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National Debt
Mr. Thurnham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the national debt for the end of the current fiscal year; and what the figures were for each of the last seven years. [28858]
Mr. Waldegrave: New forecasts for debt will be published in the summer economic forecast on 9 July. The table contains the information requested.
Net debt £ billion 1 2
1988-89: 155.8
1989-90: 150.0
1990-91: 153.6
1991-92: 167.2
1992-93: 204.5
1993-94: 251.7
1994-95: 290.8
1 At end March.
2 First estimate for end-March 1996 will be published in the summer economic forecast on 9 July.
Tobacco Products
Mr. Beggs: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures are being proposed by Her Majesty's Government to create greater tax harmonisation on tobacco products within the European Union. [29163]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The Government will continue to take every opportunity to press the case for higher minimum rates of excise duty on tobacco products.
Welsh Language Birth Certificates
Mr. Alex Carlile: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to make available birth
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certificates in the Welsh language for babies of Welsh parentage born in England; and if he will make a statement. [28902]
Mrs. Angela Knight: There are no immediate plans to make available birth certificates in the Welsh language for Welsh babies born in England.
The White Paper "Registration: proposals for change", Cm 939, published in 1990, recommended that such events be registered in a bilingual--Welsh and English--register held by the Registrar General from which certificates could be issued when required. The Government remain committed to implementing the White Paper proposals when parliamentary time permits.
Inland Revenue (National Insurance Charts)
Mrs. Roche: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many complaints the Inland Revenue has received regarding late delivery to small firms of charts for calculating national insurance contributions of employees. [28747]
Mr. Jack [holding answer 13 May 1996]: The Inland Revenue head office, which had responsibility for monitoring the west midlands combined pack trial, received one complaint about the late arrival of material.
PRIME MINISTER
Isle of Skye (Visit)
Mr. Charles Kennedy: To ask the Prime Minister if he has any plans to pay an official visit to the Isle of Skye.[28020]
The Prime Minister: I have no plans to do so.
Engagements
Sir Peter Tapsell: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for Tuesday 14 May. [28291]
The Prime Minister: This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House, I shall be having further meetings later today.
SOCIAL SECURITY
Unemployment Benefit
Mr. Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people have (a) been refused unemployment benefit and (b) had their unemployment benefit reduced under section 30 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992. [29179]
Mr. Roger Evans: The number of unemployed claimants in Great Britain on 10 August 1995 who had their unemployment benefit reduced under section 30 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 was 17,000. Of these, 8,000 had their unemployment benefit fully abated.
Source:
5 per cent. sample of unemployed claimants in Great Britain taken on 10 August 1995.
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Suspension of Benefits
Mr. Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many awards of benefit he has suspended under regulation 37 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987 in each year since 1990.[29383]
Mr. Roger Evans: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cunninghame, South (Mr. Donohoe) on 10 May, Official Report, columns 277-78.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Independent Schools
Mr. Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many independent schools there are in the United Kingdom; and how many are registered as having charitable status. [29068]
Mrs. Gillan: There are currently 2,275 independent schools in England registered with this Department. Of those, 1,323 have informed us that they have charitable status. Questions regarding independent schools elsewhere in the United Kingdom should be addressed to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, and for Wales and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Drugs (School Inspectors)
Mr. Rathbone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what provision is made to ensure that schools inspectors are able properly to assess the efficiency of a school's drugs policy and drugs education performance. [29307]
Mr. Robin Squire: This is a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools, who heads the Office for Standards in Education. I have asked Mr. Chris Woodhead to write to my hon. Friend.
Hurworth School
Mr. Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what was the total cost of the inquiry into allegations of misinformation concerning the ballot on grant-maintained status at Hurworth school; and if she will publish the evidence collected during the course of this inquiry. [29178]
Mrs. Gillan: Costs to the Department of the investigation are part of normal running costs and cannot readily be calculated as they involve a range of staff who also have other responsibilities. The evidence collected during the course of investigations into ballots for grant-maintained status is not published. Those who provide evidence may prefer their comments not to be made public. In the case of the investigation concerning Hurworth school, some respondents specifically asked that their evidence be treated in confidence.
University Funding
Mr. Alfred Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment what representations she has had on the need to restore the capital allowance for
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university equipment and minor works and on the need for stability in the level of funding received per student; what replies have been sent; what action she is taking; and if she will make a statement. [28662]
Mr. Forth: My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations about higher education funding. The UK HE sector is currently receiving £7 billion in public funding, 20 per cent. of the funding for education as a whole. That is a large sum, and a substantial share of available resources. We are working with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and other HE bodies to collate evidence about the effects of levels of public funding on universities, and to consider the private finance initiative in HE.
Job Clubs
Mr. Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment how many professional and executive job clubs have been closed in the last two years; and in which areas. [28900]
Mr. Forth: Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.
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