To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give a breakdown of the oil and gas platforms, oil and gas production, and oil and gas reserves between the Scottish and English sectors of the Moray Firth, central North sea, and mid North sea high fields.

	Moray Firth	Central North sea	Mid North sea high
Number of oil and gas platforms	7	15	Nil
1991 oil production (million tonnes)1	9·8	19·3	Nil
1991 gas production (billion cubic metres)1	3—	3—	Nil
Initial discovered oil reserves (million tonnes)1 2	455	690	Nil
Initial discovered gas reserves (billion cubic metres)1 2	80	145	Nil
1 Provisional figures.
2 Central estimates at 31 December 1991.
3 Less than one.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has received regarding the effect of the no discrimination provision in electricity generators licences on competition; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have received a number of representations regarding the non-discrimination provisions in the electricity generators' licences. Licence conditions are a matter for the Director General of Electricity Supply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had for and against the moving of the oil and gas industry exploration appraisal and development unit to Aberdeen.

I have received a number of representations from Scottish organisations, and the matter has also been raised in discussions with the oil industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what time scale he envisages for the consultancy study considering the future position of the oil and gas industry exploration appraisal and development unit; when he expects to make a final decision; and if he will make a statement.

The study of the case for or against relocating the Department of Energy's petroleum engineering directorate to Aberdeen is expected to take about five months. Ministers will then be in a position to make a final decision.

Under international law, the continental shelf appertains to the United Kingdom as a whole. The reserves and production have not been divided between Scotland and England. The number of platforms presently located in the areas commonly known as the Moray Firth, the central North sea and the mid North sea high, together with my Department's provisional estimates of production in 1991 and of initial recoverable reserves discovered to date in each of these areas are shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions the Minister for Overseas Development has had with her EC counterparts on linking Malawi's performance on human rights with the levels of EC development aid.

Following the EC Development Ministers' adoption last November of a resolution on human rights, democracy and development, agreed representations have been made to the Malawi Government. Britain and her European partners will continue to monitor Malawi's actions in all these areas and respond accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on current levels of aid to Zimbabwe.

In 1990, the last year for which comprehensive figures are available, we spent £20·7 million including investments by the Commonwealth Development Corporation. Expenditure in 1992 will include balance of payments aid in support of Zimbabwe's economic reform.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the Minister for Overseas Development has had with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the co-ordination of aid policy.

I attended the OECD joint ministerial environment and development meeting and the OECD development assistance committee high level meeting in Paris, on 2 to 4 December 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with Britain's EC partners on EC aid programmes in the last month.

I last discussed development issues with all my EC colleagues at the Development Council in Brussels on 28 November 1991. My officials are in frequent contact with their opposite numbers in the Commission and other member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how British aid assists the contribution to family planning in developing countries made by the non-governmental sector.

Population assistance has a high priority in the United Kingdom aid programme—the amount has more than tripled since 1980 to £24 million in 1990. Non-governmental organisations have a vital role to play.We are providing substantial and increasing support to NGOs in this area through our support to the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and through our joint funding scheme and bilateral programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met OECD development ministers to discuss the co-ordination of aid policy.

I last met a number of overseas development ministers at the OECD joint ministerial environment and development meeting and the OECD Development Assistance Committee high level meeting in Paris from 2 to 4 December 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Contenonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place with Britain's EC partners on overseas development co-ordination in the last month.

I last discussed development issues with all my EC colleagues at the Development Council in Brussels on 28 November 1991. My officials are in frequent contact with their opposite numbers in the Commission and other members states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Minister for Overseas Development next intends to meet the Secretary-General of the United Nations and representatives of the World bank to discuss matters relating to the administration of multilateral aid programmes.

I met the United Nations Secretary-General on 13 January and the president of the World bank on 4 February. I have regular meetings with senior officials in these and other multilateral aid agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contributions towards animal conservation are being made by the Overseas Development Administration; and if he will make a statement.

Since 1990 ODA has committed almost £20 million to wildlife conservation projects. A list of projects is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions he intends to place on future know-how and other funds offered to the states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

[holding answer 27 February 1992]: The Government have designated the following four sectors as priorities for the delivery of technical assistance to the Baltic states: food processing and distribution, financial services, small business creation, and energy. This does not prevent us from responding to specific requests made by the Baltic authorities in other areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British economic assistance that has been extended to the three Baltic states since independence.

[holding answer 27 February 1992]: The following projects for technical assistance to the Baltic states under the know-how fund have now been approved:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further representations to the South African authorities to secure the release of all South African political prisoners in accordance with the UN declaration on South Africa adopted by consensus in December 1989; and if he will approach his partners in the European Community to do likewise.

We have repeatedly urged the South African Government to release all political prisoners throughout South Africa. The issue is complicated by the late submission of thousands of indemnity applications from prisoners claiming political status. A demarche on political prisoners was handed to the South African Government by the Dutch ambassador, representing the European Community, in October 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has any plans to try and increase the number of entries on the electoral roll in St. Helena.

The registers of electors are up-dated during a period of 28 days at the beginning of each calendar year. During this period and throughout the year the public are urged by radio news and the weekly newspaper to register. This coverage, which extends to Ascension island, is supplemented by the work of registration officers and councillors who urge their constituents to register on the electoral roll. The preliminary lists for 1992 show 27 new claims.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the latest available figures for the population of St. Helena 18 years old or over, the number of St. Helenians eligible to be entered on the electoral roll and entitled to vote at an election for the legislative council; and the number at present entered.

The latest available figure for the population of St. Helena 18 years old and over is 3,508. The same number are entitled to be entered on the electoral roll and entitled to vote at an election for the legislative council. A total of 2,532 persons are presently entered on the electoral roll.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for the St. Helena olive; and if he will make a statement.

The St. Helena Government are collaborating with the royal botanic gardens in an attempt to propagate the St. Helena olive. There is only a single specimen which is now old and producing only a few seeds from which propagation is being attempted both on St. Helena and at the royal botanic gardens at Kew. There is optimism that the St. Helena olive can be saved and eventually propagated in larger numbers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will provide details of the United Kingdom financial contribution to the UN peace plan for the western Sahara; and if he will state how many United Kingdom personnel are currently in the western Saraha to monitor the implementation of the ceasefire and peace plan.

Our assessed contribution to the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in the Western Sahara (MINURSO) amounts to US$8,265,226 so far. In addition, we have provided 15 military observers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

Following is the reply:

(a) Preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is one of the FCO's departmental objectives. To that end we have been consistently active in promoting the nuclear non-proliferation regime in a wide range of international fora, including the UN, the IAEA, the EC, the nuclear suppliers group, the Zangger committee and in support of the UN Special Commission's activities in Iraq. We have undertaken regular bilateral lobbying to increase support for the NPT. In co-operation with other Departments we have provided advice to the DTI on export licensing matters.

(b) Ten FCO staff in London are engaged directly in work to prevent nuclear proliferation. But a much larger number of staff, at home and overseas, were involved in activities in support of this objective at some time in 1991.

(c) It is not possible to identify separately departmental expenditure specifically on the control of nuclear proliferation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children are currently categorised as at risk in (a) London and (b) nationally.

The information collected centrally relates to children on the child protection registers. The provisional figures for March 1991 show about 7,630 children on registers for London authorities and 45,200 for England. These figures may be adjusted slightly when the final publication is released in the next few months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list by year for the last five years, the number of induced births carried out by each (a) regional health authority and (b) district health authority, and if he will show in his answer the age of the mothers in the following age ranges (i) under 16, (ii) 16 to 19, (iii) 20 to 24, (iv) 25 to 29, (v) 30 to 39 and (vi) over 40 years.

The information is not available in the form requested. The table shows the estimated percentages of induced deliveries by regional health authority for 1985, the last year of the hospital in-patient enquiry (HIPE) and for 1989–90, the first full year of the collection of maternity items in the hospital episode statistics system (HES). The 1989–90 figures are the latest available centrally.

Induced deliveries as estimated percentages of all deliveries
	19851	1989–902
England	18	18
Northern	18	22
Yorkshire	17	21
Trent	18	17
East Anglia	15	17
North West Thames	24	12
North East Thames	16	18
South East Thames	15	22
South West Thames	18	15
Wessex	19	n.a.
Oxford	19	19
South Western	15	17
West Midlands	17	21
Mersey	16	17
North Western	18	24
n.a. Not Available
Source:
1 Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE)
2 Hospital Episode Statistic (HES)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make available finger-pricking devices free of charge for diabetics; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the potential benefits of these devices: new additions to the list of prescribable items must be subject to the availability of resources and decisions on other competing priorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the total capital expenditure on the national health service, expressed at 1992 prices for each year since 1962.

The information, expressed at 1992 prices, is shown in the table. Figures are available only from 1970–71 onwards, and are not available on the present definition of capital prior to 1985–86.

NHS capital gross expenditure (including trusts' capital expenditure)
	Cash (A) £ million	Cash (B) £ million	Adjusted by GDP 1992–93 prices (A) £ million	Adjusted by GDP 1992–93 prices (B) £ million
1970–71	126	—	966	—
1971–72	158	—	1,114	—
1972–73	201	—	1,311	—
1973–74	245	—	1,493	—
1974–75	246	—	1,253	—
1975–76	332	—	1,347	—
1976–77	361	—	1,290	—
1977–78	321	—	1,009	—
1978–79	373	—	1,057	—
1979–80	417	—	1,013	—
1980–81	568	—	1,166	—
1981–82	693	—	1,298	—
1982–83	719	—	1,257	—
1983–84	752	—	1,256	—
1984–85	845	—	1,344	—
1985–86	928	1,013	1,399	1,527
1986–87	—	1,089	—	1,590
1987–88	—	1,129	—	1,563
1988–89	—	1,221	—	1,577
1989–90	—	1,454	—	1,764
1990–91	—	1,603	—	1,792
1991–92	—	1,912	—	1,998
1992–93	—	2,073	—	2,073

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what were the number of nurses of G grade and above employed at Leighton hospital, Crewe in 1990–91; and what are the comparable figures to date;(2) what are the present staff levels at Mid Cheshire hospitals trust Leighton hospital in

The information is not collected centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. R. F. Lawrence, the chairman of Mid Cheshire hospitals NHS trust, for details.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of poliomyelitis there have been in each year since 1978 and in 1992 to date; and if he will give for each year the number of cases known to have been caused from (a) vaccination and (b) contact with a vaccinated person.

Between 1978 and the end of 1991, there have been 42 cases of paralytic poliomyelitis reported to the Public Health Laboratory Service communicable disease surveillance centre. A total of 18 were vaccine associated (recipient) cases and nine were vaccine associated (contact) cases.In 1992 there has been one vaccine associated (contact) case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the answer of 18 February, Official Report, column 111–12, how many of the 483 reported suspected adverse reactions to immunisation in 1991 were serious.

One hundred and fifty nine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 18 February, Official Report, column 111–12 if he will list the research studies which show that the deaths to which he referred are temporally not causally related to immunisation.

The United States Institute of Medicine has recently published a detailed review of studies of vaccine adverse events titled "Adverse Effects of Pertussis and Rubella Vaccines". The report concludes:

there was insufficient evidence to indicate a causal relationship between Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT) vaccine and aseptic meningitis, chronic neurological damage, erythema multiforme, Guillain Barre syndrome, haemolytic anaemia, juvenile diabetes, learning disabilities, peripheral mononeuropathy or thrombocytopenia, and rubella vaccine and radiculoneuritis and other neuropathies or thrombocytopenia purpura:

that the evidence does not indicate a causal relationship between DPT vaccine and infantile spasms, hypsarrhythmia, Reye Syndrome or sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

The full bibliography can be made available. Thirty-nine references to studies on SIDS and DTP are listed in that publication.In this country, deaths reported in association with mumps, measles and rubella have been studied carefully by the clinicians involved, and no causal relationship established.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991 (a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged;(2) if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November

Following a competitive tendering exercise, the Department has appointed KPMG Management Consultants to assist in identifying activities that might be suitable for market testing. No decisions have been taken on areas for market testing beyond those identified in the Department's contribution to the annex of "Competing for Quality" published on 18 November 1991, a copy of which is available in the Library.The full costs of external support for the Department's market testing programme cannot be estimated until that programme is decided. Payments under individual consultancy contracts are confidential.To avoid potential conflicts of interest, all nongovernmental organisations bidding in a market testing exercise will be required to declare any interest that might be contrary to the public interest. In particular, any companies that help to prepare specifications for any service will be excluded from the process of evaluating tenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he intends to take to stop people in dentistry from leaving the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Our recent survey showed that 76 per cent. of dentists routinely accept all patients for NHS treatment, and 85 per cent. accept all children. There were always some dentists who provided a mixed service but prior to the registration of patients, as required by the 1990 dental contract, we had no means of checking the numbers. There are currently 25 per cent. more dentists practising in the general dental services in England than there were in 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the in-patient and day case activity figures for the first six months of the current financial year for each national health service trust; and if he will provide comparable data for the previous three years.

In all NHS trusts the number of patients treated in the first six months of the current financial year was: in-patients 536,425, day cases 140,812. This information is provisional only as it has not yet been validated.Comparable information for the previous three years for individual units is not available. However, in all NHS trusts the number of patients treated in the first six months of the last financial year was: in patients 516,129, day cases 120,078.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what were the in-patient and day case activity figures for the 75 directly managed units, showing the largest increase in activity rates in the first six months of the current year; and if he will provide comparable data for the performance of these units in the previous three years.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer of 29 January, Official Report, column 586, if he will list those who responded to the consultation document on the proposal to establish a national blood authority for England and those whom he has asked to be part of the technical working group to consider operational matters.

The organisations which submitted comments in response to the consultation document are given in the table. Those who have been invited to nominate members for the technical working group are indicated with an asterisk.

• Alpha, Armour and Immuno Pharmaceutical Companies
• Association of Clinical Pathologists
• British Blood Transfusion Society
• British Society for Haematology
• Central Blood Laboratories Authority^*
• College of Anaesthetists
• East Anglian Regional Health Authority
• Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte's Special Health Authority
• Joint Consultants Committee of the British Medical Association
• Mersey and North Wales Regional Transfusion Centre
• Mersey Regional Health Authority
• Moorfields Eye Hospital
• Mount Vernon Hospital NHS Trust
• National Directorate of the National Blood Transfusion Service*
• National Association of Blood Donors
• National Blood Transfusion Service (Regional Transfusion Directors)*
• National Health Service Trust Federation
• North East Thames Regional Transfusion Centre
• Northern Regional Health Authority
• Northern Regional Blood Transfusion Service
• North Western Regional Health Authority
• North West Thames Regional Health Authority
• Oxford Regional Health Authority
• Oxford Regional Blood Transfusion Centre
• Pontefract Health Authority
• Public Health Laboratory Service
• Public Health Laboratory Service at Manchester
• Regional Health Authority Chairmen*
• Regional Directors of Public Health*
• Royal Brompton National Heart and Lung Hospitals
• Royal College of Nursing
• Royal College of Physicians
• Royal College of Surgeons of England
• Senior Nurse Managers Group of the National Blood Transfusion Service
• South East and South West Thames Regional Health Authorities
• South Western Regional Transfusion Centre
• South Western Region Haematology Advisory Group
• The Haemophilia Society
• The Hospitals for Sick Children Special Health Authority
• The Royal College of Midwives Trust
• The Royal College of Pathologists
• The Royal Marsden Hospital
• Trent Blood Transfusion Service Board
• Trent Regional Health Authority
• Trent Regional Transfusion Centre
• United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation
• Wessex Regional Health Authority
• West Midlands Regional Transfusion Centre
• Yorkshire Regional Health Authority

In addition, 14 individuals have commented in a personal capacity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those parts of his Department, including executive agencies, carrying out reviews over the last 12 months into the pay and grading of staff and the firm of consultants engaged, where appropriate.

No such reviews have yet taken place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current number of staff in his Department dedicated to (a) the operation of local management of schools and (b) opted-out schools.

Local management of schools is operated by local education authorities, not by the Department. There are 9.8 full-time-equivalent staff working in the Department's local management of schools unit, which is responsible for policy, development and implementation.A total of 53 staff currently work in schools 4, division B, which is responsible for policy on grant-maintained schools, including transitional arrangements and recurrent and capital funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for South Hams's letter of 13 December, enclosing a letter from the principal of the Kingsbridge school and community college.

	1989		1990		1991
	Vacancies filled	Applications received	Vacancies filled	Applications received	Vacancies filled	Applications received
Northern board	123	1,116	239	2,354	153	2,009
Southern board	103	—1	57	576	89	790
Western board	102	785	160	2,098	90	1,594
Eastern board	294	3,500–4,000	220	3,695	243	4,135
1 The Southern and Eastern health and social services boards have not retained application details for 1989.

There were no complaints in 1989. In 1990 five complaints against the Western board and three against the Eastern board were taken to the Fair Employment Commission and are still under consideration. Three complaints against the Northern board were referred to tribunal, two were withdrawn and one is outstanding.In 1991 two complaints against the Western board were taken to the FEC and are still under consideration. To date, no complaints have gone to court and no compensation has been paid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many teachers were trained within the teacher training colleges in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

The information requested is:

	Number
1986–87	386
1987–88	403
1988–89	422

A reply was sent by my right hon. and learned Friend on 26 February 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has any plans to introduce a students charter; and if he will make a statement.

The Further and Higher Education Bill, when enacted, will improve opportunities for students and ensure that the quality of the education offered in both sectors is sustained and enhanced. My right hon. and learned Friend will be considering whether these advances will best be reflected in a charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table to show for each health and social services board headquarters, the number of vacancies filled in each of the last available three years, the number of applications received by each board for those vacancies in each of those years, and the number of complaints made under the fair employment legislation in respect of those posts in each year and the number of such complaints which went to a tribunal; how many went to court; and how many are still ongoing.

I attach a table showing the information requested.

	Number
1989–90	432
1990–91	367

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the increase in staff working in the headquarters of the Eastern health and social services board since April 1989.

Between 1 January 1989, the nearest date to April 1989 for which figures are available, and I January 1992 the number of staff employed in the headquarters of the Eastern health and social services board fell from the equivalent of 428.24 full-time workers to 352.12, a decrease of 76·12.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons were on the electoral registers of each of the 17 parliamentary constituencies in June 1983; and how many there are now.

I understand from the chief electoral officer that the information is as set out. The figures for 1983 are estimates as the electoral register published that year was on the basis of the former 12 parliamentary constituencies.

Persons on the register of parliamentary electors in Northern Ireland, by constituency—June 1983 and February 1992
Constituency	Persons on Register
	11983	1992
Belfast East	56,231	53,375
Belfast North	61,778	55,587
Belfast South	54,344	52,556
Belfast West	60,400	55,280
East Antrim	59,430	63,739
East Londonderry	68,015	76,912
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	68,530	71,472
Foyle	68,081	75,970
Lagan Valley	60,749	73,688
Mid Ulster	64,549	70,410
Newry and Armagh	63,037	68,716
North Antrim	63,904	70,217
North Down	62,224	69,604
Strangford	60,882	69,855
South Antrim	59,949	68,292
South Down	67,637	77,371
Upper Bann	61,445	68,422
Total	1,061,185	1,141,466
1 Estimated figures. Figures are available for the number of people eligible to vote in each of the 17 Northern Ireland constituencies in the June 1983 general election, but they do not include 11,049 persons who were under the age of 18 on election day but were on the electoral register because they would reach voting age while it was current.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total number of people employed by the NHS in Northern Ireland on a full-time and part-time basis.

At 31 December 1991 the total number of people employed in the Northern Ireland health and personal social services was 61,050; of these 34,025 were employed on a full-time basis and 27,025 on a part-time basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the statutory provisions which relate to the powers of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland to arrange to have potential electors in residential homes excluded from the Register of Electors for 1992; and if he will make a statement.

The statutory powers and duties of chief electoral officer in respect of the compilation of the electoral register are contained in the Representation of the People Act 1983, as amended and as applied by schedule 1 to the Elected Authorities (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, and in subordinate legislation made under that Act. Under sections 1(1), 2(1) and 12 of the Act a person who is subject to a legal incapacity to vote may not be registered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many residents are registered in residential homes in east Antrim; and how many of those residents have been excluded from the 1992 electoral register.

I understand from the chief electoral officer that this information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what were the running costs incurred in the operation of the research vessel Lough Foyle in each of the years from 1 April 1986 to 31 March 1991.

The running costs for the Lough Foyle are:

	£
20 October 19881 to 31 March 1989	168,662
1 April 1989 to 31 March 1990	409,332
1 April 1990 to 31 March 1991	585,483
1 Date at which the vessel became operational in public service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many, and what proportion, of supplementary benefit and income support claimants in Northern Ireland were in receipt of benefit because they were unemployed for each year since 1979.

Social security operational matters are the responsibility of Mr. Alec Wylie, chief executive of the Social Security Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and copies of his reply will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-East (Mr. Nellist) Official Report, 21 February, column 338, if he will list those individual sales contracts for defence equipment covered by ECGD insurance where all commercial parties involved have agreed to disclosure.

ECGD has no record of any instance where all the commercial parties have agreed to the disclosure of support in respect of defence sales contracts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list (a) all measures taken by his Department in the last 12 months to prevent nuclear proliferation, (b) the number of personnel in his Department working to prevent nuclear proliferation and (c) his Department's total expenditure on control of nuclear proliferation in each of the last three years for which figures are available.

The Export Control Organisation of DTI works together with other Government Departments to implement policy on nuclear non-proliferation. Over the past 12 months my officials have continued to participate in international fora dealing with nuclear proliferation issues, in particular the nuclear suppliers group and the European political co-operation working group on nuclear non-proliferation.Amendment No. 7 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order introduced in July 1991 was a significant unilateral measure which brought under control the export of a wide range of goods where the exporter knows or suspects that they will be used for nuclear proliferation purposes. In 1991 my Department organised a series of eight seminars for industry entitled "The Changing Threat" aimed at alerting exporters to proliferation issues in the context of export controls.The Export Control Organisation of DTI employs 119 staff. As the staff of the Export Control Organisation deal with all matters relating to export control, it is not possible to provide figures on the Department's expenditure specifically on the control of nuclear proliferation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the total earnings of exports of British cars in 1990–91; and what are the latest figures for British car exports in total.

The available information is given in the table.

Total United Kingdom exports of passenger motor cars
	Numbers	Value (£ million)
1990	433,490	3,306·3
1991	626,084	4,081·0

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the work of the innovation unit of his Department.

The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the background to the DTI's innovation unit as summarised in press notice P/91/544. Since its establishment in October 1991, the innovation unit has expanded, with the secondment of five top business men who are using their hands-on experience of innovation in industry to deal directly with firms, higher education institutes, schools and the media.Since its establishment, the unit has initiated or supported many activities such as the publication of the first United Kingdom research and development scoreboard and the "Innovation Plans Handbook", both aimed at improving communication between industry and investors. It is supporting the fellowship of engineering's MacRobert award and visiting professorship scheme and, in conjunction with the Fellowship of Engineering and the Royal Society, organised the first United Kingdom innovation lecture, delivered last month by Mr. Akio Morita, chairman of the Sony Corporation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, pursuant to his answer of 24 February, Official Report, column 380, if he will indicate (a) the number of corporate or individual attendees at each of the export control seminars held by his Department last year, (b) the number of such bookings taken for the seminar in Manchester on 23 March and (c) the feedback his Department has received on the utility of such seminars.

[holding answer 28 February 1991]:(a) The number of corporate attendees at each seminar last year was as follows:

	Number
Southampton	27
Manchester	50
London	161
Edinburgh	29
Bristol	26
Birmingham	44
Cambridge	18
Reading	49

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton), Official Report, 27 January, column 435, if he will set out for each year respectively from 1975 the proportion of United Kingdom total annual exports to Indonesia that were made up of military equipment requiring an export control licence.

[holding answer 28 February 1992]: The information requested is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the details of each external consultancy study undertaken, including its remit, into any aspects of the operation of the National Engineering Laboratory in each of the last five years.

[holding answer 28 February 1991]: Since this is an operational matter it would be best dealt with by direct contact with the agency. I have therefore asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Gentleman with the information requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether local authorities in areas eligible to receive European regional development fund assistance will, from 1993–94, automatically have public expenditure cover made available for them to enable those local authorities to claim fully the European regional development fund made available by the European Commission.

[holding answer 28 February 1992]: Yes. Local authorities are, however, of course not the only recipients of grant from the fund. In accordance with my statement on 17 February, from 1993–94 local authorities will receive supplementary credit approvals to match in full the ERDF-funded part of their expenditure on approved capital projects. Public expenditure cover will also be made available automatically for all other forecast ERDF receipts.I welcome the Commission's announcement on 26 February of its approval of the Government's RECHAR programmes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will deposit in the Library such papers relating to the discussions between the Government and the European Commission relating to the issue of additionality, and upon which he based his statement made on 17 February, as are not confidential.

[holding answer 28 February 1992]: No. It is not usual for such papers to be deposited.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give full details of the nature of the transitional arrangements referred to in his statement of 17 February, Official Report, columns 22 to 37, on RECHAR.

[holding answer 28 February 1992]: An announcement will be made as soon as possible about the details of the transitional arrangements in the intervening period until 1993–94. Allowance has already been made in public expenditure plans for RECHAR-linked expenditure, but it has not been possible for RECHAR grants to be made in 1991–92 because of the delay to the Commission's approval of the programmes.The transitional arrangements will include special arrangements for RECHAR to ensure that commensurate public expenditure cover is available to the relevant spending authorities for the element of their expenditure financed by the ERDF.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the employment of people with disabilities in the civil service.

The annual review of employment of people with disabilities in the civil service is presented in the magazine "Independent" published today. This shows that the civil service employs 8,024 registered disabled people, an increase of 125 since 1990.Copies of "Independent" have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will give details of the total United Kingdom arts budget for the last five financial years for which figures are available; and if these figures can be broken down for Scotland. England, Wales, Northern Ireland and London and expressed in cash terms and as percentages.

Details of the total arts budget for the United Kingdom are not available. The central Government arts programme for which I have responsibility is as follows:

	£ million	Per cent.
1986–87	343	—
1987–88	368	+7
1988–89	414	+13
1989–90	446	+8
1990–91	496	+11
1991–92	561	+13

It includes finance for the Arts Council of Great Britain which, in turn, passes funds on to the Scottish and Welsh Arts Councils.The Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland make provisions for the arts in their respective expenditure programmes.A territorial presentation of Government expenditures by function and from 1986–87, is available in the Government's "Public Expenditure Analyses to 1994–95, Statistical Suplement to the 1991 Autumn Statement". Cm 1920.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what central Government financial assistance was given for the recent building work on the new wing of the national gallery in London.

None.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if the statement in paragraph 3.3 of his Office's annual report for 1992, Cm 1912, concerning the availability from the contingency reserve of up to £10 million per annum, taking one year with another, for acceptance in lieu represents a change in policy from the announcement of 26 July 1985, Official Report, column 777, stating that the figure was not a limit but an estimate; and if he will make a statement.

As Lord Gowrie said when he announced this policy in 1985, it is not possible to give an exact estimate of what might be accepted in lieu of tax in any one year, as too many unpredictables are involved. Looking at recent and current levels of acceptance in lieu offers, we would expect to call on the reserve for around £10 million or so a year, taking one year with another. I am pleased to say that there has been no change in policy in this area and must emphasise strongly that this is neither a target nor a limit, but an estimate. In any given year the demand could be either less or more.

To ask the Minister for the Arts pursuant to the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) on 17 February, Official Report, column 152, what further consideration he has given to the matter of discussions with the art market about Bohemian carvings.

I will tomorrow be meeting with my consultative group on the export of works of art after 1992, on which there are representatives of the major art trade associations and auction houses. I will therefore take the opportunity to draw the matters of the Bohemian wood carvings to its attention, and I will follow this up in a letter. The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the voluntary code of practice adhered to by the art trade in the United Kingdom, whereby it undertakes not to deal in stolen works of art. I am sure it will wish to assist in the recovery of any wood carvings which might appear on the market.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of employees in his Departments; and how many are (a) black and (b) disabled.

The total number of employees in the Chancellor's departments at 1 October 1991 was 110,593·5.Departments collated their ethnic minority and disability figures at different times within the past 12 months. The combined totals are 5,611 from ethnic minority backgrounds and 1,7895 registered disabled workers.These figures include part-timers as 0·5.Some departments do not hold central records of the ethnic origin or disability of industrial staff. The response rate to ethnic origin questionnaires varies from 57 to 97·5 per cent. of staff. Some disabled people choose not to register as disabled.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the number of (a) men and (b) women in his Departments in each of grades (i) 1, (ii) 2, (iii) 3, (iv) 4, (v) 5, (vi) 6, (vii) 7, (viii) SEO, (ix) HEO, (x) administrative trainee, (xi) EO, (xii) CO and (xiii) CA.

The combined total for the Chancellor's departments is:

Grade	Men	Women
1	7·0	0·0
2	19·0	3·0
3	58·0	2·0
4	58·0	0·0
5	402·5	31·0
6	1,135·5	73·0
7	2,582·0	344·0
SEO	4,132·0	572·0
HEO	10,310·0	3,576·5
AT	21·0	5·0
EO	14,882·5	12,244·0
AO	9,874·5	20,568·5
AA	6,777·5	18,862·0

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in 1992–93 and in a full year of introducing a child care tax credit of £5 per child for (a) all working mothers and (b) all mothers, giving figures separately for (i) all dependent children and (ii) children under five years only.

Estimates of the cost of introducing such a tax credit are in the table. It has been assumed that the £5 per week payments would be made to all those with children whether taxpayers or non-taxpayers.

	All families	All families with working mother1
	£billion	£billion
Payment in respect of:
All children	3·2	1·9
Children under five only	1·0	0·4
1 Including lone fathers who are working.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of introducing a tax allowance for child care costs, set against the taxable income of the mother, equal to £50 per week (a) per family with children under age 16 years and (b) per family with at least one child under the age of five years, giving the numbers of each who would benefit from such allowance, in the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 24 February 1992]: Estimates of the cost of introducing an allowance of £50 per week against taxable income of mothers and lone parents at 1992–93 levels, and the numbers of families benefiting from such an allowance are set out in the table.

	Cost £billion	Numbers benefiting millions1
Family with children under the age of 161	1·3	2·5
Family with at least one child under the age of 51	0·4	0·8
1 Includes lone parents.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many families with children are estimated to have taxable incomes below the income tax threshold; and what proportion this represents of all families with children.

In 1991–92 it is estimated that 1.8 million single parents and married couples with children have no income tax liability. These represent about one quarter of all families with children.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for how many (a) working and (b) non-working people do not pay tax, in the United Kingdom.

Just under 21 million people over 16 do not pay income tax in 1991–92, of whom 4·2 million have some earnings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the estimated total value of debt relief will be for countries which recieved the Toronto terms if they were all to receive the same terms as recently agreed by the Paris Club for Nicaragua;(2) how much debt relief would be given by the United Kingdom Government if all the countries which received relief under the toronto terms were to receive the same terms as recently agreed by the Paris Club for Nicaragua.

The actual value of debt relief under the terms of a Paris Club agreement is dependent on a number of factors which are not known in advance of the conclusion of the agreement. However, the agreement concluded with Nicaragua in December of last year provided for the reduction by 50 per cent. of eligible debts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the United States Government on the adoption of option A of debt relief agreements reached in the Paris Club of the kind agreed with Nicaragua last December.

The United States Government are aware at the highest level of the United Kingdom Government's objectives in this area. These objectives are the full implementation of Trinidad terms by all creditor countries at the Paris Club. Treasury officials are in regular contact with their United States counterparts, and will continue to pursue this matter vigorously.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the criteria for debtor countries' eligibility to receive the Trinidad terms of debt relief.

There are no formal criteria for eligibility for any set of debt restructuring terms at the Paris Club. The Trinidad terms are designed for a similar group of countries to the Toronto terms. These countries were informally designated as those very poor and heavily indebted countries with chronic balance of payments problems that render the country unable to service debts on conventional terms. It is a pre-condition of any agreement at the Paris Club that the debtor country has a strong economic adjustment programme in place supported by the IMF. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.The 20 countries which have benefited from the Toronto terms between October 1988 and June 1991, are as follows: Benin, Bolivia, Burkino Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zaire and Zambia. Since December 1991 four countries have further benefited from the Trinidad terms. These are Nicaragua, Benin, Tanzania and Bolivia. More are expected to follow.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much the United Kingdom is owed by those countries which have received the Toronto terms of debt relief.

Taking into account the effect of debt reduction under the Toronto terms, the total of debt owed to the United Kingdom Government by the countries which have benefited from Toronto terms is £870 million, comprising £755 million of claims and outstanding interest on those claims owed to ECGD and £115 million owed to ODA.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much British capital is currently invested in the USA.

The latest available information from United Kingdom sources relates to the book value of direct investments in branches, subsidiaries and associates of United Kingdom companies in the USA at the end of 1989 and is published in table 1.6 of "Business Monitor MA4 (1989 Overseas Transactions)" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the Library. In addition, figures on the position at the end of 1990, are published by the US Department of Commerce in its "Survey of Current Business (August 1991)". A copy of this publication is also in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts of the inward and outward movement of capital to and from the United Kingdom for the last 10 years.

The available details inward and outward investment (distinguishing direct, portfolio and other flows) are contained in table A8 of the December 1991 issues of "Economic Trends" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. Annual figures for 1991 are not yet available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much Japanese capital is currently invested in the United Kingdom.

The latest available information relates to the book values of direct investments in branches, subsidiaries and associates of Japanese companies in the United Kingdom at the end of 1989 and is published in table 2.6 of "Business Monitor MA4 (1989 Overseas Transactions)" published by the Central Statistical Office, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the total local authority borrowing requirement for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92, estimated.

The total local authority borrowing requirement (LABR) for each year from 1978–79 to 1990–91 is as follows:

	LABR £ billion
1978–79	1·3
1979–80	3·0
1980–81	2·1

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total corporation tax raised from companies in regard to their activities in Wales in 1990–91.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the gross domestic product of (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Greater London in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year from 1980–81 to 1991–92, estimated.

Current price figures for Greater London up to 1989 are published in "Economic Trends" No. 457, November 1991 page 96. These include the income from employment of non-residents who work in Greater London. Alternative estimates given on page 92 exclude the income of non-residents. These do not measure the whole of the economic activity taking place in Greater London, but annual estimates are available up to 1990. Both pages include comparable figures for the United Kingdom. Only calendar year estimates are made.Constant price estimates of regional GDP are not made because there are no regional deflators. Comparable constant prices figures for the United Kingdom are given in table 1.3 of the Central Statistical Office Blue Book, 1991 edition, "United Kingdom National Accounts".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total Government revenue, including all taxation and other income accruing to both central and local government, for the year 1990–91; and what was the revenue per capita.

The information on total general Government revenue, defined as total current and capital account receipts, is published in the Central Statistical Office monthly publication "Financial Statistics" in tables 2.1 and 2.2 and is £220,347 million for the financial year 1990–91. The total revenue divided by the home population for mid-1990 as published in "The United Kingdom National Accounts" (CSO Blue Book) table 17.1 gives a figure for revenue per capita of £3,838.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish identifiable general Government expenditure, by area and function, consistent with the figures in tables EIO and El 1 of Cm. 1920 for (a) Greater London and (b) the south-east excluding Greater London.

The information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list any areas within his Department that have been identified since 18 November (a) by individuals or organisations from the private sector or (b) otherwise as possibly suitable for market testing and contracting out; and what steps are being taken to prevent any non-governmental organisations successfully tendering to carry out work currently undertaken by civil servants facing a conflict of interest between the public interest requirement of this work and other commercial activities they are involved in or other clients they represent.

A study to determine the most promising areas for market testing within the Department is not yet complete. Guidance on the ethics of conducting business with the private sector is contained in the Treasury's public competition and purchasing units guidance—CUP No. 16 —which has been circulated to Departments.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the individuals or organisations from the private sector who have been involved since 18 November 1991 (a) in determining areas within his Department for market testing or contracting out or (b) who have advised him of areas that should be market tested or contracted out to market consultants; the total fees or other costs to date charged to his Department by them and the full costs likely to be charged.

Following the evaluation of proposals from six firms, Touche Ross has been appointed to provide the private sector input to the study being undertaken to determine the scope for further market testing in Treasury in accordance with the White Paper "Competing for Quality" (Cm 1730). Information on the level of fees charged is commercially confidential.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will approve the introduction of uniforms to those employees in the public departments and executive agencies who currently wear individual clothes.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether expenditure by a proprietor of a business on attending a training course (a) to obtain new knowledge or skills or (b) to upgrade existing knowledge is tax deductible.

Where a business proprietor incurs expenditure on training to extend or improve his or her professional knowledge or skills, capital expenditure and tax relief will not normally be available for the expenditure when calculating the profits of the business for tax purposes. But money spent to update his or her professional skills or knowledge would generally be of a revenue nature and therefore allowable. It will be a question of fact in each case.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people presently have cars registered for ownership in a company's name; and if he will give a comparable figure for each year since 1973–74.

I assume that the hon. Member is interested in the numbers of employees with cars provided by their employers which are available for private use. It is estimated that in 1991–92 there were just under 2 million such employees. There are also about 2 million cars used by self-employed people for which relief is claimed against schedule D income tax liability. Available information on the numbers of employees who were taxed on the benefit of the provision of a car for private use for earlier years is as follows. Information for earlier years of numbers of self-employed people with cars used for business is not readily available.

	Numbers with taxable car benefit (thousands)
1978–79	560
1980–81	650
1981–82	790
1983–84	850
1985–86	1,070
1987–88	1,550
1988–89	1,750
1989–90	1,850
1990–91	1,950

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are (a) under state retirement age and (b) over state retirement age, and receiving a pension from a recognised scheme, giving in each case the number who are (i) non-taxpayers, (ii) basic rate taxpayers and (iii) higher rate taxpayers;(2) what are the most recent estimates of the number of people who are

Available estimates arc for United Kingdom taxpayers with occupational pensions and are as follows:

	Basic rate taxpayers (thousands)	Higher rate taxpayers (thousands)
Aged under 65	930	50
Aged 65 and over	1,540	70

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in implementing the Government's purchasing initiative since 1989–90.

A report by the central unit on purchasing (CUP) on progress in Government purchasing during 1990–91 is published today. This will be the last report from CUP; following the publication of the Government's White Paper "Competing for Quality" Cm 1730, a new public competition and purchasing unit (PCPU), based in the Treasury, has been established to promote the Government's programme as part of the citizens charter initiative for extending competition in the provisions of public services as well as subsuming CUP's other work.The report records the high level of activity and considerable progress in Government purchasing in 1990–91. The main features include:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for how many people who pay tax have earnings below the upper earnings limit in the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 24 February 1992]: Latest estimates for 1991–92 indicate that about 16 million taxpaying employees had earnings below the upper earnings limit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people faced marginal tax rates (a) including and (b) excluding social security, of (i) over 40 per cent., (ii) over 50 per cent., (iii) over 60 per cent., (iv) over 70 per cent., (v) over 80 per cent., (vi) over 90 per cent. and (vii) over 100 per cent. in every year since 1978–79, including 1991–92, in the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 24 February 1992]: Estimated numbers of taxpayers liable to income tax at rates above the basic rate are in the table. Estimates of the numbers with marginal net income deduction rates (taking account of the withdrawal of social security benefits) at or above certain levels were published in figure 20 of "Social Security. The Government's expenditure plans 1992–93 to 1994–95" (Cm 1914).