To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the monthly cost to the Exchequer of aid and military costs in Bosnia after the full deployment of the rapid reaction force. [34493]

After the full deployment of the rapid reaction force, the monthly cost to the United Kingdom of our military contributions to UNPROFOR, and our financial contributions to the UNPROFOR budget will be about £26.1 million. Total UK aid for the current financial year is projected to total some £38.5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estiamte of the proportion of food and medical supplies used in the recent offensives by Bosnian Muslim Government troops supplied and paid for by the United Nations as humanitarian aid. [35268]

We have no way of knowing. The food and medical supplies being carried by ODA convoys, which represent a significant proportion of total UN deliveries, are being delivered to their proper destinations. There is no way that the UN can stop legitimate recipients of aid from sharing it with relatives who may also be combatants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received as to the use of the safe areas in Bosnia by the Bosnian Government for launching attacks against Bosnian Serbs. [36227]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what estimate the European Union has been able to make of civilian casualties in Srebrenica, during the taking of the town by the Bosnian Serbs; [36321](2) what information he has about the involvement of the Yugoslav Government in the military activities of the Bosnian Serbs and the Serbs in Krajina; and if he will make a statement. [36320]

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he now has as to the whereabouts and circumstances of those people detained by the Bosnian Serbs in their capture of Srebrenica. [36230]

I shall write to the hon. Members shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many unfair dismissal cases were brought against his Department during the last 12 months; how many were successful; and what were the total costs including legal fees and compensation. [34593]

[holding answer 14 July 1995]:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many redundancies occurred in his Department over the last 12 months; how many were voluntary; and what was the total sum spent on redundancy payments. [34595]

[holding answer 14 July 1995]:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy in respect of issuing guidance to British tourists visiting Kashmir; if the two Britons held captive recently in Kashmir received such guidance; and what measures have been taken to ensure the safe return of the kidnapped Britons. [35372]

We have advised visitors not to travel to the states of Jammu and Kashmir for a number of years. The kidnapping of two Britons travelling in Kashmir in 1994 has been pointed out in the travel advice notice for India since it occurred. Travel advice notices are widely distributed throughout the travel industry via electronic information and ticketing systems. They are also available on BBC2 Ceefax and can be accessed on Internet. Advice on travelling to India is available on an automated telephone answering service and members of the public may also contact the FCO's travel advice unit direct between 09.30 and 16.00 hours Monday to Friday. We do not know whether the two Britons being held in Kashmir received advice not to travel there. We are co-operating closely with the Indian and other Governments concerned to secure the early and safe release of the hostages. We will continue to work, largely behind the scenes, through contacts with all those we think may be able to help resolve this situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make further inquiries to ascertain the timetable for the introduction by the Government of Azad-Kashmir of an ordinance whereby those held in prison for two years without trial may apply for release; and if he will make a statement. [36262]

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total value of funding for English language training in eastern Europe which has been dispensed by Her Majesty's Government to the British Council; what proportion of these resources has been used to finance facilities of services directly managed by the British Council; and what proportion has been put out for competitive tender to other private sector commercial firms or suppliers in the years 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95. [35623]

The council's grant-in-aid from the FCO was enhanced from 1991–92 to support a co-ordinated strategy to promote English teaching and learning in central and eastern Europe. The total operational funding over the period 1991–92 to 1993–94 was £12.2 million. Funding was at a similar level in 1994–95 but detailed figures are not yet available. This initiative supports 43 resource centres, maintains 120 specialist posts in 98 key ministries, reaches 37,000 teachers of English, and supports 400 senior English language professionals.The council has additionally managed know-how fund projects to a total value of £700,000 over the period and administered English language teaching for the armed forces of 13 countries on behalf of the ECU to a value of £350,000.Forty per cent. of total expenditure in 1991–92 to 1993–94 consisted of the appointment on contract of freelance ELT specialists.Activity worth £3.17 million was subcontracted through open tendering. The council estimate that up to 85 per cent. of all grant-in-aid expenditure was devoted to the procurement of British goods and services, particularly books, training and freelance support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of (a) male and female (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees. [35457]

The numbers of permanent industrial and non-industrial staff in the FCO on 1 April 1995 were:

	Male Full time	Male Part Time	Female Full time	Female Part time
Open Structure
HCS1A	1	—	—	—
HCS2	1	—	—	—
HCS3	12	—	—	—
HCS4	1	—	—	—
HCS5	55	—	11	2
HCS6	69	—	8	—
HCS7	252	8	48	1
Occupational Groups
SEO	80	1	19	2
HEO(D)	6	—	1	—
HEO	163	—	71	6
AT	2	—	1	—
EO	223	—	174	24
AO	335	4	414	36
AA	45	—	42	2
Senior Economic Assistant	13	—	2	—
Economic Assistant	5	—	—	—
Senior Assistant Statistician	1	—	1	—
Senior Information Officer	5	—	7	—
Information Officer	19	—	18	—
Assistant Information Officer	3	—	8	—
Senior Librarian	2	—	3	—
Librarian	3	—	5	—
Assistant Librarian	8	—	14	1
Museum D	—	—	2	—
Museum E	1	—	1	—
Higher Mapping and Charter Officer	1	—	—	—
Mapping and Charter Officer	1	—	—	—
Senior P and T Officer	43	—	1	—
Higher P and T Officer	44	—	1	—
P and T Officer	17	—	—	—
Technical Grade 1	6	—	—	—
Higher Graphics Officer	1	—	—	—
Graphics Officer	1	—	—	—
Senior Research Officer (S)	12	—	5	1
Typing Manager	—	—	8	—
Senior Personal Secretary	—	—	4	—
Personal Secretary	—	—	117	13
Typist	—	—	59	9
Senior Scientific Officer	45	—	16	1
Higher Scientific Officer	34	—	10	1
Scientific Officer	19	—	10	1
Assistant Scientific Officer	6	—	8	1
Catering Manager 1	1	—	—	—
Catering Manager 2	1	—	—	—
Catering Manager 3	4	—	—	—
Chef 2	3	—	—	—
Senior Photo Officer	1	—	—	—
Higher Photo Officer	1	—	—	—
PGSB	2	—	—	—
PGSC	5	—	—	—
PGSD	8	—	—	—
PGSE	5	—	—	—
Stores Officer B	1	—	—	—
Stores Officer C	2	—	2	—
Stores Officer D	6	—	—	—
Support Manager 1	2	—	—	—
Support Manager 2	3	—	5	—
Support Manager 3	18	—	9	—
Support Grade B1	101	—	54	2
Support Grade B2	151	4	80	22
Senior Telecom Tech. Officer	10	—	—	—
Higher Telecom Tech. Officer	22	—	1	—
Telecom Tech. Officer	47	—	1	—
Assistant Telecom Tech. Officer	72	—	5	—

	Male Full lime	Male Part Time	Female Full time	Female Part time
Departmental Groups
Diplomatic Service 1	10	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 2	26	—	1	—
Diplomatic Service 3	102	—	4	—
Diplomatic Service 4	259	—	12	—
Diplomatic Service 5	390	1	54	3
Diplomatic Service 6	216	—	34	—
Diplomatic Service 7M	352	—	90	4
Diplomatic Service 7D	87	—	27	—
Diplomatic Service 8	22	—	10	—
Diplomatic Service 9	419	—	356	10
Diplomatic Service 10	216	—	125	—
Executive Assistant	16	—	29	—
Legal Adviser	1	—	—	—
Second Legal Adviser	1	—	—	—
Deputy Legal Adviser	2	—	—	—
Legal Counsellor	6	—	4	—
Senior Assistant Legal Adviser	4	—	4	—
Assistant Legal Adviser	3	—	2	—
Chief Security Officer	38	—	—	—
Security Officer	135	—	2	—
Medical Officer	5	—	1	—
Nurse	—	—	4	—
Senior Lecturer	3	—	6	—
Senior Field Invest. Officer	1	—	—	—
Field Invest. Officer	13	—	2	—
Translator 1	1	—	—	—
Translator 2	1	—	2	3
Translator 3	1	—	1	—
Queens Messenger	26	—	—	—
Queens Messenger Escort	2	—	—	—
Senior Cypher Supervisor	3	—	—	—
Cypher Supervisor	16	—	—	—
Cypher Supervisor	37	—	1	—
Telecom and Cypher Officer	92	—	6	—
Operator Technician	1	—	—	—
Conference Adviser	1	—	1	—
Sensitivity Reviewer	6	—	—	—
Research Coun.	2	—	—	—
Senior Prin. Research Coun.	9	—	3	—
Prin. Research Officer	17	1	10	1
Senior Research Officer	7	1	6	—
Research Officer	2	—	1	—
Diplomatic Service 8 Comm.	10	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 9 Comm.	5	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 5 Tech.	1	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 6 Tech.	10	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 7 Tech.	66	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service 8 Tech.	85	—	1	—
Diplomatic Service 9 Tech.	31	—	—	—
Diplomatic Service Secretary 1	—	—	120	1
Diplomatic Service Secretary 2	1	—	428	3
Industrial	—	—	1	—
Totals	4,759	20	2,594	150

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will veto the proposed appointment of an EC foreign affairs supremo to promote an EC foreign policy. [35196]

The Government will oppose any measures that have the effect of undermining the principle of intergovernmentalism in the conduct of the EU's common foreign and security policy—CFSP. Any proposals to appoint a senior figure to promote CFSP would need to be judged in this light. Responsibility for the formulation and execution of EU foreign policy is and must remain a matter for EU member states.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department has taken to encourage the promotion of women into senior positions within his Department and its executive agencies. [35674]

The FCO is committed to equality of opportunity for all its employees. Women make up 35 per cent. of non-industrial civil servants employed by the FCO and the proportion of women is increasing at all management levels. The proportion of women at executive officer level—first management level—has increased from 30 per cent. in 1985 to cover 44 per cent. in 1995. Numbers of women at DS5—middle management level—have risen by 30 per cent. in the last four years. There are six female heads of mission.The FCO has an active programme of measures to encourage promotion of women into senior grades.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the number of (i) male (ii) female employees, (b) the number of officials employed at each of the principal grades and the numbers and percentages of women employed at these grades and (c) the numbers of staff employed at administrative grades and the number and percentages of these staff that are women, in his Department and each of its executive agencies for each year since 1985. [35663]

The information requested by the hon. Member for 1992, 1993, 1994 and 1995 is as follows:

	1992	1993	1994	1995
Men	5,302	5,157	4,851	4,759
Women	2,988	2,907	2,754	2,595
Total	8,290	8,064	7,605	7,354

The information for 1985–1991 is not available.

1992
	Total	Women	Percentage of women
Open structure
Grade 1	1	0	0
Grade 2	1	0	0
Grade 3	10	0	0
Grade 4	1	0	0
Grade 5	58.5	11	19
Grade 6	90	9	10
Grade 7	327.5	16.5	5
Total open structure	489	36.5	7
Administrative group
Senior Executive Officer	97.5	21.5	22
Higher Executive Officer (D)	8	3	38
Higher Executive Officer	217	52	24
Administration Trainee	1	1	100
Executive Officer	435	181.5	42
Administrative Officer	753	463	61
Administrative Assistant	150.5	64	43
Total administrative group	1,662	786	47
Diplomatic service
DS1–3	149	5	3
DS4	280	8	3

1992
	Total	Women	Percentage of women
DS5	456	51	11
DS6	280	30	11
DS7M	425	79	19
DS7D	121	39	32
DS8	42	13	31
DS9	789	379	48
DS10	573	233	41
Total Diplomatic service	3,115	837	27
Economist Group	14	3	21
Information Officer Group	54	32	59
Librarian Group	29	20	69
P and T Group and related grades	116	4	3
Secretarial Group	231.5	230.5	100
Support grades	600.5	266.5	44
Other groups and grades	1,979	772.5	39
Total	8,290	2,988	36

Part time staff counted as half in 1992.

1993
	Total	Women	Percentage of women
Open structure
Grade 1	1	0	0
Grade 2	2	0	0
Grade 3	12	1	8
Grade 4	2	0	0
Grade 5	80	6	8
Grade 6	92	8	9
Grade 7	309	24	8
Total open structure	498	39	8
Administrative group
Senior executive officer	91	18	20
Higher executive officer (D)	9	3	33
Higher executive officer	242	75	31
Executive officer	461	204	44
Administrative officer	724	442	61
Administrative assistant	130	63	48
Total administrative group	1,657	805	49
Diplomatic service
DS1–3	139	4	3
DS4	265	11	4
DS5	432	54	12
DS6	262	31	12
DS7M	428	94	22
DS7D	112	36	32
DS8	57	9	16
DS9	790	395	50
DS10	445	184	41
Total diplomatic service	2,930	818	28
Economist group	15	1	7
Information officer group	59	37	63
Librarian group	32	26	81
P and T group and related grades	132	3	2
Secretarial group	243	242	100
Support grades	617	258	42
Other groups and grades	1,881	678	36
Total	8,064	2,907	36

1994
	Total	Women	Percentage of Women
Open Structure
Grade 1	1	0	0
Grade 2	2	0	0
Grade 3	11	1	9
Grade 4	5	0	0
Grade 5	69	10	14
Grade 6	93	9	10
Grade 7	317	28	9
Total open structure	498	48	10
Administrative Group
Senior Executive Officer	94	22	23
Higher Executive Officer (D)	7	0	0
Higher Executive Officer	229	51	22
Administration Trainee (HEO)	1	1	100
Executive Officer	335	201	60
Administrative Officer	713	427	60
Administrative Assistance	108	48	44
Total administrative group	1,487	750	50
Diplomatic service
DS1–3	145	5	3
DS4	275	10	4
DS5	442	56	13
DS6	273	29	11
DS7M	418	98	23
DS7D	123	38	31
DS8	45	13	29
DS9	794	399	50
DS10	558	227	41
Total diplomatic service	3,073	875	28
Economist Group	25	6	24
Information officer group	62	36	58
Librarian group	34	27	79
P and T group and related grades	121	3	2
Secretarial Group	251	251	100
Support Grades	534	207	39
Other groups and grades	1,520	551	36
Total	7,605	2,754	36

1995
	Total	Women	Percentage of women
Open structure
Grade 1A	1	0	0
Grade 2	1	0	0
Grade 3	12	0	0
Grade 4	1	0	0
Grade 5	68	13	19
Grade 6	91	8	9
Grade 7	301	43	14
Total open structure	475	64	13
Administrative group
Senior executive officer	101	21	21
Higher executive officer (D)	7	1	14
Higher executive officer	240	74	31
Administration trainee (HEO)	3	1	33
Executive officer	421	198	47
Administrative officer	786	450	57
Administrative assistant	89	44	49
Total administrative group	1,647	789	48

1995
	Total	Women	Percentage of women
Diplomatic service
DS1–3	143	5	3
DS4	271	12	4
DS5	446	57	13
DS6	250	34	14
DS7M	446	94	21
DS7D	114	27	24
DS8	32	10	31
DS9	785	366	47
DS10	341	125	37
Executive assistant	45	29	64
Total diplomatic service	2,873	759	26
Economist group	20	2	10
Information officer group	60	33	55
Librarian group	36	23	64
P and T group and related grades	112	2	2
Secretarial group	199	199	100
Support grades	448	172	38
Other groups and grades	1,484	552	37
Total	7,354	2,595	35

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Filipino wives of United Kingdom husbands applied from Manila for settlement visas in the United Kingdom in (a) 1992, (b) 1993 and (c) 1994; and how many were refused. [35659]

The information is not available in the form requested.Application for settlement visas were received in Manila as follows:

	Received	Refused
1992	917	359
1993	702	321
1994	807	257

These will include applications from wives and other settlement categories.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the number of refusals of applications for permanent settlement made from Manila is in line with refusals from other overseas posts. [35660]

The settlement refusal rate for Manila in 1994 was 31.8 per cent. The global average was 21.6 per cent. and the average for south east Asia was 18.4 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what monitoring of overseas posts takes place by his Department to ensure that particular posts are not refusing abnormally large numbers of applicants for either visitors' visas or permanent settlement visas. [35658]

Statistics on both settlement and non-settlement entry clearance applications are monitored closely by the migration and visa department. Refusal rates are included in these statistics, which are published annually in the "Command Paper on Immigration Statistics". Applicants refused entry clearance for settlement or other long-term categories have a right of appeal to the independent appellate authorities. Entry clearance refusals in categories which no longer have a right of appeal following passage of the Asylum and Immigration Appeals Act, 1993 are reviewed, in all cases, by entry clearance managers in posts. Additionally a scientifically random sample of those refusals is reviewed by Dame Elizabeth Anson, the independent monitor of entry clearance refusals, who will present her next report in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what will be the membership and leadership of the Government's delegation to the fourth world conference on women in Beijing; [35760](2) if the Government will support paragraph 97 of the draft platform of action at the fourth world conference on women in Beijing; [35761](3) if the Government will support the draft programme of action at the fourth world conference on women in Beijing that there should be equal relationships between women and men in matters of sexual relations and reproduction, with particular reference to

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if his Department will guarantee the safety of those attending the UN conference on women in Beijing; and if he will make a statement; [36084](2) if he will make a statement on the US State Department's policy that they are unable to guarantee the safety of US citizens attending the UN conference on women in Beijing; [36085](3) what assessment he has made of the threats by Sweden and Norway to boycott the UN International Women's Conference in Beijing. [36106]

I shall write to the hon. Gentlemen shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to support and assist the resumption of the peace process in Sri Lanka; [35966](2) if it is his policy to support a permanent ceasefire between the Sri Lanka Government and the Tamil Tigers; [35959]

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what advice he will give to British citizens planning to attend the UN conference on women in Beijing with regard to their personal safety if they are known to have been critical of China's human rights record; [36086](2) what advice his Department has issued in the last 10 years to British citizens, who are known to have been critical of China's human rights record, or human rights activists, when travelling to China. [36087]

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken by the post in Islamabad on the application to enter the United Kingdom by Mrs. Resham Bi (Ref.IMM/C2414); and if he will make a statement. [36266]

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will request the post in Islamabad to arrange to visit Mr. Ghazanfer Ali, a prisoner in Mirpur district prison, who has been admitted to a local hospital. [36265]

I shall write to the hon. Gentleman shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British companies have been referred to in the UNSCOM report. [36328]

I shall write to the hon. Lady shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many prosecutions of British companies are pending subsequent to the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq—UNSCOM—report [36329]

I have been asked to reply.I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 July, what is his definition of wrong doing. [36375]

I shall write to the hon. Lady shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. [36380]

The Council opened with a general debate on the presidency's programme for their term of office. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State made a statement, the text of which is available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 6 July, Official Report, column 326, if he will provide a breakdown of the figures for vehicles bought for posts abroad, specifying where possible the post and type of vehicle. [34290]

[holding answer 13 July 1995]: A list broken down by post and type, showing FCO, including ODA, purchases of official vehicles over the last five financial year is being placed in the House Library.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has received the report of the Security Commission on the case of Michael John Smith. [36331]

My right hon. Friend the Lord President announced on 11 January 1994 that after consultation with the late leader of the Opposition, I had asked the Security Commission to investigate the circumstances in which breaches of security had, or might have, occurred arising out of the case of Michael John Smith, who was convicted on 18 November 1993 of offences under section 1 of the Official Secrets Act 1911; and to advise in the light of that investigation whether any change in security arrangements was necessary or desirable.An appeal by Smith against his conviction was dismissed by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) on 8 June 1995, but his appeal against sentence was allowed and the sentence was reduced from 25 years to 20 years. The Commission has now submitted its report to me and it is being published this afternoon as a Command Paper, with the exception of some technical and procedural details which it would not be in the public interest to publish on national security grounds. I am most grateful to the Chairman, Lord Lloyd, and to Sir John Blelloch. Sir Derek Boorman and Lord Tombs.The Commission has fully examined the period of Smith's career in defence-related work. The Commission was critical of the initial failure by the Security Service to match Smith's record as a communist with his application for security clearance at EMI in 1976. The Commission felt that there was an unwarranted delay between Smith's identification as a potential threat and these facts being communicated to the Ministry of Defence and Smith's employer. It was concerned about the Security Service's eventual decision to relax its recommendations about Smith when he was put forward for clearance for work at GEC in 1986. It was also unhappy with the way in which the Ministry of Defence agreed to Smith having access to confidential information at GEC.However, the Commission recognises that much has changed since these events took place. The threat from subversive organisations is much lower. The Soviet Union and the Warsaw pact no longer exist. In addition, the Commission has been called upon to investigate a number of other security breaches since 1978 when Smith's clearance was withdrawn and its recommendations have led to significant improvements in the areas of vetting, and more widely, in the field of protective security. Over the same period, Government Departments have also taken initiatives to improve protective security practices. In the light of all this, the Commission has made a number of recommendations. These, in summary, are:

To ask the Prime Minister what considerations led to the policy he adopted towards the ERM in October 1990. [35260]

The decision to participate in the ERM from October 1990 was taken in order to reinforce the Government's counter-inflationary policy at that time.

To ask the Prime Minister how many contracts and for what total sum were let out by his department and agencies for which it is responsible to (a) Coopes and Lybrand and its subsidiaries, (b) Peat Marwick and its subsidiaries, (c) Ernst and Young and its subsidiaries, (d) Arthur Andersen and its subsidiaries, (e) Price Waterhouse and its subsidiaries, (f) Grant Thornton and its subsidiaries, (g) Stoy Hayward and its subsidiaries (h) Robson Rhodes and its subsidiaries and (i) Pannell Kerr Forster and its subsidiaries for privatisation, market testing, management advice, accounting, audit, consultancy and other services in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [33910]

None.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will indicate which five consultancy firms have received most contracts from his Department by (a) number of contracts and (b) monetary value in the last five years for which figures are available; [33442](2) how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has a been the total cost in each of the last five years. [33568]

For this purpose my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 18 July.

To ask the Prime Minister which firms of consultants employed by his Department over the last year have been paid more than £1,000 per day. [33931]

[holding answer 12 July 1995]: For this purpose, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service on Monday 17 July, Official Report, column 903.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the results of (a) his policies and (b) his Department in helping small businesses over the last 12 months as against the previous 12 months; and if he will publish the performance indicators by which his Department monitors those achievements and the statistical results of such monitoring. [34696]

The Government recognise the crucial role played by small firms in the UK economy and aim to help them by providing sound economic conditions—keeping inflation and interest rates low; reducing legislative, administrative and taxation burdens; and where appropriate provide direct assistance in the forms of specialist advice and support and easing access to finance.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will urge the Government of Azad-Kashmir to release from Mirpur district prison Mr. Ghanzanfer Ali to obtain medical treatment in the United Kingdom. [36263]

Ghanzanfer Ali was admitted to a civil hospital in Mirpur 10 days ago. Our High Commission in Islamabad is obtaining details of his medical condition.

To ask the Prime Minister in what capacity the membership of the First Secretary of State of the Millennium Commission has now been confirmed. [25710]

There has been no change in the status of the First Secretary of State as a member of the Millennium Commission since his appointment by HM the Queen on 17 February 1994.

To ask the Prime Minister what consideration was given to the role of the Scottish Office Education Department during the merger of the Department of Employment and the Department for Education. [34132]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has ensured that ministerial responsibility for education and training in the Scottish office are combined. In addition, he has agreed with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Employment arrangements to ensure close consultation on labour market issues, including agreement of the annual performance targets for the Employment Service and new initiatives to help unemployed people.

To ask the Prime Minster if it is his Government's policy to advertise posts in its employ on the basis of offering a salary but inviting applications from those willing to work on a volunteer, unpaid basis. [36605]

I have asked my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Prime Minister what considerations underlie his decision to hold open the possibility of the United Kingdom accepting a single currency in the future. [35204]

I believe that we should judge whether or not to join a single currency on the basis of our national interest, given the circumstances of the time. We do not know what those future circumstances might be. It is therefore too early for us to make a decision one way or the other. Furthermore, as I told the House on 28 June, Official Report, columns 893–94, I believe that it is essential for this country to participate fully in the debate over economic and monetary union, to make our practical views count and to stand up for our interests in Europe. We would forfeit our influence over the debate if we exercised our opt-out now. That would not be in our interests.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the top 10 suppliers of computer equipment to his Department and its agencies in the last five years, indicating the total value of the contracts received; [34549](2) which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department or its agencies over the last five years, indicating the number of contracts per firm; [33929](3) how much his Department or its agencies have spent on computer consultancy in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure over the next five years. [33930]

[holding answers Wednesday 12 July and Friday 14 July]: For this purpose my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, on 18 July.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) how many honours in the birthday list were awarded to personal secretaries in the civil list; [34390](2) how many honours in the birthday list were awarded to

[holding answer Monday 17 July 1995]: My recommendations for the birthday honours list contained 1,055 names. Of these 434 were given specifically for their voluntary service, and many others had also given voluntary service which supported their other claims. The list included 10 personal secretaries in the civil service out of a total of 171 civil servants at all grades, including many working for agencies. The list also included 11 local government officials, 13 local authority councillors and 28 police officers.

To ask the Prime Minister if any United Kingdom bank involved in the sale of arms to Iran or Iraq during the Scott inquiry acted during that time in the service of Her Majesty's Government; and in what capacity. [34320]

[holding answer Friday 14 July 1995]: I am not aware of any such involvement. If the right hon. Member has any relevant information on this subject he will wish to make it available to the appropriate authorities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many friendly societies have closed recently and how many of the closures were attributed to the regulatory requirements imposed by the Financial Services Act 1986. [34402]

So far this year, to June 1995, 10 societies have closed. Two of these were LAUTRO members and therefore subject to the regulatory requirements of the Financial Services Act regime. The reasons for closure are for the societies themselves to determine.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the reasons for the change in the deficit on visible trade in the six months to April and of the likely effect on output, employment and investment in United Kingdom manufacturing; and if he will make a statement. [35197]

The Government's latest assessment of the factors affecting the visible trade deficit was given in chapter 1 of the Treasury's summer economic forecast, published on 28 June 1995. Net trade directly accounted for over half of the growth of GDP in the year to the first quarter of 1995. It is not possible to isolate the overall effects of trade performance on output, employment and investment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the likely effect of his monetary and exchange rate policies on output, employment and investment in the manufacturing industry in 1996–97. [35199]

The Government's macroeconomic policies are designed to maintain a stable macroeconomic environment and strengthen the long-term performance of the economy and outlook for jobs, in order to promote rising prosperity based on sustained economic growth.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the fall in the rate of exchange against the ecu which would be required to eliminate the visible trade deficit with EEC countries within a period of 12 months. [35201]

The balance of trade with the EU depends on a variety of factors, including competitiveness. The key to sustained gains in competitiveness is control over costs, and policies directed at permanently low inflation and competitive markets provided the best environment in which to achieve this. A policy of deliberate devaluation would only raise inflation and be damaging to long-run economic performance.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made for the reasons for the difference between the rate of return in the United Kingdom chemical industry and that in other industrial countries. [35203]

There are no internationally comparable official figures available on the rates of return specific to the chemical industry in the United Kingdom and other industrial countries.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list for the UK, Germany and the USA the pre-tax rates of return for manufacturing and non-financial corporations in each year since 1980; [35360](2) what has been the rate of return on manufacturing since 1970

Information on United Kingdom net rates of return for manufacturing companies since 1970 is available from the CSO's shared database, which can be accessed through the Library of the House. Latest data were published on 11 July 1995 in the CSO "First Release" on 'Profitability of UK Companies' (CSO (95) 136). Information on rates of return in other main industrial countries since 1970 is published in Table 14 of the OECD's "National Accounts, Volume II".

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the accuracy of Bank of England forecasts of the effect on the balance of trade of increases in real interest rates over the past 12 months; [35257](2) what has been the accuracy of

Forecasts of output, employment and the balance of trade depend on many factors. It is not possible to isolate the effect of changes in interest rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of monetary policy (a) in the last two years and (b) since the summer of 1994 on the visible trade balance. [35259]

It is not possible to isolate with any confidence the effects on the visible trade balance stemming from monetary policy. However, the Government's commitment to deliver permanently low inflation will provide a stable climate within which British industry can compete successfully, in both world and domestic markets.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the targets agreed for timing of a common currency for European Union members after the recent EU conference. [30642]

I refer my hon. Friend to the remarks made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 28 June, during his statement to the House on the meeting of the European Council in Cannes, Official Report, columns 893–909.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what calculations he has made on the implications for public expenditure if a national minimum wage of (a) £3 per hour, (b) £3.50 per hour and, (c) £4 per hour, (d) £4.50 per hour and (e) £5 per hour were to be introduced on 1 September and for the fiscal year 1996–97; and if he will make a statement. [32872]

A national minimum wage would destroy private sector jobs, leading to an increase in public expenditure on social security benefits for the unemployed. In the public sector, aggregate control of running costs in the civil service and our wider approach to pay means that higher spending on pay would have to be offset by spending cuts elsewhere.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he was consulted by the European Commission about the contents of the Green Paper on the practical arrangements for the introduction of the single currency prior to its publication on 31 May. [33530]

The European Commission's Green Paper was discussed at ECOFIN on 22 May.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are seconded to work with the European Commission on single currency issues. [33529]

As of 3 July 1995 there was one United Kingdom civil servant seconded to the European Commission and working in Directorate-General II, Economic and Financial Affairs, the responsibilities of which include work on economic and monetary union.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of employing consultants in connection with privatisation programmes in which his Department has been engaged since 1980. [33450]

Information prior to 1991 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Information for 1991 to date is as follows:

	£000
1991–92	8.891
1992–93	1,429
1993–94	5,019
1994–95	4,500

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts his Department has had with consultants; and what has been the total cost in each of the last five years. [33499]

I regret that information prior to 1991 can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The table gives the number and value of consultancy contracts awarded by HM Treasury by financial year from 1991–92 to 1994–95. In addition the Department has also incurred expenditure on professional fees in connection with the privatisation programme. These are shown separately.

	Consultancy contracts		Privatisation contracts
Year	Number of contracts	Value (excluding VAT) £000	Number of contracts	Value (excluding VAT) £000
1991–92	14	1258	10	8,891
1992–93	92	1,029	14	1,429
1993–94	70	1,404	12	5,019
1994–95	37	997	13	4,500
1 August-March.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which firms of consultants employed by his Department over the last year have been paid more than £1,000 per day. [33869]

[holding answer 12 July 1995]: The information requested is not held in a form that is readily accessible and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will indicate which five consultancy firms have received most contracts from his Department (a) by number of contracts and (b) monetary value in the last five years for which figures are available. [33431]

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many contracts and for what total sum were let out by his Department and agencies for which it is responsible to (a) Coopers and Lybrand and its subsidiaries, (b) Peat Marwick and its subsidiaries, (c) Ernst and Young and its subsidiaries, (d) Arthur Andersen and its subsidiaries, (e) Price Waterhouse and its subsidiaries, (f) Grant Thornton and its subsidiaries, (g) Stoy Hayward and its subsidiaries and (h) Robson Rhodes and its subsidiaries and (i) Pannell Kerr Forster and its subsidiaries for privatisation, market-testing, management advice, accounting, audit, consultancy and other services in 1993–94 and 1994–95. [33917]

I regret that is has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Members shortly and place a copy of the letters in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much his Department and its agencies have spent on computer consultancy in each of the last five years; and what is the expected expenditure over the next five years; [33864](2) which firms have won computer consultancy contracts from his Department and its agencies over the last five years; and what is the number of contracts per firm. [33896]

[holding answer 12 July 1995]: Details of consultancy contracts are held on the Treasury contracts database. But as the database cannot identify computer consultancy separately, the information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the total cost in a full year of charging individuals, companies and trusts at the rate of 25 per cent. on their capital gains while increasing the annual gross exemption and the chattels exemption to £10,000 in all cases. [34209]

The cost of charging individuals, companies and trusts at the rate of 25 per cent. on their capital gains while increasing the annual exempt amount for individuals to £10,000 and trusts to half this amount is estimated to be £450 million for 1996–97 liabilities, rising to £700 million in a full year in the medium term. It is not possible to estimate the cost of increasing the chattels exemption to £10,000, but this is likely to be very small in comparison with the figures of £450 million or £700 million.Estimates given take account of the likely effect of changes on the volume of disposals in a full year, caused by changes in taxpayers' behaviour.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the total cost in a full year of increasing the nil band of inheritance tax to £250,000, reducing the 40 per cent. band to 25 per cent. and exempting from tax all lifetime gifts except those made within three years of death. [34208]

The full year cost in 1996–97, measured against an indexed base, of increasing the inheritance tax threshold to £250,000, reducing the rate of tax from 40 per cent. to 25 per cent., and exempting from tax all lifetime gifts made more than three years before death is estimated to be just over £1 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for which periods in the last 30 years 100 per cent. capital allowances for investment in machinery and plant have been available. [35070]

One hundred per cent. capital allowances were available for expenditure on machinery and plant incurred between 22 March 1972 and 13 March 1984.One hundred per cent. capital allowances were also available between 27 October 1970 and 21 March 1972 for expenditure on the provision of a new ship or on new non-mobile machinery or plant for use for industrial purposes in a development area or Northern Ireland. The requirement that the machinery or plant had to be used for industrial purposes was removed between 20 July 1971 and 21 March 1972.One hundred per cent. first year capital allowances were phased out as part of the Government's 1984 business tax reforms. The purpose of these reforms was to create a more neutral tax regime based on significantly lower rates of tax, with allowances for depreciation more closely reflecting useful asset life.As a result of these reforms, the main rate of corporation tax has been reduced from 45 per cent. to 33 per cent. and the small companies rate is down from 30 per cent. to 25 per cent. since 1984.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds he voted at the Council of Ministers on 10 July for sanctions to be applied to EC states which were not proceeding effectively towards the convergence criteria; what is the current level of unemployment in the states concerned; and what estimate he has made of the effect on unemployment if the convergence criteria were adhered to by the nations concerned. [35187]

The ECOFIN Council on 10 July made confidential recommendations to each of the member states with an excessive deficit. No sanctions have been applied to any member state. Member states which receive support form the cohesion fund and also have an excessive deficit—Greece, Portugal and Spain—may be liable to have their cohesion funding suspended under article 6 of the cohesion fund regulation, but this is a decision for the Commission, not the Council.The latest OECD standardised estimate of the unemployment rate in Greece in November 1994 is 4.7 per cent., in Portugal in April 1995 is 7.2 per cent., and in Spain in the first quarter of 1995 is 22.8 per cent. The Government believe that the best way to reduce unemployment is by increasing labour market flexibility and creating a stable macro-economic environment. Thus, adhering to the convergence criteria would be consistent with efforts to reduce unemployment in these countries.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest estimate of total unemployment within the European Union; and what assessment he has made of the effect on this total of the implementation of the convergence criteria. [35186]

The OECD's standardised estimate of the unemployment rate within the European Union in April 1995 is 9.6 per cent. The Government believe that the best way to reduce unemployment is by increasing labour market flexibility and creating a stable macroeconomic environment. The convergence criteria are consistent with the creation of a stable macroeconomic environment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many firearms which had been purchase abroad were brought into the United Kingdom by private individuals in each year since 1992; and what were their categories, classes and types. [36125]

I regret that the information is unavailable.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the average wage for manual workers in each of the regions of the United Kingdom. [36109]

Analysis of average earnings for full-time manual workers in the regions of Great Britain is published in part A, table X5.1 of the "New Earnings Survey" report. Information for part-time manual females within the regions is contained in part F, table 180.1. Copies of the reports are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list (a) the percentage of males aged 50 to 65 in full-time employment and (b) the percentage of females aged 50 to 60 years in full time employment. [36122]

Over the quarter ending February 1995 56 per cent. of males aged 50 to 65 were in full-time employment compared with 28 per cent. of females aged 50 to 60 years.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the three-year review of the Valuation Office as a next steps agency is now complete; and if he will make a statement. [36342]

Following the decision earlier this year that the Valuation Office should continue as a next steps agency in the public sector and within the Inland Revenue, the second and final stage of the three year review of the Valuation Office has been concerned with an evaluation of its performance to date, of the framework within which it operates and of the appropriate senior management structure for it.The review is now complete. It has found that the Valuation Office has established an impressive track record since its formation as an agency in 1991. successfully completing a number of important operational tasks. The review has identified a number of areas where further improvements would be possible and proposes a comprehensive set of measures to enhance standards of customer service and increase the Valuation Office's overall efficiency and value for money. Details of these are described in an Inland Revenue press release published today.I congratulate the Valuation Office on its work to date and I welcome and endorse the review's recommendations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the information given in the July 1994 "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" booklet. [36343]

The Treasury is today publishing a booklet containing estimates of the effects of various illustrative tax changes on tax receipts in 1996–97 and 1997–98 and estimates of the costs of the main tax reliefs in 1994–95 and 1995–96. Copies are being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the debt management review. [36381]

The debt management review was announced by the then Minister of State to the Treasury on 10 November 1994. It had the following terms of reference:

"To review the existing arrangements for the setting of debt management policy, the selling of Government debt and the management of outstanding debt."

The review was conducted by the Treasury and involved an extensive process of consultation. It was conducted in close co-ordination with the Bank of England. The review covered gilt issuance only. It did not cover national savings.The report of the review which I am today publishing jointly with the Bank of England contains the conclusions of the review and discusses a number of other current developments in the gilts market. In particular, the report outlines a number of proposals which represent a further move to an open, predictable and transparent gilts issuance policy, and which promote the liquidity and efficiency of the gilts market.The Government and the Bank of England believe that, taken together, these changes will reduce funding costs, to the ultimate benefit of taxpayers. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to change the taxation of oil companies operating in the North sea; and what proposals he has to alter current rules governing reliefs companies may claim in respect of decommissioning or scrapping of oil installations. [31225]

[holding answer 28 June 1995]: A number of structural changes to the rules for petroleum revenue tax were made in 1993 and my right hon. and learned Friend has no proposals for further major changes to that tax. The cost of decommissioning North sea oil installations is one of the costs of extracting oil in the North sea. As it is the profits of North sea oil companies that are taxed, it is right that tax reliefs should be given for relevant decommissioning costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was, for each company privatised since 1979, the highest number on the share register indicating the date, the date of the privatisation and the present size of the share register. [35093]

[holding answer 17 July 1995]: The information requested is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The current size of individual company share registers is a matter for the companies themselves and their registrars.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list those parts of his Department or departmental agencies which were privatised without an in-house bid; if he will indicate the expertise which was absent in his Department or departmental agencies which prevented an in-house bid taking place; which future parts of his Department or departmental agencies he intends to privatise; and which of them do not have the necessary in-house expertise to mount an in-house bid. [29416]

I regret that it has not been possible to provide a substantive answer before the summer recess. I shall write to the hon. Member shortly and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 14 February, column 576, if he will update the figures on fraud in Government Departments. [35515]

[holding answer 18 July 1995]: Departmental returns on frauds and suspected frauds committed by departmental and agency staff in 1994–95, including cases where staff have colluded with outsiders, are being collated at present. The 1994–95 figures are expected to be available in early autumn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what legislation he plans to introduce; and if he will make a statement. [35316]

[holding answer 18 July 1995]: The Government's plans for legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech at the start of the 1995–96 Session.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates of the number of individuals who paid income tax at a top marginal rate of 40 per cent. or above in each year since 1979–80. [35359]

[holding answer 18 July 1995]: Information was given in my reply to the hon. Member on 18 July.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for each civil service grade in his Department the number of (a) male and (b) female (i) full-time and (ii) part-time employees. [35461]

The numbers of permanent non-industrial staff on 1 April 1995—before the recent machinery of government changes—for HM Treasury, by grade, on a head count basis were as follows:

	Male		Female
	Full-time	Part-time	Full-time	Part-time
Grade 1	1	0	0	0
Grade 1A	2	0	0	0
Chief Accountancy Adviser	1	0	0	0
Grade 2	2	0	0	0
Grade 3	17	0	2	1
Grade 4	1	0	0	0
Grade 5	54	0	10	2
Grade 6	21	0	3	0
Grade 7	123	0	30	6
Graduate Trainee	0	0	2	0
AT/HEO(D)	22	0	9	0
EA	1	0	0	0
Assistant Economist	27	0	6	0
SEO	50	0	14	6
HEO	76	0	42	2
EO	93	1	52	8
HSO	0	0	2	0
SO	1	0	0	0
Assistant Statitician	6	0	3	0
Senior Information Officer	2	0	0	0
Information Officer	0	0	2	0
Senior Librarian	2	0	2	0
Librarian	2	0	2	0
Assistant Librarian	1	0	2	0
AO	91	4	81	5
AA	28	0	31	2
SPS	0	0	19	2
PS	0	0	85	16
Ch Typing Manager	0	0	2	0
Typing Manager	0	0	2	0
Typist	1	0	26	4
Support Grade B1	6	0	15	0
Support Grade B2	16	0	29	1
Support Manager 2	0	0	2	0
Support Manager 3	0	0	2	0
Student	8	0	1	0
Total	653	5	478	55

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what safeguards exist to ensure that tax details on people about to begin self-assessment tax returns do not fall into the hands of (a) General Motors, (b) Mr. Ross Perot and (c) American-based employees of the EDS computer company. [33524]

The Inland Revenue is responsible for the confidentiality of taxpayer records. Under the terms of its IT services contract with EDS Ltd. that company is required to maintain the Department's security and confidentiality standards while the Inland Revenue will monitor performance against those standards.

• EDS does not process, handle or store taxpayer information outside the United Kingdom without the Department's consent;
• EDS's employees and its agents and subcontractors sign the appropriate statutory undertaking not to disclose taxpayer information;
• EDS reminds its employees, agents and subcontractors every six months of their obligations under the non-disclosure arrangements, and monitors compliance.

The Inland Revenue has the following safeguards built into the contract and will regularly inspect to ensure:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of the job losses envisaged as arising under the system of assessment will be redeployed to the fields of compliance and customer service under the change agreement signed between the Inland Revenue Staff Federation and the department of Inland Revenue; and if he will give the figures (a) in total and (b) by region and district. [36213]

When self-assessment is bedded down the Inland Revenue currently expects to employ around 3,000 fewer staff. This will be achieved only after implementation and is net after the expected deployment of staff into customer service and compliance work.As the Inland Revenue gains a better understanding of the way self-assessment will work in practice, it is constantly reviewing those net savings. At present, the figures are not sufficiently developed to permit an estimate to be provided on the basis requested.But in accordance with the change agreement, the Inland Revenue has offered to share the detail of that thinking with the main trade union involved—the Inland Revenue Staff Federation. The Inland Revenue remain committed to avoiding compulsory redundancies wherever possible.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional costs in excess of original estimates have been incurred in connection with the introduction of self-assessment of taxation. [36219]

No additional costs have been incurred to date.