To ask the Secretary of Stale for Transport how much money has been approved for re-equipment of the Kent link services; and if he will make a statement.

Approval has been given to the following investment in Kent link:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety precautions will be installed on channel tunnel trains to deal with vehicle fires.

The safety precautions required for Eurotunnel's shuttle trains are set out in the report on non-segregation of drivers and passengers from their vehicles, published by the Channel Tunnel Safety Authority in March 1990. The report is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he intends to make a further statement on the channel tunnel or its associated transport infrastructure before the next meeting of the joint consultative committee in Kent.

If any statement is made on matters of concern to my hon. Friend, I shall write to him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library a copy of the railway inspectorate's provisional approval of the single line chord at Cowlairs, to which he referred in his answer of 7 November, Official Report, column 189.

I have made arrangements for a copy of Her Majesty's railway inspectorate's provisional approval to the single line chord at Cowlairs to be deposited in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the average age of (a) engines and (b) passenger train units currently in service, excluding InterCity, by British Rail region.

This information is not available by British Rail region. The average ages by sector are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the EC Ministerial Council meetings at which his Department has, or will be, represented during November and December.

Neither I nor my ministerial colleagues have attended any meeting during November. I expect to attend the meeting of the Transport Council to be held in Brussels on 16–17 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list for himself, and for each of the Ministers at his Department, details of (i) the number of visits made during the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, (ii) the number of visits made to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community and (iii) the number of nights spent over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business;(2) if he will list (i) the number of visits made by officials in his Department during the past month to destinations outside the United Kingdom but within the European Community on official business related to the European Community, (ii) the number of visits made by officials in his Department to Brussels within the past month on official business related to the European Community and (iii) the number of nights spent by officials in his Department over the past month away from the United Kingdom on official European Community business.

No. Many of my officials attend EC-related meetings outside the United Kingdom. These are very numerous and the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he proposes any changes to the fees charged to United Kingdom hauliers for international road haulage permits in 1992.

I am glad to announce some further fee reductions following the successful negotiation of significant increases in the United Kingdom's bilateral and multilateral quota. This has resulted in greater income from permits without significant increases in costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will announce the outcome of his Department's recent bilateral negotiations on road transport with the Soviet Union and its republics.

These negotiations resulted in agreement that road hauliers travelling between the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union and its republics will no longer need to carry permits as from 1 April 1992. We have also reached agreement with Portugal that road hauliers travelling between the United Kingdom and Portugal will no longer need to carry permits from 1 January 1992.These follow my Department's success in February—March this year in negotiating the ending of permits between the United Kingdom and Hungary and the United Kingdom and Czechoslovakia from 1 January 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

Latest estimates are that about 24,000 calls to directory inquiries are made each year, representing approximately 1·5 calls for each member of staff annually.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he intends to take to combat air pollution caused by road transport.

[pursuant to the answer, 22 November, Vol. 199, c. 236]: On 1 October the EC Council of Ministers adopted an amending directive 91/542/EEC prescribing stricter limits on the same gaseous emissions from new diesel-engined trucks and buses over 3·5 tonnes. Limits on emissions of particulates are also set for the first time. There will be two stages, the first to take effect in 1992–93 and the second in 1995–96, with the potential for a third, starting in 1999. The 1992–93 stage substantially reduces the limit for emissions of NOx and establishes limits for particulate emissions. The 1995–96 stage goes further with NOx reduction, so that the limit will be less than half its present value, and reduces the particulate limit to a level of stringency similar to that to be applied in the United States from 1994.Both directives set ambitious targets with a challenging but industrially realistic timetable, putting the United Kingdom and its EC partners on a course for substantial longer-term progress in improving the quality of air in our towns and cities.Regulations will shortly be laid before Parliament introducing the directives into United Kingdom law.The Government are also pressing the EC Commission to propose a directive to control CO

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of (a) the basic state retirement pension, (b) state earnings-related pension scheme, (c) occupational pensions and (d) personal pensions as a percentage of gross domestic product each year since 1979; and what estimates he makes, stating his assumptions, for 1995, 2005, 2015, 2025 and 2035.

The cost of basic state retirement pension and the state earnings-related pension scheme as a percentage of gross domestic product from 1978–79 to 1990–91 is given in the table.Estimates of the cost of basic state retirement pension and SERPS are not available for the future years quoted in the question, but estimates for certain years up to 2050–51 are published in the report by the Government Actuary on the second quinquennial review under section 137 of the Social Security Act 1975, a copy of which is available in the Library.The Government do not publish assumptions for money GDP for the future years quoted.Comparable information on the cost to pension providers of occupational and personal pensions is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has any plans to introduce a carers charter to ensure the mutual financial independence of carers and disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

We have no such plans. However, by the end of the year the Benefits Agency plans to publish its own customer charter which will take account of the needs of all its customers. An independent income for carers is provided in the form of invalid care allowance—ICA. More carers are now able to benefit following recent extensions in the provision of attendance allowance, the introduction of a carer premium into the income-related benefits and increases in the ICA earnings limit, from £12 per week prior to April 1990, to £40 from April 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will detail the annual figures for (a) mortgage interest tax relief and (b) housing benefit for the years 1989–90, 1990–91 and the projected figures for 1991–92, respectively.

The amounts of housing benefit paid to beneficiaries and the tax relief given on mortgage interest in the United Kingdom for the relevant years are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received about the working of the housing benefit direct payment procedure, particularly with regard to delays in payment and failure by recipients of benefit always to make rental payments; what changes are being considered to the guidance notes to local authorities; and what other measures are being considered.

Full statutory responsibility for the administration of the housing benefit scheme rests with local authorities, which are required to ensure that the system is working effectively and in accordance with the rules of the scheme. Regulations prescribe that claims should be processed within 14 days of receipt of all the necessary information, or as soon as possible thereafter. Where, through no fault of the applicant, a claim cannot be settled within 14 days, interim payments should be made.An important principle underlying the social security reforms is that individuals should be encouraged to take responsibility for managing their own affairs. Housing benefit is, therefore, normally paid direct to private tenants in the form of a cash rent allowance to enable them to discharge their liability to their landlord. Nevertheless, regulations do give local authorities wide-ranging powers to pay benefit direct to a tenant's landlord, for example where rent arrears have accrued or where social or medical problems clearly indicate that help with budgeting is needed. A number of representations have been received about local authorities' use of those powers, and the Department therefore intends to issue further guidance on the relevant legislation to authorities in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what, in real terms, is the increase on expenditure on benefits for disabled people and carers since 1979.

Total planned expenditure on benefits for disabled people and carers for 1991–92 is £11,950 million—an increase of 152 per cent. in real terms over spending in 1978–79.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many computer management and consultancy contracts were awarded by his Department in 1991, excluding hardware and software purchases; if he will give the total value of these contracts; how many contracts were subject to competitive tender; and if he will give the value of these contracts.

Since January 1991 we have awarded 19 such contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases. The total value of the contracts is about £20 million. Eleven were let by competitive tender; the total value of these is about £13·5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the names of the companies shortlisted for each computer management and computer consultancy contract awarded by his Department in 1991, excluding hardware and software purchases.

Details of companies shortlisted for computer management and consultancy contracts represents commercial-in-confidence information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will specify the measures being taken to help those in residential care and nursing homes.

Special higher levels of income support are available to people in residential care and nursing homes towards the cost of their fees. On 21 October, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced proposals for substantial increases, from April 1992, to the limits which apply to people in such homes, including increases of £20 a week for two groups of people—the mentally handicapped and the very dependent elderly—and £15 to almost all the other limits.From April 1993, new arrangements will be implemented as part of the Government's community care policy for the assessment and provision of care for such people. This will improve the effectiveness and targeting of the resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the powers available to inspectors at the Contributions Agency relating to entry of premises, seizure and inspection of documents; and if he will make a statement.

The agency's inspectors have powers relating to entry of premises and inspection of documents to ensure that the Acts and regulations are complied with. The relevant legislation is contained in section 58 of the Social Security Act, 1986, and regulation 32 of the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 1979 which is summarised as follows:—Certified inspectors are empowered to:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals there are to (a) refurbish existing fire stations and (b) to build purpose-built fire stations in Northern Ireland; and what is the proposed start date for each project.

The Fire Authority for Northern Ireland's current works programme does not include any projects for refurbishing existing fire stations. It does, however, make provision for the following purpose-built fire stations:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he expects to identify the senior figure who will carry out an inquiry into prisoner management at Her Majesty's prison Belfast.

I am glad to say that Viscount Colville of Culross, QC has agreed to undertake this important task, with the following terms of reference:

To review the operational policy in Belfast Prison for the management of paramilitary prisoners from opposing factions; and to make recommendations.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it remains his policy that the agreed budgetary guidelines for the common agricultural policy must be observed; and if he will make it his policy to veto any proposals at the Council of Ministers which would lead to those guidelines being breached.

The Commission is legally bound to keep agricultural support expenditure within the guideline, the base level of which can be changed only by unanimity. The Government remain committed to ensuring that the cost of agricultural support is contained within the existing budgetary guidelines.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amount in pounds spent on each agricultural product under the CAP in 1990.

Expenditure on agricultural commodities under the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund guarantee section in 1990, is given in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

This information is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amounts in ecu spent on non-CAP agricultural support for each EC country for 1989, 1990 and 1991.

The Government monitor, through their embassies in member states, the introduction of new state aids and modifications to existing aids, and draw any that seem to be of doubtful legality to the attention of the Commission. The Government do not keep comprehensive details of the non-CAP agricultural expenditure in other member states, since to do so would not be a cost-effective use of resources.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many disputed milk quota exceptional hardship claims were taken to judicial review following consideration by the diary produce tribunal for England and Wales; in how many of those claims the courts referred the cases back to the tribunal for reconsideration; what was the total litreage of quota at issue in these cases; and what was the actual additional litreage allocated to the producers concerned.

There have been eight judicial reviews of decisions of the dairy produce quotas tribunal relating to quota claims on the grounds of exceptional hardship, as defined in paragraph 17 of part II to schedule 2 of the Dairy Produce Quotas Regulations 1984 and 1986. Of these, four claims were referred back to the tribunal for re-hearing. These re-hearings resulted in tribunal awards of quota totalling just over 1 million litres. Claimants were not required, under the provisions of the regulations, to state the litreage of quota which they considered to be at issue in that case. It is my understanding that none of the four had been awarded exceptional hardship quota in their original tribunal hearing, although two had been given primary quota awards which together totalled over 3 million litres.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EC Council of Fisheries Ministers meeting on 28 October 1991.

[pursuant to the reply, 6 November 1991, c. 163–64.]: I very much welcome the decision by the Japanese Government to ban large-scale high seas drift netting by the end of December 1992, with an interim step halving the use of such nets by the end of June 1992. This is a major step forward in protecting dolphins and other small cetaceans. It is particularly significant as it comes shortly after the European Community's own decision, for which we pressed hard, to stop the development of large-scale indiscriminate drift netting.These decisions give clear notice to the world that the major fishing nations are not going to allow the development or expansion of such fisheries.I am delighted at the news that the UN resolution calling for a moratorium on large-scale drift netting is having a clear effect. Britain continues to be determined to protect small cetaceans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

My Department does not hold this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received regarding the Asylum Bill.

Since July we have received approximately 200 letters from hon. Members forwarding correspondence from their constituents and about 820 letters from members of the public. A large proportion of these have been pro forma letters from members of organisations such as Amnesty International, Charter '87, A Charter for Refugees, and the Asylum Rights Campaign. The majority of correspondents have expressed opposition to one or more aspects of the Government's proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the public have received awards from the Metropolitan police following civil actions brought by them for assault, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment or malicious prosecution in each year since 1985, inclusive; and what has been the total amount of such awards in each of those years.

The information is not held in the form requested. However, I understand from the commissioner that the amounts paid by the Metropolitan police under awards made by the courts and out-of-court settlements arising from allegations of wrongful acts, including assault, wrongful arrest, false imprisonment and malicious prosecution by Metropolitan police officers, and the number of plaintiffs who have received awards and settlements are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number in each of the last five years of Sri Lankan Tamils deported from the United Kingdom.

The information available relates to all Sri Lankan citizens deported and is given in the table. No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the number of Sri Lankan Tamils seeking political asylum in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years; what number has been granted; and what number has been rejected.

The information available relates to all Sri Lankan citizens and is given in the table. No distinction is made in statistical records between Tamils and other Sri Lankans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Irish (a) men and (b) women serving prison sentences in the United Kingdom for terrorist activities have been transferred to prisons in Northern Ireland or Eire in each of the last five years.

It is not possible to transfer prisoners from the United Kingdom to the Republic of Ireland because the latter has not ratified the Council of Europe convention on the transfer of sentenced persons.Information on the number of prisoners transferred from England and Wales to Northern Ireland is given in the table. Statistics are not collated on the basis of the prisoner's nationality, sex or offence. The transfer of prisoners from Scotland to Northern Ireland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will report on the progress of his talks with car manufacturers concerning the provision of security systems in cars; if he will make such provision compulsory in new vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

At a seminar on crime prevention chaired by the then Prime Minister in 1986, it was agreed that the British Standards Institution and the motor vehicle manufacturers should produce a performance based standard on car security. A five-part standard—BS AU209—was subsequently published, covering mechanical locking systems, in-car entertainment equipment, window etching, central power locking and deadlocking.My right hon. Friend is engaged in a series of meetings with the motor vehicle manufacturers to encourage them to adopt these standards for all new cars. Many manufacturers have already made significant improvements in security, but there is still much more that can be done. My right hon. Friend and I will meet the manufacturers again on 11 December to discuss their progress.It would be a breach of European Community law for the Government to introduce separate national legislation on vehicle security since this would constitute a technical barrier to trade with member states. It was, however, agreed at the seminar on crime prevention in 1986 that the Department of Transport would seek to have the British standard on vehicle security adopted as an EC directive. That Department, with the support of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, is continuing to take this matter forward in the motor vehicles working group of the European Commission; its efforts have my full support and that of my right hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Italian citizens are currently serving sentences in United Kingdom prisons; how many such citizens have been permitted to return home to serve their sentences in Italian prisons; how many have applied to do so; and if he will make a statement.

On 30 June 1991, the latest date for which information is readily available, about 45 sentenced prisoners in Prison Service establishments in England and Wales were recorded as Italian citizens. Repatriations of prisoners are possible under the European convention on the transfer of sentenced persons provided the prisoner and both countries concerned consent. The Italian Government ratified the convention in October 1989, since when 26 Italian prisoners have asked to be repatriated. In five cases the application has been withdrawn or the prisoner released. In two cases the request has been refused. The remaining 19 cases are outstanding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to secure the establishment of a European primate register to conserve stocks of non-human primates used in scientific procedures.

Effective measures to conserve stocks of non-human primates are clearly desirable. We are aware of an initiative from the Primate Society of Great Britain in this area and of continuing interest in such a scheme within Europe. The United Kingdom will play its full part in giving thorough consideration to any formal proposals which emerge.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a table showing (a) the variety of non-custodial sentences given for the offence of taking a vehicle without consent for the years 1980–88 and (b) a breakdown of custodial and non-custodial sentences for the above offence for 1989 and 1990.

The information requested is given in the tables. 1990 data are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage and type of television programmes will be allowed sponsorship by commercial companies; and what safeguards exist to prevent sponsors from influencing the quality and control of programmes.

Under the Independent Televison Commission code of programme sponsorship, any television programme may be sponsored, except news and current affairs. No sponsor is permitted any influence on either the content or the scheduling of a programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the numbers of primates used in scientific procedures in Great Britain and in Northern Ireland which were wild-caught and captive bred, respectively, in each year from 1981 to the current year.

Statistics about the origin of primates held or used are not kept centrally. The number of scientific procedures performed on primates in Great Britain for the years 1981 to 1990 is given in table 18 of "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain 1990", Cm. 1574, a copy of which is in the Library. In Northern Ireland only two scientific procedures were performed on primates over the period 1981 to 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department since 1 April 1991.

This information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many adults and children have been (a) killed and (b) injured in each of the last five years in incidents arising from the firing of crossbows in (i) public and (ii) private places.

The number of currently recorded homicide offences where the death resulted from the firing of a crossbow for the years 1986 to 1990 are as follows: 1986 nil, 1987 one, 1988 one, 1989 nil, 1990 three—two in one incident. All the victims were adults. It is not known whether the incidents occurred in public or private places. No information is available on the number of accidental deaths involving crossbows nor on incidents involving injuries whether criminal or accidental.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the latest estimate of the number of crossbows within the United Kingdom; what existing laws cover the purchase and use of crossbows; and what representations he has received from the police and others about new laws covering the use of crossbows, including licensing the ownership of crossbows.

Information about the number of crossbows in the United Kingdom is not recorded centrally, but I understand from Barnett International, the largest manufacturer of crossbows in the United Kingdom, that its latest estimate of the number of crossbows in circulation is between 250,000 and 300,000.The Crossbows Act 1987 prohibits the sale of crossbows to, and their purchase by, persons under the age of 17. The Act also makes it an offence for a person under 17 to have a crossbow in his possession, unless under the supervision of someone aged 21 or over. There are a number of other measures that bear upon crossbow misuse against people, property or animals. These include the Prevention of Crime Act 1953, Offences Against the Person Act 1861, the Criminal Damage Act 1971, the Protection of Animals Act 1911, the Wildlife and Countryside act 1981 and the Deer Act 1963.We have received no representations from the police on crossbow controls since the passage of the Crossbows Act 1987.In the last 12 months there has been one parliamentary question on crossbow controls. We have also received 21 items of correspondence on this issue from Members of Parliament and six letters from the public broadly favouring some form of further control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to consider the competitive aspects of bookmaker-owned greyhound tracks supplying races to the bookmaker afternoon greyhound service.

No. Anyone who believes that they have evidence of anti-competitive behaviour should report the matter to the Office of Fair Trading.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals for legislation to put greyhound racing on a par with horse racing; and what plans he has to treat the two industries equally, with regard to off-course betting.

The Government's views on the need for legislation to amend the law on betting on greyhound racing were set out in our recent reply—Cm 1757—to the Home Affairs Committee's report "Financing of Greyhound Racing"—HC 463.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the statutes which control the staging of greyhound racing, greyhound totalisators and on-course betting on greyhound tracks.

The statutory controls on betting at greyhound tracks are contained in the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963, as amended. Further regulations governing the operation of totalisators at greyhound tracks are contained in two statutory instruments made under the 1963 Act. These are the Dog Racecourse Totalisator Regulations 1967, as amended, and the Dog Racecourse Totalisator (Percentage) Order 1980. The Dog Racecourse Totalisator (Percentage) Order 1991 was published on 22 November, and comes into force on 20 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Office of Fair Trading considered the competitive aspects of bookmaker-owned greyhound tracks supplying racing to the bookmaker afternoon greyhound service; how long the inquiry took; and who supplied information to the inquiry.

I understand that the Office of Fair Trading's informal inquiries are made under section 2(2) of the Fair Trading Act 1973, which imposes on the Director-General of Fair Trading a duty to keep commercial activities under review and to collect information with a view to his becoming aware of monopoly situations or uncompetitive practices. The OFT has considered whether the ownership of greyhound tracks by off-course bookmakers raises concerns under the competition legislation, but to date no evidence has been received to suggest formal action is warranted. Details of information collected by the OFT are subject to confidentiality requirements, particularly section 133 of the Fair Trading Act 1973, and cannot therefore be disclosed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in what circumstances teenagers are placed in young offender institutions for non-violent offences; and whether he has any plans to end this practice;(2) under what circumstances it is his policy for persons aged 15 years to be locked up in prisons or young offenders' institutions; and whether he has any plans to end this policy;(3) from what age young people who have committed offences can be dealt with through the prison system;(4) if he will bring forward proposals to remove persons under the age of 21 years from the prison system; and if he will make a statement.

From the age of 10, juveniles convicted of murder or manslaughter may be detained under section 53 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933. Section 53 detention is available from the age of 14 for juveniles convicted of other offences carrying a maximum penalty for an adult of imprisonment for 14 years or more. Juveniles aged under sixteen and a half years who are detained under section 53 are normally held in the child care system rather than Prison Service establishments. Detention in a young offender institution is available for males from the age of 14 and females from the age of 15 for any offence for which an adult may be sentenced to imprisonment. Male defendants aged 15 and 16 may be remanded in prison. The Criminal Justice Act 1991 provides for the abolition of courts' power to sentence 14-year-old boys to detention in a young offender institution; for the ending of prison remands for 15 and 16-year-old males: and tightens the restrictions on the use of custodial sentences for young offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what steps he intends to take to prevent suicides at Feltham and other young offenders' institutes;(2) what plans he has for a public inquiry into the suicide rate at young offenders' institutions.

Her Majesty's chief inspector of prisons, Judge Tumim, prepared at my right hon. Friend's predecessor's request last year a report on suicide and self-harm in Prison Service establishments. My right hon. Friend responded to that report in the White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice", Cm 1647. We have also received, and circulated to all governors, the summary report of research carried out by Dr. Alison Liebling of the Cambridge university institute of criminology into self-injury among young offenders. A wide-ranging programme of work is in hand to try to reduce the incidence of suicide and self-harm in young offender institutions and other penal establishments. In work with young offenders, the emphasis is on the development of personal officer schemes, the provision of useful activity and measures to address problems of vulnerability and peer group pressure. A recent initiative at Feltham, which I welcome, has been the introduction of weekly case conferences to review the care of the most vulnerable prisoners.I do not think that a public inquiry into the suicide rate at young offender institutions would materially advance the substantial efforts already being made at Feltham and elsewhere to provide care for a particularly vulnerable section of the prison population.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for how many hours a day he advises that teenagers should be kept in solitary confinement in prisons or young offenders' institutions.

There is no such thing as solitary confinement in prisons or young offenders' institutions. However, an inmate may be removed from association with other inmates where this appears desirable either for the maintenance of good order or discipline, or in his own interests, under young offender institution rule 46 or prison rule 43. The length of time for which an inmate is removed from association will depend on the circumstances of each case. No inmate should be segregated for longer than is absolutely necessary. Each case must be kept under continuous review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide alternatives to custodial sentences for young offenders.

A wide range of community sentences already exists for young offenders. The emphasis is on dealing with young offenders in the community wherever possible. The Criminal Justice Act 1991 establishes a new sentencing framework providing courts with a wider range of strengthened community penalties. The Act creates two new community sentences—the curfew order backed by electronic monitoring and the combined probation and community service order—which will be available from the age of 16.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigation he has made into the psychological effect on persons under the age of 16 years of being held in young offender institutions and being held for long periods in solitary confinement in cells; and whether he has any plans to make further investigations.

An assessment of how young offenders adjust to a custodial environment was the subject of one of the studies in "Applying Psychology to Imprisonment", published in 1987. A further research study was completed this year, which compares regimes in young offender institutions and local authority community homes for juveniles sentenced under section 53(2) of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 for serious offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average length of time now being taken between the receipt of interview notes from the United Kingdom high commission in New Delhi by his Department concerning an application for leave to enter by the fiancé of a British citizen and the calling of the fiancé for interview here.

The current average response time for all interview cases referred from India is 75 days; the period is from the receipt of the papers in this country until the dispatch of a report to the post. Separate information on particular categories of cases is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the effect the evening opening of betting shops will have on the level of gambling in the United Kingdom.

No such assessment has yet been made. The effect of evening opening of licensed betting offices on levels of gambling is one of the matters on which the recent Home Office consultation document invited views from interested parties. Evidence received about the effect on levels of gambling will be one of the factors taken into account in the Government's further consideration of whether to allow evening opening.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on gambling as it relates to horse racing and greyhound racing.

It is Government policy on gambling, including betting on horseracing and greyhound racing, that it should be subject to statutory control to ensure that it is conducted honestly and fairly, and that gambling should not be positively encouraged.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Home Office began its review of section 19 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act 1963; and how long he expects the review to take.

The review has not yet begun. It will be undertaken as quickly as possible, but the issues are complex and it is not clear at this stage how long it will take to complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce a pricing policy for the policing of football matches based upon club attendance levels and past records of incidents.

Charges made by police authorities for the policing of football matches under section 15 of the Police Act 1964 reflect the number of officers deployed. Home Office circular 36/1991 encouraged chief officers to discuss deployment with football clubs, taking account of all relevant factors, but ultimately it must be for the chief officer to decide how many officers need to be deployed on each occasion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals to remove the threat of prosecution from small local shops which have traditionally opened late in the evening and on Sundays to sell their full product range; and what representations he has had from the Greek Cypriot and other ethnic minority communities on this subject.

The institution of proceedings for breaches of the Shops Act 1950 is a matter for local authorities. Proposals for extended evening shop trading hours, and for small local shops to trade fully on Sundays, are among those which have been put to me in my discussions with numerous interest groups about reform of the Act. Records of our correspondents on these proposals are not classified by ethnic community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take to deal with urban crime.

I am launching today a new initiative: the urban crime fund. This will provide targeted additional funds to selected forces on an experimental basis. Merseyside, Northumbria and West Yorkshire will each be eligible for additional funding in 1992–93 of up to some £3·6 million.The additional funding—made available direct to police authorities through the Government's urban programme—will be targeted on the inner cities, including city challenge areas. This demonstrates the Government's commitment to a co-ordinated attack on inner city problems in partnership with local authorities, the private sector and local communities.The three police authorities will be invited to put proposals to me on how they would use the extra resources. I will be looking particularly for effective and innovative measures, including the mobilisation of local communities, in the fight against urban crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his evaluation of the effectiveness of the law making it a criminal offence to incite racial hatred.

[holding answer 21 November 1991]: The Government deplore any act likely or intended to stir up racial hatred. We believe that part III of the Public Order Act 1986 has played an important part in deterring such acts. We shall continue to keep the legislation and its operation under review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to introduce legislation under which banks will be prevented from selling off-balance sheet financing schemes.

I have no such plans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any institution which provided a presentation for becoming a retail outlet in the BT share sale was rejected.

The Government selected eight organisations to act as share shops in the sale of shares in BT plc from among the various proposals received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those institutions which made presentations with regard to the second BT share offer, in response to his invitation.

It is for the organisations concerned to disclose whether they made a submission in response to the Chancellor's invitation in his Budget speech for proposals from private sector organisations for a high street share dealing network.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria were used to evaluate the eight retail institutions' ability to undertake at relatively short notice the sale of BT shares, referred to in his answer of 22 October 1991, Official Report, column 505.

The Government's objective was a network of share shops which, together, could respond to the high volumes of a public share sale while giving the public a choice of institutions. This was achieved with the selection of the eight firms who are participating in the BT share sale. The Government intend to build on these arrangements in future public share sales.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those institutions which wrote to his Department stating an interest with regard to the second BT share offer but did not make a presentation.

The proposals received from organisations in response to the Government's share shops initiative ranged widely in the extent of detail in which they were made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of expenditure of total disposable household income was accounted for by life assurance and pension fund payments in 1990; and what is the estimated percentage level for the current year.

Household disposable income, and hence expenditure of that income, excludes amounts paid as pension contributions, whether to the state scheme or to occupational schemes. Contributions to the latter type of scheme, together with life assurance premiums paid by individuals, are estimated to have amounted in 1990 to 7·6 per cent. of households' current expenditure. The latter aggregate has been adjusted to include the occupational scheme contributions. There is no official estimate of this percentage in 1991.Contributions to the state scheme are intended to fund social security benefits of all types and no estimate is made of the proportion which notionally finances state pensions.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the effect of EC membership to date on the United Kingdom balance of payments in terms of 1990 prices and on the United Kingdom rate of economic growth forecast by Her Majesty's Treasury in Cmnd. 4289 together with (a) the actual average per capita rate of growth from 1973 to 1990 and comparable data for the decade ending in 1973 and (b) the average non-oil balance of payments surplus or deficit with the EEC Six and with other countries in each period in terms of 1990 prices; and if he will make a statement.

It is not possible to produce reliable estimates of the effects of EC membership on the United Kingdom balance of payments or on the rate of economic growth. Data requested on the growth of GDP per capita can be derived from statistics published by the Central Statistical Office in "Economic Trends Annual Supplement", 1990 edition, and on trade balances with the EC Six and other countries from the CSO's "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics Annual Supplement 1991".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the affairs of the Town and Country building society.

The Woolwich building society issued a press release on 19 November stating that the board of the Town and Country building society had agreed to recommend to its members a transfer of the society's engagements to the Woolwich building society and that arrangements for the transfer, subject to audit and to regulatory and other relevant requirements, were accordingly proceeding.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to remind banks and building societies of the specification of section 4 of S.I. 2361/1990 that tax-exempt special savings accounts must be transferable from one society or institution to another society or institution.

There is no need, since there is no evidence to suggest that institutions are not allowing savers to transfer their TESSAs elsewhere.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Gloucester, 13 November, Official Report, column 526, if he will review the extent to which TESSA issuers are departing from the aims of TESSAs, as stated in the 1990 Budget, by levying penalties for withdrawing interest.

The TESSA rules specify the maximum amount of interest which may be withdrawn without loss of tax exemption. Within those limits, the terms under which withdrawals may be made are a matter for agreement between investors and operators.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list the unfunded maintenance backlog liability on public sector capital assets by member state of the EC and the effect such unfunding has on the calculation of each member state's Government debt as set out in the draft treaty on economic and monetary union;(2) if he will list the unfunded nuclear reactor decommissioning liability by member state of the EC and the effect such unfunding has on the calculation of each member state's Government debt as set out in the draft treaty on economic and monetary union;(3) if he will list the notionally funded and unfunded public sector employees pensions liability by member states of the EC and the effect such unfunding has on the calculation of each member state's Government debt as set out in the draft treaty on economic and monetary union.

Standard definitions of Government debt measure the cumulative liability incurred on past borrowing, which accords with the common usage of the term "debt". They do not include any measure of unfunded liabilities. The requested data on unfunded liabilities are not readily available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the present and future implications for the United Kingdom Budget of proposals for a single currency in the draft treaty on economic and monetary union as a result of different methods of accounting for liabilities in each member state's national accounts.

National accounting conventions in other EC member states have no obvious implications, either now or in the future, for United Kingdom budgetary policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy regarding the taxation of company cars and on the increase in the taxation of company cars which has taken place since 1979.

The Government's policy is that, so far as possible, there should be broad neutrality in the tax treatment of remuneration paid in cash and in kind. In keeping with that policy, the aim has been to ensure that, as regards cars provided to employees by employers, the statutory income tax scale charges realistically reflect the value of the benefit of a car's availability for private use. That has involved substantial increases in the level of the scales since 1979.The scale charges and the total tax burden on the car industry are of course kept under close review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to introduce a new Friendly Societies Bill.

The Government remain firmly committed to this legislation and we will introduce the Bill at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information is available on the number of calls made to directory inquiries from his Department.

Call-logging information for the three buildings in which my right hon. Friend's department is the major occupier shows that 620 calls were made to directory inquiries in October 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what present aid projects exist in India; and if he will list them.

Projects in India receiving British bilateral aid at present are as follows: