To ask the Attorney-General what financial arrangements were made with the previous Director of Public Prosecutions as to compensation for his years of service.

The previous Director of Public Prosecutions has a pension entitlement, not payable until August 1997. He will receive now an ex-gratia payment of three months salary.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the cost to public funds of the Treasury Solicitor contesting the case in the Appeal Court in July on McKenzie's friend, what fees were paid to the barrister who acted as amicus curiae; and if he will make a statement.

Treasury counsel was instructed by the Treasury Solicitor to appear as an amicus curiae in the case of R v. Leicester City Justices ex parte Barrow at the request of the Court of Appeal. Counsel did not appear in order to "contest" the appeal, but in order to assist the court on matters of law. The cost to public funds of such assistance to the Court of Appeal was £2,412·45. The amount of the fee paid to counsel is a matter of professional confidence between solicitor and counsel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he can report progress on the Stoke-Derby link road and the Derby southern spur.

Good progress is being made and the link road between Stoke and Derby is on target for completion in 1996.I hope to be able to announce a decision on the route of the Derby southern bypass and spur by Christmas and to publish the remaining statutory orders for side road alterations and the compulsory purchase of the necessary land in the spring of 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will publish in full the new requirements on tyre tread depth regulations;

From 1 January 1992 the grooves of the tread pattern of every tyre fitted to the wheels of cars, light vans and their trailers must be of a depth of at least 1·6nirn throughout a continuous band situated in the central three-quarters of the breadth of tread and round the entire circumference of the tyre. They will replace the current standard of lmm of tread across three quarters of the tread pattern and visible tread in the remaining quarter. Vehicles first used before 3 January 1933 are exempt from these new requirements, because in many cases they have resilient, rather than pneumatic, tyres. The new standards on tyre tread depths of cars, light vans and their trailers are covered by the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations 1990 (SI 1990 No. 1981) which were made on 28 September 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish in the Official Report a list of the public service grants he has made to British Rail for the purpose of keeping open rail services between Ispwich and Cambridge over each of the past five years; whether those train services are meeting the performance targets and obligations laid down by his Department; if he will list those targets and obligations; and if he will make a statement.

Public service obligation (PSO) grant is a block grant paid towards the cost of maintaining all supported services. In 1990–91 British Rail received £699.9 million in PSO grant.The quality of service standards applicable to services of this type are that 90 per cent. of trains should arrive within five minutes of the scheduled time and no more than 1 per cent. of trains should be cancelled. Performance against these standards is not monitored by the Department on a line by line basis. However, for the Anglia sub-sector, of which the Ipswich-Cambridge route is part, 86·9 per cent. of trains arrived within five minutes of their scheduled time and 2 per cent. of trains were cancelled in the year to September 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what portions of the A45 at Risby near Bury St. Edmunds are or have been closed over the past four weeks; and if he will publish a list of previous closures of this trunk road within five miles to the east and west of Bury St. Edmunds in each of the past five years, indicating in each case for how long portions of this highway were closed and how much public money was spent in each case, and in total for repairs or other purposes.

The westbound carriageway at Risby is currently being reconstructed and resurfaced.Previous closures are attached. These do not include emergency works, routine maintenance or works for public utilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has carried out into congestion reduction from incentives for car pooling; and if he will make a statement.

An extensive programme of research was conducted following the Transport Act 1978 which liberalised the rules governing car sharing. It was apparent from this work and subsequent initiatives that it is particularly difficult to organise formal car pooling schemes and that when successful they can have the effect of reducing public transport patronage. We continue to keep the matter under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps the Government are taking to secure changes to United Nations shipping regulations in respect of classification of the toxicity of transported substances according to the results of LD50 tests.

The United Kingdom Government have been actively involved in discussion within OECD of an alternative to the LD50 methodology. If an alternative is agreed, the appropriate United Nations Committee on the Transport of Dangerous Goods will consider the effect on transport regulations generally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what borrowing limits apply to each general lighthouse authority;for each of the last five years, what is the amount of money allocated from the reserves of the General Lighthouse Fund to supplement light due costs;if he will give the current level of liquid reserves available to the General Lighthouse Fund; and what is his current estimate of the level expected in March 1992.

Under section 662A of the Merchant Shipping Act 1894 (as inserted by the Merchant Shipping Act 1988) the borrowing limit applying to the General Lighthouse Fund is £100 million. This is not disaggregated to each general lighthouse authority. In the last five years the GLF reserves have met the following shortfalls of the income required to meet total operating costs plus depreciation:

Year	£ million
1986–87	3·2
1987–88	1·9
1988–89	5·9

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what studies or plans are in hand for alterations at the junctions on the A4 road between Brentford and Hammersmith.

The report of the M4-A4 corridor study by Howard Humphreys and Partners was published on 3 October. It recommends a new link between the M4 and the A4 to relieve congestion on the elevated dual two-lane section of the motorway between junctions 1 and 2 and also recommends various improvements to A4 junctions. The report is now the subject of consultation. The improvement of the A4 junction with the A316 at Hogarth roundabout has been investigated by Sir William Halcrow and Partners Limited, as has the A4 junction with the A406/A205 at Chiswick roundabout. These reports are being considered. Frank Graham Consulting Engineers Ltd, the Department's agent for this part of the A4, is investigating right-of-way priorities at Hogarth roundabout and the provision of signals at Chiswick roundabout to cater for traffic from the Chiswick Park development in Chiswick High road. Their work is still at an early stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many hours dock workers have worked per week on average in each of the last five years in each of the major ports.

Weekly average hours worked within the dock labour scheme as a whole were published in the annual reports of the National Dock Labour Board and were as follows (including overtime but excluding "under-employed" hours):

1986	1987	1988
39·5	41·0	42·0

I have no information on ports outside the scheme, or for the period from 1989 when it was abolished.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to give effect to section 17 of the Ports Act; and what particular regard his plans have for operational leases.

It is intended that the affirmative order provided for in section 17(8) of the Act shall be laid before Parliament shortly. At the present time, the draft proposals for the provisions of the order, including provisions for leases of operational land, are the subject of consultation with the trust ports. It is too early therefore to say what the precise nature of those provisions will be.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the total number of rural bus service routes in 1980 and the total number in 1990 in the United Kingdom.

Between 1982 (the earliest year for which statistics are available) and 1990–91, vehicle mileage in the English shire counties increased by 19 per cent. But no breakdown between rural and urban mileage is available within this total; nor is information available on numbers of routes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the proportion of (a) Wales's and (b) Britain's railway network which is electrified; and if he will make a statement.

There are no electrified lines in Wales; as at 31 March 1991, 30 per cent. of British Rail's network was electrified or in the process of being electrified as a result of projects approved or under construction.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

The Department of Transport has not yet received a copy of the report. We have asked the RNIB to send us one urgently so that we can consider it fully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he possesses in regard to the reasons for the diversion of the Pacific Teal away from its planned route from Japan to Barrow in Furness via the Panama canal during its voyage in December 1989 to February 1990; and what was the effect on the safe operation of the ship.

The ships of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited are capable of taking any of a number of different non-stop routes from Japan to Europe and have done so on a number of occasions. In this instance, because of uncertainties relating to transit of the Panama canal at that time, the decision was taken to use another route.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the recent restructuring of his Department and its implications for shipping and ports policy; if he will give details of the establishment in his Department as it relates to shipping and ports related posts; and if he will indicate which posts are currently unfilled or vacant.

Some changes were made with effect from 2 September to the responsibilities of a number of directorates in the Department, but these had no implications for shipping and ports policy. There are some 1,020 shipping and ports related posts in the Department including 483 coastguard grades. As at 8 November there were five administrative vacancies, 13 specialist vacancies and 29 vacancies in coastguard grades.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the liquid assets currently held by each trust port on 31 July 1991.

Port authorities produce annual accounts, but I have no information on their mid-year financial positions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he plans to ensure that the objectives set out in the transfer schemes for trust ports are made binding on the successful bidder; and what safeguards exist to ensure that memoranda and articles agreed by him in respect of the new company will not be changed following the completion of the sale to the successful bidder.

The purpose of a transfer scheme is to effect the transfer of a trust port's existing undertaking to a successor company with a view to the subsequent disposal of that company's securities: such schemes do not contain operational objectives for the successor company. However, in cases where a port is to be sold to a single buyer, objectives of sale are agreed between the authority concerned and the Government. Prospective purchasers will then be required to demonstrate to the authority in the bidding process how they intend to meet those objectives, and this information will be taken into account by an authority in their assessment of competing bids.Such objectives cannot by their nature be legally binding. In determining the company's business objectives, and in deciding whether to make alterations to its memorandum and articles however, the new owner of the port will need to take account of the plans on which his bid has been based, and the statutory powers and duties of the company. The relevant provisions of the Companies Act 1985 relating to alterations to the memorandum and articles will of course apply in the same way as they do to any other company.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how amendments made by him to the proposed transfer schemes of trust ports are to be incorporated into competing bids.

Before finalising their bids, prospective purchasers of a trust port will have the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the provisions of any order made under section 9 of the Ports Act 1991, confirming that port's transfer scheme with or without modifications. They will therefore be able to determine their final bid in the light of any modification which may have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of those trust ports which have to date submitted proposals to privatise under the provisions of the Ports Act 1991; and if he will give in respect of each the timetable for (a) the deadline by which representations have to be received, (b) the completion date of the transfer of the trust port to the newly established company, and for (c) the date when it is expected to name the successful bidder.

To date, four ports have formally submitted schemes of transfer: Tees and Hartlepool port authority, Medway ports authority, the Port of London authority for the port of Tilbury, and Clyde ports authority. The deadline for the end of the representations period in each case is as follows: for Tees, 24 September; for Medway, 2 October; for Clyde, 13 December. There is under the Act no representations period for the Port of Tilbury. The dates for completion of the transfer schemes and the naming of the successful bidder in each case are not yet known. The former will depend on the extent and nature of the modifications to any particular scheme that appears necessary in the light of representations and other factors and after consulting the relevant authority. The latter will depend on the date on which each authority recommends a bidder and the timing of the decision on whether to accept that recommendation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the name of the marketing company that advised DVLC (Swansea) on its use of the drivers' licence computer base for the purpose of test-marketing the potential for commercial firms to advertise their services to applicants for driving licences.

The company advising the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency on the market research necessary to establish the potential of its database and dispatch equipment is Marketing Triangle Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the driver and vehicle licensing centre intends to continue to send out promotional leaflets for the British School of Motoring with provisional driving licences.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency concluded the test mailing on 4 October. No new mailing will take place until the results of the market research have been fully evaluated. In deciding future policy in this area, account will be taken of representations received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the management of the Docklands light railway; and whether he will make a statement.

We intend that there should be new management arrangements for the DLR. The railway has a vital role in the regeneration of Docklands, and there is a strong case for uniting it with the London Docklands development corporation, whose prime objective that regeneration is. Subject to the outcome of any necessary consultations, I therefore intend asking the chairman of London Regional Transport to transfer responsibility for the DLR to the LDDC. The effective date of the transfer will be announced when the necessary procedures and detailed arrangements are completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what objectives he has set for the new chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority.

I sent the following letter recently to Mr. Christopher Chataway:

This letter sets out the objectives which the Government wishes you to pursue as Chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority in fulfilment of the statutory functions of the Board. In the case of conflict between these objectives and the Authority's statutory duties, the statutory duties must prevail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make a progress report on the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's scheme to sell attractive registration numbers.

This highly successful and innovative scheme has proved to be very popular with the British motoring public. Since sales began in December 1989 over 100,000 numbers have been sold providing total receipts of over £55 million. Particular interest has been shown in the latest range of numbers to be made available taken from the 'A' prefix series which went on sale from 19 August this year. So far over 33,000 have been sold and they allow motorists who have vehicles registered on or after 1 August 1983 to obtain personalised numbers at a reasonable price. Numbers taken from the current issue 'J' prefix series are also available specifically for new car buyers. I have placed copies of the latest sales information leaflets in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set an annual target for the number of roadside tests of emissions from heavy goods vehicles undertaken by his vehicles inspectorate.

[holding answer 11 November 1991]: A total of 113,000 HGV's were inspected at the roadside during 1990–91, and a similar number will be inspected this financial year. All these vehicles are checked for excessive smoke. Wherever possible vehicles are selected for roadside checking where they appear to be emitting a high level of smoke.

	Annual remuneration with effect from 1 April 1991
Chairman
Marmaduke Hussey, Esq.	£54,145	On the basis of four days per week.
Vice-chairman		On the basis if one and half days per week.
The Rt. Hon. Lord Barnett, PC	£13,890
National Governor for Northern Ireland
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, KCB	£13,890
National Governor for Wales
John Parry, Esq, CBE,	£13,890
National Governor for Scotland
Professor Sir Graham Hills	£13,890
Governors:
Dr. John Roberts	£6,945	On the basis of one day per week.
Baroness James of Holland Park, OBE	£6,945
Bill Jordan, Esq.	£6,945
Keith Oates, Esq.	£6,945
Dr. Jane Glover	£6,945
Mrs. Shahwar Sadeque	£6,945
Lord Nicholas Gordon-Lennox, KCMG, KCVO	£6,945

The annual remuneration was increased by 7·5 per cent. from 1 April 1991 and is due to be increased by a further 1.9 per cent. from 1 December 1991. The increases are in line with those approved for groups covered by the Top Salaries Review Body.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the outcome

To ask the Minister for the Arts what discussions are taking place between himself, the PSA, the main contractor and the Dutch supplier of the equipment for the basement book store at the British Library to ensure that the equipment fully meets its specification and that, if any modifications cause its in-service date to be delayed, proper compensation will be paid.

Both PSA Services and the construction manager have been in detailed contractual discussions since July with the Dutch supplier to ensure that the product meets its specification and is fit for its purpose. A number of technical shortcomings have already been rectified. The payment of compensation for demonstrated damage is part of the discussions. I am being kept fully informed.The British Library is shorty to recommence testing to determine the extent of movement, if any, of books on the shelves, during book retrieval operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the members of the BBC governing body and their current salaries.

The membership of the BBC Board of Governors and their annual remuneration is as follows:of the meeting between the Parliamentary Under-Secretary and the Trade Association of Television Retailers, held on 29 October, concerning the BBC's commercial use of the licence database.

I informed the RETRA representatives that I understood that the Director General of Fair Trading considered the BBC's Telecover promotion likely to promote competition; and that the Data Protection Registrar did not believe the BBC's use of licensing data for other purposes contravened the Data Protection Act 1984 provided the data protection principles were observed. I said also that the BBC had said that they would not promote Telecover in using future licensing data.I invited the RETRA representatives to contribute to the forthcoming debate preceding the expiry of the BBC's charter in 1996, and to discussion of the draft EC directive on data protection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner (a) in prison and (b) in a police cell.

During the financial year 1990–91 the average weekly cost of keeping a prisoner in prison was £384 and in a police cell £1,400.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of the work of the Animal Procedures Committee in 1990.

The cost of the work of the Animal Procedures Committee and its research sub-committee during 1990, which includes the fee paid to the chairman, the travelling and subsistence costs of its members and a notional amount to cover the servicing of the committee, was in the region of £29,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the amounts of revenue raised under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 in 1990 in fees for certificates of designation of scientific procedures establishments, in fees for personal licences and in fees for certificates of designation of breeding and supplying establishments.

Some £1·7 million was collected in respect of certificates of designation and personal licences in force during 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of applications waiting for consideration for British nationality on 1 November.

As at 31 October 1991, the number of applications for British citizenship awaiting determination was 54,897, of which more than 30,000 were at various stages of consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to control the activity of door supervisors on licensed premises.

As a result of a meeting in September 1990 with representatives of organisations using and providing door supervisors, a survey of police forces was conducted earlier this year to provide information on the nature and extent of problems associated with door supervisors and on any schemes which had been set up to tackle these problems on licensed premises where identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the date on which the new Welsh regional office of the national criminal intelligence service will be set up in Cardiff.

The location of branch offices of the national criminal intelligence service is being determined by a balance of operational and financial considerations. Current plans are that the branch office covering the police forces in south Wales and south-west England will be sited in Bristol.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I met the chairman of the Press Complaints Commission on 14 March. The Home Office keeps in touch with the commission, and I met the chairman on 30 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list all those hunts that hold (a) firearms licences and (b) shotgun licences and the people whose names appear on the licences.

Responsibility for the grant of firearm and shot gun certificates lies with local chief officers of police. Details of certificates on issue are not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what goods or services are to be supplied by the successful tenderer to the Home Office Police Department science and technology group tender 87/91; and if he will make a statement.

The successful tenderer, British Telecom plc, will provide cardphone facilities at prison service establishments in England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the names and salaries of each of the chief constables in Britain.

Chief constables' current rates of pay are set out in Home Office Circular 70/1991. The names of all chief constables can be found in the Police and Constabulary Almanac. Copies of both documents are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total cost that was incurred in 1990–91 in pursuing poll tax enforcement procedures through the courts.

About £3·4 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the judgment in the NWA—Niggers with Attitude—case at Redbridge on 7 November, he will bring forward proposals to amend the Obscene Publications Act 1959.

I cannot comment on the decision of a court in a particular case. The Government recognise that there is concern about the effectiveness of the Obscene Publications Act 1959. This is traditionally an area for Private Members and the Government are prepared to support any suitable proposals for amendments which would make the law more effective and which appear likely to command sufficient public and parliamentary support.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average cost per sitting hour of a magistrates court.

The average hourly running cost of magistrates courts in 1990/91 was £216·85.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards further bilateral treaties to provide for the confiscation of the assets of drug traffickers.

The United Kingdom has now concluded 23 such agreements or arrangements: 20 in respect of the proceeds of drug trafficking and three concerning the proceeds of all serious crimes. Ten of these agreements or arrangements are in force. In addition, the United Kingdom is able to assist 28 further countries in tracing, freezing and confiscating drug trafficking proceeds by virtue of our recent ratification of the 1988 United Nations convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (the Vienna convention). Details are as follows:(i)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the country of origin of those who applied for asylum in each quarter of 1990 and 1991, as listed in his answer of 21 October, Official Report, column 338.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. The figures are for principal applicants excluding dependants. The 1990 figures for some nationalities understate because of delays in recording, particularly for the fourth quarter.

Applications1 2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by nationality, 1990–91.
	19903
	Quarter 1	Quarter 2	Quarter 3	Quarter 4
Europe and Americas
Bulgaria	20	15	40	55
Colombia	20	50	30	80
Romania	5	20	80	190
Turkey	100	160	235	565
USSR	15	15	25	40
Others	25	30	25	65
TOTAL	190	290	440	1,000
Africa
Angola	95	195	460	365
Congo	5	10	30	20
Ethiopia	165	300	935	505
Ghana	225	175	290	200
Somalia	380	325	665	485
Sudan	50	45	70	85
Togo/Ivory Coast	5	10	25	45
Uganda	355	405	565	565
Zaire	240	245	640	485
Others	80	100	240	185
TOTAL	1,600	1,810	3,920	2,945
Middle East
Iran	75	60	95	100
Iraq	95	115	335	350
Lebanon	80	50	275	590
Others	15	10	10	25
TOTAL	260	230	715	1,065
Asia
China	35	60	60	75
India	300	305	350	450
Pakistan	170	165	360	600
Sri Lanka	700	630	785	1,095
Others	50	70	80	175
TOTAL	1,255	1,225	1,640	2,400
Other and unknown nationality	55	55	90	135
GRAND TOTAL	3,360	3,615	6,800	7,545

Applications1 2 received for asylum in the United Kingdom, by nationality, 1990–91.
		1991
	Quarter 1	Quarter 2	Quarter 3	Quarter 4
Europe and Americas
Bulgaria	100	140	80	—
Colombia	50	25	30	—
Romania	170	110	170	—
Turkey	750	510	510	—
USSR	55	60	60	—
Others	25	45	90	—
TOTAL	1,150	895	920	—
Africa
Angola	1,390	1,910	1,240	—
Congo	70	60	110	—
Ethiopia	525	510	420	—
Ghana	665	930	520	—
Somalia	595	630	450	—
Sudan	145	115	450	—
Togo/Ivory Coast	200	425	560	—
Uganda	805	305	120	—
Zaire	1,430	2,220	1,600	—
Others	200	810	1,200	—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grants of (a) asylum and (b) exceptional leave to remain were made in each month of 1988 to 1991 or the nearest available date.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The information requested is given in the table. Comprehensive monthly figures from January 1991 are not yet available.

Grants1 2 of asylum or exceptional leave to applicants for asylum in the United Kingdom, 1988–90
	Grants of asylum	Grants of exceptional leave
1988
January	20	55
February	35	90
March	25	70
April	35	55
May	30	190
June	35	115
July	20	145
August	20	130
September	35	120
October	80	220
November	235	245
December	55	155
1989
January	105	225
February	85	260
March	90	365
April	170	415
May	270	440
June	385	450
July	90	275
August	115	380
September	265	335
October	290	255
November	245	290
December	110	205

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information he has on British Coal's plans with regard to the buy-out of mineworkers', former mineworkers' and their widows' coal entitlement at the end of the 1991–92 financial year.

This is a matter for British Coal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will ensure that provision is made in any future measures to privatise the coal mining industry to protect the concessionary fuel entitlement of mineworkers, former mineworkers and their widows.

The Government will ensure that existing concessionary fuel entitlements from British Coal will be safeguarded following privatisation of the industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the objectives he has set for Nuclear Electric plc.

Yes. The Government wish to preserve the nuclear option in order to maintain adequate diversity and security of electricity supply and obtain the benefits of this environmentally clean source of energy.To secure the future of the nuclear option the company must demonstrate to the public that nuclear power is safe, clean and economic and that it should continue to have a major role in electricity supply in the longer term. I have therefore set the following objectives for Nuclear Electric plc:

To ask the Prime Minister what was the cost to the Exchequer of his visits abroad in 1990.

The cost of my visits abroad as Prime Minister in 1990 was £93,830.

To ask the Prime Minister how many days he has spent abroad since assuming office.

I have spent 41 days abroad on official duties.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for 12 November.

This morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties in the House I shall be having further meetings later today.

To ask the Prime Minister how many letters he has received from Gibraltar concerning the closure of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International.

I have received many representations concerning BCCI.

To ask the Prime Minister when he last met representatives of the Indonesian Government; and what was the purpose of that meeting.

I met Dr. Habibie, the Indonesian Minister for Research and Technology on 19 June. We discussed a number of issues including commercial co-operation, particularly in the aerospace sector.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has had regarding the Indonesian occupation of East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

We receive frequent representations on the subject of East Timor. We support the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to promote a settlement acceptable to all parties.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) what recent assessment he has made of the current standards of horticulture in the gardens of 10 Downing street;(2) what consideration he has given to the security implications of the proposed contracting out of the management of the Downing street gardens.

The security implications of a contractor maintaining gardens in Downing street are considered in the same way as they are when other contractors' staff undertake work in Downing street or its gardens. The standards of gardening in 10 Downing street are high. Those standards will be maintained or improved when the work is bought in from the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the number of patients waiting for non-urgent in-patient treatment waiting (a) more than one year, (b) more than 18 months and (c) 24 months or more, in Wales as a whole and by health authority in 1979. 1987 and the present.

Information concerning patients waiting for non-urgent in-patient treatment in Wales is collected centrally only on the basis of those waiting more than one year and became available for the first time in 1981. The available information is given in the following table:

Non-urgent cases waiting more than one year for admission as an in-patient as at 31 March
District health authority	1981	1987	1991
Clwyd	701	533	1,091
East Dyfed	49	363	939
Gwent	1,665	1,825	2,567
Gwynedd	422	175	719
Mid Glamorgan	3,386	2,761	2,306
Pembrokeshire	653	1,328	634
Powys	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	2,501	1,696	1,884
West Glamorgan	749	458	1,882
Wales	10,126	9,139	12,022

In March 1974 there was a total of 72,904 patients on hospital waiting lists in Wales; by March 1979 the figure had risen to 97,359 an increase of 24,455.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he plans to meet (a) health authorities, (b) county health councils and (c) leaders of the health service unions to discuss waiting lists.

My right hon. Friend is to meet the chairmen of Welsh health authorities on 20 November when waiting lists and the length of time patients have to wait for treatment will be discussed. He has no plans at present to meet community health councils or leaders of health service unions. I am always happy to receive constructive comments in writing at any time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list his initiatives to assist renal patients; and if he will make a statement.

Dialysis facilities for patients suffering from end-stage renal failure have been provided at the following locations:

	Dialysis stations
North Wales
Main Renal Unit—Rhyl	7
Subsidiary Renal Unit—Bangor	6
Subsidiary Renal Unit—Wrexham	6
South West Wales
Main Renal Unit—Swansea	15
Subsidiary Renal Unit—Carmarthen	9
South East Wales
Main Renal Unit—Cardiff	11
Subsidiary Renal Unit—Cardiff	6
Subsidiary Renal Unit—Merthyr Tydfil	6

Proposals for a unit at Newport have been invited from Gwent health authority. We have also established a kidney transplant unit at the Cardiff royal infirmary. The treatment of most renal patients, however, is in the hands of district health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to install lithotripters in (a) north Wales and (b) south Wales.

The final report of the all-Wales project group on lithotripsy, which is considering the need for and specification of lithotripter facilities for Wales and appraising location options, is expected to be submitted early in the new year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support he has given to each of the counties of Wales in the last three years for capital and revenue expenditure on (a) roads and (b) public transport; and if he will make a statement.

By agreement with the local authority associations, the bulk of revenue and capital funding to individual local authorities is provided through revenue support grant and basic credit approvals. These are not hypothecated to particular services. As an exception to this rule, transport schemes costing over £5 million attract transport grant; total support in the last three financial years is as follows:

County	1989–90 (£000s)	1990–91 (£000s)	1991–92 (£000s)
Clwyd	558	1,207	938
Dyfed	3,982	1,463	2,704
Gwent	8,349	6,966	14,708
Gwynedd	—	—	281
Mid Glamorgan	8,031	9,737	14,536
Powys	—	—	—
South Glamorgan	6,760	8,757	22,973
West Glamorgan	11,738	22,780	10,780
Total	39,418	50,910	66,920

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he has given to the report "Blind and Partially Sighted Adults in Britain—The RNIB Needs Survey"; what action he will be taking in relation to its findings; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has secured a copy of this report within the last week and we are studying it with interest. It is the result of a survey carried out in 1986–87, complementary to the wider disability surveys carried out by OPCS, whose reports were published in 1989–90.We already have a programme of action in hand to improve services for people with visual impairments. In 1990 the Welsh Office issued a working group report "Co-ordinating Services for Visually Handicapped People" and in May of that year published a major guidance circular on best practice in the provision of support and care to people with physical or sensory disabilities.That advice has been followed up by full guidance on the implementation in Wales of our comprehensive programme to improve community care for all groups which is set out in chapter 11 of the "Caring for People" White Paper [Cm 849]. In addition, the Welsh Office will publish shortly the report of the social services inspectorate inspection of services for people with visual impairment in Gwynedd. This was carried out with RNIB assistance and will be used with the RNIB national survey findings as the basis of a seminar on further guidance early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many GPs in Wales are budget holders; and if he will make a statement.

Seven GP practices in Wales, comprising a total of 46 GPs, have been recognised as fund-holders from 1 April 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State, for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the cost of distributing details of the charter for parents to each of the headteachers of Wales;(2) how many copies of charter for parents he has distributed; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he proposes to make moneys available to local education authorities to enable their headteachers to inform parents of the contents of the charter for parents.

The charter for parents in Wales sets out in a single document the rights of parents with respect to the education of their children, the choices they can exercise, the information they can obtain about schools' performance and the influence they can have on the way schools are run. As such it is an invaluable reference document to which all parents should have access. I therefore sought the co-operation of the chairmen of governors and headteachers of all schools in Wales to have the document delivered to parents through pupils at their schools. The cost of distributing supplies to schools for that purpose is £11,911.20 and is being met by my Department. I am also making arrangements for copies of the charter to be made available to parents whose children are not yet at school through playgroup and nursery schools associations. Copies of the charter have also been made available to others on request. So far a total of 486,761 copies of the charter have been distributed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to visit a marginal hill farm in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I have visited many hill farms throughout Wales and will continue to do so in the future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the practice of local education authorities in interpreting the statutory walking distance for school transport in the rural areas of Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to believe that LEAs are not properly observing the statutory provisions in the Education Act 1944 relating to walking distances in determining eligibility for transport from home to the nearest appropriate school for attendance. It is for the LEAs themselves to determine what constitutes an appropriate school.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he will consult local authorities and other appropriate bodies regarding his proposals for housing revenue account subsidy in Wales in 1992–93.

The Welsh Office is today consulting local authorities, the Council of Welsh Districts and other interested bodies on proposals for determining each authority's entitlement to subsidy in 1992–93. Comments on the proposals are invited by 9 December. I am placing copies of the consultation proposals in the Library of the House together with estimates of the rent guidelines and management and maintenance allowances for each authority.For rent guidelines we propose an average increase of £2·14 per week with increases for individual authorities ranging from £1·13 to £3·40 per week over the guideline rent which applies in the current year. This will continue the process of encouraging sensible levels of rent which better reflect the value of the properties concerned.For management and maintenance allowances, we propose to increase the average allowance per dwelling from £712 to £766. The increase in the allowances for individual authorities will be based on the targeting system introduced in the current year which takes into account the condition of each local authority's stock.The rent guidelines and the management and maintenance allowances are the assumptions the Government make in calculating each authority's entitlement to subsidy. It is for each council to set its own rent levels and to decide how much to spend on managing and maintaining its stock within its obligations under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will bring up to date the information on surplus common agricultural policy products in his answer dated 12 May 1986, Official Report, column 367; and if he will add corresponding information for other common agricultural policy products.

The information, which covers all products on which there was relevant expenditure, is as follows:

Mecu
	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Export refunds
Cereals	1,652	3,071	2,925	2,597	2,444
Rice	60	95	61	45	29
Sugar	1,238	1,516	1,566	1,451	926
Olive Oil	29	23	64	93	135
Oilseeds	2	64	25	6	1
Fruit and Vegetables	77	67	64	79	81
Wine	11	20	44	45	55
Tobacco	32	43	43	62	62
Milk and Milk Products	1,982	2,258	3,014	2,869	1,931
Beef	1,214	878	769	1,343	1,110
Pigmeat	75	112	172	199	174
Eggs and Poultry	98	152	194	234	179
Non-Annex II Products	503	590	602	552	512
MCA's	170	227	143	57	76

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the total value of national aids to agriculture paid by each European Community country over the latest available 12 month period and the corresponding value of common agricultural policy payments.

The Government do not keep comprehensive details of the national subsidies and other state aids available to farmers in other member states, since to do so would not be a cost effective use of resources. All state aids are, however, subject to the provisions of articles 92 to 94 of the treaty of Rome, and member states are required to obtain the Commission's approval in advance for new state aids and modifications to existing aids and to send an inventory of all state aids to the Commission annually. The Government monitor, through their embassies in member states, the introduction of new state aids and modifications to existing aids, and draws any that seem to be of doubtful legality to the attention of the Commission.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the departments within his Ministry where he intends to increase staffing levels, indicating the numbers involved in each case, and when he expects the increases to take effect; and if he will make a statement.

I intend to increase staffing levels in the financial year 1992–93 as a result of the outcome of the recent public expenditure survey round. Additional staff will be placed primarily within divisions dealing with environmental issues and with work arising from the movement towards a single market. The funds allocated will pay for about 275 posts, but the precise total, and the breakdown between divisions will depend on decisions on the grade and mix of staff chosen.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with European Commission officials regarding the transportation of wild-caught humming birds and other nectar-feeding birds in the context of the proposed EC directive on transport of live animals; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Thanet, North (Mr. Gale) on 7 November at col. 246.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to authorise payments of the suckler cow premium; and if he will pay this at the maximum rate allowed.

As I announced on 4 November, Agriculture Ministers have fixed the rates of suckler cow premium for the 1991–92 scheme year at the same rates which applied last year, viz £51·69 per head in the less favoured areas and £47·43 per head elsewhere. A statutory instrument putting these rates into effect is expected to be laid before Parliament later this week and payments to those who have already submitted their applications for premium will be made as soon as possible thereafter.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which sectors he expects to increase his Ministry's spending in 1991–92 for the intervention board and other aspects of the common agricultural policy; and if he will make a statement.