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Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19649]
Mr. Norris: The information requested in respect of this Department and its agencies is as follows:
(a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment:
£
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
-------------------------------------------------------------------
CTG/MSA/TCA/HA |1,413,449 |1,353,022.14|-
CTG |- |- |154,110.35
MSA |- |- |178,589.85
TCA |- |- |365,911.33
HA |- |- |149,591.51
VCA |4,544 |4,947 |36
VIEA |121,595 |156,780 |56,424
DSA |14,130 |73,534 |51,605
DVLA |179,500 |77,900 |8,600
TRL |1,973 |- |5,916.90
Notes:
The above figures do not include other allowances such as Excess
Fares, Additional Housing Costs Allowance and Housing Cost
Supplements which are paid monthly with salary. These figures
would be difficult to disaggregate and present as total figures.
(b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled:
1992 93: £30,200 (DVLA)
£26,254 (TRL)
£22,413 (TRL)
1993 94: £21,109 (VIEA)
£19,000 (DVLA)
£18,452 (CTG)
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1994 95: £26,086 (HA)£16,744 (MSA)
£14,574 (DSA)
(c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years.
Year |Agency |£
------------------------------------------------------------
1992-93 |CTG/MSA/TCA/HA|5,590.76
|VCA |325
|VIEA |7,152.69
|DSA |3,533
|DVLA |11,200
|TRL |1,193
1993-94 |CTG/MSA/TCA/HA|6,765.12
|VCA |495
|VIEA |7,426
|DSA |4,902
|DVLA |5,600
|TRL |0
1994-95 |CTG. |5,867.36
|MSA |6,231.03
|TCA |6,568.11
|HA |4,399.75
|VCA |18
|VIEA |1,276
|DSA |5,160
|DVLA |1,200
|TRL |1,972.30
Overtime
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19674]
Mr. Norris: The total hours and the amount paid in overtime for the last three years for the central Department and agencies for which I have responsibility are:
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 (latest
|available)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Central Department |Hrs |82,971 |57,904 |54,463
|Amt |£710,800 |£523,797 |£517,676
Coastguard Agency |Hrs |123,584 |115,392 |93,842
|Amt |£1,015,125 |£946,562 |£777,611
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency |Hrs |11,132 |25,163 |58,060
|Amt |£115,182 |£202,381 |£463,168
Driving Standards Agency |Hrs |37,187 |39,789 |51,835
|Amt |£270,466 |£289,430 |£377,177
Highways Agency<1> |Hrs |- |- |42,997
|Amt |- |- |£389,719
Marine Safety Agency |Hrs |6,023 |6,807 |6,718
|Amt |£63,811 |£69,486 |£73,357
Transport Research Laboratory<1> |Hrs |- |- |12,750
|Amt |- |- |£113,203
Vehicle Certification Agency |Hrs |- |80 |275
|Amt |- |£772 |£1,842
Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency |Hrs |62,452 |75,993 |89,698
|Amt |£466,984 |£573,474 |£668,293
<1>Figures for previous years are included with the Central Department.
Data on sickness absence are submitted to the Occupational Health and Safety Agency and is not recorded separately for agencies. The total figure for the Department, including the agencies, is 153,507 days for 1992 and 145,391 days for 1993. Information relating to 1994 is not yet available. There is not reliable data available for a monetary equivalent to be calculated.
NATIONAL HERITAGE
National Lottery
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage for what reasons he does not judge it appropriate to permit national lottery tickets to be sold by independent licensed bookmakers; and if he will make a statement. [19000]
Mr. Dorrell: The national lottery is at the softest end of the gambling spectrum. Not allowing the sale of national lottery tickets on certain premises, including licensed betting offices, reflects the distinction between the lottery and other types of gaming.
Dr. Marek: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what information he has on the buying of national lottery tickets by people of different socio-economic groups. [19113]
Mr. Dorrell: I understand that Camelot Group plc carries out research as part of its programme to monitor the appeal of individual constituent games which make up the national lottery. This indicates that the profile of national lottery players broadly reflects the profile of the population as a whole.
Advisers
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19420]
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Mr. Dorrell: My Department does not employ any political advisers. Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. The following numbers by grade are full- time equivalent:
Grade |Number
----------------------
Grade 6 |1
Grade 7 |1
Total |2
National Museum of Photography, Film and Television
Mr. Madden: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has received about the closure on the education unit at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford; if he has authorised his officials to have discussions with the museum about the securing of funding to enable the unit to be reopened; and if he will make a statement. [19860]
Mr. Dorrell [holding answer 18 April 1995]: Since 1984, educational provision of the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford has been generously supported by the city of Bradford metropolitan council. I understand this funding has now been withdrawn, reluctantly, at short notice and the education unit has had to be closed in consequence. I have not received any representations about the closure. My Department provides funding of £21.7 million to the National Museum of Science and Industry, of which the NMPFT is a part, and it is for the trustees of the National Museum of Science and Industry to decide how to spend this money. I understand, however, that the museum is currently reviewing its formal education programme of free direct teaching for educational visitors and that, when the necessary planning and preparation are completed, it expects to put in place a revised programme of education provision, as part of its long-term commitment to education as an integral part of its activities.
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Natural Resources Institute
Mr. Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in reaching a decision on the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute. [20453]
Mr. Baldry: We announced on 20 December 1994 our intention to invite formal tenders for the future ownership of the Natural Resources Institute. A number of expressions of interest in assuming ownership of NRI were received.
Those being invited to prepare fuller bids are as follows: Cranfield university
A consortium led by the university of East Anglia
University of Greenwich, in association with Edinburgh university, Imperial college and Wye college
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Universities of Nottingham and LeicesterUniversity of Reading
Scottish agricultural college
Serco International Ltd. in association with university of Wales University of Warwick
PRIME MINISTER
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 April. [18720]
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Thursday 20 April. [18718]
The Prime Minister: This morning I presided at a meeting of the Cabinet and had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in this House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
Public Sector Pay
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Prime Minster what revision he has made to his statement of 18 July 1994, Official Report , column 2 , that directors should follow the lead that the Government have set for pay in the public sector; and if he will make a statement. [19039]
The Prime Minister: The Government's approach to public sector pay stands as a commendable example to directors and others in the private sector. However, the remuneration of directors is ultimately a matter for the companies themselves and their shareholders. I have welcomed the establishment of the Greenbury committee, which will be making recommendations shortly relating to the arrangements for remunerating directors.
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Statutory Instruments
Mr. Spearing: To ask the Lord President of the Council how many statutory instruments were approved by the House in each Session or calender year since 1981; of these how many were of (a) general and (b) local application; and how many arise directly or indirectly from regulations or directives of the European Community.
Mr. Newton: The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Upper Waiting Hall
Mr. Sims: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 10 July to Friday 14 July 1995.
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Mr. Chris Smith: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he has considered an application for an exhibition relating to Dadabhai Naoroji, India's Patriot: Britain's MP, to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Administration Committee, arrangements have been made for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday 1 May to Friday 5 May 1995.
Disabled People
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee if he will make a statement on the provision being made for access for disabled people in the design and construction on the new parliamentary building.
Mr. Ray Powell: A ramp will be provided between the pavement at the main entrance and the main courtyard level, a rise of 0.5 m. The lifts at each corner of the courtyard will reach all floors of the building. The six Members' Rooms on the sixth floor are the only rooms not readily accessible to disabled persons, as they are reached from the floor below by spiral staircases. There are lavatories for disabled people on all the main floors.
Official Report
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Administration Committee if he will make the contents of the Official Report available digitally to the media as soon as possible.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: The Official Report is conducting a pilot project to make the electronic text of the Official Report available within the House. I understand that the Information Committee recently approved an expansion of the project, which includes the electronic delivery of the full text and an on-line database. In the first instance, the system is being developed to meet the needs of Members and the House generally, but, in planning to develop the service to serve a wider readership, the needs of the media will be taken fully into account.
Telephones
Mr. Fatchett: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will make a statement on the exemption of telephones within the Palace of Westminster from British Telecom's 1471 call return system.
Mr. Michael J. Martin: As the BT 1471 call return system is available only to lines linked directly to the public exchange, it is not technically possible to connect the system to the Palace of Westminster telephone exchange.
Weddings
Mr. Cohen: To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what consideration has been given to licensing Parliament for weddings under the Marriages Act 1994.
Mr. Martin J. Martin [holding answer 24 March 1995]: I am advised that the regulations made under the Marriages Act 1994 relate only to civil marriage. Approved premises must have no recent or continuing connection with religion or religious practices, be open to
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the public without charge, and be regularly available to the public for civil marriage. I do not therefore consider it appropriate for the House to be licensed under the Act.Committee of Privileges
Mr. Steen: To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what has been the total cost of the inquiry by the Committee of Privileges regarding a complaint regarding an article in The Sunday Times of 10 July 1994 relating to the conduct of hon. Members; how many staff at the House were involved; what was the cost of publishing the report and annexes; and how many copies were printed.
Mr. Beith [holding answer 18 April 1995]: The Committee of Privileges is staffed by existing staff of the Department of the Clerk of the House; consequently no significant additional staff costs arise. The Committee has one Clerk who is also Clerk of the Journals and has other responsibilities. He is assisted by a secretary and a chief office clerk, both of whom have other duties. The fees of the Official Shorthand Writer for transcripts of evidence taken by the Committee and tape recordings supplied by The Sunday Times amounted to £5,676. Other costs directly attributable to the Committee's inquiry and the preparation of the report amounted to approximately £1,400.
The cost to the House of copies of the report, evidence and appendices supplied for issue by the Vote Office is £16,800. The cost to Her Majesty's Stationery Office of printing and publishing the report, evidence, and appendices is estimated by them to be £23,400. I understand that HMSO expects to recoup a substantial part of this cost in sales. The number of copies of the report, evidence and appendices printed so far is 1,400.
TREASURY
Overtime
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible (a) the total hours of overtime worked for which payment has been made, (b) the total amount paid in overtime and (c) the total time in days and its monetary equivalent lost through sickness in each of the last three years. [19673]
Mr. Nelson: The information is as follows:
|1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
a) total hours overtime
HM Treasury |122,156 |92,988 |65,716
Central Statistical Office |20,792 |15,291 |16,202
Office of HM Paymaster General |67,552 |69,353 |41,170
Royal Mint |93,353 |100,941 |96,189
Valuation Office |141,820 |124,499 |191,590
Total |445,672 |403,072 |410,867
b) total amount paid (£)
HM Treasury |983,565 |761,352 |562,646
Central Statistical Office |188,377 |142,594 |161,203
Office of HM Paymaster General |417,804 |511,426 |310,434
Royal Mint |763,829 |858,788 |986,326
Valuation Office |1,305,877|1,146,386|1,764,161
Total |3,659,452|3,420,546|3,784,770
|1992 |1993
c) days lost through
sickness
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HM Treasury<1> |11,792.1 |12,016.6
Central Statistical Office<1> |11,395.6 |11,734.5
Office of HM Paymaster General<1> |9,243.2 |9,129.6
Royal Mint<1> |2,102.5 |2,105.3
Valuation Office |54,017.0 |60,176.0
Total |88,550.4 |95,162.0
<1>Data provided by OHSA. A monetary figure equivalent to the total number of days lost to
sickness is not appropriate as there are too many variables involved in this calculation and it
would be difficult to rely on the accuracy of any such calculation. Data are not yet available
for 1994.
Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the total amount paid by his central Department and each agency for which he is responsible in subsistence allowances for travel (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) outside the United Kingdom in each of the last three years. [19566]
Mr. Nelson: Expenditure on subsistence for travel both in the United Kingdom and overseas is shown in the table.
|United Kingdom|Overseas
------------------------------------------------------------------------
HM Treasury
1992-93 |141,595 |154,198
1993-94 |77,372 |187,211
1994-95 |48,663 |196,021
Royal Mint
1992-93 |22,230 |<1>27,837
1993-94 |26,176 |<1>32,779
1994-95 |24,057 |30,130
Paymaster
1992-93 |22,991 |0
1993-94 |29,252 |0
1994-95 |13,505 |0
Valuation Office
1992-93 |750,166 |<2>0
1993-94 |703,731 |<2>5,000
1994-95 |831,568 |<2>16,000
Central Statistical Office
1992-93 |119,170 |92,600
1993-94 |151,700 |114,900
1994-95 |175,000 |115,400
<1>Figures for 1992-93 and 1993-94 are available only at
disproportionate cost. Figures have however been estimated using total
expenditure on overseas travel and subsistence adjusted for the known
actual overseas subsistence expenditure in 1994-95.
<2>Total expenditure on overseas travel and subsistence.
Advertising
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for 1992 93 and 1993 94, separate figures for the spending by his Department on (a) television advertising, (b) radio advertising, (c) newspaper advertising, (d) other promotions materials and activities, (e) the totals in each year of (a) to (d) and (f) the proportion of (e) that was spent on recruitment advertising; and what are his latest estimates for the years 1994 95 and 1995 96. [17625]
Mr. Nelson: The expenditure by Her Majesty's Treasury on advertising is shown. Figures are not held that split up the various forms of advertising other than recruitment advertising.
Year |£ |Recruitment
|advertising
|percentage
------------------------------------------------
1992-93 |314,471 |84.5
1993-94 |12,198,540 |12.7
1994-95 |8,402,420 |3.4
1995-96 |110,500 |100.0
Figures for 1993-94 and 1994-95 include the
advertising costs for the BT3 and the
generating companies share sale.
Nurses' Earnings
Mr. Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effects of income tax at the rates of 1978 and 1995 on the average nurse's current earnings. [19119]
Sir George Young: On the basis of the level of average earnings for full-time nurses as at April 1994, a single nurse will pay over £22 a week less income tax in 1995 96 than under a 1978 79 indexed tax regime. For the purposes of the calculation, it has been assumed that the nurse has no tax allowances or reliefs except for the basic personal allowance.
Premium Bond Prizes
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to increase the number and value of premium bond prizes and to increase the maximum number of bonds which holders may purchase. [19466]
Mr. Nelson: Under the present prize structure, the number and value of prizes increase automatically in line with the number and value of bonds qualifying for the prize draws. For example, in April 1994 there were 222,380 prizes to a value of £14,454,700; in April 1995 there are 320,932 prizes to a value of £20,860,600. This reflects an increase in the value of eligible bonds over that period from £3,336 million to £4,814 million. I have no present plans to change the prize structure or to increase the £20,000 maximum holding limit.
Advisers
Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many advisers his Department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19413]
Mr. Nelson: The Treasury does not employ political or economic advisers.
Column 247
The Treasury does, however, employ two special advisers to Ministers whose salaries are negotiated individually in relation to their previous earnings and are confidential. They are normally paid on the special advisers' salary scale of 34 points, ranging from £19, 503 to £65,609. Appointments are non pensionable and the salary spine reflects this. Special advisers have the same conditions of service and are subject to broadly the same rules of conduct as other civil servants.Economic advice is obtained from career civil servants, who may be employed on a variety of working patterns. Their grades range from assistant economist to grade 1A, the chief economic adviser. All London based non industrial full time civil servants work a five day week of 41 hours, including meal breaks.
Married Couples Allowance
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of households whose after tax income will be reduced by the forthcoming restriction of tax relief on the married couples allowance from 20 per cent. to 15 per cent. [17179]
Sir George Young [holding answer 30 March 1995]: About 7 million married couples will have their after tax income reduced after allowing for changes in allowances and thresholds. The increase in age related allowances will offset the married couples allowance restriction for most taxpayers aged 65 or over. Married couples will pay almost £5 a week less in tax than most single people on similar incomes in 1995 96.
Green Policy
Ms Ruddock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will name the green Minister for his Department and list (a) the green initiatives taken by that Minister in respect of the Department's functions, (b) the representations made by the Minister in respect of functions carried out by other departments and (c) the input made by the Minister into consultations on the Environment Bill. [18644]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 5 April 1995]: I am the green Minister for the Chancellor's Departments, but all my ministerial colleagues take an interest in environmental issues as they affect their responsibilities. Treasury Ministers are responsible for fiscal measures, and play an active part in the consideration of all environmental initiatives with significant public expenditure or supply side implications; they have been closely involved in discussion of the measures set out in the Environment Bill. The Chancellor's last Budget announced his intention to introduce a tax on landfill waste, and reaffirmed the decision progressively to increase excise duty on fuel in real terms.
SCOTLAND
Cattle Plague
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases of cattle plague were reported in each year since 1985. [18615]
Column 248
Sir Hector Monro: No cases of cattle plague have been recorded in Scotland since 1985.
Fatal Accidents
Mr. David Marshall: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the factors underlying the difference in fatal accident rates on (a) motorways and (b) trunk roads in (i) Scotland and (ii) England and Wales; and what action he will take to reduce the rates in Scotland. [19127]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton: There are a number of possible reasons for the differences in fatal accident rates on motorways and trunk roads in Scotland compared with England and Wales, including weather, traffic density and longer hours of darkness. In order to examine this further, the Scottish Office has recently commenced an investigation into the impact of characteristics of the road network in Scotland on accident rates. This investigation is expected to be completed at the end of 1996.
The Scottish Office is taking a number of new initiatives in the fields of engineering, education and enforcement which are designed to improve safety on all roads in Scotland. These include, for trunk roads, route accident reduction plans, route action plans and the introduction of speed cameras to decrease vehicle speeds and so to reduce the incidence and severity of accidents.
Co-operative Sector
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the role of the co-operative sector in the economy of Scotland. [18981]
Mr. Kynoch: The co-operative sector continues to have a role to play in the economy of Scotland. This has been acknowledged by the Government and funding for a number of co-operative projects has been, and continues to be, available through the urban programme. Assistance is also available to co-operatives under a range of schemes designed to encourage the development of small and medium-sized businesses. In order to encourage the development of marketing co-operatives the Government have introduced a marketing development scheme, intended to help producers and processors improve their marketing and commercial expertise. The Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society also continues to receive Government funding. In the financial sector, it is intended that measures will be considered by the deregulation committee later this year to remove certain restrictions on credit unions and industrial provident societies. These measures should enable the organisations concerned to streamline their procedures and should encourage growth.
Local Government Finance
Sir David Steel: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to both local and central government of administration involved with the collection of the poll tax across Scotland; how many staff were involved; what is the cost of administration involved in the collection of the council tax across Scotland and how staff are involved; what was the cost of administering the transition period between the poll tax and the council tax; and how many staff were involved. [19522]
Column 249
Mr. Lang: The net cost to local authorities of collecting both the community charge and the council tax since the introduction of the community charge in 1989 90 is given in the table below. As local tax collection is purely a local authority function, no central Government staff or costs are involved. Information on the numbers of local authority staff involved in the collection process is not held centrally. Records of the costs incurred by local authorities in relation to the change from the community charge to the council tax are not held centrally and central Government costs cannot be separately identified.
£000 ---------------------- 1989-90 |10,426 1990-91 |25,817 1991-92 |25,618 1992-93 |29,595 1993-94 |40,128 1994-95 |28,800 Notes: 1. All expenditure figures are net of any related income and loan and leasing charges. 2. The figures for the year 1989-90 to 1993-94 are final outturns. The figure for 1994-95 is a budget estimate.
Rail Services
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he was consulted by ScotRail over its proposal to include in its draft timetable additional passenger services involving Cowlairs north curve and south-west junction, Springburn junction and Cumbernauld; and if he will make a statement. [19831]
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton [holding answer 18 April 1995]: No. Responsibility for railway matters rests with the Secretary of State for Transport on a Great Britain basis, and for rail services with British Rail and the train operating units.
HEALTH
Parliamentary Questions
Mrs. Ann Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many parliamentary questions to her Department were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which she has responsibility in each year since 1979 80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence; [18521]
(2) how many parliamentary questions to her Department that were transferred for answer to the chief executive or other senior official of a non-departmental public body or agency for which she has responsibility received an answer which was not printed in the Official Report in each year since 1979 80 or for each year that the body or agency has been in existence. [18522]
Mr. Sackville: Parliamentary questions are not transferred to non- departmental public bodies. The Department's first agency was established on 1 April 1991.
Five parliamentary questions were referred to agency chief executives in the 1992 93 parliamentary Session.
Column 250
Two parliamentary questions were referred to chief executives in 1993 94 and so far in the 1994 95 parliamentary Session 17 questions have been referred. The answers to all questions referred to the Department's agency chief executives have been printed in the Official Report . No parliamentary questions were referred to agency chief executives in the 1991 92 parliamentary Session.Temazepam
Mr. McMaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recommendations have been received from the Advisory Committee on the Misuse of Drugs in relation to Temazepam since 1992; what action she has taken on these recommendations; if she will review the position of her Department in relation to these recommendations; and if she will make a statement. [19022]
Mr. Bowis: The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reviewed the controls on temazepam in 1992 93 and recommended, subject to a wide public consultation exercise, that the drug should be rescheduled from schedule 4 to schedule 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 1985.
Following the public consultation exercise and consideration of the responses, the council recommended to the Home Office in July 1993 that control of the drug should be tightened.
My Department, in consultation with other Departments, has been considering the council's recommendation and we hope to be able to announce the outcome soon.
Advisers
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many advisers her Department employs broken down to show (a) political advisers and (b) economic advisers; at what grade and salary they are employed; and what are their minimum working hours in each case. [19422]
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