To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee if he will place in the Library copies of the recommendations submitted by (a) the Editor of the Official Report, (b) the Principal Clerk of the Table Office and (c) other sources in connection with the resolution agreed by the Administration Committee on publication of agency chief executives' letters and accompanying tables.

The terms of the Administration Committee's approval of arrangements for the publication of agency chief executive's letters in the Official Report are set out in the Committee's Minutes of Proceedings for 8 July 1992, HC 368-i to iv. It is not the practice of the Administration Committee to deposit in the Library papers which have not been reported to the House.

To ask the Chairman of the Administration Committee what were the quarterly telephone bills for the Palace of Westminster, including outbuildings, for each of the last 10 years; what use has been made of Mercury Communications through least-cost routing; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 May 1993]: It is not possible to provide details of quarterly telecommunications bills for the Palace of Westminster for the past 10 years. However, the annual bill for telephone messages for the last seven years is as follows:

£
1987	471,000
1988	552,000
1989	561,000
1990	570,000
1991	690,000
1992	599,000

New technology installed in the Palace of Westminster telecommunications exchange in the summer of 1992 included a "least-cost routing" facility. At the same time, 125 of the outgoing lines of the exchange were converted to the Mercury network. These changes allow the automatic selection of the cheapest service for each outgoing message. Since October 1992, approximately 1·1 million calls lasting more than 20,000 hours have been carried on Mercury lines.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish the advice received, and all correspondence, from Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools on the subject of teacher education and school-based teacher training; and if he will make a statement.

Under the Education (Schools) Act 1992, the question of publication is entirely a matter for Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools. The Department for Education and Science was responsible for publishing Her Majesty's inspectorate's reports prepared before September 1992. It published a number of reports on teacher education, including one on school-based initial teacher training in England and Wales which was given wide distribution in January 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what was the cost of acquiring land to be used as the Liverpool city technology college.

A site in Liverpool for possible use as a city technology college was acquired by the CTC Trust in February 1989 for £185,000 and sold in two parts in December 1990 and August 1991 for a total of £669,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many copies of the non-consultative version of the higher education student charter were printed before the publication on Friday 21 May of the consultative version; what was the cost of printing them; what was the total number of administrative hours spent preparing them; when they will be pulped; and if he will make a statement.

Three and a half million copies of the charter for higher education were printed at a cost of £152,000. All copies have been pulped. Since my right hon. Friend announced our intention to publish further and higher education charters on 19 June 1992, the time of approximately one full-time equivalent offical has been devoted to the higher education charter initiative. The printing arrangements had to be made well in advance of the target date for publication given the large number of copies required. In the event, following further representations, my right hon. Friend agreed that wider formal consultations should be undertaken in particular to allow individual universities to have the opportunity to comment through the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what progress she has made towards banning all grades of asbestos; what discussions she has had at an EC level on this matter; and if she will make a statement.

The importation, supply and use of the two types of asbestos most commonly associated with disease—crocidolite (blue asbestos) and amosite (brown asbestos)—has been prohibited in the United Kingdom since 1986, although they have not been imported since 1972 and 1980 respectively. Since 1 January 1993, three further types of asbestos have been prohibited though these were not used commercially in the United Kingdom.Chrysotile (white asbestos) is now the only type of asbestos allowed into the United Kingdom. Imports have dropped significantly in recent years and are now less than 10,000 tonnes annually. Negotiations are currently in progress on a European Community draft directive to ban chrysotile but with exemptions for certain uses. The Government are keen to avoid this resulting in the replacement chrysotile with substitutes which may be less safe, and support the proposed directive provided that exemptions are based on the relative risks of chrysotile and substitute materials in any particular application.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many fatal accidents have taken place in the United Kingdom ports industry since July 1989.

The numbers of fatal accidents occurring in docks and harbours in Great Britain between 1 July 1989 and 31 March 1992 are given in the table. Statistics for 1992–93 are not yet available. Accident statistics for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Fatal accidents1in docks and harbours2as reported to the Health and Safety Executive's Factory and Agricultural Inspectorates—1 July 1989 to 1991–924
Year	Fatalities
1 July 1989 to 31 March 1990	7
1990–91 3	2
1991–924 3	6
Total	15
1 Includes accidents to employees (including trainees), self employed persons and members of the public injured as a result of someone else's work activity notified under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).
2 As defined by Standard Industrial Classification Class 74 and actify heading 7630.
3 Year commencing 1 April.
4 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial accidents have taken place in United Kingdom port activities since July 1989.

The numbers of non-fatal injuries occurring in docks and harbours in Great Britain between 1 July 1989 and 31 March 1992 are given in the table. Statistics for 1992–93 are not yet available. Accident statistics for Northern Ireland are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Injuries1in docks and harbours2as reported to the health and safety executive's factory and agricultural inspectorates 1 July 1989 to 1991–926
	Severity of injury		Total
	Major4	Over three days5
1989–90 7	80	406	486
1990–91 3	113	498	611
1991–92 6 3	88	469	557
Total	281	1,373	1,654
1 Includes injuries to employees (including trainees), self employed persons and members of the public injured as a result of someone else's work activity notified under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985 (RIDDOR).
2 As defined by Standard Industrial Classification Class 74 and activity heading 7630.
3 Year commending 1st April.
4 As defined under RIDDOR but chiefly amputations, serious fractures and any other injury requiring hospitalisation for 24 hours.
5 Any injury that results in an absence from normal work for more than three days.
6 Provisional.
7 I July 1989 to 31 March 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether the inquiry commissioned from MDS-Transmodal by the Departments of Transport and Employment in 1991 into the cost to public funds of the compensation payments paid to former registered dock workers under the Dock Work Act 1989 has been completed; and if it will be published.

In 1991, the Departments of Employment and Transport commissioned M DSTransmodal and Pieda plc to undertake a study into the effects on the port industry of the abolition of the dock labour scheme.A report on the study is being prepared for publication. It is anticipated that the report will be published this year, and I will ensure that copies of the report are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to lessen inequalities between women's and men's pay.

In 1992, women's average hourly earnings—excluding overtime—were 79·2 per cent. of men's, the highest level ever, and the fifth consecutive year in which the differential between men's and women's pay had narrowed.The pursuit of sound economic policies resulting in high productivity and low inflation have established the appropriate conditions for the recent success in further narrowing the differential between women's and men's pay. Further progress in this area will depend in part on sustaining and improving on these economic gains.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to combat sex discrimination in the workplace.

The Equal Pay Act 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, both as amended, make discrimination on grounds of sex in contractual and non-contractual employment matters unlawful. The Department publishes and distributes widely explanatory guides to the legislation.The Department also funds the Equal Opportunities Commission, which has a statutory duty to work towards the elimination of discrimination and to promote equality of opportunity between women and men.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action she is taking to combat sexual harassment in the workplace.

The Government abhor sexual harassment as a particularly nasty form of sex discrimination which can have unacceptable repercussions in the workplace.It is well established in law that in certain circumstances sexual harassment can amount to sex discrimination, contrary to the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975.The Department has published two booklets explaining to employers and employees how to combat sexual harassment at work. Both booklets have been widely distributed throughout industry.The Government have also brought forward an amendment to the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill which will give industrial tribunals a discretionary power to protect those involved in sexual harassment cases from intrusive or offensive reporting of their cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what consideration she has given to the implications of the recent Court of Appeal ruling that companies which grant pay rises only to employees accepting personal contracts are in contravention of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978 for employment practices in the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement.

We have given careful consideration to the recent Court of Appeal decisions on this issue. As a result of these judgments, the law on action short of dismissal, which is now contained in section 146 of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, has been left in a state of some confusion. Section 146 was never intended to interfere in an employer's freedom to determine negotiating arrangements that best suit his business needs.In order to clarify the law on action short of dismissal, we have therefore introduced an amendment to the Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Bill, which completed its stages in another place on Monday 24 May. This provision makes it clear that action taken by an employer for the purpose of changing his negotiating arrangements is not action taken against an individual within the scope of section 146.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated amount to be spent in 1993–94 in rent and other associated costs for the offices of her Department in Caxton house, Tothill street, London.

Estimated expenditure by the Department for rent and other associated accommodation costs in Caxton house, Tothill street in 1993–94 is £12·75 million made up as follows:

	£ million
Rent paid to Property Holding (including VAT)	8·88
Rates	2·91
Maintenance costs	0·96

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action his Department has taken in response to the representations made to him about the case of Mr. T. Barber of 6 Bennett rise, Huncote, Leicestershire, regarding his work as a bailiff at Leicester county court.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what were the main conclusions of his Department's review of county court rules concerning general possession procedures in relation to mortgaged properties.

The main conclusions of the review of the handling of mortgage possession cases were that the court needed to be provided with more information about the basis of the claim and the defendant's circumstances. New rules and forms that achieve these aims are currently being drafted.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the cost of training the judiciary and the magistracy in the procedures to be adopted under the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

Before the Criminal Justice Act 1991 came into force in October 1992, all judges of the Crown court and all magistrates were trained in its requirements. Judges and recorders attended sentencing conferences on their own circuits and special sessions dedicated to 'studying the Act's provisions were incorporated in the standard refresher and induction courses run centrally by the Judicial Studies Board. Written material was also issued. In addition, a training package, funded by the Home Office, was provided for justices' clerks to enable them 'to train justices of the peace. It is not possible to quantify the cost in detail because of the local nature of most of the training, but a very rough estimate would be approximately £250,000.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many representations his Department has received in the last 12 months regarding discretionary grants made by local authorities to trainee lawyers.

The Lord Chancellor's Department has received four representations from individual students, as well as representations from the Law Society, and from the chairman of the Trainee Solicitors Group.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action he is taking to encourage (a) women and (b) members of ethnic minority groups to pursue careers in the legal profession.

Although he has no direct responsibilities in this field, the Lord Chancellor is concerned to ensure equality of opportunity between all persons intending to be employed in the provision of legal services. Section 64 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 extends the provisions of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and the Race Relations Act 1976 to the Bar in England and Wales. For those who seek judicial office, the Lord Chancellor's policy is to appoint those best qualified, regardless of gender, ethnic origin, political affiliation or religion. Without prejudice to this overriding principle, the Lord Chancellor has stressed publicly, and will continue to do so, that he would like more women and those of ethnic origin who are suitably qualified to be appointed to the judiciary.The Government recognised the importance of encouraging equality of opportunity when it established the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct, which is independent of the Government. The Act requires the committee to have regard to the desirability of equal opportunity when fulfilling its general duty of assisting in the maintenance and development of standards in the training and conduct of those offering legal services. The committee has commenced a major review of legal education and training; this issue will be considered as part of that exercise.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether his Department applies any restrictions based on physical, sensory or mental impairments in the appointment of (a) justices of the peace. (b) coroners and (c) judges.

In the appointment of judges and magistrates, the Lord Chancellor must be satisfied in the public interest that a candidate has the necessary physical and mental abilities to carry out the full range of duties of the post and any individual candidate is considered on his or her merits in the light of their particular circumstances. I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department that coroners are appointed by local authorities in accordance with qualifications laid down in the Coroners Act 1988, as amended by the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for organisational change in the management of the court service.

After detailed consideration, the Lord Chancellor has concluded that a move to executive agency status is the right way forward for the court service and he envisages setting up the service as an agency in April 1995.Agency status will provide the management of the court service with a clearer focus on the job to be done, and greater flexibility to respond to the changing needs of all court users.The agency will comprise the staff of the unified court service. It will exclude the staff of the magistrates court service, which is locally managed and whose organisation is dealt with in the White Paper "A Framework for Local Justice".The conversion of the court service into an agency will not affect the judiciary, either in its independent role and functions or in its relations with the administration.Consultation with the judiciary and the trade union side on this subject has recently begun and will continue with them, and with other interested parties, throughout the implementation period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the current projects and their value that are currently being funded in Indonesia by the Overseas Development Administration, European Community, World bank, Asian Development bank and other aid-giving bodies for which he is responsible.

Projects funded by ODA from the United Kingdom/Indonesia grant programme are:

Title	Allocation £ million
Coastal Fisheries	0·38
Animal Health—Phase 4	1·69
Coastal Prawn Culture	1·30
Tropical Forestry Management	10·77
Gas Distribution	9·70
Hydrocarbon Basin Assessment	5·98
Active Learning Professional Support	1·71
Library Development	0·75
English Language Training (National Level)	1·33
Institutional English Language Training	1·79
Biotechnology	0·43
South Sumatra Geological Survey	2·26
Regional Government Finance	0·91
Police Management Training	0·97
Development of Professional Training for Civil Engineering Consultants	1·74
Development of Mini-Hydros	5·61
Development of Thermal Power Plant Personnel Training Capability—Phase 3	1·20

We also support the activities in Indonesia of British non-governmental organisations such as Voluntary Services Overseas, Oxfam and Christian Aid. The Commonwealth Development Corporation, for which the principal source of finance is the British aid programme, has investments in Indonesia totalling £72 million, covering nine projects in sectors such as textiles, cement production, power and plantation crops.Projects supported by the ODA under concessional loan arrangements include the following:

Title	Soft loan allocation £ million
Cigading-Serpong Railway Rehabilitation	24·690
Citayam-Cibinong Railway (New Line)	20·105
Steel Bridging Components	3·669
Forestry Radio Communications Network	34·111
Airport Security Systems	10·455
Flight Simulator for Civil Aircraft	4·659
Shortwave Radio Transmitters for National Broadcasting Network	26·911
Additional Generating Capacity for Jambi Power Plant	5·345
Equipment for Universities in Sumatra and Kalimantan	13·671

Most European Community aid to Indonesia is provided through the Community's Asia/Latin America programme, of which the United Kingdom contributes around 16 per cent. Recent project approvals have been as follows:

Title	Allocation
	£ million	Mecu1
Punggur Utara Irrigation Project	23·07	(29·3)
North Bali Irrigation and Water Supply	8·11	(10·3)
Forest Sector Support Programme	20·47	(26·0)
1 Million European currency units.

The World bank has an active portfolio of 61 loans with a cumulative value of approximately $7·9 billion. For the Asian Development bank, the corresponding figures are 62 and $5·6 billion. For the International Fund for Agricultural Development, they are four and $66 million. Details of loan approvals are contained in the annual reports of these institutions, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the European countries visited in each of the last three years by the European committee for the prevention of torture.

The European committee for the prevention of torture (CPT) has visited the following countries in the last three years:

• 1990: Austria, Denmark, Malta, Turkey, United Kingdom.
• 1991: France, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.
• 1992: Cyprus, Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Turkey.
• 1993: Luxembourg, Greece, Liechtenstein.

The CPT plans to visit Belgium, Iceland, Ireland and Norway by the end of the year. The CPT will then have visited all the states party to the convention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has recently received regarding the Chinese occupation of Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of letters and other expressions of concern about the situation in Tibet from hon. Members of the House and others. We share the concern about human rights there and particularly about the latest reports of detentions and demonstrations. With our European Community partners, we have been pursuing these matters with the Chinese authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had urging a boycott of Chinese goods in protest at the Chinese occupation of Tibet; and if he will make a statement.

None. We have no plans to introduce such a boycott.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information about the death of Mrs. Hamida Mattoo he has received through the post in New Delhi from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs: what representations have been made to the Indian high commission in London about the circumstances of Mrs. Mattoo's death; when he intends to write to the hon. Member for Bradford, West following his letter of 15 April; and if he will make a statement.

Our high commissioner in Delhi took up the case with the Indian authorities and received a fact sheet from the Indian Home Ministry on 26 May which states that Mrs. Mattoo was killed on 3 March 1993 in crossfire between Indian security personnel and terrorists. I will write to the hon. Gentleman shortly with details of the fact sheet. We have not made representations to the Indian high commissioner in London about Mrs. Mattoo's death.

To ask the Prime Minister if Departments in their capacity as employers notify the Inland Revenue when cash payments are made to Ministers to relieve financial pressures which affect their performance as Ministers.

I know of no such payments.

To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlie the policies of Her Majesty's Government with respect to giving substantive answers to parliamentary questions seeking details of the names, occupations and remuneration of Members of (a) health boards in Scotland and (b) district health authorities in England.

Non-executive health board members in Scotland are appointed by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and information on them is therefore held centrally and given in response to parliamentary questions. Non-executive members of district health authorities in England, however, are appointed by regional health authorities and not by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health. Executive members of health boards in Scotland and district health authorities in England are appointed by their respective board or authority. Information on them, therefore, is not currently available centrally.The level of remuneration for health authority members in England, and for health board members in Scotland, is set centrally and this information is always provided in response to parliamentary questions.

To ask the Prime Minister which Government Department is responsible for overseeing the decommissioning of the Merlin reactor at Aldermaston.

The nuclear installations inspectorate, which is now part of the Health and Safety Executive, was responsible for overseeing the decommissioning.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 15 March, Official Report, column 33, what information has been received through the high commission in New Delhi from the Indian Government about Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik; and if he will make a statement.

On 26 May, our high commission in New Delhi received a lengthy aide memoire from the Indian Home Ministry. This stated that both Shabir Shah and Yasin Malik are in custody in Jammu where they are awaiting trial. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be writing to the hon. Gentleman with details.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the local authority maintained schools, grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges that he has visited since taking his present office.

I have visited a number of local authority maintained schools, grant-maintained schools and city technology colleges.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement about the Government's commitment to making a contribution to the Jubilee line extension.

The Government, and I personally, remain committed to the Jubilee line extension as a major addition to the infrastructure of docklands and of London's transport. We have earmarked public funds for the line. As soon as negotiations with the companies involved in the financing of Canary Wharf have been concluded satisfactorily my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport will authorise the start of construction and the first tranche of those funds will be made available. The line will then be built within an estimated 53 months. The draft funding agreement specifies that swingeing penalty payments will come into force if the line is not completed seven months after that.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make available a list of independent Government advisory committees dealing with human health, environmental protection and animal welfare, for which a list of members' registered interests are available, and the dates on which these registers were introduced.

Registers of members interests relating to the matters under consideration are published for the following committees.

Committee	Year introduced
Committee on the Safety of Medicines	1987
Medicines Commission	1987
British Pharmacopoeia Commission	1987
Advisory Committee on Hazardous Substances	1991

A register of members' interests is maintained for the Farm Animal Welfare Council by its secretariat.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans the Government have for the future of Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

HMSO has made great strides since its establishment as one of the first executive agencies in 1988. The 1992 trading fund accounts, published today, show a current cost profit of £6·5 million against a financial target of £6 million—the fourth successive year in which profitability has increased. In order to build on this growing commercialism, I am commissioning a consultancy study to explore the scope for further commercialisation of the operations of HMSO. The study will incorporate the review of status which is required periodically of all executive agencies. It will also take account of the Government's concern to ensure that Parliament, Departments and agencies continue to obtain value for money when purchasing the products and services provided by HMSO.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the factors determining the level of import penetration of the United Kingdom for manufacturers since (a) 1979 and (b) the year ended June 1989; and to what extent the increase in import penetration is due to the increase in the real exchange rate since the second half of 1973.

Rising import penetration is largely a consequence of the greater specialisation of international production, and has been experienced by virtually all other industrialised countries. The counterpart to this rising import penetration is higher exports. United Kingdom export volumes were at record levels at the end of 1992 and have grown faster than gross domestic product as a whole since 1979.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the retail prices index for (a) goods other than food, fuel and alcoholic drink and (b) services for each year since 1987 and for each month since August 1992; and what were the increases for the same periods in (i) earnings of manual workers in manufacturing industry, (ii) earnings of white-collar workers in the private sector and (iii) producer prices for manufacturing.

The information for (a) and (b) is not available in the form requested and can only be produced at disproportionate cost.The following table gives average gross weekly earnings of full time employees on adult rates with pay not affected by absence for April each year.

	Manual employees in manufacturing		Non-manuals in private sector
April	Mean (£)	Increase over 12 months (per cent.)	Mean (£)	Increase over 12 months (per cent.)
1986	169·6	—	203·9	—
1987	181·1	6·8	222·8	8·7
1988	195·5	8·0	247·6	11·0
1989	212·1	8·5	272·3	9·8
1990	231·1	9·0	300·2	10·2
1991	241·9	4·3	318·2	7·6
1992	258·9	7·0	337·9	6·2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the circumstances of the sending of a letter with reference number IDT ASS./DOCS/1.11.5. by an official in his Department to the political editor of The Sunday Times.

I do not comment on letters sent on a "not for publication" basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to ensure that tax relief is not granted for protection money in Northern Ireland; what estimate he has made of the extent of this abuse of the tax relief system; and if he will make a statement.

There is little evidence of tax relief for protection money being widely granted in Northern Ireland, but we are looking into the matter in order to find an appropriate solution.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are taxed on (a) PAYE, (b) schedule D and (c) schedule E basis; and what is the tax yield for each category.

Available estimates for 1992–93 are as follows:

Source of income	Number of individual taxpayer1(millions)	Tax yield2(£ billion)
PAYE and other
Schedule E	23·2	49·7
Schedule D3	3·1	7·5
1 A taxpayer with both a schedule E and schedule D source of income is included in both rows of the table.
2 The tax yield represents the tax liability on each type of income where that income is regarded as the top slice of a person's income.
3 Excluding interest taxed at source.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the amount of the public sector pensions payable in each of the next 20 years assuming annual inflation of (a) 2 per cent., (b) 4 per cent. and (c) 6 per cent. and in respect of the next three years the proportion that such pensions are as a percentage of forecast gross domestic product.

The data requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 26 April, Official Report, columns 292–94, what amount of additional employment costs is incurred by each Department in addition to wages and salaries.

The information requested is no longer collected centrally. The table sets out the information in respect of central Government Departments for 1991–92, the last year available.

	1991·92 £ million
Defence	238·9
FCO (including ODA)	50·0
Agriculture	17·5
Trade and Industry	20·9
Employment	70·5
Transport	16·0
Environment	60·3

1991–92 £ million
Home Office	63·0
Legal Departments	49·4
Education	7·9
Heritage	0·1
Health	16·7
Social Security	61·6
Scotland	15·1
Wales	3·4
Northern Ireland	28·0
Chancellor's Departments	95·0
Cabinet Office etc.	3·1
	817·6

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the Securities and Investments Board report on the state of financial regulation; and if he intends to make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith) on 25 May, Official Report, columns 540–42.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (I) if he will publish figures on the same basis as table I of appendix 4 to "Economic Trends", January 1992, on the total percentage of gross income accounted for by taxes of all kinds paid by (a) the bottom quintile of households and (b) the top quintile for households ranked by equivalised disposable income for 1991; and if he will estimate the same quintile groups on the same basis for each year from 1992 to 1996;(2) if he will publish figures on the same basis as table 4 of appendix 1 to "Economic Trends", January 1992, on the total percentage of gross income accounted for by taxes of all kinds paid by

The results for 1991 will be published in the May 1993 edition of "Economic Trends", due out on Wednesday 2 June. The required ratios can be derived from the figures in table 3, appendix 1, which is on the same basis as table 4, appendix 1 in the January 1992 edition of "Economic Trends".

• The figures are based on the family expenditure survey.
• Projections are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what savings would accrue to the Treasury if M IRAS was phased out in three equal stages in three years.

The cost of mortgage interest tax relief at the proposed rate of 20 per cent. for 1994–95 is estimated to be £3·6 billion. Based on the estimated 1994–95 distribution of mortgages, if the relief were phased out in equal stages over a three-year period the estimated yield would be £1·2 billion, £2·4 billion and £3·6 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual value of 6 per cent. of the civil service pay bill; and what is the total annual expenditure on civil service pensions.

In 1992–93, 6 per cent. of the civil service pay bill—excluding the pay costs of civil servants working in trading funds and trading bodies, and MOD civilians working in non-support areas—amounted to £704 million. Pensions paid to retired civil servants in the same year totalled £1,720 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all conferences and meetings of intergovernmental organisations he and Ministers of his Department have attended over the past year on the environmental impacts of economic and financial policy.

Treasury Ministers attend numerous meetings of intergovernmental organisations at which environmental issues may arise. It would not be practical to list all conferences and meetings of intergovernmental organisations which have touched on environmental issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the latest meeting of European Finance Ministers.

European Community Finance Ministers held an informal meeting with central bank governors in Kolding, Denmark on 21 to 23 May. The Governor of the Bank of England and I represented the United Kingdom.The meeting discussed reports by the Monetary Committee and Central Bank Governors Committee on recent events in the exchange rate mechanism. It was agreed that specific conditions had applied in September 1992 with, in particular, an exceptionally large differential between United States and European interest rates. Member states emphasised the need for greater economic convergence and reaffirmed their support for the European monetary system. I made clear that the return of sterling to the ERM could not be contemplated until the requirements of United Kingdom and German monetary policy had come more closely into line. Copies of the reports of the Monetary Committee and Central Bank Governors Committee have been placed in the Library of the House.Ministers also discussed German proposals for a harmonised system of withholding tax on interest paid to EC residents. It was agreed that these ideas needed further preparation before being considered by the Council. In addition, there was a discussion of the issue of unitary taxation in the United States, in the light of my announcement to the House on 13 May,

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local authorities are able to borrow from financial institutions outside the United Kingdom.

The Treasury has today issued four general consents. Three of those consents, taken together with complementary approvals given by the Secretaries of State for the Environment and for Wales, allow local authorities in England and Wales to borrow in sterling from any credit institution provided it is authorised by the supervisory authority of an EC member state. The fourth allows local authorities in Scotland to borrow in sterling from EC credit institutions.These measures, which have been taken under section 43 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, and under paragraph 4 of schedule 3 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1975, make clear the interpretation of the legislation in England and Wales and ensure compliance with the single European market in banking services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the operation of those provisions of the Children Act 1989 relating to assistance to young persons leaving care.

We are closely monitoring the implementation of the Children Act 1989 as a whole, including the after-care provisions. A report on the first year's operation of the Act was presented to Parliament on 4 February 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 27 April, Official Report, column 345, when the mental health task force is to begin collecting information on the closure of mental hospitals; when the data will be made publicly available; and what is the task force's definition of a long-stay psychiatric hospital.

The mental health task force has begun to collect information on the closure of long-stay mental illness hospitals. It intends to complete an analysis of initial returns by the end of July, which I will make available. Information is being collected on those hospitals listed as mental illness hospitals with more than 100 beds in 1960 and which are still open, plus hospitals opened since then with more than 100 beds which are predominantly mental illness hospitals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of death from colorectal cancer have occurred in women and men in each of the last five years.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave her on 24 March at columns 617–20 for figures for 1987 to 1991. Information for 1992, the latest year for which information is available, is shown in the table.

Numbers of deaths from malignant neoplasms of the colon (ICD 153)1and malignant neoplasms of the rectum, rectosigmoid junction and anus (ICD 154)1by sex in England and Wales 1992
	Number
Males	8,749
Females	8,654
1 ICD—International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to publish guidance to doctors in relation to screening for occult blood.

We have no plans to issue guidance at this time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to issue guidelines about fertility treatment to unmarried couples or to individuals who already have children.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's code of practice gives guidance to fertility treatment centres. This includes advice on the factors to be considered by clinicians when considering an individual's suitability for treatment. These include the welfare of any child who may be born as a result of treatment and of any existing children in the family.There are also guidelines for clinicians published by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. In the light of well-publicised recent cases, the Chief Medical Officer has already had discussions with the president of the royal college about these guidelines and these discussions will continue.The Government have made it clear that health authorities should think carefully before providing fertility treatment to people without a stable family background. If there is evidence that this is not being followed, we will examine what further action needs to be taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients who received human growth hormone treatment have utilised the helpline or availed themselves of the counselling provided through her Department; what help or advice is being offered with particular reference to financial matters, including life insurance availability and mortgages; and if she will make a statement.

The helpline is provided by the department of growth and development at the Institute of Child Health of Great Ormond Street hospital. No record of the number of telephone inquiries has been maintained but the institute is also providing counselling for patients treated at one of the three London growth centres; of the 711 patients treated, 295 have asked for and received counselling. Details of the numbers of patients who have availed themselves of the counselling services provided elsewhere in the country are currently being collected. I understand that patients experiencing difficulty in obtaining life insurance or mortgages are advised to make inquiries across a range of providers of these services, since the terms and conditions very often vary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received about financial support for those who received human growth hormone treatment and may now be at risk of contracting Creutzfeldt Jakob disease; and what estimate she has made of the cost of setting up an insurance fund for such people.

We have received a number of representations, but as the treatment conformed with the best known scientific and clinical practice of the time we do not accept that there are grounds for financial support over and above the benefits which are available under the Social Security Acts. No estimate has therefore been made of the cost of a separate insurance fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what factors she took into account when deciding what type of further investigation to hold into the events at Grantham and Kesteven general hospital between February and April 1991 which were the subject of the recent trial of former nurse Beverley Allitt; and if she will make a statement.

In deciding the form of inquiry, my overriding consideration was how to establish the facts behind the horrific Beverley Allitt case in the most rigorous and effective way possible, and ensure that the NHS learns any lessons for the future. The questions the parents want answered are the ones I want answered, and they must be properly and fully answered.After careful consideration, I decided that this will best be achieved through an independent investigative inquiry, led by Sir Cecil Clothier, QC who has enormous experience in these matters. His advice, based on that long experience, was that, in cases such as this, the truth may more readily emerge in such an inquiry than in an adversarial public forum where witnesses may feel under strong external pressures. I would not have hesitated to order a public inquiry if I had thought that it would uncover the facts more effectively than the inquiry now being undertaken by Sir Cecil and his team.In ordering the Clothier inquiry, I have obviously been concerned to establish confidence in it. Sir Cecil must be able to see all the witnesses and papers he requires. If necessary, I will give him the statutory powers to do so. He and his team will be acting independently of the parties involved. He will conduct his inquiry in London, away from the scene of Allitt's crimes. I have asked him to proceed as quickly as possible, consistent with establishing the truth, and to publish his report in full. I will, of course, do whatever is necessary to ensure that all possible steps are taken to ensure there is no repeat of such horrific and tragic events.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the complaints dealt with under the clinical complaints procedure during (a) 1990, (b) 1991 and (c) 1992 were upheld.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she intends to publish the research report from Durham university, prepared for her Department, on the prevalence of drug use among young people; in what form it will be published; and whether the publication will be the full report or a summary.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 25 May at column 510.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff grading appeals are outstanding in (a) the West Midlands regional health authority area and (b) South Birmingham health authority.

There are currently 3,068 staff grading appeals outstanding in the West Midlands regional health authority area, of which 783 are outstanding for South Birmingham health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her policy on the co-ordination of hospital planning and the provision of transport facilities for patients and their visitors; and on what grounds she would refuse an application by a health authority or hospital trust for a change in the services it offered because of such transportation considerations.

Ambulance transport for national health service patients is provided, free of charge, on the basis of medical need as determined by a clinician. Patients without a medical need for transport may, exceptionally, be transported by the ambulance service, but a charge may be made. Visitors must make their own transport arrangements. There are no plans to change the basis of ambulance transport provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the members of the regional and district health authorities, and hospital trusts on Merseyside, indicating when they were appointed, and their professional backgrounds.

The chairman and non-executive members of the regional health authority, the chairmen and non-executive directors of national health service trusts, and the chairmen of district health authorities in Mersey region are listed in the table, together with the dates from which their current appointments commenced. Information relating specifically to their professional backgrounds is not available centrally, but the most up-to-date information held on their occupations is listed.The appointment of non-executive members of district health authorities is a matter for the regional health

Name	Appointment date	Occupation
Mersey RHA Membership (one vacancy)
Professor A. Breckenridge (Chairman)	12 January 1993	Professor of Pharmacology
Mrs. R. H. Hawley	27 July 1990	—
Mrs. J. E. Timms	1 April 1993	Charity worker
Mr. J. R. Halliday	15 February 1993	Company chairman
Mr. B. Jenkins	1 November 1991	Company chairman
Chairmen of Mersey DHAs (three vacancies)
Mr. J. Ross (Chester)	4 November 1991	Retired BR manager
Mr. F. R. Ludlow (Southport and Formby)	1 November 1991	Insurance consultant
Mr. G. Murray (St. Helens and Knowsley)	1 October 1992	Business executive
Mr. D. H. Tod (Liverpool)	4 November 1992	Company director
Mr. D. Hannah (Warrington)	1 April 1990	General manager
Mr. R. S. Gordon (Wirral)	1 April 1993	Underwriter
Mr. S. H. Cussons (Macclesfield)	9 November 1992	Chartered accountant

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 24 May, Official Report, columns 447–48, on hospice support, what information has been given to regional health authorities with regard to the methodology used in calculating the transfer from the Department of Social Security to hospices; and what advice was given to regional health authorities as to the methodology to be used in determining the distribution of that allocation within each region.

Information on the allocation and use of the transfer from the Department of Social Security to regional health authorities in respect of hospices was given in executive letter EL(93)14, sent to all regional general managers on 19 February 1993. A copy is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is collected nationally to show (a) the number of people aged 65 years or over diagnosed as being infected with HIV and (b) the number of people aged 65 years or over found to have a sexually transmitted disease; and if she will make a statement.

Reports of HIV infections are made to the communicable disease surveillance centre and communicable disease (Scotland) unit.To December 1992, 88 HIV-infected individuals had been reported aged 65 and over. Information on other sexually transmitted diseases is collected only for the age category 45 and over. In 1991, 3,290 genito-urinary medicine clinic attendees were in this age band.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate she has of the value of NHS equipment purchased by voluntary local subscriptions in each of the last five years in (a) cash terms and (b) in constant 1993 prices.

Information exactly as requested is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance her Department has issued to NHS trusts and district health authorities concerning the use by private patients of equipment purchased by voluntary local subscriptions.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with her counterparts in the European Community on the incidence of food poisoning; and if she will make a statement.

The United Kingdom plays an active role in regular discussions which take place in the European Community on a wide range of public health issues, including food hygiene and safety.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May, Official Report, column 261, what are the comparative figures for the incidence of food poisoning in each of the European Community countries for each of the last five years.

There are no comparable figures available for other EC member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to her answer of 20 May, Official Report, column 261, if she will make a statement on who is being consulted and asked for evidence in respect of the new Government surveillance programme into the sources and causes of human foodborne illness; and what opportunity members of the public are being given to contribute their views.

The steering group on the microbiological safety of food is responsible to the United Kingdom Health and Agriculture Ministers for the microbiological surveillance of food. The remit of the steering group and its working groups covers the whole food chain from primary production to consumption, with external membership drawn from the Public Health Laboratory Service, the national health service, environmental health departments, food research organisations, the food industry, veterinary science and consumers.A major study referred to in the previous answer is an epidemiological study of sources and causes of infectious intestinal disease in England. This study will take place in some 70 practices in the Medical Research Council's general practice research framework and will involve more than 20,000 volunteers. This study is one of a number of carefully designed surveys that will provide a better scientific basis for understanding human foodborne illness. Ministers are advised on the significance of these and other results by the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food.I expect the first report of the steering group to be published later this year. Anyone who wishes to offer views about its activities is welcome to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress her Department has made in negotiations with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee on pharmacists' remuneration.

Discussions are continuing with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee. The next meeting is 15 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specific steps are taken to ensure that overseas suppliers of service uniforms purchased by the armed forces are not in receipt of hidden subsidies; and if he will make a statement.

It is our policy to encourage the development of a more open international market in defence goods through Government-to-Government negotiations, although it would not be practicable or cost-effective to investigate every potential supplier for hidden subsidies. Over 90 per cent. of my Department's contracts for clothing and textiles are placed with United Kingdom companies, though the nationality of subcontractors is a matter for the company concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the value of all contracts for the supply of service uniforms are currently placed with (a) British and (b) overseas suppliers.

In financial year 1992–93, 91 per cent. of contracts for the supply of clothing for the armed forces were placed with British suppliers and 9 per cent. with overseas suppliers, including the EC. So far in the present financial year 1993–94, 97·6 per cent. of the value of all contracts for the supply of clothing for the armed forces has been placed with British suppliers and 2·4 per cent. with overseas suppliers, including the EC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement indicating his Department's policy on the placing of contracts with overseas suppliers of service uniforms; and if he will make specific reference to the criteria by which value for money and strategic considerations are assessed.

Over 90 per cent. of contracts for the supply of service clothing are let to British companies. Overseas suppliers could be invited to tender if they achieve admission to the defence contractors list or if they apply via the Official Journal of the EC bulletin. Orders are rarely placed with companies overseas.Value for money from the defence budget is assessed through a system which includes contractor registration, quality assessment and the evaluation of offers with particular reference to price and delivery. Strategic considerations apply to only a small range of items, generally of a warlike nature, and are addressed through the selection of a limited number of companies which are to be invited to tender for the requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the shareholding in International Military Services Ltd. was transferred to Royal Ordnance; and how much Royal Ordnance paid for the International Military Services shareholding.

All the shares in International Military Services Ltd. are owned by the Secretary of State for Defence. None has been transferred to Royal Ordnance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 14 May, Official Report, column 602, what was the value of contracts placed by his Department with Luchaire Defence SA between 1983 and 1988.

Comprehensive records for this period are no longer available. However, my Department is aware of only one, low-value, contract placed with Luchaire in the period 1983 to 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his reply of 23 April to the hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers), Official Report, column 241, if he will give the reason for the absence of complete records of his Department's dealings with companies between 1983 and 1990.

Our central on-line computer records will identify all contracts placed before but not completed by 31 March 1990, and all contracts placed since 1 April 1990. Central records of contracts placed since 1983 but completed by 31 March 1990 have been archived on to magnetic tape and are not available on-line. Identification and checking of the tapes could be carried out only at disproportionate cost.The hon. Member for Rhondda (Mr. Rogers) asked about one specific company; it was possible to identify one directorate within my Department which seemed most likely to have dealt with the company, and its detailed local records identified just one contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with his French counterpart in regard to French plans to develop a European armaments agency within the Western European Union.

None. The proposal to establish a European armaments agency is under consideration at official level with our partners in European armaments co-operation within the Western European Union.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Ms Walley) of 19 May, Official Report, column 232, what was the cost of sending his departmental officials to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty preparatory committee meeting in New York; what proposals or papers were submitted by the United Kingdom to the meeting; and when and where the next NPT preparatory committee will be held.

Although the NPT preparatory committee meeting was concerned principally with organisational issues, the United Kingdom delegation reaffirmed our aim of securing the NPT's unconditional, indefinite extension in 1995 and our commitment to supporting continuing progress towards nuclear disarmament. The travel and subsistence cost of sending Ministry of Defence officials to this meeting was some £4,000. The next NPT preparatory committee meeting will be held in New York from 17 to 21 January 1994

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many bombs have been removed or rendered harmless on the beaches of north Gower by the Royal Navy during the last year.

In 1992, 284 explosive devices were cleared from the north Gower marshes by the Royal Navy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the countries from which military personnel St. Christopher Nevis have attended developmental and technical training courses in British military establishments since April 1992.

The countries from whichmilitary personnel have attended developmental and technical training courses in British military establishments from April 1992 to April 1993 are as follows:

• Australia
• Bahamas
• Bahrain
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belgium
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• Brazil
• Brunei
• Burma
• Canada
• Chile
• Cyprus
• Czechoslovakia
• Denmark
• Egypt
• Fiji
• Finland
• France
• Gambia
• Germany
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Greece
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• India
• Indonesia
• Ireland
• Israel
• Italy
• Jamaica
• Japan
• Jordan
• Kenya
• Korea
• Lebanon
• Lithuania
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Maldives
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Mexico
• Morocco
• Mozambique
• Netherlands
• Namibia
• Nepal
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Norway
• Oman
• Pakistan
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Phillipines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Qatar
• Romania
• Saudia Arabia
• Senegal
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• Slovakia
• Spain
• Sri Lanka
• St. Christopher Nevis
• St. Lucia
• St. Vincent
• Sudan
• Swaziland
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• Trinidad
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• Uganda
• USA
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what quantity of (a) land and (b) buildings was owned by his Ministry in each region of the United Kingdom at the end of each year from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;(2) how much has been spent by his Ministry on leasing land in each region of the United Kingdom for each year France from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;(3) how much land has been leased by his Ministry in each region of the United Kingdom at the end of each year from 1987–88 to 1992–93; and if he will make a statement;(4) how much money has been spent on purchasing

My noble Friend the Under-Ireland Secretary of State for Defence will write to the hon.Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reply to the letter, dated 8 May, from Ms Lindis Percy; if he will place a copy of the letter from Ms Percy and his reply in the Library; and if he will make a statement on the substance of the correspondence.

Ms Percy will receive a reply within the next week and my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence will ensure that the hon. Member is provided with a copy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will detail the total cost of all works carried out at Forest Moor, in North Yorkshire, since March 1990.

No major maintenance or new build has been carried out at Forest Moor since March 1990. Minor works and routine maintenance costs since then have been as follows:

£
1990–91	345,000
1991–92	501,000
1992–93	620,000
Total	1,466,000

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what role is performed by the Forest Moor naval communications base in North Yorkshire.

HMS Forest Moor is the Royal Navy's major HF receiver station.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence who owns the land upon which the Menwith Hill station in North Yorkshire is located; who occupies the station; who is responsible for the operation of the station; and if he will make a statement.

The land on which Menwith Hill station is located is owned by the Secretary of State for Defence, in right of the Crown. The site is made available to the United States Department of Defence and the station operates with the full knowledge and agreement of Her Majesty's Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 17 May, Official Report, column 86, if he will list the number of cases of United Nations military aircraft breaking the sound barrier over Bosnia-Herzegovina; what is the purpose of such practices; and what information he has on consequential damage to civilian property.

I have no information about whether non-United Kingdom aircraft have broken the sound barrier over Bosnia-Herzegovina. If such a practice had occurred and was suspected of causing damage to property, it would be a matter for the UN and NATO.

To ask the Attorney-General how many Select Committee recommendations have been made about, and how many accepted by, his Department since April 1989.

Since April 1989, 60 recommendations by the Select Committee on Home Affairs have been made in respect of the Crown prosecution service arising out of three separate reports. One recommendation, which was accepted, was made in the Select Committee's first report in the 1989–90 Session on racial attacks and harassment (HC 17). Fifty-one were made in the fourth report in the same session on the Crown prosecution service (HC 118). Of these, 30 have been accepted and 11 were concerned with matters already being addresed in other areas. The remaining eight recommendations were made in the report on domestic violence printed on 25 February 1993 (HC 245). The Government's response to these is currently being formulated.No recommendations in this period have been made in respect of the other Departments for which I am responsible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what ways British Rail is accountable to Parliament; what limits he places on the scope and range of parliamentary questions about British Rail to which hon. Members will receive substantive answers; how this will change under this proposals for reform of the railways; and if he will make a statement.

The British Railways Board is accountable to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State under the terms of the legislation applicable to the board.It is for the House authorities to decide what questions are accepted for answer by Ministers, although there may be cases where questions approved for tabling are found on closer examination to be strictly operational matters for British Rail.Under the Government's proposed reforms, the Secretary of State for Transport will retain substantial responsibilities on which he would continue to answer parliamentary questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects work to commence on the east London river crossing; and if he will make a statement.

Construction cannot begin until the current Court of Appeal hearings and the question of the EC infraction proceedings have been resolved. In the meantime, we are continuing with detailed design and other advance work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the likely timetable for the public inquiry and subsequent construction of the planned flyover at the intersection of Newham way and Prince Regents lane in the borough of Newham.