To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list those national newspapers by title and ownership which have now established systems of ombudsmen or readers' representatives to take up complaints and breaches of the code of practice to which they were committed under the terms of the joint declaration of November 1989.

We understand that the newspapers that were party to the joint declaration of November 1989 and which currently have readers" representatives are as follows:

Daily Express	Express Newspapers plc
Daily Mail	Associated Newspapers plc
Daily Star	Express Newspapers plc
The Daily Telegraph	The Daily Telegraph plc
Evening Standard	Associated Newspapers plc
The Guardian	Guardian Newspapers Ltd
The Independent	Newspapers Publishing plc
The Mail on Sunday	Associated Newspapers plc
News of the World	News Group Newspapers Ltd
The Observer	The Observer Ltd
The Sun	News Group Newspapers Ltd
Sunday Express	Express Newspapers plc
The Sunday Times	times Newspapers Ltd
The Sunday Telegraph	The Daily Telegraph plc
The Times	Times Newspapers Ltd
Today	News Corporation Ltd1
1 Ultimate parent company

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any proposals for guidelines to govern the national and international use of DNA analysis; and if he will make a statement.

We have no immediate plans for guidance in this area. My right hon. Friend asked the Royal Commission on Criminal Justice to consider the use of DNA and we await its recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for the destruction of the DNA profiles of persons cleared of committing an offence; and if he will make a statement.

Guidelines adopted by the Home Office and Metropolitan police forensic science services provide that DNA profiles of persons excluded from or acquitted of offences are removed from the central database and the sample from which the profile is taken is also destroyed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of prisoners released from prisons in England and Wales before the completion of their sentences on the ground of ill health in each of the last three years.

The numbers of prisoners released from their sentences by the exercise of the royal prerogative on the ground of serious illness are as follows:—

Year	Number
1989	4
1990	1
1991	Nil

Prisoners may also be released from prison on parole provided they are considered suitable for release on licence. Any ill health will be taken into account when the case is being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what prison industries are proposed for privately run prisons; who will be responsible for obtaining contracts for such prison industries; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for work for prisoners are solicited from bidders as part of the invitation to tender for the management of a contracted out prison. It is for the successful bidder to implement his proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State proposes to answer the letter of the hon. Member for Basingstoke of 19 January, and subsequent letters and telephone calls, regarding Mr. Osama Ibrahim Al-Asfoor, c/o 258 Kempshott lane, Basingstoke.3

I have written to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investigations have taken place into allegations that computer specialists have hacked into the driving licence records at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea; and with what result.

The DVLA has disscussed the recent allegations about unauthorised access to its computer records with the author of the original Police Review article who has confirmed that there is no substance to them. The author has agreed to retract the allegations in his next article.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funds are being made available to British Rail for design and other work in connection with planning and preparation of the King's Cross project.

The external finance limit for BR next year will be £2,041 million. This will allow BR to spend £66 million on design and preparatory work for the King's Cross, Thameslink 2000 and channel tunnel rail link projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 21 January, if he will make an early statement on the subject of the reliability of slam-shut doors on British Rail; and if he will ensure that adequate care is given to British Rail passengers.

Both the Government and British Rail attach the highest priority to railway safety. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will give very careful consideration to the report of the Health and Safety Executive's investigation into the pattern of falls from train doors when it is completed in the spring, and respond appropriately at that time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 503, on the environmental assessment of road schemes, how he proposes to judge whether the environmental impact of a road scheme is significant to the extent that it is within the terms of the EC directive.

An environmental impact assessment is required for all projects listed in annex I of directive 85/337/EEC. The environmental appraisal, which is standard departmental practice for all schemes in the national roads programme, reveals the extent to which the impact of annex II projects is significant within the requirements of the directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects the side road orders required before work can start on the remaining section of the A34 in Hampshire and the Newbury bypass to be completed; and whether he will make a statement on progress on the A34 improvements.

Supplementary side road orders and a compulsory purchase order for the Newbury bypass were published in draft last October. In the light of objections received, it has been decided that a public inquiry should be held. Details of the arrangements for the inquiry will be issued as soon as possible. Further progress will depend on completion of the statutory procedures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his Department's estimates of traffic flows on the proposed eastern bypass, Leicester; and how many vehicles use the western bypass each day.

Traffic information from consultants for Leicester eastern bypass is not yet available. Construction of Leicester western bypass is due to begin later this year. Estimated flows for the first year of operation—1994—range from 22,000 to 41,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost to the taxpayer of appointing consultants to plan the eastern bypass, Leicester.

Fees are a commercially confidential matter between the Department as client and the consultant as provider of a service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his latest estimate of the date when the Severn bridge will be free of lane restrictions and have four lanes open to traffic.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: Four lanes are available to traffic now at peak time, but work following the completion of the resurfacing, such as the erection of central reserve safety fencing, will be in evidence until about the middle of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is his Department's current policy on the use of airbags as an additional safety measure for motorcycles;(2) what research his Department has undertaken on the accidental inflation of airbags on motorcycles.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: The Government are currently funding a research programme at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory in which motor-cycles are tested with and without airbags. The research is in its early stages, and it is not yet clear whether airbags will prove a practical safety measure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has undertaken on the potential health hazards from gas contained in airbags used as safety devices on motor vehicles.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: A study is looking at the use of airbags in motor vehicles, including any potential health hazards from the gas discharged from airbags.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the grade of the director of network management and construction of the East Midlands regional office.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: Grade 5.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that the contractors do not carry out potentially damaging operations on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest in breach of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981;(2) if he has received the consent of English Nature for potentially damaging operations, as defined by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest;(3) if the advance bridge works being carried out on the M3 Bar End-Compton will involve potentially damaging operations as defined by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on the River Itchen watermeadows site of special scientific interest prior to 1 March.

[holding answer 22 January 1992]: The potential impact upon the Itchen Valley watermeadows site of special scientific interest of the construction of the M3 between Bar End and Compton was fully considered at the public inquiry into the scheme and the inspector's report thereon. The inspector concluded that the scheme should proceed notwithstanding the impact upon some 3.5 hectares—less than 2 per cent. of the 175-hectare site of special scientific interest. Under the requirements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Department does not need to obtain any further consent from English Nature, but is required to give four months notice before carrying out any works within the site of special scientific interest. No works will be carried out in the site of special scientific interest until the notice has expired.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the security of the DVLA computer from unauthorised access or interference.

[holding answer 23 January 1992]: The DVLA is alert to the sensitivity and value of the data held on its computer system and has protected them accordingly. This has involved measures to combat unauthorised access, including the use of internal and external scrutineers. The security measures are a combination of physical restriction and procedural control.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the expected location and date of operation of new motorway service areas on the M25 and M40 motorways.

[holding answer 23 January 1992]: Motorway service areas—MSAs—are currently under development for the M25 at Clacket Lane—junctions 5 to 6—and for the M40 at Ardley—junction 10. Both are expected to open by the autumn of next year. As intimated in the citizens charter, the Government are considering a new system with the aim of ensuring that more MSAs are provided more quickly.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will make it a condition for public funding that arts venues are fully accessible to people with disabilities.

The responsibility for the allocation of Government funding to individual arts organisations rests with the Arts Council of Great Britain. Its funding criteria include requirements on access, including access to artistic and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The council's appraisals of the performance of individual clients pay particular attention to this.The Arts Council published in 1990 an action plan on the arts and disability, a follow-on from the code of practice published in 1985. These documents have been sent to all the council's client bodies and other interested parties.The Arts Council is committed to ensuring that improvements are made to increase the accessibility of arts venues to people with sight impairments, hearing impairments, mobility difficulties and all other forms of disability. However, the council does not consider that it would be in the best interests to make complete accessibility a mandatory condition of grant, as grants are normally paid to performing companies, many of which do not own the buildings in which they appear.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to visit the duchy; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next expects to visit the duchy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he next plans to pay an official visit to the duchy.

I refer my hon. Friends to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has any plans to increase the amount of time spent on official duties.

No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what arrangements are made for the reimbursement of public funds for any use of his official car for non-official purposes.

I use my ministerial car only when undertaking duties as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and in my capacity as a Government Minister.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase capital investment in home energy efficiency.

The Government make substantial capital sums available for home energy efficiency. Provisional figures indicate local authorities spent over £120 million on insulation works, and some £110 million on other energy conservation measures, on the council house stock in 1990–91. They are spending an extra £60 million on energy efficiency over three years under the green house programme. An additional £24 million has been made available for spending on public and private sector insulation under the home energy efficiency scheme in 1991–92. Further smaller sums are spent on these measures through house renovation grants and the Housing Corporation. We have also recently launched a major publicity campaign called "Helping the Earth Begins At Home", to encourage householders to adopt energy efficiency measures in response to global warming. The campaign emphasises that many measures have short payback periods and are therefore cost-effective for householders to finance themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much money Sheffield's urban programme budget has lost, in 1990–91 and 1991–92, as a result of the Government's policy not to implement full additionality; and if he will make a statement;(2) how much money urban programme local authorities have lost in 1990–91 and 1991–92 as a result of the Government's policy not to implement full additionality; and if he will make a statement.

Expected European Community receipts are taken into account annually in setting national public expenditure programmes which are therefore larger than they would otherwise be. Consequently, ERDF grants must be covered from within the public expenditure provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will list the new forms of optional alternative working patterns introduced into each of his Department's executive agencies since their establishment and provide a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern for each agency;(2) how many staff were in post in each of his Department's executive agencies on the date on which it was established; and how many are now in post;(3) if he will list each of his Department's executive agencies that operates on a group bonus scheme; what cash amount per person was awarded in the last year for which figures are available; and what conditions were attached to its award.

I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on Monday 13 January 1992 at columns 420–21.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to assure himself that the chlorine levels present in drinking water are sufficient to prevent infection in consumers from oocysts of Cryptosporidium.

In July 1990, the group of experts on cryptosporidium in water supplies, chaired by Sir John Badenoch, reported that water treatment processes in current use were not designed to deal specifically with the problem of cryptosporidial oocysts which are also unaffected by chlorine in the concentrations that can be used. Although treatment processes cannot be relied upon to prevent all oocysts from entering mains water, they are quite effective in dealing with low numbers of the parasite.The Government accepted all the recommendations of the expert group designed to minimise infection. They also initiated the research programme proposed by the group.Copies of the report were placed in the House Library at the time of publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to require British Coal to obtain consent to discharge ferric iron from abandoned coal mines to surface waters.

The National Rivers Authority has been reviewing the extent of problems from abandoned mine workings in England and Wales, and we are considering how best they might be tackled.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements exist to report and collate information from the littoral states relating to the surfacing of dumped chemical weapons in the North sea and surrounding areas; and how many reports of such incidents have been received by his Department in the last 12 months.

The United Kingdom is party, with all other north sea littoral states, to an international agreement designed to facilitate co-operation in dealing with major oil or chemical pollution incidents in the North sea. Known as the Bonn agreement, it requires contracting states to report any pollution incident to other members which may be affected by subsequent pollution. The agreement also provides for each member to use its best endeavour to provide counter-pollution assistance if requested by another contracting party.The Department of Transport's marine pollution control unit exercises the Government's responsibility in this area. It has received no reports of the surfacing of dumped chemical weapons in the last 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information his Department holds on the quality of water in marinas; and if he will make a statement.

The National Rivers Authority is responsible for monitoring the quality of coastal waters, as defined under section 104 of the 1991 Water Resources Act, including marinas. The monitoring data is publicly available on the registers maintained in the regional offices of the NRA.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list for the five years prior to privatisation the loss or profit of the water industry; and if he will list any grants or loans made over the same period.

Full financial details for each of the former water authorities covering the five years prior to privatisation were included in the accountants' report chapter of each company's section of the prospectus for the sale of the water holding companies, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to introduce further controls on the regulations of trans-frontier shipments of waste.

The United Kingdom is pressing for agreement in the European Community on a regulation which will strengthen existing controls. The regulation will enable member states to ratify the UNEP Basel convention on the trans-boundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the environmental and health effects of effluent resulting from industrial-scale car paint spraying waste; what regulations govern the operation of such plants; and if he will make a statement.

The pollution most likely to result from industrial-scale car paint spraying is to air, the main pollutants being volatile organic compounds. Volatile organic compounds contribute to the formation of ground level ozone and photochemical smog, and can cause a local smell problem; certain volatile organic compounds are toxic or carcinogenic. From 1 April this year, paint application in vehicle manufacturing where five tonnes or more of organic solvent is used per year will require authorisation under the local authority air pollution control system set up by part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Liquid effluents arising from industrial-scale car paint spraying are also subject to control. Discharges of effluent to sewer require the consent of the relevant water company; discharges to a watercourse require the consent of the National Rivers Authority. Where the application of paint in a manufacturing process is likely to produce 1,000 tonnes or more of special waste a year, the process will be subject to integrated pollution control which is enforced centrally by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the next MINIS report to be published; if he will make it his policy to place a copy in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

The next MINIS reports, MINIS 13, will be published after the end of the round of reviews and meetings now starting in my Department. I expect them to

Grant in aid to UDCs
£ million
UDC	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	1985–86
London Docklands	30·183	40·587	62·954	58·639	53·616
Merseyside	6·107	20·676	31·870	29·723	28·325

UDC	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91	1991–92
London Docklands	64·881	82·800	116·415	255·750	332·975	248·710
Merseyside	27·604	20·942	20·535	23·000	24·000	28·084
Black Country	—	2·443	23·000	38·000	32·000	36·350
Teesside	—	5·000	20·697	36·009	42·135	53·100
Trafford Park	0·031	10·450	15·500	13·300	24·200	28·100
Tyne and Wear	—	4·000	24·016	35·800	37·750	37·500
Bristol	—	—	0·283	5·000	13·425	27·125
Central Manchester	—	—	2·500	11·000	14·000	16·000
Leeds	—	—	2·743	8·750	14·000	12·600
Sheffield	—	—	7·958	9·500	18·967	13·300

be available in June. It was from the start, and remains, my policy to place a copy of the MINIS returns in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will bring forward legislation to make it obligatory for local authorities and private developers to liaise with the police crime prevention officers at the initial stages of the development of housing and industrial estates.

The Town and Country Planning (Development Plan) Regulations, which come into force on 10 February, will require local planning authorities to have regard to crime prevention when preparing development plans. Furthermore, my Department's circulars 1/84 (issued jointly with the Home Office) and 22/88, provide guidance on the role of planning in crime prevention. They encourage local planning authorities to consult police architectural liaison officers on planning applications for developments, such as housing and industrial estates, where there is potential to eliminate or reduce criminal activity through the adoption of best practice at the design stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a development control policy note for the guidance of local planning authorities in relation to applications in which an issue arises from the presence of bats on an application site; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total amount of money made available to each development corporation in England for each year of operation up to December 1991.

This is tabulated as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many jobs have been created in each development corporation in England in each year of its operation.

The totals for permanent jobs created in UDC areas to March 1991, net of losses, are as follows. Individual figures for each year are not available on a consistent basis for all the corporations.

	Numbers
London Docklands	26,000
Merseyside	4,626
Black Country	2,600
Teesside	4,650
Trafford Park	2,557
Tyne and Wear	3,169
Bristol	4,000
Central Manchester	950
Leeds	5,862
Sheffield	7,580
Total	61,994

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will examine the scope for additional Departmental assistance to outer London boroughs incurring unavoidable additional expenditure outlays from extra statutory burdens since 1987–88.

We are satisfied that standard spending assessments take proper account of all statutory burdens falling on each class of authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently employed by the Property Services Agency; and if he will give a breakdown of the number of employees in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the English regions and overseas, respectively.

As at 31 December 1991, PSA Services employed a total of 17,581 staff in the following locations:

	Number
Scotland	1,542
Wales	799
Northern Ireland	393
English regions1	11,538
Overseas	3,309
Total	17,581
1 (including all staff in London and Croydon).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes he has made in the Property Services Agency to prepare it for privatisation; and if he will make a statement on the Government's plans for this sale.

PSA Services was restructured in 1990 into two main businesses, PSA Projects and PSA Building Management, which now consists of five regional businesses. A contractor manager was appointed for BM in November 1991. Improved management and accounting systems are being installed and commercial contracts with client Departments are being negotiated. Action has been taken to reduce costs. A major staff rundown is in hand, as far as possible by voluntary means, though compulsory redundancies cannot be ruled out. I intend to offer PSA Projects for sale early this year; I am currently considering the timing and the form in which it should be offered for sale. I expect to offer the five BM businesses for sale in the second half of 1992–93 on the basis of the implementation plan currently being developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people were employed by the Property Services Agency on 1 April 1991; and what were the corresponding numbers in 1990, 1989, 1988 and 1987.

PSA Services employed a total of 19,571 people on 1 April 1991. Corresponding totals for previous years are:

Year	Number
1 April 1990	23,441
1 April 1989	26,046
1 April 1988	28,420
1 April 1987	29,311

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to publish the consultation paper on the implementation of the EC directive on public access to information.

I have today issued the consultation paper setting out the Government's proposals on implementing this directive (EC 90/313).The United Kingdom Government took a leading part in the negotiation of the EC directive which was agreed by the Environment Council of ministers in 1990. This directive must be implemented by member states by the end of 1992.Improving the public's access to environmental information was one of the key principles set out in the Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance". Better access to environmental information will help to raise the standard of public debate on environmental issues by clarifying the facts.We have already taken steps towards the implementation of the directive through the establishment of public registers of decisions taken by the enforcement authorities such as those held by the National Rivers Authority and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution. The directive extends the public's right of access to information held by public authorities beyond that already held on registers.The consultation paper sets out the Government's proposals on implementation. In particular it covers the following issues:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much money his Department has spent on producing its citizens charter proposals, arising from production, distribution and publicity costs.

[holding answer 21 January 1992]: I issued on 24 January a council tenants charter. Production, initial distribution and publicity costs are estimated at £291,550. Further distribution costs will be incurred in response to demand.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average number of liability orders for arrears of community charge processed per hour in the magistrates courts.

I have been asked to reply.For each hour which magistrates courts in England and Wales specifically set aside for community charge enforcement proceedings, an average of 243 liability orders are issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average cost per hour to public funds of magistrates courts hearings to grant liability orders for recovery of community charge.

I have been asked to reply.The average cost per sitting hour in magistrates courts is £217.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of mortgages repossession actions begun in each county court for 1990 and 1991.

The total number of mortgage repossession actions entered, suspended orders and orders made during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. These figures do not indicate how many houses have been repossessed through the courts as not all of the orders made will have resulted in the issue and execution of warrants of possession.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list the number of bankruptcy cases begun in each county court for 1990 and 1991.

The total number of creditors' petitions, debtors' petitions and company winding-up petitions issued during 1990 and 1991 in each county court in England and Wales having insolvency jurisdiction is contained in two lists which have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will take measures to ensure that independent forensic scientists receive legal aid payments due to them without delay.

It is the responsibility of the solicitor who commissions a report from an expert, such as an independent forensic scientist, to pay for the report. In a legally aided case, the solicitor may then claim reimbursement of the cost of the expert's report, in accordance with legal aid regulations.

To ask the Attorney-General when he intends to introduce the scheme for interim payment of experts' fees from legal aid funds.

In a legally aided civil case, a solicitor may claim a payment on account for disbursements, including experts' fees. The Lord Chancellor had hoped to introduce a similar scheme last year for the payment of Crown court legal aid bills, but the proposals he put forward for the scale and operation of such a scheme were not acceptable to the Law Society.The Lord Chancellor is now reconsidering his proposals, and hopes to continue consultation with the Law Society and be in a position to introduce a scheme later this year.

To ask the Attorney-General what sums have been recovered by administrators or receivers in each of the past four years as a result of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office.

The purpose of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office is to establish whether or not criminal offences have been committed.The Serious Fraud Office does co-operate with administrators and receivers, but insofar as funds are recovered by the latter, such information is not routinely reported to the Serious Fraud Office. It would in any event be impossible to specify the property recovered as the result of investigations by the Serious Fraud Office.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the development of practical co-operation between the Serious Fraud Office and authorities in (a) Switzerland and (b) Liechtenstein.

The passing of the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 enabled the United Kingdom to ratify the European convention on mutual assistance in criminal matters. The Convention has been ratified by both Switzerland and Liechtenstein and thus in addition to bilateral assistance on a reciprocal basis the scope for co-operation has been enlarged.The director of the Serious Fraud Office is satisfied that effective channels of communication have been estalished to enable full advantage of these arrangements to be taken.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the first report of Session 1991–92 from the Select Committee on Procedure "Review of European Standing Committees".

I am grateful to the Procedure Committee for its thorough review of the first Session's experience of the new European Standing Committees. The Government are considering their recommendations carefully and will respond soon.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what were the takings of the House of Commons kiosk (a) for the month of December 1991 and (b) for the year to 31 December 1991; and if he will make a statement.

The takings at the souvenir kiosk in the House for December last were £191,426; the equivalent figure for souvenirs and other goods sold from the kiosk in Bellamy's was £28,425. In the 12 months to 31 December 1991 the takings for the souvenir kiosk in the House were £691,571; the takings for Bellamy's kiosk for the three months since it opened on 1 October 1991 were £42,573. All figures include VAT.

To ask the Lord President of the Council how many car parking spaces are available to (a) Members and (b) the press.

A summary of car parking spaces available is given in annex A of the leaflet "Car Parking" obtainable from the Serjeant at Arms. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Lord President of the Council when debates on statutory instruments were last adjourned under (a) Standing Order No. 14 (1)(b) and (b) Standing Order No. 15 (2).

The last occasion on which a debate on a motion to approve a statutory instrument was adjourned because the time for debate was not considered adequate by the Chair was Wednesday 16 February 1983.The last occasion on which a debate on a motion to address the Queen for the annulment of a statutory instrument was adjourned because the time for debate was not considered adequate by the Chair was 9 February 1976.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what estimate he has made of the cost and time of construction of a pedestrian underpass from the foot of the existing steps outside No. 1 Parliament street to the other side of Bridge street.

I understand that during the design stage for phase I of the new parliamentary building a number of options for a subway were considered but they proved either impractical or expensive. The particular location mentioned by the right hon. Member was considered, but there is insufficient space between the road surface and the roof of the District and Circle Line.The design proposals for the next phase of the new building do envisage, however, that the existing subway will be dedicated to the use of the two Houses and that there should be a direct link through the new building to No. 1 Parliament street.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Yakov Fukson, of St. Petersburg.

We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Yakov Fukson of St. Petersburg with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective, we shall need further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Vadim Shlyaliter, of Yekaterinburg.

We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Vadim Shlyaliter of Yekaterinburg with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective, we shall need further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Russian authorities about their failure to grant an exit visa to Simon Eppel, of Angarsk.

We can certainly raise the case of refusenik Simon Eppel of Angarsk with the Russian authorities, but in order to make our representations most effective we shall need further details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his statement, Official Report, 14 January, column 901, if he will outline the circumstances in which the threat of the use of a strategic weapon would not be credible whereas the threat of a sub-strategic weapon might be credible.

No. It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on the circumstances in which nuclear weapons might be used. Deterrence is best served by ensuring uncertainty in the mind of any aggressor about the nature of our response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards the complete removal of all tactical and sub-strategic nuclear weapons from Russia, all of the other former Soviet republics and from NATO countries.

We strongly endorsed United States and Soviet undertakings last autumn to eliminate all their ground-launched sub-strategic nuclear weapons, and have subsequently welcomed the Commonwealth of Independent States stated intention to honour that commitment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the retention of nuclear weapons by the Ukraine.

The Commonwealth of Independent States has agreed that nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory will remain under unified control until they have been dismantled by the end of 1994. The Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Kiev, welcomed this as well as Ukraine's intention to accede to the nonproliferation treaty as soon as it is in a position to abide by the treaty's obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent communications Her Majesty's Government have had with the Chilean Government over the death of Jonathan Moyle

A senior Foreign and Commonwealth Office official discussed the case with the Chilean Foreign Minister in November 1991. He expressed Her Majesty's Government's concern that those responsible for Mr. Moyle's death should be brought to justice.Our embassy at Santiago maintains regular contact with the Chilean authorities and continues to monitor the case closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek the agreement of the Government of the United Arab Emirates to disclose details of all discussions he has held with it about the export of materials from Britain to the special branch of Dubai.

We have had no such discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning human rights abuses by Indian state forces in the Punjab; and if he will make a statement.

We have received many representations about human rights abuses in Punjab, where the authorities are lacing a campaign of murder and terrorism by Sikh separatists. The Indian Government are fully aware of our concerns.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the numbers of people in the Punjab (a) killed, (b) arrested, (c) missing feared killed or imprisoned and (d) tortured by Indian security forces since 1984; and if he will make a statement.

According to the latest Indian figures, it is estimated that approximately 12,000 people have been killed in Punjab since 1984. The other particulars requested are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 21 January, Official Report, column 101, if he will make his policy to make available the revised text of the Maastricht agreement, as prepared for signatures, at least seven days before the treaty is signed.

The text of the treaty on European union agreed at Maastricht was made available to the House on 16 December. It is now being prepared in a form suitable for signature on 7 February. This process will be completed only shortly before 7 February. I will ensure that a copy of the text is made available to the House immediately after signature.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in discussions within the Council of the Western European Union over the United Kingdom's obligations under article VI of protocol No. II to the modified Brussels treaty of 1954; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with the procedure set out in article VI of protocol II of the modified Brussels treaty, on 11 July 1991 the Permanent Council of Western European Union considered the changes in the levels of United Kingdom forces stationed in Germany proposed in "Options for Change". In the light of the views of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and the decisions of the NATO Defence Planning Committee, the council noted the planned reductions.

To ask the Prime Minister if, pursuant to his oral reply to the hon. Member for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham), Official Report, 14 January 1992, column 807, he will set out the policies he plans to propose to the special summit of the permanent members of the Security Council of the United Nations on (a) improving good government, (b) improving human rights and (c) disarmament and non-proliferation; and whether he has consulted any non-governmental organisations or specialist independent institutions to help develop such proposals.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: I shall make clear at the meeting of the Security Council on 31 January the importance that the Government attach to good government, human rights, arms control and non-proliferation in the maintenance of international peace and security. Our policies on these matters are well known and benefit from our valuable dialogue with a range of non-governmental organisations.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer on 15 January, Official Report, column 579, if he will set out (a) the amount of financial support and (b) the types of other support, Her Majesty's Government plans to give organisers of the reconvention of the World Commission on Environment and Development in London in April.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: The Department of the Environment is contributing £30,000 to the costs of the London meeting of the World Commission on Environment and Development in April. In addition the Government will be hosting engagements for the commissioners.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 January, Official Report, column 579, if he will give the names of the organisations to which reports of the preparatory committee meetings of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development have been distributed and the cost of this distribution to date.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: The United Kingdom for United Nations Environment Programme has circulated reports on UNCED preparatory committee meetings to nearly 2000 organisations, under its contract with the Department of the Environment to keep the non-governmental community informed on preparations for UNCED.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the previous land use of areas now planted with soya beans under the World bank's lowlands programme in Bolivia.

Up to 20 or 25 years ago the land was largely unsettled and forested. The agricultural uses to which the land was put after settlement and clearance were based on short-term returns, with little consideration for sustainability of the environment. Decline in fertility and weed growth encouraged further expansion of the cleared area.The eastern lowlands project is intended to support agricultural production, including soya beans, by technologies which are both economically attractive and environmentally sound. The intention is to reduce the pressure for further clearance of forest areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make additional donations to the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the United Nations inter-agency humanitarian programme for Kuwait, Iraq and the Iraq-Iran-Turkey Kurdish area.

[holding answer 24 January 1992]: Yes. I have called for an early high-level meeting of donors, with the United Nations, to ensure that international humanitarian aid to the Gulf continues to be effectively co-ordinated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he received a copy of the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association report, "The Workload of Secondary Teachers", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is grateful to the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association for sending him a copy of this report. It points clearly to the need for schools to look carefully at the way they use their teachers' time, and at the optimum balance of teaching and non-teaching duties for individual members of staff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, pursuant to his answer of 20 January to the hon. Member for Cambridgeshire, South-East, Official Report, columns 36–37, what information is available to enable accurate comparisons of expenditure rates on school transport by local education authorities.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Isle of Wight (Mr. Field) on 13 December, Official Report, column 559. It set out each local education authority's expenditure on home to school transport in 1989–90 expressed as a percentage of its total net recurrent expenditure on education. No other information is available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what funds the Government presently make available for research into vitamin B12 deficiency among premature babies;(2) if he will list those hospitals and research establishments presently carrying out research into vitamin B12 deficiency among premature babies.

The main government agency for supporting medical research in the United Kingdom is the Medical Research Council (MRC) which receives its grant-in-aid from this Department. That grant totals £202 million in the current financial year. The MRC is an independent body, and normally decides its research priorities on its own expert judgment. The MRC Dunn nutrition unit, one of the world's leading institutes of nutritional research, while not doing any specific work on vitamin B12 deficiency in premature babies, does have research projects on the early response to diet in premature infants and on the impact of early nutrition on long term outcome. The MRC is always ready to consider, in competition with other applications, soundly based research proposals in this field.Information is not collected centrally on relevant publicly funded research which may be undertaken by university departments, the health authorities and the health departments, nor on research undertaken by the medical research charities whose role we of course welcome.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to update the 1977 survey conducted by his Department and the Welsh Office giving information on the number of schools with outside toilets.

We have no plans to do so and neither has my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish a draft order setting out the requirements for physical education in the national curriculum.

I have today, along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, published the draft order for physical education in the national curriculum. Copies have been sent to a wide range of interested individuals and organisations for submission of comments by 4 March at the latest.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent contact he has had with the Football Association to discuss the financing and other matters affecting the future of football.

I wrote to the chief executive of the Football Association on 12 December requesting clarification of the funds likely to be generated by FA driven initiatives following the establishment of the Premier League and its split between the Premier League and Football League clubs for the purposes of implementing the Taylor report. I also raised with the FA a number of other issues which have implications for the running of the Premier League.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he last met representatives of the Football League, the Professional Footballers Association and the Premier League; and what matters were discussed.

I met the chief executive of the Football League on 5 December and the chief executive of the Professional Footballers Association on 31 October and at the Pools Promoters Association lunch on 3 December. So far as the Premier League is concerned, I met Mr. Rick Parry on 11 December and Sir John Quinton on 18 December. The Premier League and its implications for football were discussed. In the light of these meetings I wrote to the FA on 12 December to seek clarification of a number of issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what recent representations he has received concerning students' financial circumstances; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will obtain copies of the citizens advice bureaux report and the Edinburgh Students Association report, concerning the financial circumstances of students, for his departmental library.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received a number of representations, including copies of the reports "Diminishing Options" and "Income Survey June '91" by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and the Edinburgh University Students Association respectively.We have substantially increased support for students through the mandatory grant and student loan, and we have introduced the access funds for institutions to use at their discretion to help students who may face particular difficulties. My Department has given written evidence to the inquiry currently being undertaken by the Education, Science and Arts Committee and I will give oral evidence on 29 January 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recent interventions or involvement his Department has made or had at Stratford school in Newham; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has been in correspondence with the school on a number of matters recently, including the purported suspension of the head teacher in early January. On 10 January, the governing body was informed that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State was exercising his power to appoint two additional governors to the school with effect from 27 January. He has now appointed Mrs. Daphne Gould and Mr. Eric Bolton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next plans to meet the chairman of the British Coal Corporation to discuss the future of the coal industry.

I meet the chairman of British Coal regularly to discuss all aspects of the coal industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy by how much industrial fuel prices rose in real terms (a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) since 1979.

Between 1974 and 1979 industrial fuel prices rose by 16 per cent. in real terms. Since 1979 they have fallen by 35 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the level of household spending on fuel and light as a percentage of total spending.

In 1990 household spending on fuel, light and power was 4.5 per cent. of total spending. This was a lower proportion that at any time since records began in 1957.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had concerning non-fossil fuel generation in the north-west; and if he will make a statement.

I discussed the non-fossil fuel obligation and renewables-based generation of electricity with the chairman of the North Western electricity board in July 1991.In 1989, a report was published on a study of the prospects for renewable energy in the north-west. This study was jointly funded by NORWEB and my Department, and carried-out by staff from the company and from the energy technology support unit.A further joint study is now in progress, on implementation and the refining of cost estimates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the number of jobs created by the British Coal Enterprise scheme in each of the past three years.

The number of job opportunities created by British Coal Enterprise in each of the past three years are: 1988–89, 14,593; 1989–90, 14,784; and, 1990–91, 9,268—nearly 40,000 in total.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the level of carbon dioxide emissions that are saved in the United Kingdom every year by the use of nuclear power.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Wyre (Mr. Mans) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what action his Department has taken as a result of the meeting between the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Wells (Mr. Heathcoat-Amory), on the circumstances of the closure of Coventry colliery.

Following this meeting, I conveyed the concerns of the hon. Member for Conventry South-East, and his deputation, to British Coal Enterprise. I encouraged it to continue its excellent retraining and job shop projects for those affected by the rundown of operations at Coventry colliery.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the level of output achieved by Nuclear Electric in 1990–91.

In 1990–91 Nuclear Electric achieved a record output of just over 45 TWh from its portfolio of stations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what change there has been in the past year in the output of Nuclear Electric in its costs and in its operating profits.

The year 1990–91 saw record output of just over 45 TWh from Nuclear Electric's stations compared to 42.5 TWh the previous year. Operating profit before exceptional items rose from £227 million in 1989–90 to £326 million in 1990–91. Operating costs per unit sold in real terms fell from 4.7 in 1989–90 to 4 in 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy how much the United Kingdom's energy-intensity ratio has changed since 1983; and what is the corresponding figure for the rest of the EC and with Japan.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is his estimate of the number of people directly employed in the United Kingdom in (a) the nuclear industry, (b) the opencast coal sector and (c) the offshore oil and gas industry.

Latest available estimates of numbers of people directly employed are: some 40,000 in the United Kingdom's nuclear energy industry as at 31 March 1991; some 8,500 in the United Kingdom's opencast coal sector in 1991; and some 36,500 in the offshore oil and gas industry in 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he next intends to meet representatives of the Scottish NUM to discuss the future of the Scottish coal industry.

I have no immediate plans to meet representatives of the Scottish NUM to discus the future of the Scottish coal industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the level of investment to date in the sizewell B nuclear power station.

By September 1991, when my Department received the most recent six-monthly progress report from Nuclear Electric, £1,614.2 million had been committed in respect of the Sizewell B project of which £1,224.3 million had been spent, in April 1987 prices. I am delighted to say that the project remains well ahead of time and within budget.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with this ministerial colleagues representing the other member states of the European Community relating to matters of regulation of offshore extractive industries.

My right hon. Friend meets his ministerial colleagues from other EC member states regularly to discuss a wide range of energy issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he plans to hold discussions with the Mersey Barrage Company about the future prospects for the development of renewable energy as a result of its proposals.

My right hon. Friend and I expect to meet the Mersey Barrage Company during the curent studies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the cost of gas to the average domestic household in the United Kingdom in 1987 at current prices; what it is now; and if he will make a statement.

In 1987 the annual cost of gas to an average household was £268. The cost now is £327, which represents a decrease in real terms of 8 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) if he will list the opencast coal sites currently awaiting planning permission in the county of Northumberland;(2) if he will list the opencast coal sites currently in operation in Northumberland; and if he will give their projected completion dates.

Such records are not held centrally. The local mineral planning authority should be able to provide this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions the gas and electricity distribution companies have used their statutory right of entry to premises to read meters in the most recent year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the companies concerned.