To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how much time per month since January 1992 was spent by prisoners undergoing rehabilitation aimed at addressing their offending in (a) each prison, (b) each prison type and (c) the whole prison estate; [15988](2) how many rehabilitation courses aimed at addressing the causes of prisoners' offending were available in each month since January 1992 in

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the decision was made to purchase a prison ship; what account was taken of experience in using ships for detaining asylum seekers; when Parliament was notified of the decision to purchase; what are (a) the total purchase costs and (b) the estimated running costs; and if he will make a statement. [15782]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will order an immediate inquiry, reporting in public, into the escape of James Mynott from Leyhill prison. [16740]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Health and Safety regulations will still apply to the military corrective training centre after its partial conversion to a high-intensity regime. [16868]

The Crown's responsibilities under health and safety law are unaffected by the establishment of Colchester young offender institution at the military corrective training centre. Those responsibilities are the same in both the military and Prison Service parts of the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current prison population by ethnic background for remand and convicted prisoners. [16870]

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

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, columns 211£12, when he intends to write to the hon. Member in respect of mandatory drug testing; and if he will make a statement. [16983]

I hope to write to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if Ms R. McAliskey will be able to have her child with her in HM prison, Holloway should it be born while she is still remanded in custody in the United Kingdom. [17410]

The matter is being carefully considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent report by Her Majesty's chief inspector of constabulary on No. 5 area (south-west) of the Metropolitan police. [17971]

Yes. I have today placed in the Library a note of the recommendations from the report, together with the responses of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the police authority responses, which take into account the advice my right hon. and learned Friend and I have received from the Metropolitan police committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints have been made in each month since September 1994 by prisoners within special secure units concerning (a) alleged ill-treatment and (b) sleep deprivation. [16354]

[holding answer 20 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) further to his answer of 23 January, Official Report, column 736, at what level of the Prison Service the decision was made to introduce a closed-loop video system for use in the prisoners' strip search room at Long Lartin prison; what external legal advice was sought prior to its introduction; and at what date Ministers were informed; [16629](2) who carried out the evaluation of the closed-loop video system for use in the prisoners' strip search room at Long Lartin prison; and if he will list the principal conclusions of that evaluation; [16630]

[holding answers 20 February 1997]: Responsibility for these matters has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration detainees have been transferred from HM prison Haslar to HM prison Rochester in each of the last three months; and if he will make a statement on the factors underlying the transfers. [17401]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: During the period 1 November to 31 January, a total of 10 immigration detainees were transferred from Haslar to Rochester. There were two such transfers in November 1996, three in December 1996 and five in January 1997.Detainees may be transferred for a variety of reasons, but a number of transfers in early February resulted from planned refurbishment work at Haslar, which has now been postponed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases heard in magistrates courts in England and Wales during 1995 and 1996 were adjourned for psychiatric reports; and in how many instances applications for adjournments were turned down. [16871]

I have been asked to reply.The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the presence of (a) hazardous materials and (b) ozone-depleting substances within those buildings his Department occupies; and if he will make a statement. [16309]

Registers recording the presence and treatment of asbestos, and any other hazardous materials, are maintained in the Department of the Environment's buildings. Assessments are carried out in accordance with current regulations.Our procurement policy requires that no products containing ozone-depleting substances are purchased, and this was one of the aims of the contracts let in relation to the Department's two new headquarters buildings. Both buildings have been designed to achieve the highest standards in environmental performance; Eland house was recently awarded a very good BREEAM—Building Research Establishment environmental assessment method—rating, and Ashdown house is also expected to achieve a similar rating in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what meetings he has had with British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months; what was the subject of the meetings; and if he will make a statement; [16290](2) what representations he has received from British Agrochemicals Association Ltd. in the past 12 months; what was the subject of those representations; and if he will make a statement. [16285]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has not met nor received representations from the British Agrochemicals Association in the last 12 months.At the initiative of the BAA, officials in my Department and the Health and Safety Executive have met and corresponded with the BAA on a number of occasions in the last 12 months. Topics covered include organophosphate insecticides, the annual pesticide incidents report and the review of the European Community fifth environmental action programme. HSE officials also meet representatives of BAA at regular tripartite meetings under the aegis of the Health and Safety Commission and at other meetings on the operation and funding of the pesticide approval arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what action he proposes in respect of dwellings identified by the English house condition survey as not physically capable of being made energy efficient at reasonable cost; and if he will make a statement; [16580](2) what steps he is taking to ensure the replacement of the least energy-efficient housing stock; and if he will make a statement. [16613]

It is the responsibility of housing authorities and other owners to determine whether replacement is the best course of action for the least energy-efficient housing stock, having regard to its efficiency and other physical and social factors. However, the survey indicates that for most dwellings, including many of those not capable of being brought up to current building regulation standards, improvement to a more moderate level of energy efficiency is likely to be the most cost-effective course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors underlie the increased provision for environmental protection and water in the spring supplementary estimates; and if he will make a statement. [16881]

A spring supplementary estimate has been proposed to take provision of £500,000 to cover pressure on rural water and sewerage grants, £76,000, and assisted areas sewerage grants £424,000, which are demand led. In addition, it is proposed to vire £578,000 from environmental publicity and the small company environmental and energy management assistance scheme into rural water and sewerage grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16967]

The only executive agency for which the Department of the Environment is responsible which has been set up since the start of April 1992 is the Planning Inspectorate executive agency. It was set up on 1 April 1992 to continue the duties already being carried out by the Planing Inspectorate. The only costs involved were administrative costs. These would have been minimal; no figures are available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for each financial year from 1994–95 to 1997–98 the change in the level of grants paid to Wolverhampton metropolitan borough council by the Government due to changes in the formulae used for standard spending assessments since the 1993–94 distribution (a) expressed in pounds, (b) divided by the band D tax base for council tax setting and (c) as a proportion of that tax base and scaled by ratio of each tax band to band D. [17212]

The effect of changes of methodology in the formulae for the revenue support grant is approximated by the effect of such changes on the standard spending assessment. The SSAs are adjusted to be comparable with the SSA of the subsequent year. Changes in methodology also give rise to SSA reduction grant which reduces the effect of changes on council tax payers. The amounts for Wolverhampton are given.

	Effect on SSA		SSA reduction grant
	£ million (a)	£/Band D property (b)	£ million (c)	£/Band D property (d)
1994–95	-14.5	-219	10.6	160
1995–96	-1.0	-15	6.4	96
1996–97	-0.8	-12	3.0	44
1997–98	-0.2	-2	0	0
The figures in columns (b) and (d) are then multiplied by the standard ratios 6/9:7/9:8/9:11/9:13/9:15/9:18/9 to derive equivalent figures for property bands A:B:C:E:F:G:H respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects a suitable large-scale fire test for large insulated sandwich panels to be developed. [17281]

I expect such a test, providing a harmonised European method, to be available in about two years. The International Standards Organisation is developing a still larger scale test, but I understand this may take three to five years to perfect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to approve the removal of any fire safety legislation currently within local Acts of Parliament only where he is satisfied that there is equivalent national legislation affording the public the same degree of protection from fire. [17282]

Fire safety provision in local Acts will be repealed where these overlap or conflict with the provision of the building regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to local authorities on the use of their funds for the legal costs of councillors or officers criticised by the district auditor; and if he will make a statement. [17637]

None. The use of funds to meet such costs is a matter for individual authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to consult on the contents of pre-abandonment notices which mine operators will be required to prepare when section 58 of the Environment Act 1995 is brought into force. [17910]

I have issued a consultation paper today, inviting comments on our proposals for regulations.These proposals are designed to enhance the Environment Agency's ability to tackle water pollution from abandoned mines. They set out the precise contents

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to change the 1996–97 external financing limit for the British Waterways Board. [18136]

Grant in aid to the British Waterways Board is being increased by £1.233 million for 1996–97 to enable it to carry out additional major repairs to the canal network and other urgent maintenance. This increases the British Waterways Board's external financing limit to £51.033 million. It will be funded by savings on the vote and therefore does not represent an increase in public expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the nature and terms of reference of the work commissioned by his Department to study the impact of noise pollution in the countryside; who has the contract for this work; when it commenced; and when he expects a report to be (a) completed and (b) made public; [16850](2) at which locations and for which activities testing for noise has taken place in South Yorkshire as part of his Department's investigations into the impact of noise pollution in the countryside; [16851](3) what plans his Department has to consult local environmental groups in areas where his Department is testing for noise pollution. [16852]

[holding answers 24 February 1997]: In March 1996, the Building Research Establishment was contracted by my Department to recommend a suitable technique for the measurement and assessment of noise from clay target shooting, taking into account its impact on local communities. The recommended technique will be incorporated into a new code of practice on minimising noise from clay target shooting being prepared by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Clay Pigeon Shooting Association and the British Shooting Sports Council.The research involves the measurement of noise from 16 shooting sites in England, together with surveys of the reaction to the noise of residents living close to the sites. In South Yorkshire, measurements and surveys have been undertaken in Grenoside, Sheffield. The research does not involve consultation with local environmental groups.The work is expected to be completed by the end of March 1997. My Department's policy is that, unless there are overriding reasons to the contrary, research findings are published as soon as possible after completion of the project.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on current levels of groundwater in the United Kingdom; and what assessment he has made of the possibility of water shortages in summer 1997. [17273]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: The main aquifers are in England and north Wales. January 1997 levels in the sandstone were commonly the lowest on record. Levels in the chalk were also very depressed. Levels in the small aquifers of Scotland and Northern Ireland are within normal variation.My Department receives weekly reports from the Environment Agency on the water resources position in England and Wales. In view of the predominantly dry weather during much of the winter, we have commissioned from the Environment Agency a report on the prospects for public water supplies this year, to be based on the water resources position at 28 February. We expect to receive this in mid-March.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what new proposals he has for improving the home energy efficiency scheme. [17430]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: My hon. Friend the Minister for Construction, Planning and Energy Efficiency announced last December that this popular grant scheme, which has already improved more than 2 million homes occupied by the most vulnerable families, is to be upgraded. The changes, due to take effect in July this year, will make the scheme more flexible and capable of delivering even greater social and environmental benefits. The key feature of the new scheme will be the ability of eligible householders to select a package of work best suited to their own homes from a wider range of energy-efficiency measures.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list Government contracts and commitments which are (a) contractually and (b) non-contractually linked to the retail prices index. [17359]

The information requested is not held centrally, and may be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is taking to increase the participation of civil servants in Prince's Trust volunteers schemes. [18077]

The Government are committed to increasing the civil service contribution to the Prince's Trust target of 25,000 volunteers annually by the year 2000. To this end, I have set a civil service-wide benchmark of 3 per cent. of civil servants aged 16 to 25 participating in PTV schemes by the same year. This compares to current participation running at a little under 1 per cent.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer to the right hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Dixon) of 3 February, Official Report, columns 458–59, on the new parliamentary building, what estimate he has made of the additional costs arising from the delay. [17197]

There are too many imponderables at this stage to be able to give a reliable forecast of the costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many questions were tabled for reply by his Department in each Session since 1979–80; in how many instances in each year the reply has been that providing the information involved disproportionate cost; and in how many instances in each year questions have been given the reply that the information was not available centrally. [16797]

A list of the number of written and oral parliamentary questions answered by this Department in the Sessions 1982–83 to 1995–96, as supplied by the parliamentary on-line information service unit, has been placed in the House Library. Figures for 1979–80 to 1981–82 are not available.The rest of the information requested could be provided only at disproportional cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will pursue again with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees the question of a further tranche of funding for the programme for national persecutees by the German Government referred to in the answer of 30 June 1993, Official Report, column 497. [17143]

The UNHCR wound up its indemnification hardship fund for national socialist persecutees in 1993. We do not intend to pursue the question of further funding with the UNHCR or the German Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions apply to the length of time United Kingdom students may reside in (a) Australia, (b) Canada, (c) New Zealand and (d) South Africa; and what permits are required. [17354]

Visa and immigration policy is a matter for the Governments of the countries concerned. I recommend that questions on entry clearance matters should be addressed to the appropriate high commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many projects in Albania and at what cost have been supported by the Westminster Foundation on application from the Conservative party. [17285]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19 February, Official Report, column 579–80.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the specific complaints his Department has raised at the Internal Market Advisory Committee since May 1995. [17111]

I have been asked to reply.My Department's action single market—formerly the single market compliance unit—has arranged for 22 new cases to be raised at the Internal Market Advisory Committee since May 1995. These have covered:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the outcome of the single market complaints raised by his Department's single market compliance unit raised by his Department's single market compliance unit with the Internal Market Advisory Committee. [17112]

I have been asked to reply.Of the 36 cases raised by action single market—formerly the single market compliance unit—at the Internal Market Advisory Committee, 12 have been resolved. The resolved cases are those concerned with:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on Strathclyde police's statement regarding an alleged assault in a cell in Easterhouse police office on 14 February. [17114]

I understand that a man has been charged with attempted murder following the assault and that a report has been submitted to the procurator fiscal in Glasgow and that the matter is under further investigation. It would be inappropriate, therefore, to comment further at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much his Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency set up by his Department since the start of April 1992. [16970]

The work involved in establishing my Department's executive agencies has been undertaken mainly by officials as part of their

Deaths in Scotland by month 1987 to 1996
	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
All ages
January	5,741	5,609	5,976	6,884	6,014	5,894	5,762	6,008	5,793	6,607
February	5,197	5,385	4,944	4,958	5,218	5,274	4,913	4,884	4,964	4,817
March	5,943	5,539	5,507	5,091	5,046	5,343	6,084	5,355	5,507	4,570
April	5,112	5,088	4,827	5,276	5,451	5,040	5,361	4,744	4,722	4,893
May	4,704	5,387	5,328	5,144	4,974	4,666	5,049	4,937	5,232	4,742
June	5,109	4,825	5,010	4,685	4,466	4,962	4,948	4,706	4,684	4,066
July	4,758	4,488	4,689	4,805	4,861	4,684	4,571	4,345	5,663	4,689
August	4,585	5,075	4,823	4,734	4,500	4,630	4,921	4,753	4,571	4,325
September	4,753	4,689	4,622	4,198	4,453	4,710	4,722	4,786	4,371	4,219
October	5,137	4,891	5,158	5,211	5,328	4,960	4,930	4,854	5,046	4,818
November	5,191	5,329	5,659	4,960	5,024	5,117	6,531	4,710	5,086	4,364
December	5,784	5,652	8,564	5,581	5,706	5,657	6,257	5,246	5,861	5,350
Total	62,014	61,957	65,017	61,527	61,041	60,937	64,049	59,328	61,500	57,460
Age 65 and over
January	4,399	4,332	4,509	5,425	4,771	4,692	4,597	4,802	4,576	5,339
February	4,047	4,171	3,841	3,858	4,142	4,228	3,908	3,853	3,970	3,828
March	4,605	4,298	4,327	4,027	4,001	4,204	4,885	4,274	4,408	3,611
April	3,863	3,953	3,762	4,078	4,314	4,000	4,269	3,776	3,797	3,828
May	3,563	4,117	4,131	3,972	3,863	3,639	4,005	3,883	4,105	3,671
June	3,914	3,668	3,854	3,603	3,449	3,830	3,840	3,638	3,672	3,172
July	3,628	3,410	3,618	3,665	3,757	3,630	3,615	3,356	4,663	3,635
August	3,457	3,828	3,667	3,636	3,447	3,623	3,862	3,694	3,555	3,349
September	3,610	3,503	3,592	3,231	3,431	3,634	3,657	3,737	3,399	3,270
October	3,955	3,771	4,018	4,082	4,179	3,886	3,905	3,812	4,002	3,727
November	3,924	4,051	4,316	3,928	3,957	4,043	5,377	3,691	4,041	3,446
December	4,455	4,320	7,134	4,422	4,470	4,528	5,031	4,202	4,787	4,237
Total	47,420	47,422	50,769	47,927	47,781	47,937	50,951	46,718	48,975	45,113

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what have been the excess winter mortality rates in Scotland for each of the past 10 years in terms of (a) numbers and (b) percentages for (i) people over the age of 65 years, (ii) single parent families, (iii) people in receipt of income support, (iv) people with disabilities and (v) other; [17202)](2) what have been the excess mortality rates in Scotland for each of the past 10 years expressed

There is no universally accepted definition of excess winter deaths and it would not be possible to calculate a rate for these. Details of family status, income support and disability are not collected at registration of death, the source of these statistics. The total number of deaths, and the number of deaths of those over the age of 65 years, by month for each of the past 10 years are given in the tables. The figures for 1996 are still provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths there were in each January from 1992 to 1997 from (a) influenza, (b) pneumonia and (c) bronchitis. [17116]

Deaths in January from selected causes, 1992–96
	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
(a) Influenza1	12	3	5	3	27
(b) Pneumonia2	469	401	508	420	742
(c) Bronchitis3	43	38	33	30	32
1 WHO International Classification of Diseases, code 487.
2 WHO International Classification of Diseases, codes 480–486.
3 WHO International Classification of Diseases, codes 466, 490–491.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the excess weekly mortality rates in Scotland for (a) December 1996 and (b) January 1997 in terms of numbers; and what were the average weekly figures for similar periods in the previous five years. [17204]

There is no universally accepted definition of excess mortality. The number of deaths in Scotland in December and January for the years 1992 to 1997 are given in the table. The 1996 and 1997 figures are still provisional. The average weekly deaths for 1992 to 1996 are also given.

Deaths in Scotland in December and January by week 1992 to 1997
Week beginning	Number
1991–92
2 December 1991	1,127
9 December 1991	1,235
16 December 1991	1,313
23 December 1991	1,357
30 December 1991	1,335
6 January 1992	1,388
13 January 1992	1,275
20 January 1992	1,297
27 January1992	1,351
1992–93
7 December 1992	1,217
14 December 1992	1,237
21 December 1992	1293
28 December 1992	1,403
4 January 1993	1,354
11 January 1993	1,454
18 January 1993	1,391
25 January 1993	1,283
1993–94
6 December 1993	1,296
13 December 1993	1,389
20 December 1993	1,498
27 December 1993	1,454
3 January 1994	1,494
10 January 1994	1,368
17 January 1994	1,293
24 January 1994	1,242
31 January 1994	1,267

The total number of deaths in January from the specified causes is given in the table. The figures for 1996 are still provisional and figures for 1997 are not yet available.

Deaths in Scotland in December and January by week 1992–1997
Week beginning	Number
1994–95
5 December 1994	1,213
12 December 1994	1,189
19 December 1994	1,245
26 December 1994	1,323
2 January 1995	1,330
9 January 1995	1,301
16 January 1995	1,281
23 January 1995	1,229
30 January 1995	1,194
1995–96
4 December 1995	1,296
11 December 1995	1,399
18 December 1995	1,454
25 December 1995	1,738
1 January 1996	1,823
8 January 1996	1,541
15 January 1996	1,364
22 January 1996	1,293
29 January 1996	1,207
1996–97
2 December 1996	1,127
9 December 1996	1,195
16 December 1996	1,281
23 December 1996	1,364
30 December 1996	1,594
6 January 1997	1,626
13 January 1997	1,593
20 January 1997	1,401
27 January 1997	1,271

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland received treatment by NHS doctors for cold-related illnesses for the periods December 1996 and January 1997; and what was the average figure for similar periods in each of the past 10 years. [17216]

The information requested is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what have been the excess winter treatment rates for cold-related illnesses in hospitals in Scotland for (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients for each of the last 10 years. [17215]

Admissions to hospital with a main diagnosis of influenza, pneumonia or bronchitis for the periods March 1985 to February 1986 to March 1995 to February 1996
	Influenza Number of admissions			Pneumonia Number of admissions			Bronchitis Number of admissions
Period March to February	Rest of year March to November	Winter period December to February	Excess winter admissions ratio1	Rest of year March to November	Winter period December to February	Excess winter admissions Ratio1	Rest of year March to November	Winter period December to February	Excess winter admissions ratio1
1985–86	174	155	2.7	5,193	2,669	1.5	3,185	1,839	1.7
1986–87	121	96	2.4	5,232	2,088	1.2	2,322	1,739	2.2
1987–88	118	32	0.8	5,293	2,111	1.2	2,472	1,074	1.3
1988–89	98	99	3.0	5,286	1,982	1.1	2,894	1,339	1.4
1989–90	202	451	6.7	5,544	2,981	1.6	2,130	2,294	3.2
1990–91	114	56	1.5	5,501	2,499	1.4	2,040	1,295	1.9
1991–92	83	123	4.4	5,739	2,606	1.4	2,662	2,297	2.6
1992–93	77	56	2.2	5,638	2,447	1.3	2,229	1,902	2.6
1993–94	501	90	0.5	7,158	2,822	1.2	3,257	2,114	1.9
1994–95	78	34	1.3	6,323	2,846	1.4	2,019	2,139	3.2
1995–96	163	237	4.4	6,772	3,481	1.5	2,331	2,574	3.3
Total 1985–96	1,729	1,429	2.5	63,679	28,532	1.3	27,541	20,606	2.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland received hospital treatment as (a) in-patients and (b) out-patients for cold-related illnesses for the period December 1996 and January 1997; and what was the average figure for similar periods in the past 10 years. [17219]

NHSiS—Admissions to hospital with a main diagnosis of influenza, pneumonia or bronchitis
Periods December and January 1985 to 1996
	Influenza December		Pneumonia December		Bronchitis December
Year	December	January	December	January	December	January	Total
1985–86	42	79	847	1,041	596	350	2,955
1986–87	9	35	662	713	226	435	2,080
1987–88	11	12	736	742	155	173	1,829
1988–89	46	39	771	676	522	229	2,283
1989–90	369	58	1,413	913	590	798	4,141
1990–91	14	16	848	923	230	236	2,267
1991–92	23	57	831	960	654	634	3,159
1992–93	12	11	791	862	331	492	2,499
1993–94	47	35	1,098	990	846	613	3,629
1994–95	12	6	994	1,044	717	627	3,400
1995–96	143	72	1,414	1,244	903	761	4,537

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in respect of the Scottish ambulance service management training courses at Barony castle, (a) how many people have participated in the courses, (b) what guidelines are issued to those participating, (c) what provision there is for opting out of courses or part of courses and (d) what equipment is available in the event of medical emergencies. [17134]

The information requested is as follows:

In-patient admissions with a main diagnosis of cold-related illness—influenza, pneumonia and bronchitis—for the months of December to February and for the rest of each of the past 10 years are given in the table, together with the ratio of the December to February figures to the three-monthly average for the rest of the year. Information on out-patients is not held centrally.

Information on in-patient admissions with a main diagnosis of cold-related illness—influenza, pneumonia or bronchitis—for December 1996 to January 1997 is not yet available. The table provides information for the 10 year period to January 1996. Information on out-patients is not held centrally.

(a) Forty-two operational managers have completed 10 or 12-day classroom-based management training courses, which include a two-day outdoor module; a further 20 operational managers participated in the most recent course, which was suspended on 15 February.

(b) Course participants receive a comprehensive two-hour briefing for the two-day outdoor module. This includes guidance on safety, communication arrangements, map reading skills and the country code.

(c) The Scottish Ambulance Service NHS Trust attaches the highest priority to the need for formal management training where previously there was none. Accordingly, it would normally expect operational ambulance managers to take part in its management training programme. The leadership element of the course was designed by external consultants to be physically achievable, even by those of moderate fitness. Despite this, students are encouraged to express any doubts or concerns they may have about participating in the outdoor activities and there have been occasions when alternative arrangements have been made at the request of individuals unable to complete this element of the course.

(d) During the outdoor module each of the walking groups is accompanied by a safety supervisor who has a first aid kit consisting of dressings and plasters, a walkie-talkie radio, mobile phone, flares, strobe light and portable cooker. Every member of each group is also equipped with various items of survival equipment. The groups use as a base a cottage equipped with modern amenities and a patient transport vehicle carrying emergency response equipment and drugs, a stretcher and blankets. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is also available at the cottage.

The trust has suspended the course and is carrying out a full review of it, in light of the death of one of the participants on 15 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to his answer of 17 February, Official Report, columns 481–82, on junctions on the M74 motorway, how many entry-exit junctions are planned to be included over the proposed M74 route from Carlisle to Glasgow. [17046]

There will be a total of 19 junctions on the completed motorway between the M6 junction 44 at Carlisle and the Maryville interchange, inclusive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current estimate of the costs incurred by his Department and agencies for which his Department is responsible in the clearing-up operation which followed the grounding of the MV Braer on Shetland in January 1993. [17699]

The clearing-up operation was undertaken on behalf of the Government by the Department of Transport. The costs incurred by my Department related primarily to testing and monitoring for traces of oil and amounted to some £900,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the current number of electors in each parliamentary constituency in Scotland. [17539]

For the latest information held centrally I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 6 February 1997, Official Report, columns 690–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects. [18210]

The Lord Advocate has recently agreed with the Scottish Law Commission a fifth programme of law reform. This was presented to Parliament yesterday and is published today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The new programme, which supersedes the existing four programmes, describes the short, medium and long-term projects on which the commission will be working between now and the end of 1999. Timetables are set for the short and medium-term projects.The centrepiece of the projects in the fifth programme is the commission's work on property, including feudal tenure reform and reform of the law of the tenement. Recommendations on the law of the tenement are expected before the end of 1997 and on feudal tenure reform before the end of 1999. Other matters on which recommendations are expected before the end of 1997 include diligence on the dependence and admiralty arrestments and unjustified enrichment.The Government welcome this programme which concentrates on a number of important ant timely law reform projects. The fixing of priorities and timetables is particularly welcome and will help all of those with an interest in law reform to keep track of and prepare for changes in the law which the commission might recommend.

To ask the Secretary of state for Scotland what plans he has to reform the law on leasehold casualties in Scotland. [18244]

In view of the difficulties which are being caused to some tenants by the operation of the existing law on leasehold casualties, my right hon. Friend has formally written to the Scottish Law Commission asking commissioners:

"To consider the law on leasehold casualties and advise on possible reforms".

I hope that the commission will be able to consult and report by March 1998.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were accepted as homeless by each local authority in Scotland for each year since 1990. [17230]

The available information is set out in the table.

Households accepted as homeless under the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987
Local authority	1990–91	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
Berwickshire	15	22	30	36	21
Ettrick and Lauderdale	22	33	49	51	38
Roxburgh	58	44	80	92	126
Tweeddale	31	36	42	30	31
Clackmannan	206	131	116	70	81
Falkirk	613	400	606	486	510
Stirling	284	322	423	448	586
Annandale and Eskdale	57	27	47	52	32
Nithsdale	256	186	152	88	85
Stewartry	85	55	81	85	78
Wigtown	101	123	120	152	84
Dunfermline	191	295	294	169	162
Kirkcaldy	492	659	581	439	331

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals the Government have to require operators to clean up the sea bed around offshore installations on the UK continental shelf. [17000]

[holding answer 24 February 1997]: Removal of installations and any debris will be addressed at end of field life in the abandonment programme approved by the Department of Trade and Industry. In addition, part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 includes powers to take action in response to instances of illegal dumping.In relation to operational discharges from offshore installations, a recent study funded jointly by the United Kingdom Offshore Operators Association and the Department of Trade and Industry identified a range of options for dealing with drill cuttings piles at the decommissioning stage. All the options require further investigation and the Government are considering how this might best be undertaken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland (a) before 1 July 1977 and (b) after 1 July 1977 have (i) received human growth hormone treatment, (ii) died as a result of human growth hormone treatment, and (iii) been diagnosed as ill as a result of human growth hormone treatment; and how many court actions have been raised, or are currently pending, as a result of death or illness following such treatment. [17261]

[holding answer 25 February 1997]: The Institute of Child Health holds and is continuing to develop a UK register of patients treated with pituitary-derived human growth hormone. The current register does not identify separately whether treatment took place before or after 1 July 1977. In total, 144 patients received pituitary-derived human growth hormone at treatment centres in Scotland. Four of these have subsequently died from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. None of the remaining patients is currently known to be suffering from the disease. I am not aware of any legal actions on this mater raised in the Scottish courts. Two actions including an appeal are currently pending at the High Court in England.

To ask the Attorney-General what factors underlie the recent decline in prosecutions for rape and sexual violence; and if he will make a statement. [16656]

The Crown Prosecution Service's case work statistics do not separately record the number of prosecutions for offences of rape and sexual violence. The table shows the Home Office statistics for prosecutions of offences in rape, indecent assault on a female, unlawful sexual intercourse and buggery in England and Wales. The total number of prosecutions in 1995 was 5,715, compared with 6,276 in 1994.The reason for this reduction is not known. The Home Office is conducting a major research project into rape cases.

To ask the Attorney-General how many questions were tabled for reply by his Department in each Session since 1979–80; in how many instances in each year the reply has been that providing the information involved disproportionate cost; and in how many instances in each year questions have been given the reply that the information was not available centrally. [16792]

A list of the number of written and oral questions answered by my Department in the Sessions 1982–83 to 1995–96, as supplied by the parliamentary on-line information service unit, has been placed in the House Library. Figures for 1979–80 to 1981–82 are not available.The number of replies given by my Department stating that information could be provided only at disproportionate cost, or was not available centrally, was eight in the Session 1995–96, plus five instances where part of the information requested was available. Details of replies given in previous Sessions could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the cost and number of items of equipment and furniture that (a) have been stolen and (b) are otherwise unaccounted for from his Department and its agencies during the past 12 months, listing by name any such items valued at £5,000 or more, and showing information technology material separately. [17059]

Information on items stolen or otherwise unaccounted for during the 12 months to 31 January 1997 is as follows for my Departments and agencies:

Crown Prosecution Service

1. Non-IT equipment and furniture:

• Eleven items were stolen, at a total cost of £1,884.
• Five items were otherwise unaccounted for, at a total cost of £85.

2. IT equipment:

• Fifteen items were stolen (including one file server valued at £5,000), at a total cost of £21,755.

• Serious Fraud Office
• Two non-IT items were reported as stolen or otherwise unaccounted for, at a total value of £140.
• Treasury Solicitor's Department
• Two non-IT items were stolen, at a total value of £60.
• Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers
• One lap-top computer was stolen, cost £2,000.
• Government Property Lawyers
• Nil.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present total of short-term financial assets held by the Government; if he will list the major categories of such short-term financial assets held; and if he will make a statement. [17183]

Identifiable short-term financial assets of central Government were over £8 billion at the end of September 1996. These assets consisted of sterling bank deposits, £6.7 billion; foreign currency bank deposits, £500 million; and holdings of short-dated bills by the issue department of the Bank of England, £900 million. Non-identifiable short-term financial assets include a proportion of the official reserves—the total value of which was £28½ billion at the end of September 1996—and of Government holdings of local authority and public corporation debt—£42 billion and £21 billion, respectively. Figures for the maturity structure of these assets could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.Government debt, net of financial assets, was reduced by nearly £6 billion in January. This was the largest repayment of debt in a single month for eight years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his assessment of the relationship between the money supply and the future rate of inflation. [17647]