To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the definition of citizen used by his Department for the purposes of conferring benefits through the charter programme.

Anyone who uses, or might use, a public service.

To ask the Attorney-General what is the cost to date to public funds of the investigation by the Serious Fraud Office into Polly Peck.

The cost to date of the investigation into Polly Peck by the Serious Fraud Office is approximately £2·6 million but not including work undertaken by police officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to make an announcement about the electrification of the trans-Pennine railway link.

A consultant's report has been commissioned by a consortium of local authorities and passenger transport executives in the area. The report is currently under discussion with the Department. We are currently awaiting the consortium's response to a number of detailed questions. It would be for British Rail to bring forward an investment case for this project.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what further developments have taken place on tanker routing following the consultations on the United Kingdom proposals submitted to the International Maritime Organisation; and if he will make a statement.

Following consultations with representatives of the Shetland and Orkney local authorities, local and national fishing interests, United Kingdom shipping interests, international tanker operators and others we have submitted amended proposals to the IMO calling for an extended area to be avoided around the Shetland Islands, new areas to be avoided around the Fair Isle and Orkneys and recommended routes in the Fair Isle channel. In combination these measures should provide a standard of protection broadly equivalent to our original proposals while respecting the traditional rights of fisher men in that area. Proposals are also being submitted in respect of restrictions on laden tanker movements in the Pentland Firth and Isles of Scilly. We are placing copies of our amended proposals in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of the Clyde fishermen on the operation of the Subfacts scheme; what future discussions he has planned; and if he will make a statement.

No ministerial meetings have taken place with representatives of the Clyde fishermen concerning Subfacts, but my noble Friend the Minister for Shipping and Aviation, the Earl of Caithness, is soon to meet with representatives of the fishing industry, to discuss the matter, on a date and venue yet to be agreed.No decisions will be made on the future nature of the Subfacts scheme until this consultation takes place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the level crossing accidents in 1992 and 1993 to the most recent practicable date, the causes of the accidents and the remedial action where taken.

Details of level crossing accidents and any remedial action are published in HSE's annual report on railway safety, which is now prepared on the basis of financial years. Details for the first quarter of 1992 are available in the latest published report, for 1991–92, which is available in the House Library. Collated details of accidents since March 1992 are not yet available and will be published in the 1992–93 report in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about London Underground's plans for the future of the line between Epping and Ongar; and if he will make a statement.

We have had two representations about London Underground's plans for the future of the line between Epping and Ongar. The line is the subject of statutory closure procedures under sections 54 and 56 of the Transport Act 1962. Objectors will be able to give their views to the London regional passengers committee, whose report, among other things, will be taken into account by the Secretary of State when making a decision on the closure proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give figures for the construction costs and interest payments associated with the Birmingham northern relief road.

The construction costs of the road are estimated at some £300 million at current prices. The cost of finance is a matter for the concessionaire.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate as a percentage the number of K registration buses currently in use in Britain.

By the end of March, K registrations comprised 3 per cent. of the bus stock—approximately 44 per cent. of the stock was under one year old.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to promote non-road based methods of waste transportation; and if he will make a statement.

The transport of waste is treated no differently from that of other commodities. We encourage the use of rail and water where practicable. Our enhancement of the freight facilities grant scheme and new track charges grant may help to divert some more waste from being moved throughout by road. I am chairing a group that is examining the scope for making more use of the River Thames for both passenger and freight transport. In addition my Department is considering more generally how best to encourage greater use of inland and coastal water transport.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport at what rate (a) the retail prices index, and (b) the retail prices of rail and bus fares have increased since January 1987; what effect Government policy has had on the level of rail and bus fares; and if he will publish a table showing the corresponding increase in real earnings in the rail and bus industries compared with the increase in earnings of white collar workers in the private sector.

The data requested are shown in the tables. Detailed rail and bus fare levels are a matter for the operators. Ministers are consulted when British Rail fares are revised in view of their role in setting the financial framework within which British Rail operates. Bus deregulation outside London has promoted competition and reduced operating costs, thereby leading to downward pressure on bus fares.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what protection he proposes to give to private passenger train franchise operators from takeovers by companies deemed not suitable for the award franchises.

Our intention is that the franchising director will assess the suitability of bidders to become franchisees. He will include terms in the franchise agreement under which the franchising director's consent will be required to changes in ownership of a franchisee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what obligations will be placed on the new owner of British Rail's freight and parcels subsidiaries to ensure their continued use of rail transport following privatisation.

Decisions about whether to use rail will be taken by the customers, as now, on the basis of price and quality of service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport with how many parties he is in negotiation for the franchising of rail passenger services.

None. Negotiations on franchises will be conducted by the franchising director when he is appointed. I have had discussions with various parties about our franchising proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many British Rail employees will be transferred to the employment of Railtrack;(2) which assets currently owned by the British Railways Board he proposes to transfer to Railtrack.

It is too early to say. Railtrack will not be established as a Government-owned company until April 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what additional resources he intends to make available for the Health and Safety Commission, the Health and Safety Executive and Her Majesty's railway inspectorate for the discharge of their duties arising from the Railways Bill after April 1994.

Agency funds for HSE have been increased by about 60 per cent. in 1993–94 compared with the previous year, in recognition of HSE's increased railway safety workload, including British Rail privatisation. Funds for 1994–95 will be agreed following this year's public expenditure discussions. We are committed to ensuring that adequate resources are made available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what issues are covered in Working Paper 30 on a draft code for the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium and high level radioactive wastes in flasks on board ship, as agreed at the second technical committee meeting of the joint IAEA/IMO/UNEP working group on the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel by sea held in Vienna on 26 to 30 April; and if he will place a copy in the Library;(2) if he will place in the Library a copy of the Working Paper No. 17, dealing with exports of plutonium from the United Kingdom to Japan, submitted to the technical committee meeting of the joint IAEA/IMO working group on the safe carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel by sea held in Vienna on 26 to 30 April.

I am placing copies of the working papers in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what effect the electrification of trans-Pennine rail services will have on local rail services at Mossley Hill and West Allerton; what discussions he has had with British Rail about the provision of a South Liverpool Parkway station; and what discussions he is holding with BR about the Liverpool to Crewe service and the stopping of trains at West Allerton station.

Any decision to electrify the Trans-Pennine rail service would have an effect on local services. British Rail, in conjunction with the passenger transport executive, would need to give the matter due consideration.Decisions on the opening of new stations and the timetabling of existing services are for British Rail, and, where appropriate, the local PTE and not something in which Ministers directly intervene.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy towards restrictions on access to new motorway service areas for motor rescue services including the RAC and AA.

The operators of existing motorway service areas are required under the terms of their leases to permit access at all times to the employees or agents of the AA and the RAC to carry out emergency repairs to members' vehicles. I have decided that this right should be continued under the new regime announced on 6 August last year, and that they should also apply in new motorway service areas. My Department will therefore not agree to provide signs to a new motorway service area unless the operator agrees to permit access to the AA and the RAC. I am considering whether similar rights should be extended to other motor rescue services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence has been submitted to him of the numbers of jobs in the United Kingdom railway manufacturing and supply industry which would be created by the total route modernisation of British Rail's west coast main line.

None. Any estimate of the number of jobs created by modernising the west coast main line would depend in part on assumptions about the precise nature of the work to be done, which has yet to be finalised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for the protection of slots for regional airlines at Heathrow.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: I have at present no plans for measures in respect of Heathrow slots for regional air services. I note the operator's announcement that the service from Plymouth and Newquay to Heathrow will continue after Brymon Aviation has become a wholly owned subsidiary of British Airways.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of licensed lorries of 38 tonnes gross vehicle weight for each year from 1985.

The figures for Great Britain are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make available to hon. Members a copy of the reasoned opinion issued by the European Commission in connection with the complaint under EC directive 85/337 in relation to the east London river crossing and the threat to Oxleas wood in Woolwich.

Correspondence between the Commission and member states is regarded as confidential by both parties, and the United Kingdom will continue to respect this convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he received the reasoned opinion from the European Commission in connection with the complaint under the European directive 85/337 in relation to the east London river crossing and the threat to Oxleas wood in Woolwich; and if he will make a statement.

The European Commission's reasoned opinion was received on 27 April. We are considering it carefully but remain confident that we will convince the Commission of the merits of our case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list, by London borough, and with totals for inner london, outer London and London as a

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement regarding the use of staff not trained as prison custody officers to escort prisoners in the east midlands and Humberside regions; if he will list all cases where such staff have been used; and whether the use of such staff breaks the terms of section H of the tender documents or his Department's contract with Group 4.

The information is as follows:

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will investigate the circumstances under which a gun licence was recently issued to the late Mr. Rajanathan of 58 Horsenden crescent, Greenford; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rajanathan was granted a shotgun certificate on 3 April. An inquest into the deaths of Mr. and Mrs. Rajanathan was opened on 30 April and has been adjourned to a date to be fixed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is in receipt of the submission from Staffordshire county council setting out the Staffordshire police authority's view of the need for the police authority to be accountable through a democratically elected police authority; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend received a copy of the document referred to on 7 May. A reply will be sent shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent representations he has received on behalf of Brian Parsons, Ref. 089, Her Majesty's prison, Kingston; and when he expects to respond.

We received a number of representations between March 1991 and January 1993 suggesting that Mr. Parsons had been wrongfully convicted. These have all been the subject of detailed inquiries carried out on behalf of the Home Office by Devon and Cornwall police. However, in the light of the results of those inquiries and all the information available to me, I have not been able to find sufficient grounds to justify referring the case back to the Court of Appeal. Those who made representations to the Home Office have been informed accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with (a) insurance companies and (b) vehicle manufacturers about measures to reduce car crime.

Both the insurance industry and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders are represented on my advisory committee on car crime prevention. This committee met in October last year and in March this year. A further meeting is scheduled for later in the summer. One of the central concerns of the committee is the measures that should be taken—by the motor manufacturers and the insurance industry, among others—to reduce the opportunities for car crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures his Department is taking to encourage the fitting of immobilisers to cars.

The Home Office has for some time been seeking to encourage motor manufacturers to improve vehicle security and, in particular, to fit effective immobilisers which would prevent the unauthorised use of vehicles. I welcome recent progress in this area, and will continue to encourage the fitting of immobilisers as standard equipment.The police scientific development branch of the Home Office is providing significant support in this area through its work on examining and testing the effectiveness of vehicle immobilisers, in conjunction with the motor manufacturers and the insurance industry, and through its technical input into the emerging British standards on vehicle immobilisers.It is equally important that the security of vehicles already on the road should be upgraded and encouraging motorists to fit security devices, such as immobilisers, is a central feature of our extensive car crime prevention campaign, which is being continued this year to build on the success achieved in 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statutory provisions apply to the use of mechanical restraints such as handcuffs by private security firms carrying out prison escort services; and if he will make a statement.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the director general of the prison service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what efforts are currently being undertaken by his Department to ensure that families of Bosnian refugees are entitled to join refugees who have settled within the United Kingdom.

Spouses and minor children are admitted to join those recognised as refugees under the terms of the 1951 convention on the status of refugees. In such cases Bosnian family members would need first to obtain visas from a British diplomatic post. Close dependants are also admitted to join former detention camp inmates evacuated to the United Kingdom, and we are in close liaison with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Committee of the Red Cross to facilitate their entry.In common with all other nationalities, Bosnian asylum applicants may not bring their families here while their applications are under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he intends to publish the draft Civil Defence (General Local Authority Functions) Regulations.

The regulations were laid before Parliament today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department where the Home Office pathologist Dr. John Rutherford is based; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants and refugees have been admitted into the United Kingdom in each year since 1987.

Information on persons accepted for settlement in the United Kingdom in the years 1987–91 is given in table 9 of the 1991 volume of the annual Home Office Command Paper "Control of Immigration: Statistics United Kingdom" (Cm 2063). Information for 1992 is given in table 3 of Home Office Statistical Bulletin Issue 14/93 "Control of Immigration: Statistics—Third and Fourth Quarters and Year 1992". These figures are of persons subject to immigration control who are granted indefinite leave to remain here. Copies of the publications are in the Library.Information on the number of applications received for asylum in the United Kingdom, and on decisions made, in the years 1987–92 is given in the following table. The fall in applications in 1992 followed measures introduced in late 1991 to deter multiple and other fraudulent claims.

Dr. John Rutherford, MRCPath, DMJ(Path), is a Home Office accredited forensic pathologist based at the North Manchester general hospital, Crumpsall, Manchester.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the total Home Office budget is spent on victim support; and what actual sums have been allocated for 1992–93 and the current financial year.

In 1992–93 Home Office grant aid to the national charity Victim Support amounted to £7·3 million, while provisional outturn expenditure by the Home Office on criminal injuries compensation amounted to £145 million. The Scottish Office contributed a further £21·7 million. In 1993–94 Home Office grant aid to Victim Support will increase by 15 per cent. to £8·4 million, while Home Office vote provision for criminal injuries compensation is £187·9 million.Home Office vote provision for supporting victims of crime in the current year accordingly amounts to 3·3 per cent. of the total Home Office vote provision of £5·9 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation with staff unions occurred prior to the announcement on 28 April that the Passport Agency was to be privatised or market tested.

The trade union side of the Home Office departmental Whitley Council was informed in a letter of 23 April 1993 of plans to review future options for the activities of the United Kingdom Passport Agency, including an examination of the scope for privatisation or market testing, as part of the process leading to a review of the agency's framework document. The trade union side of the Whitley Committee for the Passport Agency were informed of these plans at the same time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if staff unions will have an opportunity to study either the emerging findings or the scoping, report prior to any market-testing exercises at the Passport Agency.

Emerging findings and scoping study reports of any market tests associated with the Passport Agency will be made available to the unions provided they do not bear any security or confidentiality classification.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department intends to take legal advice on the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 (a) initially at the point of identification of a business, (b) at the conclusion of the scoping study, (c) prior to invitations to tender and (d) prior to the award of a contract; and what is the estimated cost of such advice.

Home Office legal advisers will be consulted at the outset of a market test to establish whether the regulations are likely to apply. They will be consulted at the scoping study stage if that study has identified any material change which might affect the applicability of the regulations. Legal advisers will be consulted prior to the issue of an invitation to tender, and prior to the award of contract. The time spent on the advice will depend on the complexity of the market test and it is not, therefore, possible to estimate this in advance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if companies involved in future Home Office market-testing exercises will be required to state their policy on the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 1981 and to take into account the consequences of any such application.

Yes. The invitation to tender documents will require companies to indicate whet her the regulations would apply to their bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives to local authorities on the levels of expenditure needed to meet their obligations under the civil protection regulations.

The grant allocation proposed by the Home Office to local authorities is intended to be a contribution to the costs involved in meeting their responsibilities under the Civil Defence Regulations. It will be for each authority to decide upon the actual level of expenditure needed to meet all of its obligations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets he has set for the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre for 1993–94.

The centre's key performance measure is the net balance on its trading account. The target for 1993–94 is a trading deficit of £0·866 million.The centre also has a projected overall room occupancy target of 49 per cent., a room hire revenue target of £3·584 million and a revenue: cost ratio target of 1:1·17. The centre will be expected to meet or better all of these projections.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment his Department has made of the effect of waste-to-energy schemes in reducing demand for landfill waste disposal sites; what assessment his Department has made of the impact on demand for landfill sites of the closure of existing waste incineration plants after 1996; and what plans he has to review existing requirements to dispose of inert ash residues from waste-to-energy plants via landfill.

[holding answer 11 May 1993]: The proportion of waste destined for landfill is expected to fall as a result of the Government's waste minimisation and recycling policies and the development of new waste-to-energy schemes. Some municipal waste incinerators will have to close within the next few years because it will not be cost effective for them to be upgraded in order to achieve the requirements of the directive 89/429/EEC. Others are being upgraded and new plants are being constructed. The directive itself is not thought likely to have a significant effect on the proportion of waste disposed of by incineration. At present, my Department has no plans to review the use of landfill as a disposal option for inert incinerator ash—there is no alternative disposal option.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what views his Department has expressed to institutions of the European Community on the EC directive on coasts and the community strategy for integrated coastal zone management as highlighted in the fifth environmental action programme.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: The Government will take an active part in ensuring that any proposals which come forward from the Community on coastal zone planning and management are workable and effective.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the presentation by the European Commission of the coastal zone directive to the Council of Ministers.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: At present, the Commission has not published any directive on the coastal zone.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 29 April, Official Report, column 470, what assessment he has made of the burdens that the proposed new waste management licensing system will place on industry; and what consideration he has given to them in the light of the deregulation exercise.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: In considering proposals for new regulations, the Government place great importance on giving due weight to business' perception of the proposal's likely impact on business. To that end, the Department's consultation papers on waste management licensing issued on 10 August and 18 December contained estimates of certain costs that would arise and an invitation to consultees to provide information on additional costs that the proposals would impose on business. No usable information was provided by consultees. A compliance cost assessment will therefore be produced in due course on the basis of official estimates of additional costs; and industry will be invited to comment specifically on that.The main consideration relevant to the deregulation exercise is the range and scope of the exemptions from licensing provided in the waste management licensing regulations. We have received a large number of representations on this point and are giving them sympathetic consideration where we can achieve our environmental objectives without licensing.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) Official Report, column 470, on further revisions to the waste management licensing timetable, if he will list those technical problems which have not yet been fully resolved concerning the relationship between waste management licensing and European Community measures dealing with waste; and for what reasons these problems were not identified at the time the EC measures were adopted.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: As well as considering the impact of the EC framework directive on waste (91/156/EEC) on part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, we have had to give further consideration to the effect of the directive on other regulatory regimes which control the handling, keeping, treatment and disposal of waste; particularly where the scope for providing exemptions from the proposed Waste Management Licensing Regulations relies on such regulatory regimes for the implementation of the directive. These are technical problems which affect the detailed drafting of the regulations, and could not have been reasonably foreseen when the directive was adopted. It is regrettable that this has delayed implementation of the waste licensing provisions, but it is essential that the implications of the framework directive are properly reflected in the regulations before they are laid, to ensure both that we meet our EC obligations and that we do not place burdens on industry by unnecessarily exceeding them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the findings of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's report on the timetable for opening an underground store at Sellafield.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: The timetable for establishing a deep disposal facility for low and intermediate level radioactive waste is a matter for Nirex.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to delay any decisions on THORP until the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee has completed its review of radioactive waste disposal; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: A decision about THORP will be taken by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as soon as the necessary procedures have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee's report for storage of low and medium-level waste from (a) Magnox nuclear reactors and (b) the proposed THORP reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: Low-level radioactive waste is, and will continue to be, disposed of at British Nuclear Fuels' site at Drigg. Intermediate level radioactive waste will be stored until it can be disposed of in Nirex's deep disposal facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what preparations are to be made for the introduction of certificates of technical competence for waste managers and associated guidance on assessing technical competence under part II of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Following the further delay in the introduction of waste management licensing under the Environmental Protection Act which I announced on 29 April at column 4708, my Department has been discussing the position of the provisions on technical competence with the waste management industry training and advisory board (WAMITAB).The issues delaying the waste management licensing regulations do not throw any doubt on the provisions regarding technical competence. I have therefore published today the text of provisions that the Government will bring forward as part of waste management licensing in due course. These provisions would prescribe WAMITAB certificates as evidence of technical competence and include transitional provisions for existing waste managers, and will be embodied in regulations under the 1990 Act to be put before the House as part of the waste management licensing regulations. I have also published an advance extract from the associated statutory guidance on assessing technical competence. I have deposited a copy of this material in the Library of the House.This advance information will enable waste managers, waste regulators and WAMITAB to make early preparations for this important part of the 1990 Act.My Department has now let a contract with WAMITAB under which it will complete its system for awarding certificates of technical competence based on national vocational qualifications.The certificates of technical competence to be offered by WAMITAB will be an important component of the improved environmental standards in waste management to be achieved by the waste regulation provisions of the Environmental Protection Act, and the Government fully endorse the work of the board.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the United Nations to secure non-governmental organisation representation on (a) the United Nations development programme and (b) on the executive council of the United Nation's children's fund.

International non-governmental organisations can gain observer status on the governing bodies of both the UN development programme and the UN children's fund through the existing arrangements for accreditation of NGOs to the UN Economic and Social Council. We are playing an active role in moves to obtain easier access for NGOs to UN bodies following the success of the wider involvement of NGOs at the Rio summit last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government intend to ratify the 1981 landmines protocol; and if he will make a statement.

The situation remains as set out in my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 9 March at column 517.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what investigations the diplomatic and aid wings of his Department have been subject by the Data Protection Register in relation to a suspected breach of a data protection principle; if he will summarise the nature of each complaint and state when the complaint was made; and what remedial action was taken by his Department to ensure future compliance with the principle subject to the investigation.

There has been one complaint, in 1989, to the Data Protection Registrar in respect of the diplomatic wing of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The registrar found against the complainant, who was requesting access to paper files outwith the act. There has been no complaint in respect of the aid wing of the FCO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has received on the subject of East Timor; and if he will make a statement.

We have received numerous representations on the subject of East Timor. We welcome the resumption, tinder the auspices of the United Nations Secretary-General, of the Indonesian-Portuguese dialogue on East Timor and have encouraged both sides to be as constructive as possible. We maintain a regular dialogue on human rights with the Indonesian authorities, bilaterally and together with our EC partners. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs raised our concerns most recently when he visited Indonesia in early April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union the future of the union in the light of the application by Greece for membership.

The next WEU Council of Ministers in Rome on 19–20 May will discuss inter alia enlargement and the future role of the WEU. Enlargement, including Greek accession, Turkey, Iceland and Norway becoming associate members and Denmark and Ireland observers, will enable the WEU better to develop its role. Greece, as a future member state, and the future associates and observers will participate in the Rome ministerial meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ultimate responsibility is held by Her Majesty's Government for debts incurred by the Government of Gibraltar; and if he will make a statement.

Under the constitution the Governor has responsibility to maintain the financial and economic stability of the territory. But it is the responsibility of the Government of Gibraltar to service its own debts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of the Overseas Development Administration's budget will be spent on aid and assistance to Africa, and to each other continent, in the current financial year.

Of the ODA's external assistance vote, as approved in the main supply estimates 1993–94, 36 per cent. is provided, within bilateral programmes, specifically for country programmes, including the aid and trade provision and bilateral assistance to central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.This proportion can be broken down by continent as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the proportion of overseas aid allocated to each of the British overseas dependencies.

The proportions of gross bilateral aid allocated to British dependencies in 1991–92 were as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much overseas aid money has been provided to Cambodia to pay for mine clearance to date; and what plans his Department has to increase such aid without using money from existing budgets.

Since 1991–92 we have provided some £260,000 for mine clearance in Cambodia. A further £232,520 has been committed for expenditure this financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what level of overseas development funding for each year from 1979–80 was allocated to self-build projects in developing countries.

ODA does not maintain separate records of expenditure on self-build projects. These come within the category of low-cost housing. Figures for expenditure on low-cost housing are only available from 1987–88 and are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been given to the people of East Timor in the years following its annexation by Indonesia; and if he will make a statement.

None of Britain's aid to Indonesia has been used for projects in East Timor in the years since its annexation in 1975, but we are prepared to consider providing financial support for non-governmental organisations who might operate there.With our EC partners, HMG continues to follow developments, including human rights, in East Timor closely and welcomes the resumption, under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, of the Indonesian-Portuguese dialogue.

To ask the Chairman of the Information Committee if he will make a statement on the information technology facilities currently available to hon. Members.

It is for Members to acquire their information technology facilities, making use of the office costs allowance.The computer officer is available to offer Members informal advice on the acquisition and use of IT equipment. The Information Committee has also published guidelines for Members, which have recently been updated and are incorporated in the "Members' Handbook".

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when a decision will be taken about submissions made by the Standing Conference of Principals in Higher Education about the use of the title university college in their nomenclature; when the submissions were first received by his Department; how many colleges will be affected by the changes; and what criteria are to be used in determining the right of a college to such a title.

The submission of the Standing Conference of Principals was received on 19 March 1993. Under its proposals, all publicly funded higher education colleges would be eligible to adopt a "university college" title. I hope to be in a position to reply shortly to the chairman of the standing conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many representations he has received on the subject of student loans; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend receives occasional representations on the subject of student loans.

TO ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average ratio of computers to students in secondary schools and further and higher education establishments.

In March 1992, the latest date for which information is available, the average micro:pupil ratio in maintained secondary schools in England was 1:13. Information for further education establishments is not available on the same basis. It is estimated that the workstation:student ratio in further education colleges in March 1992 was generally in the range from 1:10 to 1:15. Information for higher education establishments is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children with special educational needs had their needs first identified by (a) parents, (b) doctors/paediatricians, (c) educational psychologists, (d) school staff and (e) others.

This information is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what percentage of children with special educational needs had their needs identified at (a) below the age of five years and (b) above the age of five years in the latest convenient period.

In the calendar year 1991 11 per cent. of children for whom statements of special educational needs were made for the first time were under the age of five whilst the majority—89 per cent.—were five or over. It is not possible to tell how many of the total number of children aged five and over who currently have statements received them for the first time when they were under five.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will consider appointing special staff to deal with the problem of bullying in schools: and if he will make a statement.

Headteachers are responsible for securing acceptable standards of behaviour and conduct by pupils. The Government expect schools to deal firmly with bullying. To, help them do so, the Department issued "Action Against Bullying" packs to all schools in England in July 1992. Further guidance material is in preparation. The Department has no plans to appoint specialist staff, but local education authorities could bid for support for whole-school action on bullying under the reducing truancy category of the Department's grants for education support and training (GEST) scheme for 1993–94. A number of approved projects incorporate such a component.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will make a statement on the proportion of science exchanges proposed in the expanded TEMPUS programme of the European Commission; and how many expanded TEMPUS programme of the European Commission; and how many science-based exchanges involving United Kingdom projects are currently in place.

Although applications for projects under the extended TEMPUS programme, TEMPUS II, have not yet been made, United Kingdom institutions are currently participating in 158 projects in science and related subjects under the existing programme.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for South Hams dated 15 March concerning the treatment for tax relief purposes by the Inland Revenue of the interest payable on home mortgages.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 14 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish a table setting out the total foreign exchange liabilities, broken down by currency, of companies liable to United Kingdom corporation tax;

Comprehensive information is not available in the form requested. But information is given on total financial liabilities and foreign currency lending from United Kingdom banks along with a breakdown of foreign currency bank lending. Dollars represent the main foreign currency for bank lending.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of tax credits on share dividends becoming available to charities in each of the years 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93 were claimed in the same year.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out the criteria on which the Board of Inland Revenue will accept tax computations rounded to the nearest £1,000.

The Inland Revenue is prepared to accept computations of business profits for tax purposes in figures rounded to the nearest £1,000 from single businesses or companies with an annual turnover of not less than £5 million, where rounding at least to that extent has been used in preparing their accounts. The turnover of members of a group will not be aggregated for applying this £5 million threshold. Where turnover fluctuates either side of the threshold, rounding can be used for a period of account if the turnover for either that year or the immediately previous year is above the limit. Turnover comprises gross receipts including investment and estate income, as well as trading receipts.The Inland Revenue will only accept rounding in any particular case if the basis adopted is satisfactory. Rounded computations from such businesses must be accompanied by a certificate made by the person preparing the computations which:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the British Government have to assist Africa in reducing its debt burden; and if he will make it his policy to secure international agreement for Africa's debt burden being written off.

At the Commonwealth Finance Ministers' meeting in Trinidad and Tobago in September 1990, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, then Chancellor, proposed a reduction in the stock of eligible debt of two thirds. In December 1991, the Paris Club of creditor countries agreed to allow creditors to provide the equivalent of 50 per cent. cancellation of eligible debts consolidated under each agreement. Seventeen countries have so far benefited from Trinidad terms, including 13 of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Under these agreements over $3 billion of sub-Saharan African debt has been rescheduled by the Paris Club, cancelling over $1 billion during the lifetime of the agreements. The Trinidad terms also include an undertaking by creditors to consider a reduction in the stock of eligible debt after a period of proven financial and economic responsibility of three to four years.The Government are, however, aware that for some of the poorest and most severely indebted countries Trinidad terms as currently applied will not be enough. For this reason we are pursuing with our creditor country colleagues improvements in the terms. Specifically, we would like to see the full Trinidad terms implemented and earlier action on reducing the total stock of debt for debtors who have a good track record.The Government have also cancelled nearly £200 million of old aid debts owed by sub-Saharan African countries which are successfully pursuing sound policies of reform. Altogether, we have relieved developing countries of the burden of about £1·1 billion of old aid loans. New aid to such countries is now provided only in the form of grants.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what percentage the retail price of audio-visual goods has fallen since January 1987; and what has been the market share of British industry in the supply of such goods in the United Kingdom.

The retail prices index for audio-visual equipment fell by 17·2 per cent. between January 1987 and March 1993, the latest date for which information is available. Information on the market share of British industry in the supply of such goods is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cost of running the Treasury in each year since 1987.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect of rises in exchange rates on output and employment in (a) manufacturing industry and (b) the rest of the economy since February.

There are a large number of influences on economic activity at any one time, and it is impossible properly to assess the effect of exchange rate changes in isolation. But there are encouraging signs, in the figures for manufacturing output and GDP as well as in other indicators, that the economy is beginning to recover across a broad front.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Britain was free to determine its own monetary policy as a member of the exchange rate mechanism; and what proposals he has for changing the rules of the exchange rate mechanism to allow the pursuit of an independent monetary policy.

Membership of the exchange rate mechanism (ERM) is a matter of choice, not obligation. It is not possible to pursue an independent monetary policy without regard to the exchange rate, inside or outside the exchange rate mechanism.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what policy objectives underlie the Government's purpose in raising nominal and real exchange rates; and if he will estimate by how much the public sector borrowing requirement increased as a result of the increase in nominal and real exchange rates since February.

The objective of the Government's monetary policy is to keep underlying inflation with a range of 1 to 4 per cent. and to bring it down to the lower part of that range by the end of the current Parliament. Short-term interest rates are set in order to meet this objective. The exchange rate is one of the indicators taken into account in assessing monetary conditions, but there is no target for the nominal or real exchange rate. A higher exchange rate reduces the sterling cost of public expenditure incurred in foreign currencies, but this is only one of a number of influences affecting the size of the PSBR.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what evidence he has of the effect on the balance of payments on tourism of changes in the real exchange rate measured in terms of export unit values; and if he will publish a table showing imports and exports of tourism in cash terms and as a percentage of gross overseas products for each year since 1970, together with the balance of payments in current account on a corresponding basis; to what extent the figures are likely to be affected by the fall in the real exchange rate since September 1992, as measured by changes in the nominal exchange rate and in the real exchange rate weighted by the percentage change in import and export unit values in trade on manufactures with non-EC countries; and what is his forecast for the increase in output in the United Kingdom tourist industry for 1993 and 1994.

The most recent figures for the balance of payments including the analysis of the components of services trade, are shown in CSO's "UK Economic Accounts", tables B1 and B5. The FSBR forecast that the balance on services trade, which includes travel and tourism, would improve in volume terms in 1993, in part because of the improvement in competitiveness since last September. Forecasts for output and employment at the tourist industry level are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange a meeting between the collector of taxes at the Inland Revenue south-west offices and Dr. M. R. Cross of the Diving Disease Research Centre at Fort Bovisand to discuss payment, in instalments, of outstanding tax liabilities.

It is not for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to arrange such meetings. However, I understand that the collector of taxes will be contacting Dr. Cross to arrange a meeting.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much (a) house prices and (b) the cost of dwelling insurance and ground rent, as measured by the retail prices index, have risen since January 1987; and if he will provide separate figures for dwelling insurance and ground rent.

House prices are not used directly in the compilation of the retail prices index. The United Kingdom all dwellings mix-adjusted house price index, published by the Department of the Environment, rose by 48 per cent. between the first quarter of 1987 and the first quarter of 1993.Between January 1987 and March 1993, the latest date for which information is available, the dwelling insurance and ground rent section of the retail prices index increased by 97·9 per cent. Separate figures for dwelling insurance and for ground rent are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on United Kingdom employment and on the balance of payments since 1986 of the increase in the price of foreign holidays since 13 January 1987.

A price index for foreign holidays has only been compiled from January this year following the recommendation of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee. The price of foreign holidays is but one factor among many which may affect the balance of payments and the level of employment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what distinction he makes between United Kingdom monetary policy and membership of the exchange rate mechanism in the context of stage two of economic and monetary union.

Article 3(1) of the protocol to the Treaty on European Union (Cm 1934) setting out the statutes of the European Monetary Institute provides that monetary policy would remain the responsibility of national authorities in stage 2 of economic and monetary union. It would remain a matter for national authorities to decide whether they wished their currency to participate in the exchange rate mechanism.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Government propose to take to stop insider trading; and if he will introduce legislation (a) requiring public companies to notify their shareholders of significant changes in their circumstances to reach them not later than the information is released to the stock exchange and (b) prohibiting meetings with representatives of such companies by investment analysts able to acquire information about a company which is not made available earlier or at exactly the same time to all the company's private shareholders.

Insider dealing has been illegal since 1980. The Criminal Justice Bill which is currently before Parliament will replace the existing legislation and bring our law on insider dealing into line with the EC directive on the subject.Requirements already exist to ensure that information relating to significant changes in the circumstances of a company which is listed on the stock exchange is made available to the company's actual and potential shareholders: a company must make available to the public any information necessary to enable shareholders and the public to appraise the position of the company and to avoid the establishment of a false market. By virtue of part IV of the Financial Services Act, this requirement has statutory effect.Such information is notified by companies to the stock exchange which has arrangements for disseminating it through news vendors and press agencies. Information may also be given directly by a company to news vendors, press agencies and others at the same time as it is given to the stock exchange.The Government believe that contact between a company and investment analysts and institutional investors can play a useful and valuable role in improving their understanding of its businesses and strategies. Information which should be the subject of a public announcement should not be disclosed at such meetings.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what period the new retail prices index for foreign holidays measures the increase in the price of such holidays; for what reason table 18.2 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" did not give figures for the period before February; if he will publish (a) the corresponding figures for January 1987 and August 1992 and (b) the items which are covered under this heading; how the information is obtained; and what weight is given to different kinds of such holidays.

Foreign holidays were introduced into the retail prices index with effect from February 1993. Table 18–2 of the "Monthly Digest of Statistics" should have made it clear that the price index for foreign holidays is calculated on the base January 1993 =100. No earlier figures are available. The holidays included in the foreign holidays index, as indicators, are carefully chosen to be representative of those holiday destinations visited by United Kingdom citizens. The importance of individual holidays is determined by information from the international passenger survey, tour operators and travel agents. In 1993 the weight attached to foreign holidays in the retail prices index is 30 out of 1,000. This reflects expenditures reported by households in the continuous family expenditure survey.The report of the Retail Prices Index Advisory Committee (Cm 2142) includes a description of the method used to construct the index for foreign holidays. Copies of the report are available in the House Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many companies are now being required to lodge security by guarantee or a cash deposit with Customs and Excise towards future VAT returns, in order to continue to supply goods and services under the Value Added Tax Act 1983.

For the year ending 31 March 1993, Customs and Excise required 1,176 of the 1·6 million (0·07 per cent.) VAT registered businesses to provide security.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the value added tax division, Customs and Excise to be completed in Liverpool; and how many jobs will be provided.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: The VAT headquarters building at Queens dock, Liverpool is expected to be completed in August 1993.Three-hundred-and-fifty jobs have already been relocated from Southend to Liverpool and during the next 18 months some 300 further jobs will follow. The new building will also house the VAT headquarters staff currently located in Bootle.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 29 April, Official Report, column 507, regarding the length of time taken to hear council tax banding appeals, if he will now make it his policy to set (a) a target by which time all appeals must be determined and (b) a target for the maximum length of time an individual appeal will take from submission to determination.

I have been asked to reply.I am anxious to ensure that appeals are dealt with as quickly and effectively as possible. What can be achieved will depend on how many proposals are received, but I intend to set firm targets as soon as the likely caseload can be estimated with reasonable certainty.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Gamier), of 22 January, Official Report, column 427, if he will set out the reason he was given by the Medicines Commission for its decision that BST products manufactured by the companies Lilly Industries Ltd. and Monsanto SA/NV meet the medicines licensing criteria.

The additional data presented to the Medicines Commission by the companies in support of their applications for licences for BST products were judged as satisfying the concerns previously expressed by the Veterinary Products Committee, particularly in relation to the incidence of mastitis. On this basis the Commission advised that the Medicines Act licensing criteria of safety, quality and efficacy were met.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to commission a second report from an impartial working group on those issues covered by the Denner report.

I have no plans to commission a second report on dietary supplements. The Denner report has been used as a basis for consultation and it allowed us to gather a wide range of views on the question of dietary supplements.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the purpose of the recent meeting between his officials and Mr. G. Latham and Mr. M. Hanssen of the Health Food Manufacturers Association and at which the Denner report was discussed; what conclusions were reached at the meeting; what was agreed; and if he will make a statement.

Officials were asked to meet the President of the Health Food Manufacturers' Association, Mr. Hanssen, and the Chairman of the Council for Responsible Nutrition, Mr. Latham, to discuss a range of subjects of interest to these organisations. The meeting was essentially an exchange of information.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement setting out the procedure which he will adopt and the organisations which will be consulted in future on any proposal to restrict the availability of food supplements.

It is MAFF policy to consult widely on all food safety matters. Our consultations on dietary supplements have involved over 160 organisations. However, the Government must retain the right to act immediately if necessary to protect consumers.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to ensure that the House is made aware of any consultation process which he undertakes on food supplements and that right hon. and hon. Members have the opportunity to submit their views and those of their constituents prior to any decisions being taken; and if he will make a statement.

A public announcement was made on 27 March 1991 that the report on the working group on dietary supplements and health foods had been published and that the next step would be a wide public consultation. Copies of the report were placed in the Library of the House together with a copy of a statement summarising the recommendations and the Government's proposed follow up action. This included details of a review of certain herbal ingredients by the Committee on Toxicity and the Food Advisory Committee.On 2 March this year I announced to the House the action I had taken in respect of comfrey products—