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LEAs administration |Gross
and
|(cash terms) |(cash terms)
1993-94 |£000 |£000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporation of London |208 |632
Camden |n/a |n/a
Greenwich |4,250 |10,969
Hackney |n/a |n/a
Hammersmith |n/a |n/a
Islington |n/a |n/a
Kensington and Chelsea |1,996 |4,509
Lambeth |5,382 |12,322
Lewisham |n/a |n/a
Southwark |3,806 |8,771
Tower Hamlets |7,273 |17,193
Wandsworth |3,179 |5,533
Westminster |2,049 |7,476
Barking |n/a |n/a
Barnet |2,406 |4,523
Bexley |2,568 |4,806
Brent |3,420 |7,233
Bromley |2,876 |5,073
Croydon |4,495 |8,087
Ealing |4,043 |8,714
Enfield |n/a |n/a
Haringey |4,918 |5,429
Harrow |n/a |n/a
Havering |2,030 |3,998
Hillingdon |2,871 |5,184
Hounslow |1,867 |3,596
Kingston upon Thames |1,865 |2,963
Merton |n/a |n/a
Newham |3,189 |5,248
Redbridge |1,505 |2,806
Richmond upon Thames |n/a |n/a
Sutton |4,609 |5,788
Waltham Forest |4,409 |8,178
Birmingham |10,012 |19,298
Coventry |6,428 |11,206
Dudley |n/a |n/a
Sandwell |3,860 |4,893
Solihull |1,167 |2,245
Walsall |2,574 |6,048
Wolverhampton |n/a |n/a
Knowsley |n/a |n/a
Liverpool |n/a |n/a
St. Helens |1,598 |3,137
Sefton |n/a |n/a
Wirral |n/a |n/a
Bolton |3,025 |5,976
Bury |n/a |n/a
Manchester |4,531 |8,622
Oldham |2,673 |5,307
Rochdale |1,511 |3,021
Salford |n/a |n/a
Stockport |2,143 |4,236
Tameside |1,382 |2,729
Trafford |n/a |n/a
Wigan |2,036 |4,209
Barnsley |2,707 |5,297
Doncaster |2,915 |5,004
Rotherham |3,590 |4,852
Sheffield |3,933 |7,249
Bradford |6,452 |8,328
Calderdale |1,320 |3,344
Kirklees |n/a |n/a
Leeds |7,320 |12,790
Wakefield |2,835 |5,592
Gateshead |1,886 |4,534
Newcastle upon Tyne |n/a |n/a
North Tyneside |991 |1,948
South Tyneside |2,883 |5,501
Sunderland |1,874 |3,844
Isles of Scilly |40 |42
Avon |5,248 |15,893
Bedfordshire |4,843 |7,791
Berkshire |n/a |n/a
Buckinghamshire |5,553 |14,651
Cambridgeshire |3,860 |9,222
Cheshire |10,185 |21,479
Cleveland |3,814 |5,477
Cornwall |3,449 |10,526
Cumbria |3,468 |7,357
Derbyshire |5,579 |7,878
Devon |7,687 |14,207
Dorset |4,376 |11,559
Durham |3,681 |8,329
East Sussex |4,678 |11,230
Essex |342 |8,021
Gloucestershire |n/a |n/a
Hampshire |n/a |n/a
Hereford and Worcester |1,825 |4,410
Hertfordshire |5,239 |12,604
Humberside |n/a |n/a
Isle of Wight |1,205 |4,064
Kent |5,142 |12,170
Lancashire |9,448 |23,197
Leicestershire |6,642 |14,764
Lincolnshire |2,848 |8,880
Norfolk |2,358 |7,837
North Yorkshire |3,980 |10,756
Northamptonshire |1,679 |9,148
Northumberland |2,917 |7,739
Nottinghamshire |8,222 |22,719
Oxfordshire |4,528 |9,313
Shropshire |3,480 |5,135
Somerset |6,495 |12,355
Staffordshire |1,660 |4,669
Suffolk |4,519 |8,957
Surrey |6,222 |16,427
Warwickshire |4,875 |11,874
West Sussex |4,544 |11,124
Wiltshire |4,271 |11,430
n/a = Not yet available.
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a list of education authorities in England and Northern Ireland with the total number of pupils for which each education authority was responsible in the year ended 31 March. [21805]
Mr. Robin Squire: Information on the number of pupils in schools maintained by local education authorities in England in January 1994 is shown in the table. Pupil numbers in Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
All pupils in LEA-maintained Nursery, Primary,
Secondary and
Special schools <(1)> in England
Local Education |<1>Pupils
Authority
-------------------------------------------------------
Corporation of London |214
Camden |19,610
Greenwich |36,441
Hackney |25,049
Hammersmith |14,753
Islington |23,517
Kensington and Chelsea |8,967
Lambeth |21,864
Lewisham |32,007
Southwark |28,775
Tower Hamlets |33,954
Wandsworth |20,241
Westminster |17,033
Barking |26,030
Barnet |33,906
Bexley |31,055
Brent |26,718
Bromley |28,160
Croydon |38,213
Ealing |32,664
Enfield |36,327
Haringey |29,608
Harrow |27,374
Havering |31,341
Hillingdon |20,043
Hounslow |32,403
Kingston upon Thames |15,863
Merton |23,232
Newham |40,255
Redbridge |34,393
Richmond upon Thames |19,038
Sutton |17,750
Waltham Forest |30,642
Birmingham |1,63,079
Coventry |49,913
Dudley |43,366
Sandwell |511,108
Solihull |33,368
Walsall |43,020
Wolverhampton |40,552
Knowsley |27,992
Liverpool |81,934
St. Helens |29,946
Sefton |47,168
Wirral |51,857
Bolton |42,429
Bury |27,81`4
Manchester |70,796
Oldham |41,653
Rochdale |34,020
Salford |35,883
Stockport |42,970
Tameside |35,107
Trafford |29,833
Wigan |50,621
Barnsley |34,578
Doncaster |52,032
Rotherham |44,190
Sheffield |70,775
Bradford |83,406
Calderdale |28,728
Kirklees |62,567
Leeds |113,062
Wakefield |51,922
Gateshead |30,558
Newcastle upon Tyne |40,749
North Tyneside |31,660
South Tyneside |26,397
Sunderland |51,321
Isles of Scilly |291
Avon |1,37,357
Bedfordshire |81,360
Berkshire |1,03,502
Buckinghamshire |90,109
Cambridgeshire |84,515
Cheshire |1,53,008
Cleveland |1,03,146
Cornwall |69,977
Cumbria |65,372
Derbyshire |1,28,591
Devon |1,36,651
Dorset |78,626
Durham |97,711
East Sussex |88,025
Essex |1,46,390
Gloucestershire |56,666
Hampshire |2,01,345
Hereford and Worcester |94,445
Hertfordshire |1,37,829
Humberside |1,43,600
Isle of Wight |17,955
Kent |1,83,670
Lancashire |2,14,486
Leicestershire |1,38,347
Lincolnshire |66,722
Norfolk |93,702
North Yorkshire |1,04,727
Northamptonshrie |85,417
Northumberland |51,019
Nottinghamshire |1,56,816
Oxfordshire |78,400
Shropshire |57,984
Somerset |64,487
Staffordshire |1,63,143
Suffolk |93,282
Surrey |1.07,933
Warwickshire |68,726
West Sussex |94,854
Wiltshire |70,552
|--------
England |6,764,552
<1> This is the total of all full-time and part-time
pupils of all ages.
University and Private Sector Co-operation
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what new initiatives she is discussing with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principles to encourage senior private sector managers to spend time in university departments. [21826]
Mr. Boswell: No such discussions are taking place. These are matters for the CVCP and its member institutions to arrange in collaboration with companies. The Government welcome opportunities that enable industrial and university personnel to share their experiences for the benefit of the economy.
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what programmes she supports to encourage the release of university staff to spend time in manufacturing industry. [21825]
Mr. Boswell: We support all initiatives that provide academic and industrial staff with opportunities to collaborate. Responsibility for developing links with business, of all kinds, rests with individual institutions. Many are conscious of the need to do so, and participate in the range of programmes promoted by the Departments of Employment and of Trade and Industry and the Office for Science and Technology.
Nursery Places
Ms Hodge: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many places she will need to find to meet the Prime Minister's commitment to nursery places for all four-year-olds. [22014]
Mr. Forth: In January 1994, the size of the four-year-old cohort in England was estimated at 645,000. Latest available data suggest that at that time an estimated 498,000 four-year-olds were attending maintained schools. We estimate that approximately 120,000 more were in some form of private or voluntary provision.
Distance Learning
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education when she will next meet the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals to discuss the use of new technologies for distance learning. [21822]
Mr. Boswell: My right hon. Friend has no current plans to meet the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals in order to discuss the use of new technologies for distance learning. She has, however, recently issued a consultation document on the future of broadband communications in education, and would welcome the committee's comments on it.
Pupils and Teachers, Ealing
Mr. Harry Greenway: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many pupils are currently in (a) primary schools and (b) secondary/high schoolsin Ealing in (i) local education authority and(ii) grant-maintained schools; how many teachers are currently employed to teach them in whatever capacity; and if she will make a statement. [22011]
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Mr. Robin Squire: The information requested for 1994, the latest date for which information is available, is shown in the table.
Full-time equivalent of pupils and qualified teachers in
maintained
schools in Ealing Local Education Authority area January 1994
LEA maintained Grant-maintained
schools schools
|Primary |Secondary|Primary |Secondary
--------------------------------------------------------------
Pupils<1> |22,836 |7,369 |1,201 |6,111
Teachers<2> |1,076 |456 |55 |374
<1> Each part-time pupil counts as 0.5 full-time
equivalents.<2> Includes the FTE of part-time qualified
teachers.
Equal Opportunities
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made within her Department on equal opportunities matters. [21456]
Mr. Boswell: The Department is committed to achieving equality of opportunity for all staff. To that end, programmes for action for staff with disabilities, women and staff from ethnic minorities are in place, and progress has been made in all areas.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which Minister in her Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21455]
Mr. Boswell: I have responsibility for equal opportunities issues in the Department.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish the gender assessment being prepared by her Department. [21457]
Mr. Boswell: Equal opportunities issues are under continuous scrutiny within the Department. My right hon. Friend has drawn attention in recent speeches to the remarkable progress which has been made by girls and women in education over the last 15 years. No additional gender assessment is being prepared.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Electricity
Mr. McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when competition will be introduced to the supply of electricity services in NorthernIreland. [21123]
Mr. Ancram: The Director General of Electricity Supply for Northern Ireland has responsibility for the development of competition in the supply of electricity. Following the publication of his plans for this on 16 December 1993 the director general intends to publish formal consultation documents in June 1995. A copy of his 1993 report can be obtained from Offer (Northern Ireland).
Animal Diseases
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of vesicular stomatitis occurred in each year since 1985. [21138]
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Mr. Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of a cattle blood test for TB; and if a fully substantiated case can be made to the European Union to obtain agreement to its use. [21715]
Mr. Ancram: The Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland recently undertook a major field trial on the development of a blood test for TB and the results of the trial are currently being evaluated. If these show that the development of a blood test is viable, a case will be made to the European Union to have the test approved for use in Northern Ireland.
Equal Opportunities
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21476]
Sir John Wheeler: Progress on equal opportunities matters in relation to staff in the Northern Ireland civil service is detailed in regularly published reports of the service's equal opportunities unit. The home civil service cadre of the Northern Ireland Office is included in regular reports on equal opportunities published by the Cabinet Office. Copies of the reports are placed in the Library.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21475]
Mr. Ancram: My noble Friend Baroness Denton has the lead role for equal opportunities issues in Northern Ireland and represents Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office at the Cabinet Sub- Committee on Women's Issues. The Minister of State, my hon. Friend the Minister for Westminster, North (Sir J. Wheeler), has lead responsibility for equal opportunity matters within the Northern Ireland civil service.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21477]
Mr. Ancram: Revised Government guidelines on policy appraisal fair treatment, which came into effect on 1 January 1994, aim to ensure that in the development or review of policies and programmes Departments and agencies do not unfairly or unnecessarily discriminate against specified sections of the community, including people of different gender. Annual reports on the implementation of the policy appraisal and fair treatment initiative will be published. The first of these is being prepared.
Stevens Report
Mr. Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to receive the report from Mr. John Stevens into the shoot to kill inquiry; and if he plans to make an oral statement thereon to the House. [21737]
Sir John Wheeler: I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave on 11 January 1995 to the hon. Member for Islington, North Official Report, columns 147 48. In addition, a further report was submitted on 24 January 1995. A direction of no prosecutions was issued on17 February 1995. I do not propose to make a statement.
Invalidity Benefit
Dr. Godman: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is his latest estimate of the
Column 161
number of suspensions of increased invalidity benefit awarded as a result of Commissioner Skinner's decision, case C 527/91; and of those women who have experienced suspension, how many have applied to have the suspension of payment lifted on the basis of hardship; how many of these appeals were successful; what has been the cost of the lifting of such suspensions; and if he will make a statement; [21042](2) what estimate he has made of the number of women who will be entitled (a) to enhanced invalidity benefit payments and (b) to back payment if the Department of Social Security's appeal against Commissioner Skinner's decision in the case of Mrs. Rose Graham fails; what estimate he has made of the additional cost to be met by the Northern Ireland Office in (i) 1995 96, (ii) 1996 97, and (iii) 1997 98; and if he will make a statement. [21043]
Mr. Moss: Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its chief executive, Mr. Alec Wylie. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Alec Wylie to Dr. Norman Godman, dated 28 April 1995:
I have been asked to reply to both your recent Parliamentary Questions on the position relating to the payment of increased Invalidity Benefit as a result of the Commissioner's decision in the Rose Graham case.
The latest estimate of the number of suspensions of increased Invalidity Benefit awarded as a result of the Commissioner's decision is 600. No records are kept on the number of women who asked to have their suspension lifted on the grounds of hardship but I can confirm that a total of 8 such requests were successful, the cost of which to date is £27,936.
It is estimated that 4,000 women will be entitled to enhanced Invalidity Benefit and back payment if the Department of Social Security's appeal against the Commissioner's decision fails. The additional cost of these cases is estimated at £2.1 million for 1995/96 and £2.2 million for each of the years 1996/97 and 1997/98. I hope you will find this information helpful.
Civil Servants
Mr. Alan Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the individual value of each (a) compulsory early retirement and (b) flexible early retirement package received by civil servants leaving his Department on grounds of limited efficiency in each of the last five years. [22080]
Sir John Wheeler: Compensation payments for early retirement on grounds of limited efficiency are based on age, salary and service length of the civil servant concerned.
No civil servant who left the Northern Ireland Office or any other Northern Ireland Department in the period 1
Column 162
April 1990 to 31 March 1995 qualified for flexible early retirement benefits on grounds of limited efficiency.Unfortunately, due to the large number of officers who left under compulsory early retirement terms in the same period, the number and details of those who left on grounds of limited efficiency could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Endangered Species
Mr. Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the population of (a) pine martens, (b) peregrine falcons, (c) hen harriers and (d) sparrowhawks in each year since 1980; and what is his estimate of the amount of damage each species does to game birds. [21847]
Mr. Moss: Figures are not available for the population of pine martens.
A census of peregrine falcons took place in 1981 and again in 1991, when there were 53 and 99 pairs respectively. Precise information is not available for hen harriers or sparrowhawks, but it is estimated that currently there are fewer than 20 pairs of hen harriers and between 9,000 and 10,000 pairs of sparrowhawks. No information is available on the amount of damage each species does to game birds.
Conflicts of Interest
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions during the last five years (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department or its agencies have declared conflicts of interest; and how many instructions have been issued about their retention, disposal or management. [21391]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 1 May 1995]: For the Department and agencies for which my right hon. and learned Friend is responsible, any conflict of interest involving a civil servant would have been dealt with in accordance with the established guidance. Records of the number of cases are not held centrally.
In the last five years, no special advisers have declared a conflict of interest.
Public Bodies
Dr. Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the advisory non-departmental public bodies sponsored by his Department are under a statutory requirement to (a) publish their advice to the Government, (b) publish an annual report and (c) lay an annual report before Parliament; and if he will list those bodies with a statutory base. [21158]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 27 April 1995]: The information requested is as follows:
Column 161
Statutory
requirement to
|publish an annual |Lay an annual
|publish their advice|report before |report before
Advisory |to the Government |Parliament |Parliament |Statutory base
non-departmental
public bodies
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights |Yes |Yes |Yes |Yes
Boundary Commission |Yes |No |No |Yes
Advisory Committee of the Therapeutic
Professions Allied to Medicine |No |No |No |Yes
Central Dental Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Central Medical Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Central Nursing Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Central Pharmaceutical Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Charities Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Clinical Engineering and Medical Physics
Services Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Clinical Imaging Services Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Disability Living Allowances Advisory
Board for Northern Ireland |No |No |No |Yes
Distinction and Meritorious Service Awards
Committee for Northern Ireland |No |No |No |Yes
Laboratory Services Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Poisons Board |No |No |No |Yes
Drainage Council for Northern Ireland |No |No |No |Yes
Northern Ireland Water Council |No |No |No |Yes
Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland |No |No |No |Yes
Northern Ireland Building Regulation Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside |No |No |No |Yes
Historic Buildings Council |No |No |No |Yes
Historic Monuments Council |No |No |No |Yes
Industrial Development Board |No |No |No |Yes
Training and Employment Agency |No |No |No |Yes
Health and Safety Agency |No |No |No |Yes
Statistics Advisory Committee |No |No |No |Yes
Committees for the Employment of Disabled People |No |No |No |Yes
Industrial Research and Technology Board |No |No |No |Yes
In respect of all other advisory non-departmental public bodies in Northern Ireland, the answer is nil.
Mr. John D. Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the individuals who are members of more than one Northern Ireland quango and the names of those quangos. [20649]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 24 April 1995]: The information in respect of non-departmental public bodies has been placed in the Library. This does not include details of membership of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland, other than for the chairman.
Extradition (Irish Republic)
Mr. Trimble: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps have been or are being taken to secure the extradition from the Irish Republic of Eamon Collins, Len Hardy, Kiernan McBride, Mickey Collins and David Ewins for the IRA terrorist murders and attempted murders described in the Central TV programme "Network First: Confession." [20331]
Sir John Wheeler [holding answer 25 April 1995]: Following the broadcast of the programme "Network First: Confession" on 18 April 1995, the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has directed that the programme be examined in detail by the serious crime squad. When investigations are complete, a file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern
Column 164
Ireland, who will consider the matter. The question of extradition does not arise until the DPP(NI) has decided whether or not to prosecute the person concerned.SOCIAL SECURITY
Refugees
Mr. Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what studies he has made to examine the effect of reductions in benefits on refugees; [19459]
(2) what recent representations he has received regarding reduced benefits for refugees while their status is being investigated by the Home Office; [19457]
(3) what proposals he has to take remedial action in respect of the reductions of benefits for genuine refugees. [19458]
Mr. Roger Evans: None. There is no reduction in the amount of benefits paid to genuine refugees who have been granted asylum by the Secretary of State.
Housing Benefit
Mr. Rooker: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how much housing benefit he estimates is paid to claimants who own property which is let but in which they do not live; [20345]
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(2) if he will bring forward amendments to the housing benefit regulations to prevent people who own dwellings for which they receive a rent from receiving housing benefit in respect of a dwelling they occupy and which is rented from a housing association. [20347]Mr. Roger Evans: Information regarding the amount of housing benefit paid to claimants who own property which is let but in which they do not live is not available. Housing benefit is payable in such cases provided there is a liability to pay rent on the dwelling which is occupied as the home and that liability has not been contrived to take advantage of the housing benefit scheme.
Ms Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to exclude sheltered accommodation for the elderly and special accommodation for other special needs groups provided by housing associations from the proposed changes to housing benefit based on a calculation of an average area rent. [22218]
Mr. Roger Evans: We await the report from the Social Security Advisory Committee following its public consultation exercise on our proposals for housing benefit changes from October. We shall consider the report, together with representations received, including those from our own consultation with the local authority associations, carefully before reaching final decisions.
Pensions Bill
Mr. Dewar: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 5 April, Official Report , column 1224 , on what basis he estimates that the amendment to the Pensions Bill [ Lords ] which would base the calculation of entitlement to benefits under the state earnings-related pension scheme on the best 44 years of earnings would cost £2.5 billion per year by the middle of the 21st century. [21719]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The estimate assumed that a best 44 years rule would apply in a manner similar to the original best 20 years rule. In particular, it was assumed that the selection of the best 44 years would include earnings factors derived from contracted-out as well as not contracted-out earnings, so that the proposal would cover all class 1 contributors.
The estimate took account of the extent to which the average surplus earnings factor increases as a result of removing the lowest earnings factors from the calculation for new awards for 2023 24 and later years once contributors can have more than 44 years of contributions from 1978 79 onwards.
Civil Servants
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the individual value of each (a) compulsory early retirement and (b) flexible early retirement package received by civil servants leaving his Department on grounds of limited efficiency in each of the last five years. [22078]
Mr. Hague: The information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Column 166
War Widows Pensions
Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security in what circumstances a war widow living abroad will not be eligible for the war widows pension under the provisions announced in his oral statement on 24 April, Official Report, column 532. [21852]
Mr. Arbuthnot: The legal provisions for war widows and war disablement pensions apply equally wherever the pensioner happens to live.
Young People
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the annual savings to the Exchequer from removing the entitlement to income support for young people between the ages of 16 and 18 years. [22273]
Mr. Roger Evans: Young people aged 18 years are entitled to income support under the normal rules; 16 and 17-year-olds not required to be available for work are similarly entitled.
Since 1988, unemployed 16 and 17-year-olds have had the more positive option of youth training in place of dependence on benefit. Reliable estimates of the number of claims that would have been made by this group under the previous arrangements are not practicable. They would be dependent on a variety of economic and other assumptions.
Child Benefit
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the cost of raising the level of child benefit by £5 per week for the first child only. [22296]
Mr. Burt: It is estimated that the net cost would be £1.4 billion at 1995 96 prices.
DUCHY OF LANCASTER
Equal Opportunities
Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made within his Department on equal opportunities matters. [21502]
Mr. Horam: Substantial progress both within the Department and in promoting equal opportunities throughout the civil service.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress he hopes to achieve in his Department over the next three months to push forwards the declaration signed in October 1994 at the Vienna conference in preparation for the fourth UN conference on women; and if he will agree to incorporate a section on equal opportunities in his Department's annual report. [21504]
Mr. Horam: The Government are committed to the principles set out in the regional platform for action agreed at the preparatory conference in Vienna for the fourth UN world conference on women. They have taken these forward through a wide range of programmes and initiatives and will continue to do so.
Column 167
The Government White Paper "Taking Forward Continuity and Change", published in response to a report from the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee, recommended that Departments and agencies publish their individual actions and progress on equal opportunities in their annual reports. The Departments and agencies for which my right hon. Friend is responsible will be taking this forward.Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the gender assessment being prepared by his Department. [21503]
Mr. Horam: The Cabinet Office--Office of Public Service and Science- -has a policy, in line with guidance issued in 1992 by the ministerial group on women's issues, that policy proposals should ensure that unlawful or unjustifiable sex or race discrimination does not occur and that similar principles apply to people with disabilities, older people or ex-offenders. Policy advice to Ministers is continuously and routinely scrutinised in these respects.
Ms Eagle: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21501]
NATIONAL HERITAGE
Equal Opportunities
Ms Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which Minister in his Department has responsibility for equal opportunities issues. [21485]
Mr. Dorrell: The Minister with responsibility for equal opportunities issues in my Department is the Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Harwich (Mr. Sproat).
Allowances
Mr. David Shaw: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage 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. [19558]
Mr. Dorrell: The Department of National Heritage was created in April 1992. It has two agencies--the Royal Parks agency created in April 1993 and the Historic Royal Palaces agency created in October 1989. The information requested for travel and subsistence--it is not possible to disaggregate the two--is shown in the following table:
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|Travel and |Travel and
|£ |£
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DNH central department
1992-93<1> |Figures not available|Figures not available
1993-94 |105,215.03 |87,016.56
1994-95<2> |100,062.59 |156,896.27
RPA
1992-93 |Not applicable |Not applicable
1993-94 |37,867.26 |Nil
1994-95<2> |21,192.74 |Nil
HRPA<3>
1992-93 |25,500.00
1993-94 |20,400.00
1993-95<2> |31,326.82
Notes:
<1> DNH did not have its own financial and management accounting arrangements in place
until August 1992; for the year 1992-93, the information is therefore not available in
the format requested.
<2> The 1994-95 figures, for year ending 31 March 1995, may change slightly as year-end
accounts are finalised.
<3> For HRPA expenditure, separate totals for UK and overseas travel and subsistence are
not available.
Aerial Archaeology
Mr. Redmond: To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list for (a) each of the last four years and (b) this year to date the grant issued in respect of aerial archaeology, indicating the name and locations of the recipients; and if he will make a statement. [20715]
Mr. Dorrell: Annual figures for grants for aerial archaeology in England made available through the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England are set out in the table. Details of all grants are published in the commission's annual report. The national library of air photographs is held by the commission at its headquarters in Swindon, and copies of all photographs funded by grants are readily available for consultation.
Aerial archaeology plays an important part in identifying archaeological remains. However, the grants made for flying costs depend partly on the availability of funds from other sources to meet associated costs; and there will be yearly fluctuations in view of its dependence on weather conditions. Post reconnaissance mapping to a high standard is important if the evidence derived from aerial photography is to be fully utilised, and the increased funding for mapping during 1992 93 and 1993 94 reflected the aim of establishing a national programme of mapping the information obtained from this source.
Column 167
Summary of grants for aerial archaeology
|1991-92 |1992-93 |1993-94 |1994-95 |<1>1995-96
|£ |£ |£ |£ |£
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reconnaissance |19,225 |26,577 |23,170 |23,307 |14,800
Mapping |34,650 |115,354 |106,044 |63,410 |43,000
|-------- |-------- |-------- |-------- |--------
Total |53,875 |141,931 |129,214 |86,717 |57,800
<1> Provisional.
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