To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, what finance has been made available by the Commissioners for the administration of the office of the Archbishop of Canterbury in the current financial year.

The Commissioners have paid the stipend of the archbishop and met the costs of his supporting staff and their equipment.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, representing the Church Commissioners, how many priests he expects to be paid redundancy and severance payments in the event of women being ordained in the Church of England; and if he will make a statement.

No authoritative projections exist of the numbers of priests likely to leave the Church of England in the event of women being ordained to the priesthood.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he has anything to add to his answer of 19 December 1988, Official Report, column 92, to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook), on the result of the trial of Neill Joseph Patterson.

Yes. The three extraterritorial offences for which Patterson was prosecuted were not tried before a jury. The offences were charged as alternatives to offences allegedly committed in Northern Ireland. As Patterson was convicted of the offences allegedly committed in Northern Ireland the judge did not return a verdict on the extraterritorial offences and ordered them to lie on the file. The result of the trial should therefore read—"No verdict returned; left on file." I regret the inadvertent mistake in the answer.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he has anything to add to his answer of 14 May, Official Report, column 280, to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) concerning offences allegedly committed in the United Kingdom.

Yes. At the time of my reply the Irish authorities had indicated that the offences alleged against John Brendan Brady were committed in Northern Ireland. However, they have subsequently reported that the offences were committed in the Republic of Ireland, albeit with the intention that offences should be committed in Northern Ireland. I understand that the confusion arose because the offences were charged contrary to provisions of Irish legislation, as amended by the Irish Criminal Law (Jurisdiction) Act, 1976 (CLJA). Whilst the offences could not have been prosecuted but for the amendments to Irish law effected by the CLJA, the prosecution was not an extraterritoral prosecution under that Act.

To ask the Attorney-General when the appeal of Mrs. Hanif Bibi, TH/9473/88, is to be heard by the immigration tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

The appeal of Mrs. Hanif Bibi is to be heard on 26 June 1990.

To ask the Attorney-General when the immigration tribunal is to issue its determination in the case of Mr. Zabur Khan, TH/13322/88; and if he will make a statement.

The determination was issued to Mr. Zabur Khan's representatives in the United Kingdom on 21 June 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total amount of bilateral and EC aid received by Poland from the United Kingdom in 1988.

Poland received no bilateral aid nor EC attributed aid from the United Kingdom in 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Nations commission for the Mekong river project or any of its subsidiary bodies last met; what plans are currently in hand for the furtherance of the programme; and what contribution Her Majesty's Government expect to make to the solving of any problems that are preventing its progress.

The last meeting of a Mekong commission body was held by the interim Mekong committee from 24 to 27 April 1990. An extensive work programme has been drawn up by the secretariat including some 70 projects planned for implementation in the period 1990–92. These are divided into three main areas: basin planning, data collection and information systems, and resources development.The British Government already contribute to the cost of various research studies and we have indicated our willingness to consider support to other activities. This could include assistance, with other donors, for a further phase of the water balance study once all members of the committee have agreed the way forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much food aid has been provided to Ethiopia by the EC and member states since July 1989.

Detailed information is readily available only for the period since 1 November 1989. This indicates that at least 370,000 tonnes of food aid, worth some £70 million, has been provided or pledged by the Community and its member states in this period for the benefit of the people of northern Ethiopia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to Guyana, and to what projects, in each of the last 10 years.

Financial aid to Guyana in project form was suspended in 1983 because of defaults on the

£ '000s
	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Project
1. Essequibo sea defences	319	1,188	686	412	31	—	—	—	—	—
2. Tapakuma irrigation	847	397	629	757	10	—	—	—	—	—
3. Dredging equipment	323	152	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4. Plant and vehicle	15	—	13	4	—	—	—	—	—	—
Programme
1 Agricultural spares	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	733
2. Fuel oil	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	4,942
Technical co-operation	852	738	396	382	378	354	487	635	521	986
TOTAL	2,356	2,475	1,724	1,555	419	354	487	635	521	6,661

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the European Community Council of Development Ministers discussed aid to Namibia at the meeting on 29 May; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 18 June at column 392.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans the European Community has to grant a beef quota to Namibia under the Lomé agreement.

We have not yet received the Commission's proposals for Lomé accession arrangements for Namibia. The United Kingdom will support generous terms of accession for Namibia to the Lomé convention. We will give sympathetic consideration to any proposal for a Namibian beef quota.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will introduce measures to ensure that applications for approval of reserved matters are published for consideration by interested parties.

I have no plans to change the measures which already exist. Applications for reserved matters are advertised if the proposals have created particular interest at outline stage or where objectors have so requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to produce for Northern Ireland the information contained in tables in the answers to the hon. Member for Stretford of 24 April, Official Report, columns 177–82 and 185–86, and to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) of 14 March, Official Report, columns 251–56, on wages councils.

The information requested is given in the tables. There were no prosecutions in Northern Ireland in 1989 under the Wages (Northern Ireland) Order 1988.

Table 1
Establishments covered by wages councils on register at 1989
Wages council	Number of establishments
Baking	286
Boot and shoe repairing	94
Catering	4,404
Clothing manufacturing	140
Laundry	15
Linen and cotton handkerchief and household goods and linen piece goods	49
Paper box	15
Road haulage	1,927
Sugar confectionery and food preserving	21

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those areas which have been declared sites of special scientific interest; and for which other areas he has proposals to become sites of special scientific interest.

The following sites have been declared as areas of special scientific interest:

• Carrickbrawn, County Fermanagh
• Gortnagory, County Antrim
• Moneygal Bog, County Tyrone
• Garry Bog, County Antrim
• Teal Lough and Slaghtfreeden Bogs, Counties Tyrone and Londonderry
• Black Bog, County Tyrone
• Glenariff, County Antrim
• Cleggan Valley, County Antrim
• Monawilkin, County Fermanagh
• Lough Beg, Counties Londonderry and Antrim
• Beagh Big, County Fermanagh
• Garvroa, County Fermanagh
• Moneendogue, County Fermanagh
• Lergan, County Fermanagh
• Drumlisaleen, County Fermanagh
• Inner Belfast Lough, Counties Antrim and Down
• Glen Burn, County Antrim
• Strangford Lough (Part 1), County Down
• Ballymacormick Point, County Down
• Strangford Lough (Part 2), County Down
• Kiltubbrid Loughs, County Armagh
• North Woodburn Glen, County Antrim
• Dunloy Bog, County Antrim
• Strangford Lough (Part 3), County Down
• Moninea Bog, County Fermanagh

Proposals for a further five areas are currently under consideration and declarations are likely to be made later this year. Other areas will be designated in the future as a result of continuing survey work, but it is not possible at this stage to predict which sites will be designated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has to separate control of rivers and foul sewage disposal.

The control of river pollution and foul sewage disposal are already separated in the sense that the functions are carried out by separate directorates within the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland. We have not proposed at present to alter that system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to his answer of 5 June, Official Report, column 387, why some gargoyles at the Old Cross, Newtownards were replaced.

Gargoyles decayed beyond recognition were removed and replaced with new ones based on those remaining. The two original gargoyles, which were better preserved, were retained in order to perpetuate the market cross.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received about the selection procedure transfer system from primary to secondary level schools.

I have received representations about children who have not been admitted to the school of their parents' choice because the school is oversubscribed. It has always been made clear that parental choice is limited by the physical capacity of a school and that an independent appeals tribunal in each education and library board area will consider appeals from parents about the way schools have operated their admissions criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will raise at a meeting of the Anglo-Irish Ministerial Conference the decision of the European Court to reject the restriction by the Government of the Republic of Ireland on its residents shopping in Northern Ireland; if he will oppose the alternative proposal of a 36-hour restriction on such shoppers; and if he will make a statement.

We have already conveyed to the Irish through a number of channels our anxiety that the European Court judgment should be given early effect and intend to discuss the matter at the next intergovernmental conference. I have yet to consider the "36-hour rule" proposal with those of my right hon. Friends who have an interest in it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the length of the case of Cuan Sea Fisheries against the Department of the Environment (NI) in the High Court in Northern Ireland; what was the outcome; what payment is being made to Cuan Sea Fisheries; what are the estimated legal costs to the Department; and what legal costs of the claimant will be paid by him.

The case of Cuan Sea Fisheries Ltd. against the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and others lasted for 85 court days. The plaintiff ultimately agreed to withdraw its claim against the defendants in consideration of an ex gratia payment of £1 million to include costs and outlays. The Department of the Environment maintained its denial of liability. The estimated legal costs to the Department are some £320,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to indicate the length of time between commission and detection of a juvenile offence and prosecution in court; and what has been the trend for such periods over the past five years.

The Chief Constable has informed me that the information requested is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate costs.The Royal Ulster Constabulary has discretion under the juvenile liaison scheme, through which all such cases are dealt with, to issue a caution as an alternative to prosecution. It does so wherever possible so that not every case reaches court. In cases that are taken to court it is estimated that the average length of time between initiation of proceedings and the final court hearing is three months. I understand that hearings are often adjourned to allow reports on accused juveniles to be obtained from probation officers. An important feature of the juvenile liaison scheme is that juvenile liaison officers visit the parents of the accused juvenile offender before court action is commenced. Sometimes this is not readily possible and, where difficulties arise, alternative arrangements have to be made. Delays of up to a few weeks between detection of a juvenile offence and initiation of court proceedings can therefore occur in certain cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether consideration has been given to extending the police juvenile liaison system by establishing a juvenile branch to deal with all prosecutions against juveniles; and if he will make a statement.

Under the juvenile scheme individual sub-divisional commanders have discretion to decide how an offence committed by a juvenile should be dealt with. This is in line with police policy elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Detection of offences by juveniles are therefore often not followed by a prosecution. Cautions are issued whenever possible. The Chief Constable tells me that he has no information to suggest that the use of discretion by sub-divisional commanders is a major factor in delays in the prosecution of juvenile offenders. I understand that he recently examined the desirability of creating a central juveniles branch within the Royal Ulster Constabulary and that he concluded that the case for doing so had not been made out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will announce the 1990–91 social fund budget allocations to social security offices in Northern Ireland.

The information requested is as follows:

Social Security Office	Loans £	Grants £	Total £
Andersonstown	915,636	424,212	1,339,848
Antrim	448,449	229,953	678,452
Armagh	317,106	166,613	483,719
Ballymena	383,728	192,327	576,055
Ballymoney	265,554	136,757	402,310
Ballynahinch	48,703	29,384	78,087
Banbridge	162,037	92,455	254,492
Bangor	196,414	108,115	304,529
Carrickfergus	175,273	92,650	267,923
Coleraine	429,403	226,051	655,454
Cookstown	254,167	143,750	397,917
Corporation Street	1,059,369	601,174	1,660,543
Downpatrick	172,124	88,394	260,518
Dungannon	400,736	214,197	614,933
Enniskillen	327,961	194,388	522,349
Falls Road	799,911	387,353	1,187,264
Holywood Road	529,377	291,329	820,707
Kilkeel	61,022	34,367	95,289
Knockbreda	286,501	168,729	455,229
Larne	178,239	92,327	270,566
Limavady	162,347	84,517	246,863
Lisburn	652,879	339,746	992,625
Londonderry	1,204,827	650,955	1,855,783
Lurgan	730,837	400,229	1,131,066
Magherafelt	394,742	237,957	632,699
Newcastle	80,162	45,232	125,394
Newry	678,334	362,648	1,040,982
Newtownabbey	304,808	145,336	450,144
Newtownards	163,269	89,635	252,905
Omagh	394,944	199,907	594,851
Portadown	221,537	121,907	343,444
Shaftesbury Square	586,871	294,472	881,343
Shankill	403,126	214,459	617,585
Strabane	409,558	218,574	628,132

A note explaining how these allocations were calculated has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government on publishing the United Kingdom's proposals relating to economic and monetary union before they are submitted to the EEC; and what notification she has had of the date of the intergovernmental conference at which these proposals are to be considered.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer placed a copy of the Government's most recent proposals on economic and monetary union in the Library of the House on 21 June and reported this to the House in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Richmond and Barnes (Mr. Hanley). The precise date of the intergovernmental conference has yet to be set but we expect that it will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the European Council on 25 and 26 June, which I shall attend, and the results of which I shall of course report to the House in the usual way.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will make arrangements for hon. Members to arrange visits to 10 Downing street.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlay the decision to transfer financial responsibility for the mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; and to which Department Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors in Vienna is responsible.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office traditionally has responsibility for the costs associated with missions to international organisations including those in Vienna. Until recently the Department of Energy paid for 50 per cent. of the costs, including overheads, of Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and his personal assistant. These costs were transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in order to bring together responsibility for and control of resources and in the interests of greater efficiency. Her Majesty's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency is concurrenty permanent representative to other United Nations organisations in Vienna. Although on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office establishment, he also reports, therefore, to a variety of Departments in London.

To ask the Prime Minister what provision she makes within her office for the assessment of economic advice from unofficial sources and what estimate has been made of what the cost has been in the last year.

I have nothing further to add to the reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 18 June at column 403.

To ask the Prime Minister what is her policy with respect to the elapse of time before a letter sent by an hon. Member to the Minister for Local Government and Inner Cities should receive a reply; and what action will be taken to staff Department of the Environment Ministers' offices adequately to permit prompt replies to hon. Members' letters.

It is the aim of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment that his Department should reply to letters within three to four weeks of receipt. However, the volume of correspondence about the new local government finance system has been very large and I regret that it has taken substantially longer to reply in many cases. A special unit, now comprising 20 staff, has been established to deal with this correspondence and as a result the Department has replied to 58,000 of the 65,000 letters on this subject received from hon. Members and members of the public so far this year. In general, letters from hon. Members on local government finance are being answered at present within about seven weeks and many are being dealt with more quickly than that; with current staffing the aim is to reduce the period significantly as soon as possible.

To ask the Prime Minister whether she will raise the importance of work on diatoms and related studies at the forthcoming conference on global warming.

The work on diatoms is certainly an important component of scientific research into global warming and part of the research work to which I have referred and will continue to refer in speeches and conferences on global warming.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will raise with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic the implications of the failure of the extradition attempt by West Germany of Donna Maguire; and if she will make a statement.

No. This is a matter between the authorities of the Republic of Ireland and West Germany.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her answers of 6 June, Official Report, column 615, and 30 April, Official Report, column 385, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

My answers on 6 June and 30 April relate to holdings of 417,784 and 586,843 sq ft respectively.

To ask the Prime Minister how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of the Cabinet Office in the latest available year.

Energy efficiency in the Cabinet Office has concentrated on encouraging staff to abide by commonsense measures to reduce energy wastage. Details of expenditure on other measures, such as the planned maintenance of boilers and the use of modern energy-saving lighting systems in refurbishment programmes, are not available.

To ask the Prime Minister if she discussed the case of Mr. Raoul Wallenberg during her recent visit to the Soviet Union.

No. But our concerns have been raised with the Soviet authorities on many occasions. The Soviet Union continues to maintain that Raoul Wallenberg died in prison in 1947, but we do not have information about the precise circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will take steps to direct local education authorities to ensure the recommendations of standards on new book purchase set out in the Bourdillon report;(2) if he will list those education authorities which

The Bourdillon report deals with the public library service. Neither local education authorities nor my right hon. Friend have any responsibility for this service. Responsibility lies with the Office of Arts and Libraries and local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers with disabilities are currently employed in each local education authority in England; and what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of teachers with disabilities.

This information is not held by the Department. Responsibility for the employment and deployment of teachers, including disabled teachers, rests with local education authorities. The Disabled Persons (Employment) Act 1944 covers all employers with more than 20 employees, including local education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what tuition fees overseas students were charged in each year since 1978–79; and what is the percentage change in real terms in the level of fees currently charged to overseas students compared with that in 1978–79.

Fees are set by institutions and details of the fees actually charged are not held centrally. However, the then Secretaries of State for Education and Science recommended fee levels for all overseas students in 1978–79 and 1979–80 and, in respect of non-EC overseas students who embarked on their courses before 1980–81, between 1980–81 and 1984–85. Since 1980, EC students have been charged fees at the home student rate. In respect of non-EC overseas students embarking on their course in 1980–81 and subsequent years institutions are expected to charge fees sufficient to cover the full cost of the provisions made. The Council of Local Education Authorities and, until 1988–89, the University Grants Committee recommended fee levels to institutions in their respective sectors. Between 1981–82 and 1983–84 the then Secretaries of State also issued similar recommendations to institutions grant-aided by the Department. All the relevant recommendations for the years up to and including 1988–89 were promulgated by the Department. Details are in the Library. Because no information is held centrally on the fees actually charged, it is not possible to answer the second part of the hon. Member's question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for increasing opportunities for children at school to be taught music.

Music is a foundation subject in the national curriculum. This means that it will form part of the curriculum for every pupil aged five to 16 in a maintained school in England and Wales. We hope to make an announcement soon on the machinery to be set up to advise on the national curriculum requirements for music.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a list of all Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools in England published during the last four years, indicating for each the number of pupils attending.

I am today placing in the Library a list of all Her Majesty's inspectorate reports on individual primary schools published between 1 June 1986 and 31 May 1990 showing for each the number of pupils on roll at the time of the inspection.In a small number of cases that information is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member with it in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

A sum of £10,000 was spent on power factor correction equipment at our Darlington headquarters building in the 1989–90 financial year. This builds on the sum of £28,000 spent by the PSA on electrical lighting control sensors at the same site in the previous financial year.Capital expenditure on energy saving equipment for the Department's London headquarters site is not justified, as there is insufficient time left to recover the financial outlay that would be necessary before our impending move to new premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to the answers of 10 May, Official Report, column 217 and 30 April, Official Report, column 392 about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

The area of office space to which these figures relate is 540,023 sq ft.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the ministerial visit to Coventry schools of the hon. Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Howarth) on 22 June.

I was glad to have the opportunity to visit schools in Coventry on 22 June. I was impressed by the professionalism and commitment of the teachers I met. It was helpful, following my meeting with representatives of Coventry LEA in February, to be able to see at first hand some of the problems of the physical conditions at these schools. The Department will do everything it can, consistent with the need to be fair to all authorities, to assist Coventry LEA in its task of improving conditions in its schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what evidence he has of the use of Gibraltar for drug trafficking.

There is no evidence of drug trafficking on a significant scale. But the Gibraltar authorities are always ready to co-operate actively with their Spanish counterparts to investigate all leads which might relate to drug trafficking in, or organised from, Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures are taken to prevent the use of Gibraltar for the trafficking of drugs into the European Community.

Gibraltar's laws against the import, possession, supply and dealing in drugs are as comprehensive as those in the United Kingdom. The laws are rigorously enforced, in co-operation with the Spanish and other EC countries' law enforcement agencies where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations Her Majesty's Government have received from the Spanish authorities concerning the use of Gibraltar by traffickers in drugs.

The Spanish authorities have raised the problem with us on several occasions. We have repeatedly assured them of the British and Gibraltar authorities' full co-operation in acting against drug trafficking and urged them to supply us with any evidence they have of such activity in Gibraltar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many meetings of the Council of Ministers there have been since the start of 1979; and if he will list the Ministers who attended each of these meetings.

Meetings of the Council of Ministers, with details of the Ministers who attended each meeting, are listed in annex A of the six-monthly White Papers on "Developments in the European Community".

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect the United Kingdom's present relationship with northern Cyprus has had on extradition and the effective pursuit of crime.

Our policy of non-recognition of the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" does not preclude operational contacts between British police forces and the Turkish Cypriot police. These are working effectively. The question of extradition has not arisen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of people seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation to the European Community in Brussels in each of the years since the United Kingdom entered the European Community; and if he will break these figures down by Department of origin.

The exact figures requested are not easily available and their collection would involve a disproportionate cost. Since 1973 more than 150 non-FCO officials have been seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation in Brussels. At any one time roughly half the accredited diplomatic staff at the representation are seconded from the home civil service. The largest number are from the Department of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Departments of Employment, Energy, Environment, Health, Social Security and Transport, Her Majesty's Treasury, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices and the Bank of England have also been represented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Soviet Government in an effort to secure the release of Igor Rodionov.

The case of Igor Rodionov has recently been added to those which we raise in our contacts with the Soviet authorities. We shall continue to press the Soviet authorities until all such cases have been satisfactorily resolved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the implications of the further settlement of Jews in east Jerusalem and the occupied territories on the prospects for a middle east peace settlement.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made clear in the House on 13 June, east Jerusalem is, in our view, occupied territory. We have urged the Israelis to cease their settlement programme in the occupied territories. Such settlements are illegal, provocative and an obstacle to peace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received a copy of the Council of Europe's observer team's report on the general election in Bulgaria; and if he will congratulate that country on returning to an acceptable form of democracy; and if he will explore ways of encouraging Bulgaria to play a useful role in the European context.

We are looking forward to receiving the Council of Europe observers' report. But it is already clear from the reports we have received from other observers that Bulgaria has made a considerable step towards democracy. This should help Bulgaria to play its full part in European affairs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 30 April, Official Report, columns 404—05, about energy consumption, what is the square footage of office space to which these figures relate.

The energy consumption figures in my reply of 30 April relate to office space of 137,376 sq m. The figure for the ODA is 21,280 sq m.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was invested in improving the energy efficiency of his Department in the latest available year.

In the year 1989–90 a total of £55,360 was invested in improving energy efficiency in FCO buildings. The old public offices are also being refurbished. It is expected that improvements to the fabric and the introduction of building energy management systems will bring further savings in energy costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are currently employed by the European Commission; and if he will classify them by grade.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1990, c. 33]: The details of United Kingdom staff in the other principal Community institutions are as follows:

	Number
European Parliament
A grade	69
Linguist grade	59
B grade	32
C grade	84
D grade	17
Total	261
Council Secretariat
A grade	23
Linguist grade	46
B grade	11
C grade	54
D grade	5
Total	139
European Court of Justice
A grade	10
Linguist grade	21
B grade	11
C grade	22
D grade	3
Total	67
Economic and Social Committee
A grade	8

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ministerial or other official visits have been made to Guyana, for what duration and for what purpose in each of the last 10 years; what information he has as to the proper conduct of elections scheduled for 1991; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested by the hon. Member in the first part of his question is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The most recent ministerial visit to Guyana was when my right hon. Friend (Mr. Patten), the then Minister for Overseas Development, visited Georgetown from 9–10 July 1989 when he signed a new aid agreement with the Government of Guyana. I reminded the visiting Foreign Minister of Guyana on 21 May of the importance which this Government attach to the principle of free and fair elections and of the need for elections to be seen to be fair.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet with the chairman of British Rail to discuss the safety of unmanned, no-barrier crossings on provincial lines.

The installation and operation of all unmanned level crossings on public roads must meet stringent safety criteria laid down by the railway inspectorate. The inspectorate liaises closely with British Rail and the appropriate local authorities in all matters of crossing safety. There is the opportunity for discussion of any safety issue with the chairman of British Rail either at our regular meetings or at specific meetings, where necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any public funds have been made available towards the cost of a freight terminal linking Scottish industry and commerce with the channel tunnel.

No subsidy is being made available to British Rail under its current plans for the channel freight terminals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he proposes to make an assessment of the demand for regional freight terminals to link with the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

This is a commercial matter for British Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his statement of 14 June, Official Report, column 483, what information he has on the terms of reference given to Professor Halliday of Durham university and other consultants by British Rail for considering alternative routes for the high-speed rail link to the channel tunnel.

I understand that British Rail is still considering these matters and I will ask it to write to my hon. Friend when it is in a position to provide this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes to take any new measures to improve public transport in rural areas.

Public transport in rural areas is mainly a matter for the transport operators. Since deregulation bus mileage outside London and the metropolitan areas has increased by some 21 per cent., with 83 per cent. being run commercially. Local authorities have powers to subsidise additional socially necessary services. In addition, the rural transport development fund receives up to £1 million a year from my Department to support the introduction of innovative services in rural areas.

	Public inquiry finished	Inspector's report received
M6 Widening between junctions 20–21A	May 1990	Awaited
M20 Widening between junctions 5 and 8 (Maidstone bypass)	March 1990	Awaited
M65 Blackburn southern bypass	March 1990	June 1990
A1 Tempsford grade separated junction	December 1989	March 1990
A1 Dishforth-Leeming improvements—Phase 1	November 1989	March 1990
A3 Milford bypass	April 1989	July 1989
A5 Little Brickhill bypass	February 1990	May 1990
A5 Fazeley, Two Gates and Wilnecote bypass	May 1990	Awaited
A11 Besthorpe—Wymondham improvement	June 1990	Awaited
A12 Hackney Wick—M11 link	January 1990	March 1990
A14 M1-A1 link road contracts 8/9	February 1990	Awaited
A14 M1-A1 link road contracts 2/3/5 north	February 1990	Awaited
A16 Ludborough bypass	April 1990	May 1990
A16 Spalding-Sutterton improvement	June 1990	Awaited
A17 Leadenham bypass	January 1990	April 1990
A17 Wigtoft-Sutterton bypass	February 1990	April 1990
A23 Handcross-Pease Pottage improvement	May 1990	Awaited
A27 Crossbush bypass	January 1990	February 1990
A27 Westhampnett bypass	February 1990	March 1990
A30 Oakhampton-Launceston	May 1990	Awaited
A31 Newbury bypass	November 1988	March 1989
A40 Gypsy Circus junction		November 1989
A40 improvement	Joint inquiry August 1989
Western Circus junction
A41 Aston Clinton bypass	May 1990	Awaited
A41/A421 Bicester bypass—Stage 2	November 1989	January 1990
A259 Guestling Thorn diversion	April 1989	July 1989
A406 East of Silver Street—A1010	Joint inquiry	February 1989
A406 Dysons Road-Hall Lane	November 1988
A406 Regents Park Road junction	February 1989	August 1989
A423 Southam bypass	March 1990	May 1990
A428 Bedford Southern bypass	May 1990	Awaited

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to improve security at Cardiff-Wales airport; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom aviation security programme is drawn up and administered by the Department of Transport. Its purpose is to protect commercial aviation against terrorist attacks. It is not intended to cover private aviation which is not generally at risk from such activities. The incidents at Cardiff airport which have recently been reported in the local press relate to areas of the airport where private flying takes place, and they have no implications for the security of commercial aviation operations there. In common with other airports, the aviation security arrangements at Cardiff have been tightened considerably in recent months. Further improvements—which will also apply to other airports—are in the pipeline.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all trunk road schemes for which public inquiries have been completed but no ministerial decision has yet been made on the inquiry inspector's recommendation, giving the date on which the inquiry was closed; and, where the report has been submitted by the inspector, the date on which the report was presented to the Secretary of State for decision.

[holding answer 22 June 1990]: The following schemes in the national programme for England are awaiting a decision following a public inquiry:

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the main financial constituents of trade protocols one, two and three with Iraq.

The main constituents of the first three financial protocols were as follows:

Year	Amount £ million	To Finance
1983	250	Capital goods/projects
	25	Pharmaceuticals line of credit
1984	250	Capital goods/projects
	50	Pharmaceuticals line of credit
1986	50	Pharmaceuticals line of credit

Under the financial protocols with Iraq, the Export Credits Guarantee Department undertakes to guarantee the repayment of an agreed amount of finance to be used in support of United Kingdom exports to Iraq. This lending is available for particular contracts or projects, or through lines of credit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he proposes to take to ensure that transputers ordered by Jordan are not used as a missile guidance system by Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 18 June 1990]: Her Majesty's Government's policy on missile proliferation is well known and all appropriate steps are taken to prevent the proliferation of equipment and technology. A licence is required to export transputers to any destination under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989, as amended. Applications for a licence to export transputers for a missile guidance system are considered on a case-by-case basis in accordance with stringent criteria. It has been the practice of successive Governments not to comment on individual licensing matters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether all contracts in the United Kingdom for providing sensitive military components for Iraq have now been identified; and what further action his Department intends to take.

[holding answer 18 June 1990]: Exporters are responsible for applying for, and obtaining, export licences for goods which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order. My officials stand ready to advise whether an export licence is required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he plans to alter the scope and emphasis of the work of the takeover panel to take account of the effect of Europewide takeover policies in the run-up to 1992;(2) if he intends to prepare Europewide takeover regulations as a replacement for the takeover panel.

The draft directive on the regulation of takeovers provides for each member state to designate an authority or authorities to discharge the functions specified in the directive. These matters are regulated in the United Kingdom by the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers through the takeover code. The Commission is currently revising its proposals. When discussions resume, the Government will be seeking to ensure that supervisory authorities in member states can operate with a combination of flexibility and certainty. The takeover panel's experience has shown this to be necessary for effective takeover regulation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, before granting qualifying body status to an accountancy body, he will (a) require it to appoint an independent ombudsman to hear the students' complaints against the body itself and (b) seek the comments of its present-day students.

No. However, the Secretary of State will take into account comments received from the public, including accountancy students, when determining applications for recognition of professional qualifications under the Companies Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will create a body, independent of the auditing industry, to formulate auditing standards.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will legislate to ban auditing firms from writing up the board minutes of companies and then auditing the same.

I see no reason to do so. Under existing legislation, a person who is an officer of a company—or a partner or employee of an officer—is prohibited from being appointed as auditor of the company. Moreover, under the Companies Act 1989 the Secretary of State will be able to recognise a supervisory body for auditors only if the body appears to him to have adequate rules and practices designed to ensure that company audit work is conducted properly and with integrity, and that persons are not appointed as company auditors in circumstances in which they have any interest likely to conflict with the proper conduct of the audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make it his practice to inform the Chairman of the Trade and Industry Select Committee of the number of his Department's inspectors linked to the accountancy firms criticised by disciplinary committees of the accountancy bodies.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in his consideration of qualifying body status for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1989, he will require that its students will be made aware of his Department's inspectors' criticisms of auditing firms.

No. The Company Auditors (Examinations) Regulations 1990, which came into force on 20 June, set out the subjects which a qualifying body must test by examination if its qualification is to be recognised under the Companies Act 1989. Although inspectors' reports are not specified as such, the Secretary of State will wish to satisfy himself that the examinations are a proper test of the subject matter, and reflect current best practice, as indicated in inspectors' reports or otherwise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in what circumstances licences would be granted under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 for the export of riot control vehicles which have been specially designed or modified to be electrified to repel boarders (PLI500(F)).

Licences are required for the export to all destinations of riot control vehicles which are subject to control under the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1989 —SI 1989 No. 2376—as amended. Licence applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with stringent criteria, which include an assessment of the human rights record of the country concerned.It is not the practice to grant a licence for the export of equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the overall disposal strategy and mechanism of sale receipts in relation to the sale of assets of English Estates; and if he will make a statement;(2) what policy will be adopted by English Estates in the disposal of individual terrace units in relation to the sale of its assets; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the policy in relation to existing tenants of English Estates who wish to acquire those premises where they are at present tenants; and if he will make a statement;(4) what is the policy of his Department with regard to asset sales of English Estates; and what policy will be adopted in relation to the sale of assets of English Estates, the manner in which such assets are to be sold and their specific timing; and if he will make a statement.

The policy with regard to the sale of English Estates' property portfolio was set out in my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's reply to a question on 26 April. English Estates is currently in the process of drawing up proposals for the conduct of the disposal programme which will best meet the broad objectives that have been laid down.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to discuss the Life Assurance and Unit Trust Regulatory Organisation report on home income plans with LAUTRO or the Securities and Investments Board.

Home income plans involving investment business are a matter for the SIB and other appropriate regulatory bodies which, I understand, are currently considering them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will place his Department's joint submission to the New York courts with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on regulatory jurisdiction over North sea oil markets in the Library.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 24 May 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the investor and depositor compensation schemes his Department monitors in the financial services industries, together with the compensation ceilings, the date from which they operate, and the criteria for claims.

The Policyholders Protection Act 1975 provides compensation for private policyholders if an authorised insurance company becomes insolvent. A total of 90 per cent. of any admissible claim will be paid. There is no limit on the size of claims. Responsibility for the investors' compensation scheme lies with the Securities and Investments Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received from creditors of the British and Commonwealth Group.

I am not aware of any representations from creditors. However, some correspondence has been received from and on behalf of shareholders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what differences the agreement negotiated in the European Economic Community on 19 June on Japanese car imports makes for the import into the continent of cars produced in the United Kingdom by Japanese-owned or other factories; and if he will make a statement.