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Mr. Jack : I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 9 December, at columns 301-2.
Invalid Care Allowance
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he expects the invalid care allowance unit to become fully computerised ; and when this is due to be linked to the disability benefits computer system.
Mr. Scott : The administration of invalid care allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.
Destination Tables
Mr. Allen : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to publish with reference to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Bill, the Social Security Administration Bill and the Social Security (Consequential Provisions) Bill, a destination table showing where current provisions can be found in the new legislation.
Miss Widdecombe : We are considering publication of a destination table.
Council Tax
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, further to his answer of 28 November, Official Report, columns 598-600, on benefit arrangements under the proposed council tax, if he will make it his policy in the year's uprating that income support will rise by not less than the retail prices index in 1993-94.
Miss Widdecombe : The reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 28 November confirmed that the April 1993 uprating of income-related benefits will be based on the revised Rossi index, including water charges and miscellaneous housing costs, and that there will be no reduction in their value to reflect the fact that recipients of income support will no longer be expected to
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meet their 20 per cent. liability for the community charge. This will mean that from April 1993, income support levels will be at least £1.40 a week higher for single people, and £2.80 a week higher for couples, than they might otherwise have been.At the 1992 uprating income-related benefits will be increased by at least 7 per cent., nearly 3 per cent. more than the increase in the retail prices index over the period used to determine the uprating increase ; over-80s and disabled pensioners will receive considerably more. It is impossible to predict at this stage how the actual uprating in April 1993 will compare with movements in the retail prices index in 1993-94.
Benefit Entitlement
Mr. Alfred Morris : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the conditions for receipt without time limit of the following benefits during absence in another European Community country once entitlement has been established in the United Kingdom to (a) invalidity benefit, (b) severe disablement allowance, (c) mobility allowance, (d) attendance allowance and (e) invalid care allowance ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : Payment of all these benefits may continue for recipients who are abroad temporarily. It is for the independent adjudicating authorities to determine whether or not a particular absence is temporary. Apart from invalid care allowance, all these benefits may continue indefinitely for those who move to another Community country, provided that they are covered by European Community regulations and are, or have been, subject to United Kingdom legislation as workers.
Occupational Diseases
Mr. Crowther : To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if the Government have completed their consideration of the European Commission recommendation of 22 May 1990 concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupational diseases ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Scott : We are still considering the recommendation. We are being assisted in our consideration by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council, the independent body which advises the Secretary of State on occupational diseases. The council hopes to report back in late 1992.
HEALTH
Skin Cancers and Cataracts
Mrs. Ann Taylor : To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimates he has made of the financial impact on the health service of the increasing number of skin cancers and cataracts :
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(2) what provisions he has made to deal with an increase in the number of people with skin cancer and cataracts ; and whether he has any plans for public awareness or screening campaigns.Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : No specific assessment has been made of the financial impact of increasing numbers of skin cancers and cataracts. Since they currently account for a very small proportion of total NHS expenditure it is unlikely that even a considerable increase in numbers would impose a critical burden on the health service.
The Health Education Authority is committed to the 10-point European code against cancer which advises against excessive exposure to the sun. The HEA has also organised public awareness campaigns and produces leaflets both specifically on dangers from exposure to the sun and generally on how to avoid cancer.
Population screening for skin cancers is not regarded as cost effective even in countries such as Australia with a very high incidence of skin cancer.
Cot Deaths
Mr. Ken Hargreaves : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assist with the funding of the leaflet, "Reduce the Risks of Cot Deaths" produced by the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
Mrs. Virginia Bottomley : The Government have today launched the "Back to Sleep" campaign, an information campaign aimed directly at parents and others who care for young babies. The campaign will centre on a Department of Health leaflet which will be promoted in the national and specialist press, and on television. People will be invited to obtain the leaflet which sets out the main steps to reduce the risks of cot death. The leaflet will also be available in ethnic languages.
The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths has, separately, produced its own leaflet. We have no plans to assist directly with the funding of the foundation's leaflet but, as we anticipate that the foundation's advice and counselling helpline will face an increased demand during the period of the Government's campaign, we have decided to provide further section 64 funding to cover its additional costs.
Hospital Closures
Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each regional health authority the capital sums raised by the closure and sale of hospitals for each year since 1979.
Mr. Dorrell : Total capital receipts, for each regional health authority, from all sales of land and buildings since 1979 are shown in the table.
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Receipts from disposal of national health service land and buildings
£ million<1>
Region |1979-80 |1980-81 |1981-82 |1982-83 |1983-84 |1984-85 |1985-86 |1986-87 |1987-88 |1988-89 |1989-90 |<2>1990-91
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northern |0.2 |0.1 |0.8 |0.4 |0.9 |1.4 |1.4 |6.2 |3.6 |4.4 |3.7 |2.7
Yorkshire |0.8 |0.7 |1.0 |1.8 |0.8 |0.8 |1.3 |4.1 |5.3 |9.8 |11.5 |5.0
Trent |0.5 |1.6 |1.7 |1.6 |2.3 |3.9 |4.7 |6.2 |7.6 |13.8 |18.2 |25.6
East Anglian |0.3 |0.2 |0.4 |0.7 |0.9 |8.1 |3.4 |3.7 |3.6 |10.4 |4.5 |1.3
North West Thames |1.2 |1.3 |4.4 |2.7 |6.1 |6.7 |5.5 |21.2 |49.4 |43.7 |45.2 |17.2
North East Thames |1.8 |1.4 |1.0 |1.1 |3.8 |2.7 |6.2 |13.0 |28.2 |51.4 |22.0 |14.0
South East Thames |0.3 |0.8 |1.2 |2.2 |1.6 |2.5 |9.2 |19.4 |24.9 |30.3 |21.0 |7.6
South West Thames |0.1 |3.5 |2.0 |0.9 |2.4 |10.5 |8.5 |19.9 |24.7 |24.4 |9.0 |15.2
Wessex |1.3 |0.8 |0.4 |0.5 |1.2 |1.9 |4.7 |10.4 |5.2 |17.6 |15.5 |5.8
Oxford |0.9 |1.6 |1.2 |2.3 |1.5 |1.7 |7.6 |2.9 |10.6 |16.9 |5.1 |9.5
South Western |1.1 |2.0 |1.6 |0.5 |1.0 |2.6 |6.2 |10.4 |8.7 |16.4 |14.4 |20.3
West Midlands |0.6 |0.5 |1.1 |1.2 |1.9 |1.9 |4.3 |3.9 |5.3 |9.2 |9.0 |4.0
Mersey |0.3 |0.6 |0.7 |1.6 |1.5 |1.1 |2.5 |4.0 |6.7 |7.2 |15.0 |14.9
North Western |0.3 |0.3 |1.4 |0.6 |1.0 |2.0 |2.7 |8.8 |4.1 |8.5 |7.9 |16.3
BGs/SHAs |0.3 |Nil |0.7 |0.1 |4.6 |0.6 |14.1 |11.0 |9.9 |1.8 |19.0 |Nil
|------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |------- |-------
England |9.9 |15.2 |19.4 |18.0 |31.5 |48.4 |82.3 |145.1 |197.8 |265.8 |221.0 |159.4
<1> Figures shown to nearest £0.1 million.
<2> Estimate.
Trafalgar Medical Service, Sheffield
Mr. Bill Michie : To ask the Secretary of State for Health if patients retain their rights under the national health service complaints procedure when being seen by consultants working for Trafalgar Medical Services in Sheffield.
Mr. Dorrell : I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), on 11 June at columns 498-99.
Under the provisions of the patients charter all those receiving NHS-funded treatment, regardless of where that treatment is delivered, will have access from 1 April 1992 to the NHS, or similar, complaints procedures. Arrangements are currently being made to have suitable procedures in place for all providers of NHS-funded care.
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Dental Services
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many anaesthetic extractions have been carried out on children over each quarterly period since the inception of the new dental contract.
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 26 November 1991] : The number of general anaesthetics or sedations administered in the general dental services in connection with extractions of teeth in children is shown in the table. Figures for similar treatment provided within capitation and for all such treatment provided by the community dental service are not available.
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Treatment Quarter ending Year ending
|December 1990 |March 1991 |June 1991 |September 1991|September 1991
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children 24A1
1-4 teeth |26,174 |27,307 |32,182 |31,907 |117,570
5-9 teeth |9,353 |4,153 |4,148 |3,633 |21,287
10-16 teeth |112 |95 |135 |211 |553
17 or more |18 |0 |0 |19 |37
Maximum |0 |19 |19 |58 |96
Child Occasional 54A1
1-4 teeth |810 |1,982 |1,675 |614 |5,081
5-9 teeth |92 |133 |154 |115 |494
10-16 teeth |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
17 or more |0 |19 |0 |0 |19
Maximum |0 |0 |0 |0 |0
|---- |---- |---- |---- |----
Total |36,559 |33,708 |38,313 |36,557 |145,137
Children Item 24B1
Inhalation |2,045 |1,367 |1,375 |1,671 |6,458
Injection |116 |110 |212 |193 |631
Children Item 54B1
Inhalation |92 |191 |115 |96 |494
Injection |0 |19 |38 |58 |115
|---- |---- |---- |---- |----
Total |2,253 |1,687 |1,740 |2,018 |7,698
Grand Total |38,812 |35,395 |40,053 |38,575 |152,835
Source: Dental Practice Board; 5 per cent. sample of all treatments.
Computer Reimbursement Scheme
Mr. Viggers : To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding has been made available to the general practitioners' computer reimbursement scheme in Hampshire ; what claims have been made against the scheme ; and if he will make a statement about its operation.
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Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 27 November 1991] : The figures requested are not held centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to contact Sir Robin Buchanan, the chairman of Wessex regional health authority, for details.
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ENERGY
Civil Nuclear Programme
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the last date that uranium originating from (a) South Africa and (b) Namibia was delivered to the United Kingdom, in any form, for use in the civil nuclear programme.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Uranium for the United Kingdom's civil nuclear programme has not been imported from South Africa since 1973. Imports of uranium from other countries, including Namibia, are a commercial matter for the industry.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the date upon which safeguards were first applied to uranium delivered to the United Kingdom for use in the civil nuclear programme.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Safeguards were applied under the Euratom treaty to imports of natural and enriched uranium from 1 January 1973.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the nature and function of the civil uranium procurement directorate ; in what year it was established ; what is its annual operating budget ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The British civil uranium procurement directorate--BCUPD--was formed in July 1979 by the Central Electricity Generating Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board and British Nuclear Fuels Limited. The BCUPD was responsible to these organisations for ensuring that uranium was available to meet the needs of the civil nuclear programme. Its administration was handled by the CEGB. Following the changes in the organisation of the electricity supply industry, it was agreed by Nuclear Electric plc, Scottish Nuclear Limited and British Nuclear Fuels plc that the individual organisations would be responsible for their own procurement. The BCUPD was accordingly disbanded in March 1991.
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy from which countries uranium is currently imported for use in the British civil nuclear programme.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : This is a commercial matter for Nuclear Electric plc, Scottish Nuclear Limited and other users of civil uranium.
Nuclear Power Stations
Mr. Cohen : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all building works approved by his Department for (a) the Sellafield and Calder works and (b) Chapelcross since 1979, indicating which of these projects, once complete, would be subject to Euratom safeguards.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : Building works at the sites mentioned by the hon. Member are operational matters for British Nuclear Fuels plc--BNFL-- subject to planning and other consents. All civil nuclear material in British Nuclear Fuels plc facilities is subject to Euratom safeguards and to the terms of the UK-IAEA-Euratom safeguards agreement.
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Nuclear Reprocessing Plant
Mr. Flynn : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make it his policy to require British Nuclear Fuels plc to install a plant to remove radioactive krypton prior to the opening of the THORP reprocessing plant.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : The question of discharges of radioactivity from the THORP plant is a matter for discussion between British Nuclear Fuels plc, the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the context of authorisations required under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960.
Electricity
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what consultations he has had with the Director-General of the Office of Electricity Regulation concerning the management of the generator- distributor pool and its rules concerning the withdrawal of declared capacity on the prior to generation day and its subsequent redeclaration on the day ; and if he will make a statement ; (2) what consultations he has had with the Major Energy Users Council and the directors-general of OFFER and the Office of Fair Trading concerning the operation of the pool in September and October 1991 and its implications for electricity prices generally and for heavy users in particular ; if he will use his powers regarding a reference to the Office of Fair Trading ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend and I meet the Director- General of Electricity Supply from time to time and we discuss a range of issues. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has offered to meet the Major Energy Users Council to discuss electricity prices. We have had no consultations with the Director-General of Fair Trading. The Director- General of Electricity Supply has initiated an inquiry into the recent behaviour of the pool prices. It would not be appropriate for me to prejudge the outcome of that inquiry.
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the Director-General of OFFER concerning the operation of the electricity futures market since its inception on 1 November and the number of contracts traded ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory : My right hon. Friend and I meet the Director- General of Electricity Supply from time to time and we discuss a range of issues.
Energy Efficiency Levy
Mr. Morgan : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consultations he has had with the Director-General of Gas Supply concerning his proposal for a three pence per week per gas consumer energy efficiency levy ; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Moynihan : My right hon. Friend and I meet the Director-General of Gas Supply from time to time, I am aware of his proposed modifications to the tariff formula and his discussions with interested organisations, although I have not discussed these particular proposals with him.
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Nuclear Generating Capacity
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his Department's current estimate of the installed nuclear generating capacity in England and Wales in the year 2000.
Mr. Wakeham : The principal operator of nuclear capacity in England and Wales is Nuclear Electric plc. Decisions regarding capacity are mainly a commercial matter for the company. Nuclear Electric will operate its existing portfolio of plant as long as it remains both safe and economic to do so.
Research Expenditure
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy further to his answer of 4 December, Official Report, column 141-43, if he will give the figures for 1989-90, 1990-91 and 1991-92 excluding technology transfer and dissemination expenditure.
Mr. Wakeham : Figures for the years requested are as follows :
|£ million |£ million |Percentage of
|Money terms |1991-92 real |total research
|terms |and development
|expenditure
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coal technology
1989-90 |1.7 |2.0 |1.0
1990-91 |11.4 |12.2 |7.4
1991-92 |2.6 |2.6 |2.2
Nuclear power
1989-90 |132.3 |153.5 |80.3
1990-91 |111.7 |119.5 |72.4
1991-92 |92.9 |92.9 |78.8
Energy efficiency
1989-90 |2.3 |2.7 |1.4
1990-91 |2.3 |2.5 |1.5
1991-92 |2.4 |2.4 |2.0
Renewables
1989-90 |16.3 |18.9 |9.9
1990-91 |18.1 |19.4 |11.7
1991-92 |21.0 |21.0 |17.8
Notes:
1. In addition to excluding technology transfer and dissemination expenditure
from the above figures, the 1989-90 and 1990-91 figures for nuclear power exclude
restructuring costs associated with R & D programmes.
2. 1989-90 and 1990-91 figures are final outturn.
3. 1991-92 figures are provisional.
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Technology Transfer and Dissemination
Mr. Dobson : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what items are covered by his Department's definition of technology transfer and dissemination
Mr. Wakeham : The Department's technology transfer and dissemination programmes are :
--the Offshore Supplies Office's publicity programme ;
--the Renewables technology transfer programme ;
--the Renewables publicity programme ;
--the non-R and D aspects of the Energy Efficiency Office's (EEO) Best Practice programme (about two-thirds of expenditure in the current year) ;
--the non-R and D aspects of work done for the EEO by the Energy Technology Support Unit (ETSU) and the Building Research Energy Conservation Support Unit (BRECSU), relating mainly to demonstration and marketing ;
--the EEO's Monitoring and Targeting programme ;
--residual payments from the EEO's former Demonstration Scheme ; --non-R and D aspects of the Enhanced Oil Recovery programme ; --non-R and D aspects of the Reservoir Simulation programme.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Aid and Trade Provision
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many applications for money under the aid and trade provisions were received, and how many were granted, in 1989-90 and 1990-91 ; how much money was allocated, and to which companies, under the aid and trade provision in 1990-91 ; and what is the total sum of money available to United Kingdom companies under the aid and trade provision during the current financial year.
Mrs. Chalker : A total of 151 aid and trade
provision--ATP--applications were received in 1989-90 , and 111 in 1990-91. Forty-two ATP offers were made in 1989-90 and 33 in 1990-91 in respect both of these and of earlier ATP applications. The ATP budget in the current financial year is £97 million. In 1990-91 aid agreements were concluded with Governments of developing countries for projects involving the following lead United Kingdom contractors :
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Aid and trade provision agreements concluded in 1990-91
Country |Project |Lead United Kingdom company |Amount
|£ million |£ million
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Botswana |Flight Information Region |Siemens Plessey Radar |2.938
China |Beijing Subway |Balfour Beatty |7.070
China |Danyang Aluminium Plant |Davy McKee (Poole) |3.532
Colombia |San Andres Power |Hawker Siddeley Power |3.430
| Engineering
Indonesia |Citayam/Cibinong Railway |Foster Wheeler World Services |20.105
Indonesia |Radio Communication System for the Ministry of Forestry|Philips Radio Communication |34.111
| Systems
Indonesia |Shortwave Radio Transmitters |Marconi |26.911
Kenya |Distribution Transformers |NI Transformers |0.688
Malaysia |Connaught Bridge |NEI Parsons |23.485
Malaysia |Double Tracking |Transmark |0.798
Malaysia |Medamit 2 Hydro Electric |Sir William Halcrow and Partners |0.244
Malaysia |Nucleus Hospitals |John Laing International |13.159
Philippines |Small Islands Electrification |Dale Electric |2.065
Tunisia |Dump Trucks |Terex Equipment |0.949
Zimbabwe |Airfield Crash Tenders |Carmichael Fire |2.479
Zimbabwe |Fire Fighting Vehicles |Carmichael Fire |3.264
Zimbabwe |Harare Airport Radar |Siemens Plessey Radar |1.462
Zimbabwe |Supply of AWD Bedford Trucks |AWD (Export) |16.116
Zimbabwe |Supply of ERF Trucks |ERF |8.575
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which United Kingdom companies during 1990-91 undertakings were given that money would be made available under the aid and trade provision for 1991-92.
Mrs. Chalker : Undertakings are not given in this way. Aid and trade provision offers are made to Governments of developing countries, not to United Kingdom companies. A list of companies involved in projects for which aid agreements were signed with Governments of developing countries in 1990-91 is given in my answer to my hon. Friend of 10 December.
Aid Budget
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the planned level of total United Kingdom aid to (a) developing countries, (b) eastern Europe and the Soviet Union and (c) global environmental assistance, at constant prices, for the years 1991 -92, 1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Mrs. Chalker : The planned level of ODA expenditure, as provided for in the autumn statement and at constant 1991-92 prices, is as follows :
£ million
|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aid to developing
countries |<1>1,721|1,750 |1,750 |1,770
Assistance to eastern Europe
and the Soviet Union<2> 65 |180 |210 |200
Global environment
assistance |5 |10 |10 |10
Notes:
1992-93 to 1994-95 figures are to the nearest £10 million.
<1>Since increased to £1,786 million, by a £65 million in-year addition
from the reserve, mainly for disaster relief.
<2>Includes, from 1992-93, the United Kingdom's share of European
Community assistance to eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, which is to
be attributed to the ODA.
Indonesia
Mr. Thomas : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Basingstoke, Official Report, 29 November, column 671, on aid and trade provision, he will set out the details of the investigation made into the proposed provision of a flight simulator by aeronautical systems designers to the Government of Indonesia to ensure that such technology could not be used to enhance the Indonesian military air force capability to pursue internal repression in (a) Indonesia and (b) in the occupied territories of East Timor.
Mrs. Chalker : The project concerned involves the supply and installation of a flight simulator for training
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pilots of the Indonesian domestic civil airline, Merpati, on a new short haul piston-engined passenger aircraft being manufactured in Indonesia under a joint venture in agreement with a Spanish company. The ODA engaged the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority as its technical adviser on the project.The flight simulator, like all aircraft simulators currently produced, is designed to be aircraft-type specific. It would be impracticable to convert it for use on an alternative aircraft. Under the terms of the concessional loan which is providing finance for the project, the Indonesian Government have accepted that items purchased under the loan will not be used for military defence purposes.
Amazon Rain Forest
Mr. Summerson : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the proposals for collaboration with Brazil over the conservation of the Amazon rain forest since the London economic summit.
Mrs. Chalker : Since the London economic summit the Government of Brazil with the assistance of the World bank and the European Commission have further developed their proposals for a pilot programme to conserve the Brazilian tropical rain forest. These proposals were discussed at a meeting in Geneva on 7 and 8 December between representatives of the Government of Brazil, the World bank, the European Commission, the G7 countries and some other potential donors.
The British Government indicated their general approval of the revised programme and, as part of the broader G7 contributions, undertook to make available up to £18.8 million to the end of 1994. This is in addition to our share of the commitment of $15 million made by the European Commission on behalf of the Community. The British commitment is subject to the production by the World bank of detailed operational arrangements acceptable to the donors. These must provide for satisfactory co-ordination of activities in the overall programme and arrangements to assure good quality projects. The British Government are making the second largest contribution, after Germany, to the $250 million pledged in total at the Geneva meeting. The funds will be used to promote sustainable development of the living standards of the people of the Amazon within the context of environmental conservation. Activities will include measures to safeguard biodiversity ; demarcate and protect national parks, reserves and indigenous areas ; strengthen both federal and state environmental agencies ; promote the sustainable exploitation of forest resources ; support scientific research and disseminate its results ; promote environmental surveillance and monitoring ; support ecological zoning ; develop environmental education ; and
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support innovative, community-based initiatives concerned with the relationship between the environment and local communities. The Government of Brazil representatives expressed their satisfaction with the outcome of the discussions at Geneva.Contract Legal Personnel
Mrs. Clwyd : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how the ODA monitors the performance of contract legal personnel overseas.
Mrs. Chalker : The ODA monitors the performance of all aid-funded personnel overseas, through our own in-house or contract advisers, through overseas posts, and through reports from recipient institutions. Arrangements for legal personnel follow this pattern.
Baltic States
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been allocated to date to the know- how funds for (a) Estonia, (b) Latvia and (c) Lithuania ; how much is budgeted for each fund respectively for the coming financial year ; and how much has been expended to date in each of those countries.
Mrs. Chalker : Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania qualify for know-how fund assistance but no individual country allocation has been made. In financial year 1991-92 a total of £400,000 has so far been committed to projects in these countries. This will increase substantially in the coming financial year.
Aid Review
Mr. Terry Davis : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of publishing the 1991 annual review of British overseas aid.
Mrs. Chalker : I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (Sir D. Steel) on 9 December, at column 280.
Column 388
Somalia
Mr. Michael : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to assist
non-governmental organisations in their efforts to deliver humanitarian aid to (a) Northern Somalia and (b) Mogadishu and other areas of the south.
Mrs. Chalker : We are providing humanitarian assistance to Somalia through United Nations and voluntary agencies. This calendar year we have committed a total of £3.47 million bilateral emergency aid to Somalia including £1.46 million for the north. Recent grants include £300,000 for an essential mine-clearing project in northern Somalia and £50,000 for emergency medical supplies for Mogadishu. We contribute towards the operational costs of non-governmental organisations' relief activities in both north and south Somalia.
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Milk Deliveries
Mr. Martlew : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether from 1992 milk delivery vehicles that supply small retail outlets will be required to have milk stored in refrigerated compartments on the vehicle during transit.
Mr. Curry : The European Commission's proposals for harmonised milk hygiene standards, which are intended to come into force on 1 January 1993, would require that the temperature of pasteurised milk must not exceed 6 C during transport. Member states would be permitted to derogate from this requirement only in relation to milk delivered to the doorstep.
NORTHERN IRELAND
National Insurance
Mr. Meacher : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what would (a) the first year and (b) the full year revenue yield be from abolishing the national insurance upper earnings limit in Northern Ireland in (i) 1991-92 and (ii) 1992-93, for (1) both employees and the self- employed and (2) just employees, and giving figures separately for the number of men and women who would be affected in each case.
Mr. Hanley : The information requested is set out in the table :
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Revenue yield=£ millioNumbers of people affected
|First year|Full year |Men |Women
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1991-92 (employees and self-employed) |25 |30 |45,000 |5,000
1991-92 (employees only) |4 |10 |10,000 |-
1992-93 (employees and self-employed) |30 |35 |50,000 |5,000
1992-93 (employees only) |4 |10 |10,000 |-
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