To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development next plans to visit Jamaica to discuss third-world deprivation.

I have no plans at present to visit Jamaica, but I hope to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for development aid to Cambodia; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are providing humanitarian assistance to Cambodia by supporting the activities of British non-governmental organisations and United Nations agencies inside Cambodia and in the camps along the Thai border. We are ready to consider how Cambodia's needs for help with repatriation, reconstruction and development might best be met in the context of a comprehensive political settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Britain's participation in the efforts to save the Amazon rain forests.

The United Kingdom is supporting a comprehensive approach towards protection of the Amazonian rain forests both by seeking reforms of the tropical forestry action plan and by helping in specific countries. We already have projects in place in Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding United Kingdom aid to Bulgaria.

Bulgaria will become eligible for support from the know-how fund once the new Government have shown their firm commitment to economic and political reform, as we hope they soon will. We are already contributing to humanitarian aid through the Community's PHARE programme. We have encouraged the Commission to consider urgently Bulgarian requests for food assistance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals there are in Hungary to use the know-how funds to assist in the privatisation of industry.

We have provided two British advisers for the State Property Agency in Hungary, which manages the privatisation process. We are also discussing proposals with their Ministry of Industry for British consultants to assist in restructuring companies prior to their sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the items included in the reconstruction work being undertaken in Sri Lanka, to which Her Majesty's Government have pledged £20 million.

About £11 million of the £20 million reconstruction grant has so far been allocated to the projects listed below. Of this, about £6·5 million has been spent. Implementation of a number of agreed projects, and allocation of the remaining £9 million, has been delayed by the renewed civil conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the governmental and non-governmental organisations in Sri Lanka that received aid from the British Government in 1988 and 1989.

A wide range of governmental organisations in Sri Lanka benefited from the projects and training financed from our aid programme in the years in question. A complete list could be produced only at disproportionate cost. We also provided direct assistance to one Sri Lankan non-governmental organisation, Sarvodaya, and to a number of British non-governmental organisations operating in Sri Lanka.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total value of aid given to Sri Lanka; and what proportion is paid to (a) governmental agencies and (b) non-governmental agencies for 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Gross British bilateral aid, including capital aid, technical assistance debt relief, assistance under the aid and trade provision emergency aid, joint funding of non-governmental organisations' projects, and investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) totalled £22 million in 1988 and £23·5 million in 1989.An exact breakdown of these totals between governmental and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, aid provided through British and Sri Lankan NGOs under our joint funding schemes, from our disaster and refugee unit and bilateral technical assistance programme amounted to about £0·7 million in 1988 and £1·5 million in 1989.It is not yet possible to provide equivalent figures for 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning Her Majesty's Government's policy on debt failures by third-world countries.

The Government have taken the lead in international efforts to provide debt relief for the poorest countries. We are currently seeking the support of other creditors for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's recent "Trinidad initiative", which would involve a reduction of two thirds in the bilateral debt of the eligible countries.We welcome the increasing willingness of banks to negotiate reductions in the debt owed to them, mainly by middle-income countries. We support the decision taken last year to allow the IMF and World bank to provide financial support for voluntarily negotiated debt reduction agreements, and are contributing our share of the necessary resources.Lasting recovery from debt problems will depend on the pursuit of sound economic policies in indebted countries. The Government therefore believe that international assistance should be directed to countries implementing economic reforms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development next expects to meet other countries' Ministers to discuss third-world problems, including indebtedness; and if he will make a statement.

I meet regularly with my counterparts from other countries to discuss these issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what steps the Government are taking to improve the energy efficiency of pensioner and low-income households.

The new home energy efficiency scheme, which will come into operation on 1 January 1991 is aimed specifically at low-income households. Its primary purpose is to increase the take-up of basic energy efficiency measures and to provide advice on ways in which those on low incomes can use energy more efficiently.

To ask the Attorney-General when a date will be set for the hearing of the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Attorney-General when he expects a date to be set for the appeal of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings; and if he will make a statement.

Listing is a matter for the Court of Appeal. Listing of the case can be expected as soon as the grounds for appeal on behalf of six appellants have been lodged and the Crown has had an opportunity to consider them.

To ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions to discuss progress of the May inquiry.

I last met the Director of Public Prosecutions on 9 November, when we discussed matters of departmental interest. The subjects discussed on these occasions are not made public.

To ask the Attorney-General for the last five years for which figures arc available what has been the cost of legal aid for criminal cases in the Crown court (a) in total, (b) paid to solicitors and (c) paid to counsel.

The information requested is as follows:

£ million
	Amounts paid to solicitors	Amounts paid to counsel	Total paid
1985–86	36·360	38·932	75·292
1986–87	42·601	49·226	91·827
1987–88	47·591	52·494	100·086
1988–89	52·591	66·706	119·297
1989–90	159·193	75·762	134·956
1 Provisional figures.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will consider producing guidelines for Her Majesty's judges to allow structured payments to be ordered in cases where damages are awarded to victims of negligence by health authorities.

It is for the judiciary themselves to develop guidelines for damages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people receive severe disability premium (a) nationally and (b) in those departmental areas covering Islington; and how many people receive income support and attendance allowance but do not receive severe disability premium (i) nationally and (ii) in those departmental areas covering Islington.

In May 1989, it is estimated that the severe disability premium was included in the benefit calculation of some 70,000 claimants to income support, housing benefit and community charge benefit. At that time some 187,000 claimants in receipt of income support and attendance allowance did not have the severe disability premium. A number of these people would have been refused the premium because someone was getting invalid care allowance in respect of their care; and special benefit calculation rules apply to certain groups such as people in residential care and nursing homes.Information for Islington is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what recent representations he has received from small business organisations regarding his plans to review statutory sick pay reimbursement regulations.

Such representations have been received from the following organisations representing small businesses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has estimated the cost to business of moving to 80 per cent. reimbursement of statutory sick pay to business.

The proposals in the Statutory Sick Pay Bill reducing the amount of statutory sick pay (SSP) which employers can recover from 100 per cent. to 80 per cent. will produce savings in public expenditure of £181 million in 1991–92, rising to £190 million in 1992–93 and £197 million in 1993–94. In addition, the ending of additional amount (currently 7 per cent.) which employers can recover as compensation for the national insurance contributions payable on statutory sick pay itself will result in an increase in national insurance income of £71 million, £75 million and £78 million in the three respective years.My right hon. Friend has also announced reductions in employers' national insurance contributions, which will operate from the same date as the statutory sick pay changes. These are worth some £250 million to employers and have been particularly weighted to help small businesses. They will go a long way towards reducing the extra costs for employers of the statutory sick pay changes and in some cases totally offset them.The precise effect of the combined statutory sick pay/National Insurance contributions package on individual businesses will depend on the sickness experience and pay levels within their work force, but bearing in mind both the contribution reductions and the fact that most spells of statutory sick pay are over very quickly—the average period is three weeks and 90 per cent. are over within eight weeks—the extra cost for small employers is not expected to be significant.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each year from 1979 what was the number of awards in payment for the mobility allowance; what was the number of reviews called for by (a) the recipient and (b) persons other than the recipient; what was the number of such reviews that led to the mobility allowance being withdrawn; and what was the number of such withdrawals as percentages of the number of allowances reviewed and of the total number of allowances in payment.

Information on the results of reviews called for by the mobility allowance recipient is not available. Nor is any information on reviews available prior to 1985. The remainder of the information requested is set out in the tables.

Year	Number of awards in payment1
1979	137,000
1980	185,000
1981	211,000
1982	253,000
1983	302,000
1984	353,000
1985	406,000
1986	461,000
1987	512,000
1988	556,000
1989	599,000
1 Number of awards in payment current at year end. Figures include awards made under the vehicle scheme beneficiaries regulations.

Year	Number of reviews called for by recipient	Number of reviews called for by persons other than the recipient
1985	274	173
1986	433	228
1987	350	438
1988	379	412
1989	453	500

Outcome of reviews called for by persons other than the recipient
Number where Mob A withdrawn	Withdrawn as percentage of reviews	Withdrawn as percentage of awards
120	69·4	0·03
155	68·0	0·03
340	77·6	0·06
299	72·6	0·05
399	79·8	0·07

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security for each year from 1979 for (a) the attendance allowance at the higher rate and (b) the attendance allowance at the lower rate, what was the number of awards in payment; what was the number of reviews called for by (i) the recipient and (ii) persons other than the recipient; how many of each such reviews led to (1) the higher rate attendance allowance being replaced by the lower rate allowance and (2) the attendance allowance being withdrawn completely; what was the number of such reductions as percentages of the number of allowances reviewed and of the total number of allowances in payment; and what was the number of such complete withdrawals as percentages of the number of allowances reviewed and of the total number of allowances in payment.

The information requested is not available, but such information as is available is in the tables.

All decisions on review—Table 2
1	2	3	4	5	6
Year	Successful1	Unsuccessful	Total	Column 3 as percentage of column 4	Column 3 as percentage of column 4 in Table 1
1979	12,536	4,275	16,811	25·4	1·5
1980	16,288	5,310	21,598	24·4	1·7
1981	14,849	5,967	20,816	28·7	1·7
1982	17,443	7,703	25,146	30·6	2·1
1983	19,819	10,024	29,843	33·6	2·4
1984	23,184	10,190	33,374	30·5	2·2
1985	30,252	10,943	41,195	26·6	2·0
1986	30,492	12,156	42,648	28·5	2·1
1987	44,104	14,169	58,273	24·3	2·2
1988	40,538	15,549	56,087	27·7	2·2
1989	45,778	20,796	66,574	31·2	2·7
1 A successful review is one where there is a resulting increase in benefit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what events not set in train by a recipient trigger a review of the attendance and mobility allowances.

There may be a review at any time if there is evidence to suggest that a recipient's circumstances have changed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he intends to reappoint Mrs. Rosalind Mackworth as social fund commissioner when her present appointment expires on 30 November.

I am pleased that Mrs. Rosalind Mackworth has agreed to continue to serve as social fund commissioner for a period of three years from 1 December 1990. I understand that Mrs. Mackworth has also agreed to act as commissioner for Northern Ireland for the same period.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions the Inland Revenue have had with offshore operators about whether the cost of safety improvements to North sea oil production platforms subsequent to the technical report of the Department of Energy and the Cullen report into the Piper Alpha disaster may be offset by oil companies against petroleum revenue tax.

The Inland Revenue has had no discussions with oil industry representatives specifically on the likely tax treatment of future safety improvements made in accordance with these reports.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras of 23 November 1990, Official Report, column 233, whether in assessing the suitability of firms to act as privatisation advisers he has access to the unpublished reports of the Department of Trade and Industry inspectors.

The Treasury is a competent authority for the purposes of the relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985, and therefore has access to information obtained under that Act. As regards the suitability of firms to act as privatisation advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 November in column 112.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many (a) children and (b) adults are known to have gone missing in the Metropolitan police district in each month of the past two years for which records are available; and how many were subsequently traced (i) within one week, (ii) within one month, (iii) within three months, (iv) within six months and (v) not for over six months of report.

It is not possible to give monthly figures in relation to persons reported missing in the Metropolitan police district, and statistical information is not kept regarding the periods of time within which missing persons are traced. However, the following annual figures are given in relation to persons reported missing in the Metropolitan police district in 1988 and 1989.

	1988	1989
Males:
Under 14 years	486	2,955
14 to 17 years	937	5,661
18 years +	2,710	4,566
Females:
Under 14 years	421	1,587
14 to 17 years	1,091	6,078
18 years +	2,500	4,413
Total	8,145	25,260

Of the 8,145 persons reported missing during 1988, 1,075 were shown centrally as being still missing at the end of the year. Of the 25,260 persons reported missing during 1989, 315 were still missing at the end of the year.The figures for 1989 are not comparable with those of previous years owing to new recording procedures having been introduced.Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis as to how many inquiries the Metropolitan police received from other forces in respect of missing persons during the last year for which records are available.

The total number of missing persons reports received by the Metropolitan police from other forces during 1989 was 6,913. Figures for 1990 are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current number of neighbourhood watch schemes in Wales.

At the end of October 1990, there were estimated to be in the region of 3,450 schemes in Wales, covering over 83,000 households.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many justices' clerks have implemented, or are in the process of implementing, the recommendations contained in HO circular 66/90 concerning the establishment, together with other local agencies, of court psychiatric assessment arrangements or schemes.

This information is not available. We are, however, considering a number of ways in which implementation of the circular's recommendations might be monitored.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will update his answer of 25 October, Official Report, columns 262–64, to list the outstanding cases to October in each category of (a) naturalisation, (b) registration, (c) general immigration casework and (d) asylum and related casework.

The number of outstanding cases relates to casework in B1 and B4 divisions in the immigration and nationality department and is as follows:

Outstanding cases: October
	Number
Naturalisation1	63,553
Registration1	24,485
General immigration casework1 2	20,910
Asylum and related casework1 3	29,936
1 Does not include applications received in the Department but which await allocation to caseworkers.
2 Includes referred entry clearance applications, and inquiries submitted by letter, as well as variation of leave cases. Includes both general and eastern European casework (the latter was absorbed into general casework in July 1990).
3 These figures are a total of all work outstanding in the refugee unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider amending court regulations in order to broaden the range of people who can speak on behalf of defendants in community charge cases.

Section 22 of the Magistrates' Courts Act 1980 permits a party to any proceedings by a magistrates court to be represented by counsel or a solicitor. In addition, the courts have a discretion to allow someone else to act on behalf of a party. We have no plans to change the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to reform the House of Lords.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for (a) a written constitution and (b) a Bill of Rights.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to ensure a separation of powers within the British constitution.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the funding of victim support schemes in Greater Manchester, and Stockport in particular.

We have received one letter from the Greater Manchester Federation of Victim Support expressing concern about the proposed withdrawal by local authorities of funding for victim support schemes in Greater Manchester. Home Office grant, which is administered by the funding panel of the national charity Victim Support, stands at £4·5 million this year and will rise by 20 per cent. to £5·4 million next year, subject to parliamentary approval. Local schemes may apply to the funding panel for new or extra grant under criteria reviewed annually, which are designed to ensure that the grant is distributed fairly and to best effect throughout England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he gives to chief constables and to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis about the circumstances under which it is reasonable to use a helicopter in residential areas (a) during the day and (b) at night.

Police air operations are subject to safety rules and regulations made under the Civil Aviation Act 1982 and enforced by the Civil Aviation Authority. These specify minimum heights and closeness to high objects or buildings at which helicopters may fly over congested areas during the day and at night. Responsibility for the safe operation of police helicopters rests with chief police officers or the companies they employ to provide air services.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has reached a decision on the introduction of a bounty for special constables.

I have decided to authorise pilot projects allowing the payment of a bounty for special constables. This will be subject to amending the Special Constabulary Regulations 1965. Payment of the bounty on an experimental basis will take place in the Metropolitan police district and perhaps two provincial forces to test different types of scheme. The experiment will run for two years initially and its effect on recruitment and retention will be assessed before decisions are taken on the longer-term future of the bounty.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) further to paragraph 822 of the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", if he will set out his policies with respect to abolition of certification of unruly behaviour;(2) further to paragraph 822 of the White Paper, "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public", if he will place a copy of his consultative document in the Library;(3) what new proposals he has in respect of young people aged 15 and 16 years in regard to remand and to the provisions of the Bail Act; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answers 29 and 30 November 1990]: It remains our intention to publish a consultation paper setting out detailed proposals for reforming the arrangements for the remand of alleged juvenile offenders, including the abolition of the unruliness certification procedure. I shall arrange for a copy of the consultation paper to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will make it his policy to create a clear separation at the age of 16 years so that young people aged 16 and 17 years are dealt with by the new youth court but children aged 10 to 16 years are dealt with either by a separate juvenile court or by separate sittings of a youth court;(2) what is his latest policy for setting the lower age limit in respect of young people being brought before the proposed youth courts;(3) whether he will make it his policy that magistrates courts should so structure their operations as to deal separately with children aged under 14 years and those who are aged 14-plus.

[holding answer 29 and 30 November 1990]: The jurisdiction of the proposed youth court, to be introduced by the Criminal Justice Bill, will include young people aged 10 to 17 inclusive who are charged with criminal offences. Within each youth court listing arrangements will be a matter for the justices' clerk to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals Her Majesty's Government have (a) to increase democratic accountability to Parliament and (b) to improve the facilities available to hon. Members better to carry out their duties.

If the hon. Gentleman has any specific points or proposals for improvement in mind, the Government will, as always, be happy to consider them.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been allocated for the farm conservation grant scheme for (a) 1989–90, (b) 1990–91 and (c) 1991–92; how much has been taken up in 1989–90 and 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

In England for the 1989–90 financial year, £9 million was allocated for the farm and conservation grant scheme and £6,029,000 was spent. For the 1990–91 financial year, £23,230,000 was allocated and expenditure to the end of October was £10,821,000. Expenditure in the latter half of the financial year is traditionally higher than in the first half and we do not expect a significant underspend this year. The planned allocation for 1991–92 is £22,926,000.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether grant aid is available under the farm conservation grant scheme to cover the costs incurred as a result of reinforcement of the electricity supply due to the installation of new pollution control equipment; and if he will make a statement.

No, these grants are targeted on equipment to treat, handle and store waste. The very generous 50 per cent. grant is higher than the EC norm and was only approved by the EC Commission because it did not cover ancillary items. A widening of the grant would therefore have to be offset by a cut in grant rates or withdrawal of grant from other farm waste investments.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make it his policy to undertake a review into the workings of the Coast Protection Act 1949.

I have no plans to undertake a review into the workings of the Coast Protection Act 1949.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to lay the regulations which will allow the introduction of food irradiation; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to lay the Food (Control of Irradiation) Regulations 1990 before Parliament later this month. The regulations will lift the current general prohibition on the sale of irradiated foods in Great Britain and introduce a licensing system for food treatment facilities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the studies which have associated the growth of each blue/green algae with nutrient-rich waters resulting from fish farm wastes.

This Department is aware of no studies which link the growth of blue-green algae with nutrient-rich waters resulting specifically from fish farm wastes.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has received the copy of the research undertaken at the university of Aberdeen into lamb predation by foxes which has been sent to him; and if he intends to respond to this report.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend is considering the report with a view to deciding how he might respond to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he has as to the average cost of a place in (a) a nursery school, (b) a nursery class and (c) a reception class for four-year-olds.

The information requested is not collected centrally. Local authority expenditure returns to the Department of the Environment do not identify separate figures for the education of under-fives. A single set of figures is returned covering all nursery and primary provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that there will be no reduction in the number of supercomputing centres now available for British academic research, when responsibilities for these facilities are transferred to the Advisory Body for the Research Councils in April 1991.

Our general policy is at least to maintain the current overall level of national supercomputing services. The number of centres to provide these services will, in the normal way, remain a matter for review from time to time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the Government are planning to expand supercomputing facilities available to British academic research to the levels available to researchers in France and Italy;(2) what plans he has for supercomputing expansion programmes similar to those being pursued in

From 1 April 1991, responsibility for national supercomputing facilities for research council and HEI research will transfer to the research council system. My right hon. and learned Friend is awaiting the advice of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils on the allocation of the science budget, which was announced on 8 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what machinery is to be put in place to ensure that differentials are maintained between head teachers and deputies and other teaching staff.

The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Bill, which is currently before the House, envisages the establishment of a separate sub-committee to consider the pay and other conditions of service of head teachers and deputy head teachers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much (a) Government money, (b) money from sponsors and (c) capital from Wandsworth council will be put into the Battersea Park voluntary-aided city technology college.

My right hon. and learned Friend is aware of the very interesting proposal from Wandsworth for a voluntary-aided school with the characteristics of a city technology college. If confirmed by the council, this would come to him for decision under sections 12 and 13 of the 1980 Education Act, and would be considered on its merits. He would also need to consider any application for Government funding which might come from the LEA and the promoters of the proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what direction he gave the London residuary body as to disposal of the site for the ADT city technology college in Wandsworth; what was the valuation of the site; and what provision has been made to compensate inner London boroughs for the loss of their proportion of the capital value of the site that has been transferred to the ADT city technology college.

My right hon. and learned Friend has given no direction to the LRB as to the disposal of this site. The LRB valued the site for educational purposes, and on that basis leased it to ADT. The valuation is confidential commercial information. The receipts from the lease will be used for the benefit of all the inner London councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what direction he proposes to give the London residuary body as to release of the site of the former Wandsworth boys' school in Sutherland grove, Wandsworth; and what provision will be made to compensate inner London boroughs for the loss of their proportion of the capital value of the site.

My right hon. and learned Friend has directed the LRB to hold Sutherland grove pending proposals to establish a new Church of England school under section 13 of the Education Act 1980. These proposals would require the approval of my right hon. and learned Friend. If the proposals were approved the site would be sold at educational value by the LRB to the governors of the school. If the proposals were not approved, or if proposals were not brought forward, the site would be sold by the LRB at full commercial value. In either case, the receipts would be used to benefit all the inner London councils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make it his policy that any arrangements considered regarding agency status for the pensions branch in Darlington will preclude moving the facility from Darlington.

In keeping with Government policy on relocation, and our policy that the Departments' main offices should be located only in London or Darlington, it is our expectation that, if a pensions agency were to be established, it would remain in Darlington. Location is one of a range of matters that would fall to be addressed in the development of any framework document for an agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number and percentage of the total of students in higher education attended private schools.

The Department's survey of leavers from English schools in academic year 1988–89 indicates that approximately one quarter of pupils whose intended destination on leaving school was full-time higher education were attending independent schools.Evidence from the youth cohort study also indicated that some 25 per cent. of 18-year-olds in higher education had attended independent schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost of a place in higher education.

Available recurrent public funding per full-time equivalent home student in the Universities Funding Council and Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council sectors is planned at £5,320 for the 1991–92 financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give outline approval to the exhibition in the Upper Waiting Corridor on the work and achievements of the British technology group as requested in a letter to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. Redwood) from the hon. Member for South Hams.

My noble Friend the Minister for Industry has written to the hon. Member for South Hams (Mr. Steen) indicating his agreement to balloting for this purpose.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prosecute the Economic League for failing to file an up-to-date set of annual reports and accounts as required by sections 242 and 244 of the Companies Act 1985.

Economic League Ltd. is currently filed up-to-date. The last accounts filed cover the period ended 31 December 1989. Accounts for the period ending 31 December 1990 will become due on 1 November 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will prosecute the directors of Rigidized Metals for failure to file up-to-date accounts as required by sections 242 and 244 of the Companies Act 1985.

Rigidized Metals Ltd. has failed to submit accounts for the period ended 31 August 1989. The registrar has confirmed that the company has been notified of the default and appropriate action is being taken to secure compliance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for consultation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants about SSAP 20 on foreign currency transactions.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: None. The requirements of SSAP 20 are a matter for the Accounting Standards Board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from Mr. Gottfried Hofmann or the English Institute of Chartered Accountants on the operation of SSAP 20 and its effects on Polly Peck's reporting of overseas transactions.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: None, so far as I am aware.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what check is made on the accounts and positions of companies which lodge their accounts late at Companies house.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: Companies house carries out certain basic checks on all accounts lodged with it, but the contents are not scrutinised in detail except in response to specific complaints. Companies house takes various steps to pursue companies which have failed to submit accounts on time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to investigate the latest published accounts of Fiveoaks Investments for failure to comply with SSAP 6.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: No. Compliance with accounting standards is a matter for the accountancy profession pending the establishment of the review panel under the aegis of the Financial Reporting Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the views expressed concerning Northern Ireland's relationship with the Republic of Ireland by Mr. Serrard Cowper-Coles, the first secretary at the British embassy in Washington, at the Boston Investor Responsibility Research Centre, represents Government policy; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Molyneaux) on 29 November 1990 at column 456.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what continuing interest is maintained by Her Majesty's Government into the investigation by the authorities in El Salvador into the murder of Jesuit priests; whether he anticipates any further direct assistance by representatives of Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement.

We have repeatedly made clear to the Salvadorean Government the need to bring the investigation to a successful conclusion and the murderers to justice. We hope that New Scotland Yard's report, which has now been handed over, will help them to do so. We and our EC partners re-emphasised our concern in a joint statement on the anniversary of the murders on 16 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Salvadorean authorities have given any commitment to make available the results of the investigation of the murder of Jesuit priests; and when he expects that the inquiry will report.

The investigation is being conducted by a judge according to the Salvadorean legal process. It is not yet clear when the case will come to trial.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement of forthcoming business in the European Community's Council of Ministers.

The Health Council will meet on 3 December to discuss the Commission's proposals for partial harmonisation of rules governing the advertising of tobacco, the European Year of Nutrition in 1994 and for Community action against drug abuse in sport. Ministers will also discuss a request for greater involvement in proposals connected with food safety. Further action in the areas of drug abuse and AIDS will be considered and the Council may also discuss proposals for improving the prevention and treatment of acute human poisoning. Statements are expected to be made by the Commission on the institution of a committee on health protection, co-operation between the EC and the WHO and progress on biomedical research. The Presidency will put forward communications on action in the field of pharmaceuticals in the Internal Market Council and the proposals for the elderly which were discussed in the Social Affairs Council on 26 November. Proposals for an exchange of information on cardiovascular disease are expected to be taken as an "A" point.The Economic and Finance Council will meet on 3 December to discuss the directive on money laundering; further work on economic and monetary union in preparation for the forthcoming inter-governmental conference; and the proposed revisions of the financial perspective as a result of German unification and the Gulf crisis. Ministers will also consider the Commission's proposal for a transitional VAT system after 1992, and in particular the VAT control compromise proposal. Tax harmonisation in the road transport sector will also be considered, and there will be a discussion, with a view to reaching agreement, on provisions relating to off-market trading and the access of banks to exchanges.The Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 4 December to look at the preparations for the intergovernmental conferences (IGCs) on economic and monetary union and on political union and will take the procedural decision to convene the IGCs. Ministers will also discuss preparations for the European Council, which will include a discussion of assistance to the Soviet Union and possibly of EC aid to eastern Europe. The Council will review progress in the negotiations with EFTA countries on the European economic area, and will consider further the implications of German unification. There will be discussions of a Commission statement on the occupied territories, of the generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) for 1991 and of the media programme. Ministers are also likely to discuss reports on immigration policy in member states and the social integration of immigrants. Under other business there is likely to be a discussion of ACP debt, and there will be the nomination of President and Vice-Presidents of the Commission at a conference of member states.At the Education Council on 6 December, Ministers are likely to discuss the Eurydice network, the role of education in the fight against drugs and Community co-operation in the evaluation of education systems. The Council may also consider the governing status of European schools, and the non-university sector of post-secondary schools.The Agriculture Council will meet on 10 and 11 December and will discuss the agricultural aspects of the GATT round, GATT beef import quotas and the review of the sugar regime. Other items which may be discussed are the common organisation of the market in oils and fats, table olives, aromatic wines, revisions to regulation 797/85 concerning agriculture and the environment, costs of CAP information across the Community, the report on inter-professional organisations and the welfare of pigs and calves.At the Consumer and Internal Market Council on13 December Ministers will consider a number of measures relevant to the completion of the single market, and a proposal for a regulation to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of drugs. Ministers will also discuss a proposal for a general product safety directive on which the Presidency hopes to achieve further progress on the key outstanding issues, although there are still a number of differences to be resolved. There is also likely to be an oral presentation by the Commission on the proposal for a directive on the liability for services with a safety defect.At a meeting of the Telecommunications Council on 14 December, Ministers will consider a proposal for a Council resolution on the final phase of implementation of the co-ordinated introduction of the pan-European digital cellular communications system (GSM). There will be an orientation debate on the role of telecommunications in EC relations with the countries of eastern and central Europe, which may result in Council conclusions. The Commission will present a proposal for a Council decision on a second phase of the EC programme TEDIS and a communication on EDI. As this agenda item is to be no more than a presentation there will be no Council conclusions. The Council will also have the first opportunity to debate the final version of the Commission's Green Paper on a common approach in the field of satellite communications in the European Community which was adopted by the Commission on 14 November. There will be an orientation debate which may result in Council conclusions. The Council may also be expected to agree a recommendation on the co-ordinated introduction of digital European cordless telecommunications in the Community and to agree a common position on a directive on the frequency bands to be reserved for them.The European Council will meet in Rome on 14 and 15 December. Heads of Government are likely to discuss the forthcoming intergovernmental conference on political union, the current crisis in the Gulf and assistance to the Soviet Union. There is also likely to be a discussion of the single market and perhaps of the siting of the instituions. Heads of Government may consider economic and monetary union, GATT, EC/EFTA negotiations and EC/Mediterranean policy.The Economic and Finance Council on 17 December is expected to discuss the Commission's proposals for extending European Investment Bank operations to Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria and Romania, with a Community guarantee, and may also discuss the disbursement of the medium-term loan to Hungary. Ministers will discuss the Commission's proposal for a transitional VAT system, and may also consider the Commission's proposal for the control of the movements of excise goods post-1992, which was presented at the October Economic and Finance Council.The Transport Council will meet on 17 to 18 December and is expected to discuss proposals on the dimensions of road trains, combined transport, shipping cabotage, various aspects of the aviation industry, and road haulage quotas and crisis measures. There will be orientation debates on shipping consortia and the transfer of vessels between Community registers, and some discussion of transit through third countries. Infrastructure cost coverage, high-speed rail networks and the impact of German unification may also feature on the agenda.There will be a special meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 December to discuss follow-up to the European Council. Ministers will also discuss the Community position for the co-operation council with Egypt which will take place in the margins, and will discuss draft negotiating mandates for association agreements with Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia. The Council will have a further discussion of the Commission's proposals for a new Mediterranean policy, and will discuss the Commission's proposals for a new (third) EC/Yugoslavia financial protocol, and will also consider the Commission's proposals for strengthening EC/Turkey relations. Ministers will also discuss the aid programme for Asia and Latin America, and may consider EC relations with San Marino and the GATT Uruguay round.The Fisheries Council will meet on 19 December to discuss total allowable catches for 1991 including arrangements with third countries, tariff quotas for 1991, the amendment of the structural regulation and technical conservation measures.The Environment Council scheduled for 20 and 21 December will consider proposals for directives on the treatment of municipal waste water (sewage discharges), on the management of hazardous waste, on motor vehicle emissions and on the classification, packaging and labelling of dangerous substances. Proposed Council regulations on an action programme to protect the Mediterranean (MEDSPA) and on substances that deplete the ozone layer will also be considered. It is possible that the Council will hold further discussions on the use of economic and fiscal instruments to attain environmental objectives.The Research Council will meet on 21 December and will discuss the Presidency's suggestion of informal meetings of Research Ministers. It is possible that common positions will be agreed on the environment, marine technology and telematics programmes under the third framework programme. The Council will consider the EC's role in the next phase of the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what subjects, including security, are under discussion by the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference secretariat at Maryfield.

It has not been the practice to make public details of discussions in the Anglo-Irish secretariat, in common with the confidentiality usual in discussions between Governments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will give details of the funding arrangements for the interdepartmental committee for rural development;(2) if he has plans to establish a permanent body responsible for rural development in Northern Ireland;(3) if he will give details of the composition of the interdepartmental committee for rural development established in Northern Ireland in 1989;(4) if he will give details of the terms of reference of the interdepartmental committee for rural development established in Northern Ireland in 1989;(5) if he will give details of the work

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: The interdepartmental committee on rural development is chaired by the permanent secretary of the Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland. Its members are drawn from the six Northern Ireland Government Departments and from other statutory agencies with an interest in rural matters including the Industrial Development Board, the Local Enterprise Development Unit, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.The Committee's terms of reference are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will undertake an immediate and fundamental review of the poll tax.

We shall shortly start a careful review of the community charge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding delays in the processing of community charge and benefit payments within the North Devon district council area; and if he will offer assistance with clearing the backlog.

I have received a number of representations. It is the responsibility of each charging authority to ensure the effective administration of the community charge. However, in order to assist charging authorities in the introduction of the community charge, the Government made provision of £110 million for expenditure on implementation in the rate support grant settlement for 1989–90. £55 million of this was supported by way of specific grant; the rest formed part of block grant. For 1990–91 we have taken account of the cost to charging authorities of collecting the community charge in the other services block standard spending assessment, and the cost is therefore being supported through the revenue support grant settlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much national non-domestic rate has been collected; and how much has been (a) distributed to local councils and (b) retained within the Treasury.

The amount of national non-domestic rates due to be paid into the central pool for England in 1990–91 by local authorities, by ratepayers on the central list and through Crown contributions in lieu of rates is £10,743·5 million. This is £315 million more than the amount paid to authorities in 1990–91 in the distributable amount of national non-domestic rates (£10,428·5 million).The arrangements for setting the distributable amount ensure that, taking one year with another, local authorities receive in full the amount which is paid into the pool. The proposed distributable amount for 1991–92 of £12,408 million takes full account of the £385 million by which the yield of non-domestic rates during 1990–91 is likely to exceed the distributable amount for 1990–91. This comprises the £315 million surplus paid into the pool during 1990–91 and an estimated £70 million which is the net payment that local authorities are expected to make to the pool in autumn 1991 after adjustments to reflect the amount of rates actually collectable from businesses in 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much Government grant to local authorities would have to rise to prevent any wage bill-related rise in the 1991 poll tax bills, using his Department's assumption of rising wage costs; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has made no particular assumption about rising pay costs in 1991. However, the amount of external financial support to be distributed to local authorities in 1991–92 will be 12·8 per cent. higher than in 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will now announce the terms and timescale of his review of the poll tax;(2) whether he will immediately exempt those on the lowest incomes from the liability for 20 per cent. of the poll tax; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will now abolish the poll tax;(4) whether his review of the poll tax will include measures to relate the tax to the ability to pay; and if he will make a statement;(5) whether his review of the poll tax will include measures to relate the tax directly to income; and if he will make a statement;(6) whether he now intends to end the double charge of poll tax and the unified business rate on those small businesses where the owner lives on the premises; and if he will make a statement;(7) whether his review of the poll tax will be cash limited; and if he will make a statement;(8) whether his review of the poll tax will encompass any transfer of services currently funded and controlled at local authority level to central Government; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is just starting a careful review of the community charge. It is premature to speculate on what possibilities he might look at in detail, or when any changes might take effect.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those local authorities who have commenced court proceedings to seek liability orders against those who have not paid the poll tax at the latest available date; and what proportion this is of the total number of authorities.

The Department does not have this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now seek to repeal that section of the poll tax legislation covering the capping of local authority budgets; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment from what date he means to fix the emission level for formaldehyde production at 2mg/m³; and what staff resources will be devoted to policing this limit.

Guidance will be issued to local authorities early next year, under part I of the Environmental Protection Act, on appropriate standards of air pollution control from chipboard manufacturing plant. Responses to the recent consultation on the final draft of that guidance, which proposed an emission limit of 2mg/m³ for formaldehyde, are currently being considered.Responsibility for exercising control over chipboard processes will rest with local authorities, who will be able to recover the reasonable costs of exercising their new air pollution control functions under a charging scheme being drawn up under section 8 of the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the buildings on which he has served a section 54 notice concerning the preservation of historic buildings; and if he will make a statement.

Under section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, previously section 101 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, a local planning authority may, after service of a notice, execute any works which appear to them to be urgently necessary for the preservation of unoccupied (or unoccupied parts) of a listed building; and section 55 provides for recovery of expenses. In Greater London, these powers are also available to English Heritage.In addition, the Secretary of State has the power to serve a notice under section 54. Since 1 April 1984 this power has had to be exercised through English Heritage, who serve the notice when authorised to do so by the Secretary of State and carry out the works on his behalf.The Secretary of State served a notice under section 101 of the 1971 Act in 1981 in respect of the grade I listed Barlaston hall, Staffordshire, and in 1987 he authorised English Heritage to serve a section 101 notice in respect of the grade I listed Revesby abbey, Lincolnshire.Successive Secretaries of State have made it clear that they would serve or authorise the service of a section 54 notice only where the building concerned is of exceptional interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of the total Government expenditure on the upkeep, care and protection of historic buildings and monuments in England in each year since 1980.

[holding answer 29 November 1990]: Government funding for the upkeep, care and protection of historic buildings and monuments in England (and for the protection and promotion of the heritage generally) is channelled through a number of non-departmental public bodies, agencies and departmental programmes. The main ones are English Heritage (established in 1984), the National Heritage Memorial Fund (established in 1980), the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England, the Historic Royal Palaces Agency (established in 1989), and the royal parks and royal palaces programme.The total allocation of resources to the full range of agencies and programmes supported by the Department has risen from about £55 million net in 1980–81 to a planned budget of £173·6 million in 1991–92. Not all these resources are spent on historic buildings and monuments, and there have been a number of changes in policy, organisation and responsibilities since 1980 which preclude direct comparisons between Government expenditure on buildings and monuments over the last 10 years. However, the main source of support for this category of the heritage are the repair grant schemes run directly by the Department prior to 1984 and by English Heritage thereafter. Expenditure on these schemes was £12 million in 1979, against English Heritage's planned budget of £35 million in 1991–92 which includes provision for the new grant scheme to assist repairs to historic cathedrals. Additionally, English Heritage owns or manages on behalf of the state over 400 properties and sites, on which about £25 million net expenditure is planned in 1991–92. The Historic Royal Palaces Agency's planned net expenditure in 1991–92 is £9·3 million and planned net expenditure on the occupied royal palaces, other historic buildings and state ceremonial in that year is £30·8 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his discussions with English Heritage concerning the future of Highcliffe castle, Dorset.

English Heritage has been in discussion with Christchurch borough council (which is the owner of the grade I listed Highcliffe castle as well as being the local planning authority) with the aim of securing the repair of the building and a beneficial use for it in the future. The Department has been kept in touch with the progress of these discussions.I understand that English Heritage has offered grant aid of up to £200,000 to the council towards the cost of urgent repairs to the building. The authority has accepted this offer and work is expected to begin shortly.English Heritage has made it clear to the council that if repairs are not carried out it will ask the Secretary of State to use his powers under section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to authorise English Heritage itself to carry out the works. I cannot of course prejudge my right hon. Friend's decision if he should be asked to take this step, but he would consider the case very carefully in the light of the circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received from the Housing Corporation identifying (a) the areas of the country where its overspend occurred and (b) which of the additional units completed are located in the 57 stress areas.

This is a matter for the Housing Corporation. I have therefore asked the corporation to respond to the hon. Member direct.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many statisticians are employed in his Department; and how many are responsible for local authority statistics.

Forty-two statisticians of all grades are employed in my Department, including one part-time and three whose appointments are on a temporary basis. Of these, 25 have some responsibilities for local authority statistics, amounting in total to the equivalent of 18 full-time posts.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities his Department is investigating under part I of the Local Government Act 1988.

As I indicated in my answer of 21 November 1990, at column 144, my Department is currently investigating complaints of alleged anticompetitive behaviour under part I of the Local Government Act 1988 in the case of 48 local authorities. It is not my policy to publish the names of authorities while actions are under investigation. Authorities are named in cases where the Secretary of State makes a direction under section 14 of the 1988 Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will revise his Department's standard spending assessments; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering the many representations which have been received from local authority representatives about their standard spending assessments during the period of consultation on the proposals for revenue support grant in 1991–92. He will announce his decisions on the 1991–92 settlement shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to include school caretakers in the scope of compulsory competitive tendering under the Local Government Act 1988.

Building cleaning work undertaken by a school caretaker is already subject to compulsory competitive tendering unless it is only incidental to the major part of his duties or he lives in tied accommodation. There are no plans to introduce competition for other work undertaken by school caretakers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 19 November, Official Report, column 39, if he will state the definition of the term "underused land", as distinct from used or unused land.

The code of practice, which was referred to in the previous answer and which is annexed to DOE circular 18/89, includes a definition of "underused land." However, the criteria for entry on the statutory registers proposed in the recent consultation paper "Encouraging the use of vacant public sector land", including the criterion relating to underused land, would be the subject of separate consultations in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is willing to consider alternative proposals to the Godfrey Bradman scheme for the redevelopment of east Newcastle quayside that are acceptable to the principal objectors to the Bradman scheme.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: The Tyne and Wear development corporation considered a number of proposals before developing its preferred option. It is for the development corporation to consider any new proposals which might be put to it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment who are the principal shareholders in the company chosen by the Tyne and Wear urban development corporation to develop the east quayside site in Newcastle; and how much public money is to be invested in the project.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: The selection of a preferred developer, and matters relating to that development, are the responsibility of the Tyne and Wear development corporation. No decision has yet been taken by Government on the total amount of public money which might be provided for the east quayside project.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest timetable for the development of the east Newcastle quayside; when the project was first announced; and how much building work has been carried out to date.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: The timetable for development is a matter for Tyne and Wear development corporation and the developer jointly to determine. The announcement of the selection of a preferred scheme was made in September 1988. The following works have been carried out on the site to date: demolition of dangerous buildings and walls, removal of Ballast Hill and retaining wall, excavation of old foundations and cleaning out of underground pitch tunnel, clearance of pigeon loft site, and archaeological excavation works.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any official bookings have been made by Government Departments in respect of Spencer house.

[holding answer 23 November 1990]: My Department has made no such bookings. Any bookings which may have been made by other Departments are a matter for my right hon. Friends.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all road schemes which have had their line orders confirmed since 21 July 1988, and for which no environmental impact assessment study has been conducted.

All schemes in the national trunk road programme have for many years been subject to a very full environmental appraisal before the line orders are confirmed. Within the requirements of the EC directive, a formal environmental statement has accompanied all draft orders published since 21 July 1988. Those for which line orders were confirmed since that date but which did not fall within the requirements of the directive are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to prohibit (a) the levying of charges and (b) the clamping of cars by private companies employed to enforce parking restrictions.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Warwick and Leamington (Sir D. Smith) on 22 November 1990 at column 169.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review his Department's instructions to British Rail relating to the disposal of surplus land as part of the annual negotiations on the external financing limit specifically to separate the rules applying to actual trackbed as opposed to other land holdings; and when these instructions were last reviewed.

The policies that the Government look for in the handling of British Rail land were last restated to BR in September 1985. They require, among other things, that the board should make a commercial plan for identifying and divesting itself of all its underused or surplus property. There are no plans to review these instructions, which are not linked to the annual negotiations on the external financing limit. Before deciding whether to declare disused trackbeds non-operational and subject to disposal, BR takes account of possible future operational needs and consults widely local authorities and other appropriate organisations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce a decision concerning loan approval for the electrification of rail services in West Yorkshire, including the Bradford-Leeds railway.

As I informed the House on 26 November, the Government are reserving the appropriate resources to enable the electrification of this railway line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the target date for the completion of the works at Rayleigh Weir on the A127; what is the likely completion date; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the works are completed on schedule.

I refer to the reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Sir B. Braine) about Rayleigh Weir underpass 30 November 1990 at column 492

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the debt on the Severn bridge in 1989;(2) how much the accumulated debt on the Severn bridge is at the latest available date.

The debt to the Consolidated Fund at 31 March 1989 was £113,376,084. For 31 March 1990 it is estimated to be £133 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the estimated completion date for the current renovation and maintenance work on the Severn bridge;(2) what items of repair and renovation have been completed on the Severn bridge in the last 12 months;(3) what work is currently under way on the Severn bridge;(4) what is the current projected cost of the repair and maintenance work on the Severn bridge;(5) what is the nature of work still to be done on the Severn bridge;(6) what is the estimated final cost of repair work likely to be on the Severn bridge.

The contract for the main strengthening work was substantially completed in April. The resurfacing contract (which includes wind barriers at the towers and safety fence work) is due for completion late next summer. Certain other minor works, including painting, are also still in progress.The estimated cost of the repair and strengthening work is £80 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much was collected in 1989 in tolls on the Severn bridge.

Income from tolls in the financial year 1989–90 was £13,609,424.