To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what percentage of employees, in each pay band, in the quangos for which her Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9575]

The information available includes staff of Afro-Caribbean origin with those of African origin. With that qualification, the information is as follows:

Pay band minimum	Asian	Percentage	African and Afro-Caribbean	Percentage
£50,000	0	0.0	0	0.0
£42,500	0	0.0	1	3.4
£30,000	3	6.0	2	4.0
£23,000	2	6.9	2	6.9
£19,250	2	11.8	0	0.0
£16,500	4	16.0	4	16.0
£12,500	1	2.4	5	11.9
£10,000	0	0.0	6	25.0

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many and what percentage of civil servants in each of grades 1 to 5 in her Department are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9568]

Staff of Asian and Afro-Caribbean origin are not currently represented in posts formerly classified as grades 1 to 4. In posts formerly classified as grade 5, the Department employs one member of staff of Asian origin, representing 2.3 per cent. of such posts, and one member of staff of Afro-Caribbean origin, 2.3 per cent. We aim to do better.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will list the Government Departments with which she is co-operating directly with respect to the provision of overseas aid and the eradication of world poverty; and if she will make a statement. [10135]

Consistency in Government policy on issues affecting poorer countries is a key element in the remit of the new Department for International Development in the elimination of global poverty and promotion of sustainable development. My Department therefore co-operates as appropriate with other Departments, in particular with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; HM Treasury; the Department of Trade and Industry; the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions; the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; the Department of Health; the Department for Education and Employment; and the Ministry of Defence.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what criteria her Department uses to determine whether a satisfactory degree of economic reform has been implemented for the purposes of receiving overseas aid; and if she will make a statement. [10137]

We look to work in countries that wish to implement sound macro-economic policies aimed at laying or preserving the foundations for sustainable economic growth based on prudent budgeting, effective and transparent fiscal disciplines and efficient markets. At the same time, we look for a demonstrable commitment to eliminate poverty by expanding opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and human development through increased access to basic education, basic health and clean water for all.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when the review of aid-and-trade provision will be completed; and if she will make a statement. [10138]

The review of the aid-and-trade provision will be done in the autumn. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt any findings of the review by making a statement at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will make a statement on the future of the know-how fund. [10139]

The know-how fund provides flexible technical assistance to central and eastern Europe and central Asia adjusting to the transition to democracy on an efficient economy. I am reviewing its activities as part of the process leading up to the publication in the autumn of a White Paper on international development to adjust to progress achieved and the need to address growing inequality and poverty in transition countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many civil servants there are in total on each pay band in her Department. [9576]

The Department has yet to adopt a system of pay bands and, for the time being, designations applied hitherto remain in use. On this basis, the numbers are:

Number
Senior civil service posts	43.5
Grade 6	51.0
Grade 7	93.5
Senior executive officer and equivalents	49.5
Higher executive officer and equivalents	145.0
Administration trainee/HEO(D)	12.0
Assistant economist	10.0
Assistant statistician	3.0
Executive officer and equivalents	174.5
Administrative officer and equivalents	322.0
Administrative assistant and equivalents	124.0

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development for what reasons it is not her policy to set a target date for reaching the UN target of 0.7 per cent. of gross domestic product for official development assistance; and if she will make a statement. [9195]

As I have repeatedly made clear, we are committed to reversing the decline in the proportion of our GNP spent on development assistance, which was 0.52 per cent. and rising in 1979, is now 0.27 per cent. and almost halved under the previous Administration. My policy is to reverse the decline in our spend rather than make false promises and continuing cuts, as did the previous Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to introduce measures relating to data protection. [10430]

Later this Session, we shall be bringing forward a data protection Bill to give effect to the European Community data protection directive. We hope shortly to publish a paper setting out the Government's proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the Prison Service audit report. [11171]

Our manifesto said that the Prison Service faced serious financial problems and that we would audit the resources available.Therefore, shortly after taking office, I asked the Director General of the Prison Service to carry out an audit of the resources available to the Prison Service, and current and projected demands on it.The audit has now been completed and I am today placing a report of its findings in the Library.The main findings are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will instigate an inquiry into damage that occurred to the personal property of prisoners in the aftermath of the disturbances on 20 January at Full Sutton prison with particular reference to damage to (a) personal stereos, (b) clothing and (c) books. [9981]

No. Claims for compensation for prisoners' property damaged during the January disturbance at Full Sutton prison are being dealt with through the normal Prison Service request and complaint procedures. Although the Prison Service does not accept liability for loss of personal property held by prisoners in their cells, it has been agreed in this instance to make ex-gratia payments to prisoners who were innocent victims of the disturbance. Those prisoners who are judged to have been involved in the disturbance will not be liable for compensation.Prisoners who are not satisfied with the outcome of these procedures may appeal to Prison Service headquarters and, if still not satisfied, to the independent prison ombudsman. In addition, all prisoners retain the normal right of any citizen to seek to recover legitimate losses through the courts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the prison population of (a) males and (b) females, in each of the past five years; and what is the forecast population for both groups for each of the next three years. [10174]

Information on the average population for 1992–96 is contained in table A. Long-term projections of the prison population in England and Wales are produced annually and were last published in the Home Office statistical bulletin 7/97 on 3 April 1997. The projected average population figures for 1997 to 2000, including a higher and lower variant, are as set out in the attached table B. On 18 July 1997, the prison population stood at 62,300 which is 1,700 higher than the central projection for mid-July.

Table A: Average population in prison in England and Wales 1992–1996
Year	Males	Females	Total
1992	44,240	1,577	45,817
1993	43,005	1,561	44,566
1994	46,983	1,811	48,794
1995	49,068	1,979	51,047
1996	53,019	2,262	55,281

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his oral answer of 9 June, Official Report, columns 775–76, what assumptions he made in respect of (a) the deterrent effects of the mandatory sentences and (b) the likely effect on the length of other sentences when forming his estimates as to the likely increase in the prison population as a result of the implementation of each of the mandatory minimum sentencing provisions of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997. [10258]

The estimates assume that the deterrent effect on those who are liable to mandatory minimum sentences—that is, offenders who have one qualifying conviction for serious violent or sex offences, or two qualifying convictions for trafficking in class A drugs or domestic burglary—will reduce the requirement for prison places by 20 per cent. The estimates also include an allowance of 1,000 prison places for indirect effects of the provisions on sentence levels, if all are implemented.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of criminal prosecutions undertaken in 1996 in respect of the unauthorised release of information, citing the Acts of Parliament involved. [10616]

In 1995, there were no prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act 1989. Information for 1996 will be available in the autumn.Information on the numerous other statutory provisions covering the disclosure of specific kinds of information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of files held by the Metropolitan police are kept (a) on computer files exclusively, (b) on paper files exclusively and (c) in both forms. [10614]

I am informed that the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, the commissioner has provided me with the following information. All centrally registered files which deal with administrative and operational matters, and case papers, are exclusively in paper form. Certain branches including the aliens registration office and the lost property office have their own central registry and all their files are in paper form. Major inquiries, crime reporting and criminal records are all held electronically.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to include measures in the Crime and Disorder Bill to address (a) dangerous driving, (b) speeding, (c) careless driving and (d) other crimes which take place on the roads. [10564]

We have no plans to include specific measures relating to dangerous driving, speeding or careless driving. The Bill will give effect to manifesto commitments relating to young and adult crime and disorder, many of which may relate to crimes which are committed on the roads.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Portsmouth South (Mr. Hancock) of 18 July, Official Report, column 344, if he will list the matters which are considered in the assessment as to whether a particular procedure should be approved under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; [10695](2) in the case of procedures carried out for commercial gain, what criteria need to be satisfied before approval is given under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement. [10683]

Applications for all project licences must satisfy the criteria set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. Section 5(3) sets out the permissible purposes of the work; section 5(4) requires that the likely adverse effects to the animals concerned be weighed against the benefits likely to accrue; section 5(5) requires applicants to give adequate consideration to alternatives; and section 5(6) prohibits the use of cats, dogs, primates and equidae unless no other species is suitable or it is not practicable to obtain animals of another suitable species.When the cost-benefit assessment required by section 5(4) is carried out, the importance of the objectives; the probability that these objectives will be achieved; the potential adverse effects to the animals involved; and the measures for reducing these adverse effects must all be taken into account. This assessment of benefit and severity is described in more detail in appendix II of the 1993 report of the Animal Procedures Committee.I understand that, as part of its review of the operation of the Act, the Animal Procedures Committee is preparing an extended statement on the principles and operation of cost-benefit assessment.When the benefits are assessed, the potential financial gain which may accrue from the sale of any product is not considered. Broader economic and social benefits, such as cheaper or more accessible medicines or other products, or reduction in costs to the taxpayer may be taken into consideration. Animal use is often required not by the commercial organisation, but by national and international regulations which protect human safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the quangos within his Department's responsibility which he has to date announced his intention (a) to abolish and (b) to make subject to a significant element of democratic accountability. [9680]

(a) In the period from 1 May 1997, no announcement has been made to abolish any Home Office quangos. The opportunity to review these bodies will be taken in line with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall), on 18 June, Official Report, column 174.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the targets he expects the Scottish Record Office to achieve in 1997–98. [11094]

I have set the Scottish Record Office the following key targets for 1997–98:

to reduce the unit cost of preserving and making available the Records of Scotland by 4.5 per cent. in real terms;

to increase the number of catalogue entries available for public scrutiny on the electronic system by 50,000;

to produce material for readers in 92.5 per cent. of cases in 30 minutes or less for material from the same building and in two days or less for material from elsewhere;

to issue replies to 85 per cent. of correspondence within 10 days, absorbing up to a 2 per cent. increase in demand; and

to obtain the necessary additional funding to set up the Scottish archive network project as a business and to begin to put finding aids onto the Internet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many children's centres there are in Scotland; and if he will list them by area health boards; [10155](2) what plans he has to extend provision of children's centres; and what steps he has taken in this respect to date. [10156]

There are centres providing paediatric care in all major centres of population in Scotland, including at the three specialist children's hospitals in Edinburgh—Lothian health board—Aberdeen—Grampian health board—and the Royal hospital for sick children, Yorkhill, Glasgow—Greater Glasgow health board. Each health board is responsible for planning to meet the health care needs for its resident population, including children.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the Greater Glasgow health board site of the former David Elder infirmary in Govan, Glasgow. [10154]

Greater Glasgow health board has concluded that the former David Elder infirmary is no longer required for use by the national health service in Glasgow. Its disposal is a matter for the health board.

To ask the Prime Minister what public access there is under the Data Protection Act 1984 to computer files previously held by the police but now lodged with M15. [10685]

Any request under the Data Protection Act 1984 for access to data held by the Security Service would be considered on its merits.However, the Data Protection Act provides for personal data to be exempt from the subject access provisions of the act if the exemption is required for the purpose of safeguarding national security.The Act also provides for exemption from the subject access provisions of the Act of personal data held for the purpose of discharging statutory functions where the data consist of information obtained for that purpose from a person who possessed it for the prevention or detection of crime or the apprehension or prosecution of offenders and where access would be likely to prejudice those purposes.

To ask the Prime Minister how many people are employed in his policy unit. [10607]

As at 23 July, there were 12 officials and six support staff.

To ask the Prime Minister how many and what percentage of special advisers to the Government are (a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8970]

Information on ethnic origin is collected from civil servants on a voluntary basis. Figures for special advisers are not held centrally.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will initiate a pilot English Public Defender Service in youth courts to parallel the experiment scheduled in Scotland. [9928]

We have not ruled out the possibility of using employed solicitors, or solicitors under specially-designed contracts, for particular sorts of work if those would be the most suitable arrangements. We are open to the idea of using specialist employed lawyers to represent defendants in disputed cases in the youth courts. We will be watching the progress of the Scottish pilot with interest.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects matters relating to the amendments to the Code of Conduct of the Bar of England and Wales relating to bankruptcy and attendance at police stations will be submitted to (a) him and (b) the designated judges. [9625]

The amendments are being considered under section 31 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990, at the request of the Bar Council. The amendments are to be submitted to the Lord Chancellor by the end of July and will be sent to the designated judges thereafter.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) if he will list the 10 (a) barristers and (b) solicitors who received the highest total payments from public funds in the last available year; [9865](2) if he will list those barristers paid over £100,000 out of public funds in the latest available year. [9864]

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury actions have been automatically struck out under County Court Order 17 rule 11 in each of the last three years. [9780]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to amend County Court Order 17 rule 11; and if he will make a statement. [9783]

The Lord Chancellor is considering the revised judgment of the Court of Appeal in Bannister v SGB plc. and Others issued on 4 July 1997 with a view to deciding whether action should be taken to amend order 17, rule 11 of the county court rules.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many personal injury cases struck out automatically under County Court Order 17 rule 11 have been appealed (a) to circuit judges and (b) to the Court of Appeal in each of the last three years; and how many appeals were successful in each category. [9782]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department in how many locations a common database has been introduced between courts, the Crown Prosecution Service and barristers' chambers; what evaluation he has made of the success of these schemes; and what proposals he has to extend these schemes. [9868]

The question concerns a matter which has been assigned to the Court Service under the terms of its framework document. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, pursuant to his answer of 10 July, Official Report, column 561, what are the targets for each TEC for special needs training. [10303]

The number of contracted starts for which TECs will receive payment, (a) for those endorsed as having special training needs on entering youth training, (b) for those with disabilities on entering training for work, for each TEC are:

TEC	(a)	(b)
Hampshire	590	481
Heart of England	300	155
Isle of Wight	119	55
Kent	900	656
Milton Keynes	400	131
Surrey	150	187
Sussex	302	507
Thames Valley	905	428
Aztec	150	159
Focus Central London	986	1,748
London East	327	582
North London	385	251
North West London	190	296
Solotec	823	832
West London	100	228
Bedfordshire	365	151
Cambs	78	129
Essex	553	513
Greater Peterborough	209	206
Hertfordshire	157	291
Norfolk and Waveney	275	683
Suffolk	250	200
Devon and Cornwall	784	889
Dorset	310	255
Gloucestershire	297	191
Somerset	283	196
Westec	545	539
Wiltshire	213	172
Birmingham	336	1,372
Central England	240	147
Coventry	194	390
Dudley	200	170
Hereford and Worcester	93	270
Sandwell	271	262
Shropshire	255	128
Staffordshire	203	452
Walsall	100	93
Wovlerhampton	88	111
Greater Notts	200	295
Leicester	350	555
Lincolnshire	500	430
North Derbyshire	247	195
North Notts	350	465
Northants	300	175
South Derbyshire	310	363
Barnsley/Doncaster	720	479
Bradford	565	270
Calderdale/Kirklees	850	352
Humberside	1,263	600
Leeds	554	401
North Yorkshire	900	250
Rotherham CCTE	356	347
Sheffield	602	443
Wakefield	245	200
Cewtec	416	496
Merseyside	1,585	1,347
St. Helens CCTE	255	183
Bolton Bury	135	259
Cumbria	510	255
Eltec	300	290
Lawtec	585	465
Manchester	1,000	710
Metrotec	175	190
North and Mid Cheshire	508	250
Oldham	400	185
Rochdale	250	169
South and East Cheshire	250	142
Stockport and High Peak	158	150
Co. Durham and Darlington	1,158	539
Northumberland	340	310
Sunderland City	325	351
Teesside	1,030	720
Tyneside	880	828

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will list the quangos within his Department's responsibility which he has to date announced his intention (a) to abolish and (b) to make subject to a significant element of democratic accountability. [9679]

The Department has not so far announced plans to abolish any of its quangos, or non- departmental public bodies. However, it is currently examining the role and responsibilities of each of our NDPBs as part of the Department's current spending review. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced last month a review of NDPBs with the aim of reducing overall numbers across Whitehall.The issue of democratic accountability will also be addressed on an across-Whitehall basis with the launch in the autumn of a discussion paper considering how democratic oversight of NDPBs might best be enhanced. In the light of consultation, it is proposed to bring forward proposals in a forthcoming White Paper on better government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what plans he has made to extend workskill pilots for the unemployed; and if he will make a statement. [11172]

Regulations have been approved by Parliament to allow four more workskill pilots to be introduced on 1 September 1997 to run for one year. These pilots will allow people who have been receiving jobseeker's allowance for six months or more to undertake employment-related education and training for up to one year:

full-time, in Scotland in the Glasgow and Dumbarton districts and in the north-west region in Lancashire and Cumbria districts; and

part-time, in London and south-east region in south and south-east London districts and in the south-west region in Wiltshire, Avon and Somerset districts.

About 12,000 unemployed people will be able to benefit from the flexible arrangements to take up education or training: provision for 8,000 in these new pilots in addition to 4,000 in the pilots introduced in four areas last April.The extension of workskill pilots supports our plans in the new deal where we are acting urgently to improve the employability and labour market prospects of the unemployed. The workskill pilots will help us to assess whether and how flexible arrangements in jobseeker's allowance help unemployed people to get and retain work, both in the short and long term.We will further review the jobseeker's allowance rules on education and training in the light of the workskill pilots and early experience in the new deal.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is the average weekly pay of chauffeurs employed for driving ministerial cars; [10532](2) what are the average numbers of hours per week, including overtime, worked by secure chauffeurs for Government Ministers; [10531](3) what proportion of chauffeurs or drivers of ministerial cars

Responsibility for the subject of these questions has been delegated to the Government Car and Despatch Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Nick Matheson. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the Government's policy on "Government Direct"; and if he will make a statement. [10391]

The "Government.Direct" Green Paper contained many good ideas on making the best use of new technology and the new White Paper, "Better Government" will harness these with an agenda which will bring Government closer to the people and provide better services for everybody. We are continuing to consult interested parties who responded to the Green Paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what discussions he has had with the Minister without Portfolio regarding (a) the content and (b) the timing of publication of the White Paper on freedom of information. [10610]

I have discussed the Government's proposals for a White Paper on freedom of information with many ministerial colleagues including the Minister without Portfolio.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will release the papers available to Ministers at the meeting on Thursday, 10 July where it was decided not to publish the White Paper on freedom of information before the summer Adjournment. [10573]

I will ensure that factual and analytical material relevant in forming the White Paper's proposals is made publicly available and I will bear this in mind as we approach the publication of the White Paper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the Acts of Parliament which (a) contain provisions restricting the release of information and (b) apply criminal sanctions in respect of the unauthorised disclosure of information. [10574]

The previous Government's 1993 White Paper, "Open Government"—Cm 2290—listed those statutory provisions which restrict the release of information. Many of these Acts also make provision for criminal sanctions in the case of unauthorised disclosure.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if proposals to amend the 1977 Croham directive in respect of the release of background detail and information behind ministerial decisions will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on freedom of information. [10611]

The Government remain committed to the principles contained in the Croham directive but, 20 years on, they propose to build on them in their forthcoming White Paper on freedom of information.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list in respect of freedom of information regimes in other countries those countries which operate an appeal mechanism based on (a) the courts, (b) an independent ombudsman or commissioner and (c) a select committee or other parliamentary mechanism. [10609]

The table summarises the basic appeals mechanisms used in a number of leading freedom of information regimes.

Country	Courts	Ombudsman/Information Commissioner1	Select Committee or other parliamentary mechanism2
USA	Yes	No	No
Canada	Yes	Yes	No
Australia	Yes	Ombudsman or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal	No
New Zealand	Yes	Yes	Yes

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the statutory reforms recommended in the "Open Government" White Paper 1993, Cm 2290, which have been implemented. [10615]

The 1993 "Open Government" White Paper—Cm 2290—proposed two new statutory rights: (i) a statutory right for people to see their personal records held by Government and by other public sector authorities, and (ii) a statutory right of access to health and safety information. Neither was implemented.The White Paper also proposed the selective insertion of "harm tests" into criminal provisions covering unauthorised disclosure of information as legislative opportunities arose. No such amendments were made.These proposals of the previous Government will be superseded by comprehensive proposals for a Freedom of Information Act in our forthcoming White Paper.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps her Department is taking to persuade the Irish Government to withdraw their territorial claim to Northern Ireland. [7721]

The Government have consistently made clear their view that a lasting political settlement in Northern Ireland will require a consensus on constitutional issues, reflecting the widespread support which exists for the principle that there can be no change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland as part of the United Kingdom without the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland.In a speech in Northern Ireland on 16 May, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said that changes to the Irish constitution to reflect the consent principle would be a helpful confidence-building step in advance of any settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the annual report and accounts of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency will be made available to the House. [11222]

Copies of the annual reports and accounts of the Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Training and Employment Agency for the financial year 1997–98. [11223]

The following key targets have been set for the agency for 1997–98:

1. to have 75 per cent. of company development programme client companies using NVQ-based training to raise the competence of their work force;

2. to encourage the commitment of Northern Ireland industry and commerce to the investors in people standard through the achievement of 50 new recognitions by March 1998, at least 25 of these to be achieved by companies in manufacturing or tradable services, or hotels registered with the NI Tourist Board;

3. to ensure that of the trainees who commenced mainstream jobskills in 1995–96, at least 45 per cent. achieve NVQ Level 2 or above;

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if she will list for each departmental policy review presently in progress or scheduled, (a) a description of the purpose of the review and (b) its expected date of completion. [10183]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: Departments carry out policy reviews on a continuous basis.Major reviews currently in progress are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 17 July, Official Report, column 251, what is the population of the designated assisted areas of Wales; and how much of that population is in (a) the M4 corridor and (b) the A55 corridor. [10147]

[holding answer 22 July 1997]: The total population of the designated assisted areas in Wales is estimated to be 2.1 million, of which 550,000 are estimated to be in the eastern M4 corridor and 180,000 in the eastern A55 corridor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many infant, junior, primary and secondary schools were closed between 1979 and May 1997 in each county of Wales indicating how many closed (a) for financial reasons, (b) as a result of demographic change and (c) for other reasons; and if he will make a statement. [10245]

[holding answer 24 July 1977]: The information requested is not held centrally. Details of the number of primary and secondary schools in each of the former counties of Wales in 1979 and 1996—the latest available data collected in this form—are shown in the following table:

	January 1979	January 19961
Maintained primary schools2
Clwyd	266	241
Dyfed	354	310
Gwent	285	211
Gwynedd	200	191
Mid Glamorgan	319	301
Powys	131	105
South Glamorgan	174	157
West Glamorgan	201	165
Wales	1,930	1,681
Maintained secondary schools
Clwyd	33	32
Dyfed	25	31
Gwent	32	33
Gwynedd	23	23
Mid Glamorgan	41	43
Powys	12	13
South Glamorgan	30	26
West Glamorgan	28	27
Wales	224	228
1Includes grant maintained schools.
2Primary schools comprise 3 types of school: infants' for children aged 5 to 7, junior for those aged 7 to 11 and combined junior and infants for both age groups. Many primary schools also provide nursery classes for children aged under 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what would be the cost of sending the White Paper to every home in Wales prior to the referendum on a Welsh Assembly. [8463]

We do not intend to send the White Paper to every home in Wales, and I have therefore made no such assessment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his meetings with Plaid Cymru and the Liberal Democrats relating to his proposals for a Welsh Assembly. [9883]

I have had no meetings with Plaid Cymru or the Liberal Democrat party.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people aged 16 to 19 years were attending (a) colleges of further education and (b) sixth-form colleges at each of the colleges in Wales in the last academic year; what percentage left these colleges (i) with one, two or three A levels grade 'C' and above, (ii) with A-levels A to E and (iii) with NVQ levels 2 and 3; and what percentage left the colleges without a recognised qualification. [8917]

The data collected centrally relate to students at college entered for examinations and do not permit analyses of students' qualifications as they leave college. Information on the number of people aged 16 to 18 attending further education colleges, including those described as sixth-form colleges, in Wales in December 1995 is given in the following table:

People aged 16 to 18 years at Further Education colleges in Wales at December 1995
College	Full-time	Part-time
Aberdare college	135	136
Afan college	488	34
Barry college	638	222
Bridgend college	611	391
Carmarthenshire college of Technology and Art	886	401
Coleg Ceredigion	290	146
Coleg Glan Hafren	1,464	276
Coleg Llandrillo	1,112	249
Coleg Llysfasi	124	120
Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor	815	44
Coleg Menai	2,057	2,026
Coleg Powys	673	255
Deeside college	647	305
Gorseinon college	1,223	20
Gwent Tertiary college	3,484	631
Merthyr Tydfil college	302	115
Neath college	1,298	158
Pembrokeshire college	686	139
Pencoed college	162	26
Pontypridd college	1,105	241
St. David's VI Form college	708	0
Swansea college	1,261	249
Welsh college of Horticulture	84	53
Yale college	1,654	264
Ystrad Mynach college	487	108

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the quangos within his Department's responsibility which he has to date announced his intention (a) to abolish and (b) to make subject to a significant element of democratic accountability. [9682]

I have set out my proposals in the White Paper, "A Voice for Wales" published on 22 July, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the percentage of junior doctors who have working conditions which do not meet the standards laid down in the new deal for junior doctors. [10576]

No estimate is available of the percentage of junior doctors effected, but the most recent survey carried out by the postgraduate school of the accommodation and facilities provided for junior doctors by district general hospitals in Wales showed that four out of 19 hospitals surveyed were not meeting the standards laid down.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the number of war pensioners likely to be living in England in the years (a) 2000, (b) 2005, (c) 2010 and (d) 2015. [9139]

The information is in the table.

Year	Number of war pensioners
2000	230,000
2005	190,000
2010	150,000
2015	120,000

1. Figures include both war disablement pensioners and war widows.2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many war pensioners currently live in (a) England, (b) the city of Manchester and (c) the borough of Trafford. [9143]

The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Estimated figures are set out in the table:

Area	Number of war pensioners
England	250,000
Manchester	4,500
Borough of Trafford	under 1,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will list the quangos within her Department's responsibility which she has to date announced her intention (a) to abolish and (b) to make subject to a significant element of democratic accountability. [9672]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lancashire (Mr. Pickthall) on 18 June, Official Report, column 174.I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many successful claims there were for housing benefit in the Chelmsford local authority area by (a) council house/housing association tenants, (b) private sector tenants and (c) home owners in June for each year since 1990. [10307]

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

Housing benefit recipients in Chelmsford, by tenure, May 1990 to May 1996
	Local authority tenants	Housing association tenants	Private landlord tenants (excluding housing associations except for 1990 and 1991)
May 1990	4,510	n/a	1,490
May 1991	4,730	n/a	1,170
May 1992	4,960	280	1,010
May 1993	5,090	160	1,450
May 1994	5,240	650	1,360
May 1995	5,110	810	1,350
May 1996	4,910	920	1,350

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will make it her policy that the combined real value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother is at least maintained at its present real level in future upratings. [10567]

We are committee to retaining universal child benefit from birth to age 16, and to uprate it in line with prices. The rates of all benefits are reviewed annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the combined value of child dependency addition and child benefit for the child of a widowed mother (a) in cash terms, (b) in real terms and (c) as a percentage of average earnings, in November 1979 and at each subsequent uprating date. [10566]

The information is in the tables:

Child benefit and widowed mothers allowance child dependency increase for first child
Uprating date	Cash paid (£ per week)	Cash as a percentage of average earnings at each uprating date	Real value at April 1997 prices (£ per week)	Real value as a percentage of average earnings at April 1997
November 1979	11.10	11.0	28.79	7.8
November 1980	12.25	10.2	27.56	7.5
November 1981	12.95	9.8	26.02	7.1

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the lower and upper national insurance contributions limits if they had been increased in line with average earnings since 1980; and what would be the current effect on the annual yield from contributions if (a) the lower limit, (b) the upper limit and (c) both limits were increased to those levels. [10571]

The lower and upper earnings limits for class 1 national insurance contributions and the lower and upper profits limits for class 4 national insurance contributions are linked to the level of the basic retirement pension. If the basic retirement pension had been uprated since 1980 in line with the higher of earnings or prices the weekly lower and upper earnings limits for 1997–98 would be £86 and £645 respectively and the annual lower and upper profits limits would be £9,653 and £33,540 respectively. The estimated full year effects of limits set at these levels for 1997–98 are shown in the tables.

Estimated full year effects of weekly lower and upper earnings limits for class 1 national insurance contributions set at £86 and £645 respectively in 1997–98
Change in annual yield, £ million
	Weekly lower earnings limit—£86	Weekly upper earnings limit—£45	Weekly lower earnings limit and weekly upper earnings limit—£645
Class 1 employees
Gross	-1,880	+1,970	+90
Rebate	-235	+190	-50
Net	-1,645	+1,785	+140
Class 1 employers
Gross	-140	0	-135
Rebate	-480	+350	-130
Net	+340	-350	-5
Class 1 total
Gross	-2,015	+1,970	-45
Rebate	-715	+535	-180
Net	-1,300	+1,435	+135

Figures are rounded to the nearest £5 million; totals may not sum due to rounding.

Estimated full year effects of annual lower and upper profits limits for class 4 national insurance contributions set at £9,653 and £33,540 respectively in 1997–98
Change in annual yield, £ million
	Annual lower profits limit—£9,653	Annual upper profits limit—£33,540	Annual lower profits limit and annual upper profits limit— £33,540
Class 4	-250	+165	-80

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if she will ensure that individuals deciding to contract out of SERPS are sent before making that decision, a simple explanation of the scheme and the respects in which it differs from occupational and personal pension schemes. [10572]

We publish a booklet NP46 "A Guide to Retirement Pensions" which contains a comprehensive guide to SERPS and information on contracting-out of SERPS. This is available from DSS offices.On 17 July, we announced a wide-ranging review of pensions which will address nine fundamental challenges. One of these is to raise awareness of pensions and improve the level of financial education so that people understand the importance of saving for retirement and make the right choice about which pension product is best for them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate she has made of the weekly state basic earnings-related and total pensions payable to men and women on average earnings and half average earnings reaching pension age in (a) 1997, (b) 2007, (c) 2017, (d) 2027, (e) 2037 and (f) 2047, (i) in cash terms and (ii) as a percentage of their pre-retirement earnings, assuming that the basic pension and the earnings limits for contributions are uprated in line with (1) prices and (2) average earnings. [10570]

The information is in the tables:

Table 1: Amount of standard rate basic RP from April 1997, rounded to the nearest 5p in cash prices
£
	1997	2007	2017	2027	2037	2047
Uprated by prices	62.45	76.05	92.70	113.00	137.70	167.90
Uprated by earnings	63.30	89.55	126.70	179.25	253.60	358.75

Table 2: standard rate basic RP as a percentage of male and female average earnings as at April in the year preceding retirement; assuming basic RP is uprated in line with prices
Per cent.
	1997	2007	2017	2027	2037	2047
Male	16	14	12	10	9	7
Female	22	19	16	14	12	10

Table 3: standard rate basic RP as a percentage of half male and female average earnings as at April in the year preceding retirement; assuming basic RP is uprated in line with prices
Per cent.
	1997	2007	2017	2027	2037	2047
Male	37	27	23	20	17	15
Female	43	37	32	27	24	20

Table 4: standard rate basic RP as a percentage of male and female average earnings as at April in the year preceding retirement; assuming basic RP is uprated in line with earnings from April 1997
Per cent.
	1997	2007	2017	2027	2037	2047
Male	16	16	16	16	16	16
Female	22	22	22	22	22	22

Table 5: standard rate basic RP as a percentage of half male and female average earnings as at April in the year preceding retirement; assuming basic RP is uprated in line with earnings from April 1997
Per cent.
	1997	2007	2017	2027	2037	2047
Male	31	31	31	31	31	31
Female	43	43	43	43	43	43