHS Trust	3,924	3,468.5	3,714	3,281.5
Hairmyres and Stonehouse Hospital NHS Trust	1,032	815.5	1,040	829.8
Highland Community NHS Trust	1,278	1,080.3	1,260	1,068.9
Inverclyde Royal NHS Trust	581	468.9	598	478.6
Kirkcaldy Acute Hospitals NHS Trust	836	654.2	821	638.5
Lanarkshire Community and Priority Services Unit²	2,364	1,983.4	2,352	1,962.8
Law Hospital NHS Trust	983	787.5	980	796.4
Lomond Healthcare NHS Trust	-	-	753	568.0
Monklands and Bellshill Hospital NHS Trust	1,083	888.2	1,113	925.6
Moray Health Services NHS Trust	640	522.7	702	574.7
North Ayrshire and Arran NHS Trust	1,405	1,131.5	1,435	1,164.5
Perth and Kinross Healthcare NHS Trust	1,420	1,189.7	1,460	1,236.3
Queen Margaret Hospital NHS Trust	716	606.5	742	634.4
Raigmore Hospital NHS Trust	898	713.7	932	747.9
Renfrewshire Healthcare NHS Trust	1,981	1,658.4	1,972	1,642.0
Royal Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust	905	728.7	911	745.2
Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh NHS Trust	2,535	2,125.8	2,453	2,062.1
South Ayrshire Hospitals NHS Trust	817	692.5	758	642.8
Southern General Hospital NHS Trust	1,410	1,168.6	1,641	1,356.0
Stirling Royal Infirmary NHS Trust	720	571.0	746	592.8
Stobhill NHS Trust	1,173	931.8	1,212	974.2
The Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust	1,291	1,033.8	1,404	1,120.5
The Yorkhill NHS Trust	968	805.3	988	821.4
West Glasgow Hospital University NHS Trust	1,530	1,302.7	1,784	1,511.0
West Lothian NHS Trust	1,392	1,160.0	1,427	1,190.2
Western General Hospitals NHS Trust	1,106	873.8	1,136	903.8
Notes
¹ Excludes bank and agency nurses, nurse teachers, nurses in training and P2000 students.
² Directly managed units which became NHS trusts on either 1 April or 1 October 1995.

Source

National Manpower Statistics from payroll ISD Scotland.

Prison Officers

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prison officers, by grade, there were (a) in Scotland and (b) in each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96; and if he will make a statement. [15890]

The subject of the question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 17 February 1997:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your question regarding the number of prison officers, by grade, in Scotland and in each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96.

The Scottish Prison Service introduced a new staffing structure on 1 April 1995. This resulted in the abolition of the previous grading system, and the introduction of new pay bandings covering operational, administrative and support staff. At the same time nursing, works, and administrative functions were civilianised.

An accurate comparison of post-April 1995 figures for "prison officer" numbers with those prior to that date is not possible. The attached table shows in Total and for each establishment the Total number of Basic Grade Officers, Senior Officers, and Principal Officers at 31 March for each year from 1990–94. A subdivision by grade cannot be obtained from the current database.

The table also shows the current Total, with figures for 1995 and 1996, of operational staff posts in those pay bands which from 1 April 1995 are broadly comparable to the grades described above.

Scottish prison service-prison officer grades or equivalent from 1990–97
Establishment	¹ 1990	¹ 1991	¹ 1992	¹ 1993	¹ 1994	1995	1996	1997
Aberdeen	100	112	116	127	129	106	108	124
Barlinnie	491	476	449	516	496	418	389	448
Castle Huntly	50	62	70	74	71	59	43	55
Cornton Vale	176	167	169	179	177	158	152	173
Dumfries	107	120	141	136	141	129	120	128
Dungavel	49	56	61	67	71	54	39	56
Edinburgh	349	344	358	397	399	339	331	361
Friarton	49	44	49	51	48	37	34	41
Glenochil	356	374	389	410	415	348	319	371
Greenock	123	136	144	155	160	134	122	142
Inverness	86	82	79	88	88	77	81	84
Longriggend	143	141	154	159	158	137	141	145
Low Moss	112	119	130	142	147	134	116	127
Noranside	50	54	68	65	70	55	43	52
Penninghame	27	29	32	33	35	25	20	30
Perth	310	329	360	370	379	319	307	317
Peterhead	265	250	232	246	236	193	187	216
Polmont	229	248	277	294	292	256	234	258
Shotts	332	348	394	395	407	388	331	358
Total	3,404	3,491	3,672	3,904	3,919	3,366	3,117	3,486
¹ Includes approximately 600 officers in the nursing, works and administration functions which are not included from 1995 onwards.

Toll Bridges (Revenue)

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was raised (a) by each toll bridge and (b) in Total from toll bridge in Scotland in

Tolls levied
£ thousands
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
Forth road bridge	7,149	7,284	7,660	7,810	8,143	8,390
Tay road bridge	2,128	2,182	2,904	2,896	2,921	3,052
Erskine bridge¹	2,646	2,814	3,624	4,034	4,070	4,248
Skye bridge	-	-	-	-	-	²398
Totals	11,923	12,280	14,188	14,740	15,134	16,088
¹ Figures for tolls levied on Erskine bridge are for financial years which begin on 1 April of the year given.
² This figure covers the period from the opening of the bridge on 16 October 1995 to 31 December 1995.

Prisoners

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners there were in (a) Scotland and (b) each prison in Scotland in each year from 1990–96; and if he will make a statement. [16005]

The subject of this question relates to matters undertaken by the Scottish

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	¹1996
Scotland^{2 3}	4,723	4,838	5,256	5,636	5,583	5,624	5,861
Aberdeen	135	137	148	149	163	170	176
Barlinnie⁴	835	843	918	1,006	1,118	1,158	1,176
Castle Huntly	112	112	110	102	68	60	106
Cornton Vale	133	139	155	167	172	170	176
Dumfries	125	122	133	134	127	133	141
Dungavel	129	136	126	121	113	113	94

It should be noted that the 1990–94 figures include in each year approximately 600 "officers" in the subsequently civilianised nursing, works and administrative functions which are excluded from the 1995, 1996 and 1997 figures.

each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15894]

Information on toll revenue, to the most recent year for which comprehensive figures are available, is set out in the table:Prison Service. I have asked its chief executive, Mr. E. W. Frizzell, to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from E. W. Frizzell to Ms Roseanna Cunningham, dated 17 February 1997:

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton has asked me to reply to your Question about the average daily prison population in each establishment from 1990.

I enclose a table which provides the information requested for the calendar years 1990–96.

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	¹ 1996
Edinburgh	498	509	537	669	646	645	695
Friarton	62	64	67	65	74	68	69
Glenochil	528	605	605	561	504	505	550
Greenock	167	189	217	246	239	236	239
Inverness	94	101	108	111	109	110	126
Longriggend	203	164	179	180	190	185	164
Low Moss	274	294	336	355	378	359	346
Noranside	104	110	116	128	126	127	127
Penninghame	64	68	70	65	54	57	53
Perth	402	375	425	451	457	471	454
Peterhead⁴	117	128	175	208	210	201	201
Polmont	360	333	425	439	372	405	465
Shotts⁴	385	410	405	481	463	447	462
Shotts NIC	-	-	-	-	-	6	39
¹ Data for 1996 are provisional.
² Components may not add to Totals due to rounding.
³ Excludes those prisoners held in legalised police cells.
⁴ The figures for the former Barlinnie special unit and the current Peterhead and Shotts units are included in the figures for the main establishments.

General Practitioner Practices

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many general practitioner practices there were in (a) each constituency in Scotland, (b) each region of Scotland and (c) Scotland as a whole in each year from 1990 to 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15891]

Number of general medical practitioner practices by health board in Scotland: at 1 October
	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	¹1996
Scotland	1,102	1,090	1,082	1,077	1,079	1,074	1,066
Argyll and Clyde	108	107	106	105	105	105	103
Ayrshire and Arran	66	66	64	64	63	64	64
Borders	24	24	24	23	23	23	23
Dumfries and Galloway	36	35	35	36	36	36	36
Fife	62	62	61	61	63	63	62
Forth Valley	55	55	56	55	55	54	55
Grampian	93	91	90	90	89	89	90
Greater Glasgow	229	227	225	223	223	223	220
Highland	75	74	75	75	75	75	75
Lanarkshire	92	91	92	92	93	93	95
Lothian	139	136	137	136	136	132	128
Orkney	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
Shetland	10	10	10	10	10	10	10
Tayside	83	82	77	77	78	77	75
Western Isles	15	15	15	15	15	15	15
¹ Provisional.

Hospitals

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals there were in each region of Scotland in (a) 1979, (b) 1987, (d) 1992 and (e) 1996; and if he will make a statement. [15895]

The information is in the table.

NHS hospitals¹-number within health board areas as at 31 March
	1979	1983	1987	1992	1996
Scotland	344	334	306	283	269
Argyll and Clyde	43	37	30	28	20
Ayrshire and Arran	19	19		15	15
Borders	15	17	16	10	9
Dumfries and Galloway	13	13	13	21	26
Fife	17	18	18	15	12

It is not possible to show the information requested by constituency, as individual practices may have surgeries in more than one constituency. The available information is shown in the table. Region has been defined as health board.The changes in the number of hospitals since 1979 reflect changes in the pattern of service provision. There has been substantial investment in new and redeveloped hospitals over this period, and in some cases a single new large hospital has replaced several smaller and old hospitals. Concentration of services on a single site enables better use to be made of expensive diagnostic and treatment facilities, and offers patients access to a better standard of care and treatment.

NHS hospitals ¹ -number within health board areas as at 31 March
	1979	1983	1987	1992	1996
Forth Valley	13	13	13	11	16
Grampian	44	42	44	40	36
Greater Glasgow	45	44	39	35	28
Highland	24	23	21	19	20
Lanarkshire	25	24	23	22	20
Lothian	44	45	35	30	32
Orkney	2	2	2	2	2
Shetland	3	3	2	2	2
Tayside	33	29	27	28	27
Western Isles	4	5	5	5	4
¹ Hospitals open for the reception of inpatients and day cases.

Sewerage Charges

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will grant relief to domestic customers in respect of sewerage charges in 1997–98. [166071

Yes. I have set aside £59.7 million for this purpose. This sum represents a saving to an average band D household of around £36 in 1997–98. This relief, first introduced in 1996, is a transitional arrangement which will be phased out by April 1999. We shall pay grant to water authorities to compensate for the charge income they will forgo in 1997–98. Of this, £18.2 million will be available to the East authority, £14.9 million to the North authority and £26.6 million to the West authority. The necessary order is being laid before Parliament.

Volume 290: debated on Monday 17 February 1997

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Telephone Tapping

Animal Experiments

Criminal Cases Review Commission

Obscenity Law

Repatriated Prisoners (Sentences)

Defence

Resolution Class Submarines

Military Personnel (Wales)

Quantock School

Boarding Schools Allowance Scheme

Land Mines

Bowman Project

Firing Ranges (Schools)

Polaris

Raf Bases (Running Costs)

Welsh Regiments

Empty Homes (Disposal)

Gurkhas

National Heritage

Sports Council Lottery Fund

House Of Commons

Towels

New Parliamentary Building

Trade And Industry

Armoured Vehicles (Indonesia)

Sellafield

Industrial Tribunals

British Shipbuilders

British Gas

Land Mines

Treasury

Taxes And National Insurance

Departmental Publicity

Deaths

Dorneywood

Profit-Related Pay Schemes

Health

Gp Fundholders

Senior House Officers (West Midlands)

Staff Training (North Staffordshire)

Strokes

Junior Doctors

Blood Products

Dentures

Hospital Waiting Lists

Abortion

Education And Employment

Assisted Places Scheme

Attendance Database (Bolton)

Special Needs

Employment Directions (Eu)

Jobmatch Scheme

Jobseeker's Allowance

Bridging Allowance

School Uniforms

Teacher (Early Retirement)

Quantock School

Transport

Minimum Age Requirements

Drink Driving

Mv Derbyshire

Attorney-General

Prosecution Guidelines

Asil Nadir

Government Property Lawyers

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Albania

European Institutions (Running Costs)

Un Rapid Deployment Brigade

Sudan

Israel

China

Northern Ireland

Terrorism

Newcastle Disease

Arthur Andersen