To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list each capital building programme, costing more than £1 million, completed in each year since 1979–80, by or on behalf of his Department or local magistrates committees, together with the cost expressed in 1995–96 prices. [38331]

A schedule of all Crown, combined court and county court schemes is attached at annexe A. The readily available information on magistrates courts schemes is attached at annexe B. Although it is completed for the last four years, the Department does not hold detailed records of all magistrates court schemes completed prior to 1992 which is when responsibility transferred from the Home Office.

Annexe A: Crown county and combined court building project
£ million
Title of scheme	Type of court	Works cost cash	Works cost1995–96 prices
1979–80		0	0
1980–81
Wood Green Phase 1	Crown	1.25	2.73
Leicester	Crown	4.42	9.66
Romford	County	1.03	2.24
Nottingham Phase 1	Crown	2.23	4.86
Birmingham Newton St	County	1.10	2.40
Snaresbrook Phase 1	Crown	2.78	6.07
Total		12.80	27.97
1981–82
Burnley	Crown	1.50	2.99
Kings Lynn	Crown	1.12	2.22
Bolton	Comb	4.00	7.97
Total		6.61	13.18
1982–83
Portsmouth	Comb	7.00	13.02
Chelmsford	Crown	5.61	10.43
Leeds	Comb	9.68	18.00
Southwark	Crown	12.60	23.44
Total		34.89	64.89
1983–84
RCJCrypt	High	2.47	4.38
Maidstone	Comb	10.20	18.14
Total		12.67	22.52
1984–85
Liverpool	Comb	43.44	73.55
Snaresbrook Rebuild (Fire)	Crown	1.40	2.37
Total		44.84	75.92

Annexe A: Crown county and combined court building project
£ million
Title of scheme	Type of court	Works cost cash	Works cost1995–96prices
1985–86
Oxford	Comb	5.17	8.29
Swindon	Comb	2.36	3.79
Salisbury	Crown	1.18	1.89
Total		8.71	13.97
1986–87
Isleworth D.O.G. House	Crown	4.43	6.91
Milton Keynes	County	1.17	1.82
Guildford	Crown	4.70	7.32
Manchester Wood St Phase 1	Crown	10.13	15.78
Peterborough	Comb	3.96	6.16
Southampton	Comb	7.08	11.02
Total		31.46	49.01
1987–88
Birmingham	Crown	8.87	13.12
Newcastle Moot Hall	Crown	1.68	2.48
Nottingham Phases 2&3	Crown	6.18	9.14
Norwich	Comb	7.02	10.38
Swansea	Crown	5.15	7.62
Total		18.90	42.74
1988–89
Lambeth	County	1.14	1.58
Coventry	Comb	5.25	7.28
Telford	County	1.05	1.46
Snaresbrook Phase 2	Crown	2.50	3.47
St. Dunstans House	High	1.67	2.31
Truro	Comb	4.93	6.84
Middlesex Guildhall	Crown	6.90	9.56
Grimsby	Comb	4.84	6.71
Derby	Comb	7.40	10.26
Croydon	Comb	15.13	20.97
Total		50.82	70.44
1989–90
Doncaster	Crown	3.42	4.44
RCJ 123 Additional	HC	11.36	14.72
Manchester Cr Sq/Wd St 2/3	Comb	4.97	6.44
Taunton	Crown	2.79	3.62
Wood Green Phase 2	Crown	15.26	19.77
Total		37.80	48.99
1990–91
Wolverhampton	Comb	9.17	11.00
RCJ Thomas More	High	2.54	3.05
Newcastle Quayside	Comb	17.13	20.56
Total		28.84	34.61
1991–92
Northampton	Comb	11.49	12.97
Teesside	Comb	15.09	17.04
Hull	Co-loc	11.28	12.73
Stoke	Comb	9.50	10.72
Stafford	Comb	10.35	11.68
Harrow	Crown	17.61	19.88
Lincoln	County	2.31	2.61
Luton	Crown	9.96	11.25
Warrington	Comb	7.48	8.44
Newport	Crown	10.90	12.30
Total		105.96	119.63
1992–93

Annexe A: Crown county and combined court building project
£ million
Title of scheme	Type of court	Works cost cash	Works cost1995–96 prices
Carlisle	Comb	9.29	10.08
St. Albans	Crown	16.34	17.73
Central London County
Court Phase 1	County	1.62	1.76
Bradford	Comb	18.85	20.45
Chester	Crown	6.55	7.10
Borough	Crown	19.06	20.68
Dartford	County	2.16	2.34
Total		73.87	80.15
1993–94
Woolwich	Crown	31.15	32.80
Bristol	Crown	33.49	35.26
Total		64.64	68.06
1994–95
RCJ East Wing	High	15.57	16.08
Neath and Port Talbot	County	1.31	1.35
Pontypridd	County	1.42	1.46
Central London County
Phase 2	County	6.43	6.64
Newport (IOW)	Comb	2.23	2.3–0
Leicester	County	3.47	3.59
Birmingham	County	33.34	34.44
Cardiff County	County	3.49	3.61
Total		67.25	69.47
1995–96
Canterbury	Comb	15.69	15.69
Preston	Comb	24.84	24.84
Worcester	Comb	7.80	7.80
Total		48.33	48.33
Grand Total		658.37	849.87

Annexe B: Magistrates court building projects
£ million
Scheme	Actual cost	Cost at 1995–96 prices
1981–82
Lancaster	1.925	3.836
1987–88
Merton	3.196	4.727
Lewes	2.394	3.541
1988–89
Lowestoft	2.099	2.909
Brighton	2.289	3.172
Port Talbot	1.415	1.961
Stockport	4.63	6.417
Bath	2.098	2.908
Dewsbury	2.394	3.318
1989–90
Brent	7.782	10.085
Cardiff	7.401	9.592
Hertford	4	5.184
Oldbury	2.795	3.622
Woking	2.064	2.675
Thames	5.086	6.591

Annexe B: Magistrates court building projects
£ million
Scheme	Actual cost	Cost at 1995–96 prices
1990–91
Bootle	2.935	3.522
Bury	3.541	4.249
Chester	3.700	4.440
Basildon	2.700	3.240
Great Yarmouth	3.167	3.811
Harrogate	2.351	2.821
Lincoln	4.113	4.935
Milton Keynes	4.587	5.504
Newton Aycliffe	1.657	1.988
Wigan	5.077	6.092
City of London	3.990	4.788
1991–92
Haywards Heath	2.576	2.908
Kendal	1.552	1.752
Wimbledon	3.196	3.608
Leicester	7.432	8.391
1992–93
Bedlington	2.848	3.090
Woolwich	3.294	3.574
Newport (IOW)	3.406	3.695
Taunton	2.503	2.716
1993–94
Fareham	2.637	2.777
Leeds	18.132	19.093
Llandudno	1.810	1.906
North Shields	3.262	3.435
Rotherham	5.400	5.686
1994–95
Newham	11.747	12.135
Shrewsbury	3.983	4.114
Rhondda	1.678	1.733
Barrow	3.072	3.173
Bexley	1.208	1.248
Milton Keynes	1.108	1.144
1995–96
Nottingham	20.000	20.000
Mansfield	5.127	5.127
West London	8.335	8.335

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the acreage and percentage of land in each county in England which is unregistered. [38037]

The registration of land is the responsibility of Her Majesty's Land Registry which was established as an executive agency of the Lord Chancellor in July 1990. The question concerns a specific matter on which the chief executive of the agency is best placed to provide the answer. I have accordingly asked the chief executive of Her Majesty's Land Registry to reply direct.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will provide in respect of his plan of pay delegation submitted to the Treasury (a) a description of the staff in each bargaining unit covered by the plan, distinguishing staff in HQ functions, agencies and agency candidates, and in other identifiable business units and (b) proposals for trade union recognition in each bargaining unit and the negotiating machinery to be put in place in each bargaining unit. [38271]

In addition to the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department and associated offices, the Lord Chancellor has responsibility for four agencies: the Court Service, Her Majesty's Land Registry, the Public Record Office and the Public Trust Office. He is also responsible for the Legal Aid Board, which is an executive non-departmental public body.The Public Trust Office and the Court Service became executive agencies in July 1994 and April 1995 respectively, but pay issues of common interest have continued to be subject to joint consultation with LCD HQ. From 1 April 1996, however, the headquarters of the Lord Chancellor's Department—with associated offices—the Court Service and the Public Trust Office will each assume responsibility for the pay and grading of their staff and from that date will become separate units for collective bargaining purposes. The Legal Aid Board already has delegated responsibility in this area, from 1 April 1995. Staff in headquarters, the two agencies and the Legal Aid Board are primarily in senior management, executive, clerical, secretarial and office support grades. The Court Service also includes county court bailiffs, clerks to HM judges and a small number of domestic staff, the latter serving judges' lodgings.The present pay and grading structures are, however, now under review. It is not envisaged that, in the immediate term, there will be any significant changes in the present recognition arrangements with the trade unions, who have been invited by headquarters and the two agencies to be party to interim pay agreements which would remain in place pending the outcome of the pay and grading reviews. Changes in pay, structure and collective bargaining arrangements may follow, after consultation and negotiation, as a result of these reviews.The chief executives of Her Majesty's Land Registry and the Public Record Office have been asked to reply direct.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table projecting, for each less-developed country, the total debt stock and annual debt service obligation if the Trinidad and Madrid terms were to be implemented in full. [38396]

I regret that the figures are not available to produce meaningful projections as requested.Our objective in proposing the Trinidad terms for bilateral debt, and the multilateral debt initiative launched in Madrid, is to reduce the debt burden of the poorest, most indebted countries to sustainable levels. We continue to pursue this objective.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures of people employed in the tobacco industry at the latest available date and the figures for 1990. [39286]

Available information closest to that requested is for employees in employment in the tobacco manufacturing industry at September 1989, 1991 and 1993. The information is provided in the following table.

Year	Employees (thousands)
1989	11.4
1991	8.7
1993	8.0

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs, created in the last year, were in (a) small and medium-sized companies, (b) manufacturing industries and (c) service industries. [39376]

The information requested for small and medium-sized companies is not available. Information for manufacturing and services is available only for the net change in jobs and is provided in the following table.

Employment in Great Britain: June (thousands)1
	1994	1995	Net change
Manufacturing	4,052	4,086	34
Services	17,832	18,145	313

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is proposing to reduce tendering costs for public finance initiative schemes. [37162]

This is, of course a private not a public finance initiative—although the Government want to keep costs down for both the private and public sectors. I am keen to see an increase in the use of the private finance initiative for the scouring of public projects. However, I am aware of concerns about the costs involved in this exercise and plan shortly to meet with representatives of the construction industry to discuss the matter. However, as experience of the PFI grows costs will continue to fall as Government and business improve their expertise in making contracts in this way. The Government are also encouraging the spread of best practice among Departments, for example by avoiding over-prescriptive specifications.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the rate of higher rate of income tax necessary to counterbalance the effect of (a) abolition of the lower rate of income tax and (b) the abolition of the lower rate of income tax and national insurance contributions for the lowest band tax payers. [37959]

It would be inappropriate to comment about the range of possible changes to tax rates and thresholds being assessed for the Budget statement. The direct revenue effects of illustrative tax changes are shown in "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" published by HM Treasury in July, a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of evasion of payments of (a) income tax and (b) other tax have been discovered in each of the last five years; and what has been the value of the revenue recovered in both categories. [37922]

The information requested for taxes administered by the Inland Revenue is as follows:

Year	Income tax investigations	Other investigations	Yield from counter-evasion work (£ million)
1989–90	57,997	12,551	933
1990–91	61,755	13,219	1,091
1991–92	59,993	14,421	1,324
1992–93	55,611	12,952	1,361
1993–94	58,420	12,200	1,295
1994–95	57,701	10,643	1,378

The figure of yield for 1994–95 cannot be compiled on a basis exactly comparable with earlier years, owing to a change in the way these figures are maintained. Unlike previous years, it includes the yield from all employer compliance work.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average accrued capital value based on private sector annuity rates or other appropriate calculation method of (a) a civil service employee's pension and (b) other public sector employee's pensions of those (i) employees retiring this year and (ii) those current and past employees with future pension rights at retirement. [37884]

Information for all public sector and public service pension arrangements is not kept centrally. However, the table sets out the average capitalised values of retirement benefits for civil servants who are members of the principal civil service pension scheme together with corresponding figures for two of the large public service schemes.

Approximate capitalised value of average accrued retired benefit entitlement
Pension scheme	Pensioners retiring over the year to1 October1995£	Active members at1 April 1995£	Pensioners with preserved benefits at1 April 1995£
1. PCSPS (excluding N.I.)	98,000	32,000	14,000
2. NHS (England, Wales, Scotland and N.I.)	80,000	30,000	10,000
3. Teachers' Superannuation Scheme (England and Wales)	146,000	61,000	16,000

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to funding a fidelity bonus paid to couples who stay married for five years. [39030]

I have received many interesting proposals in the run-up to the Budget which I am considering carefully.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest date when an investigation into the black economy took place; what was its findings; and what was the estimate of the extent of the black economy, and the resulting loss of revenue in income tax, in actual and at 1995 prices. [39009]

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the size of the black economy. However, the Inland Revenue has an on-going programme to detect and deter evasion in all areas of the tax system for which it is responsible. I refer the hon. Member to the chapter entitled "Compliance" in the annual report of the board of Inland Revenue for the year ending 31 March 1995, which may be found in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the size of the black economy. [39008]

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the size of the black economy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of people who will pay capital gains tax in 1996–97 and 1997–98. [39091]

The number of individuals and trustees who will have capital gains tax liabilities arising from disposals in 1996–97 and 1997–98 are provisionally estimated at 90,000 and 95,000 respectively.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the behavioural effects of the abolition of capital gains tax. [39102]

It would not be appropriate to comment on tax matters in the run-up to the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of ACT receipts for 1995–96. [39095]

The forecast of advance corporation tax receipts for 1995–96 made at the time of the 1995 summer economic forecast was £9.5 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the savings that could be made annually by linking British defence expenditure to the average level of other western European countries. [39252]

None. UK defence expenditure is determined by UK defence needs and spending priorities. It would be meaningless to link it to the average of other countries' defence spending.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations his Department has received from (a) members of the general public, (b) hon. Members and (c) non-governmental organisations on the size of the overseas aid budget since 1 September; and what were the figures for the same period last year. [39084]

The information is as follows:

	1 September1995 to23 October1995	1 September1994 to23 October1994
(a) Letters from general public	1,150	35
(b) Hon. Members' letters	260	20
(c) Non-governmental organisations' letters	1—	1—
1 Not separately recorded.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to end or alter the tax reliefs available on the first £30,000 of redundancy payments; and if he will make a statement. [39143]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget statement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total number of cases of all forms of fraud committed by employees of his (a) Department, (b) agencies and (c) non-departmental public bodies for each year from 1991–92 to 1994–95; and for each of these years, what was the total monetary sum (1) misappropriated in such frauds and (2) subsequently recovered. [39126]

[holding answer 24 October 1995]: The total number of cases of fraud and the total monetary sum misappropriated and subsequently recovered is shown in the following table.

£
	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
HM Treasury
(cases)	(0)	(1)	(0)	(0)
misappropriated	nil	22	nil	(0)
recovered	—	nil	—	—
Forward: Civil Service Catering
(cases)	(2)	(19)	(1)	(0)
misappropriated	60,000	78,496	268	nil
recovered	nil	790	nil	nil
Agencies
(cases)	(2)	(2)	(3)	(0)
misappropriated	nil	31,754	nil	nil
recovered	—	23,573	—	—

£
	1991–92	1992–93	1993–94	1994–95
NDPBs
(cases)	(0)	(0)	(0)	(0)
misappropriated	nil	nil	nil	nil
recovered	—	—	—	—

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the additional revenue yield which would result from extending employers' national insurance contributions to all fringe benefits currently liable to income tax only. [29141]

I have been asked to reply.We estimate the figure to be £250 million based on 1994–95 figures.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the result of the Transport Council held in Brussels on 28 September. [40234]

The Transport Council met in Brussels on 28 September. My hon. Friend the Minister for Railways and Roads represented the United Kingdom.The Council discussed proposals for a Community negotiating mandate on road transport agreements with certain central and eastern European countries, and invited the Committee of Permanent Representatives to prepare detailed texts with a view to agreement at the December Transport Council.The Council met Transport Ministers from the nine central and eastern European countries which have association agreements with the European Community. Discussion concentrated on the approximation of legislation and development of infrastructure.The Council reached a common position on a consolidating and amending directive on the weights and dimensions of goods vehicles, which extends to national traffic the limits on dimensions—but not weights—applying to international traffic. On the initiative of the UK and the Netherlands, existing goods vehicles which cannot comply with the new provisions may continue in use in national transport until the end of 2006.The Council also reached a common position on a directive transposing into Community law and applying to national transport the existing regulations on the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail. Special, more stringent rules will continue to apply to the channel tunnel.The Council reached political agreement on a scrapping scheme to reduce capacity in the inland waterways industry. Together with Germany, the UK opposed the use of Community funds for this purpose. The Council also reached political agreement on a regulation giving inland waterways operators the freedom to provide services in any member state.The Council continued to discuss the Commission's proposals for liberalisation of ground handling services at Community airports. These will now be considered further by the Committee of Permanent Representatives. The Council agreed a resolution on air traffic management in situations of crisis and congestion.Other items raised at the Council included proposals for a plastic card driving licence, which were welcomed by the UK and other member states, and taxation of aviation fuel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the United Kingdom's share of the funds available in 1995 for priority projects under the European Community's financing programme for trans-European transport networks. [40233]

Priority projects in the United Kingdom will receive some £22 million, which is just over 15 per cent. of the total funds available for priority projects in 1995 and more than any other member state will receive from the EC fund. In addition to the £7 million for the west coast main line, which I announced in the House on 18 October, Official Report, column 370, the channel tunnel rail link will receive £13.6 million and schemes along the Ireland-UK-Benelux road link will benefit from £1.6 million. The UK will also receive £36,000 million for road traffic management research and has an interest in a number of other traffic management schemes, including a global navigation satellite system, which will together receive some £16 million of TENs funding in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the maximum current capacity of each terminal of (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted for (i) passengers and (ii) flights. [39367]

These are matters for BAA plc.The number of passenger air transport movements at Stansted is limited to 78,000 per annum under the Stansted Airport Aircraft Movement Limit Order 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers used Stansted airport in (a) the year of its opening and (b) 1994. [39371]

Stansted airport opened for commercial use in 1946, but the first regular services did not operate until the following year. The new terminal opened in March 1991, and in that year 1.9 million passengers used the airport. The comparable figure for 1994 was 3.3 million passengers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will undertake the environmental impact assessment in respect of a new terminal 5 at Heathrow. [39774]

No. An environmental impact assessment was prepared by BAA plc prior to its application for planning permission for a fifth terminal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many passengers used each of the terminals at (a) Heathrow and (b) Gatwick in (i) 1984 and (ii) 1994. [39379]

I understand from BAA plc that the information requested is as follows:

	1984	1994
	Million passengers
Heathrow Terminal 1	11.46	21.37
Heathrow Terminal 2	7.45	8.23
Heathrow Terminal 3	10.23	10.79
Heathrow Terminal 4	1—	10.97
Gatwick South Terminal	13.95	12.76
Gatwick North Terminal	2—	8.29
1 Opened April 1986.
2 Opened March 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of existing (a) passenger and (b) freight capacity is being used currently at (i) Heathrow, and (ii) Gatwick and (iii) Stansted. [39373]

This is a matter for BAA plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has for passenger use of (a) existing Heathrow terminals, (b) Gatwick terminals, (c) Stansted and (d) terminal 5 at Heathrow in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2005. [39372]

I understand that BAA plc has presented the following projections to the Heathrow terminal 5 public inquiry:

	2000	2005)
	(million passengers per year)
Existing Heathrow Terminals	60.0	52.6
Gatwick Terminals	22.1	27.3
Stansted	7.1	12.5
Heathrow Terminal 51	—	14.4
1 Application to build terminal 5 is currently the subject of a public inquiry. If planning permission is granted, BAA pic aims to have the first phase open by 2003.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessments he had made of the environmental impact of the airports on (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick and (c) Stansted. [39366]

For Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted, the Department publishes an aircraft noise exposure index in the form of annual aircraft noise contours using Leq—equivalent continuous sound level, 16 hour dBA. It is the responsibility of airport operators or developers to undertake appropriate environmental impact assessments of any major new developments proposed at airports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in the past five years he has granted planning permission for the development on land in the metropolitan green belt for (a) motorways and (b) motorway service areas; and if he will make a statement. [38353]

We are not aware of any such cases in metropolitan green belt land around London. Approval should not be given for inappropriate development in a green belt except in very special circumstances. Further advice on control over development in green belts is given in section 3 of planning policy guidance note 2—revised—January 1995.My right hon. Friend has called in four planning applications for motorway service areas on different sites in the green belt, along the M25 in Epping Forest district, Essex. They were considered at a joint inquiry which ended in the summer. The Government Office is awaiting the inspector's report.The Secretary of State is minded to grant permission for a motorway service area in the green belt, on the M25 at Iver, Buckinghamshire, but is considering further representations on new evidence that has arisen.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the locations for possible motorway service areas adjacent to the M25 which were rejected by his inspector as being unsuitable on the ground that they are off-line. [38355]

We are not aware of any such cases.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his proposals to improve the current noise legislation. [38039]

I am aware of my right hon. Friend's continuing interest in this important subject. We are currently considering both the written responses to the recommendations in the consultation paper on neighbour noise controls and the results of recent trials of the proposed new night noise offence. We hope to announce shortly how we propose to take forward the recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate (a) the costs and(b) the costs of delay relating to the planning inquiry into the developing at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in the borough of Greenwich., [38736]

No. Such estimates are unnecessary as they are not material to the Secretary of State's decision on whether a planning application should be called in.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the shortest, the average and the longest period of delay in setting up a local public inquiry. [38735]

The provision of information on public local inquiries is the responsibility of the planning inspectorate. I have asked the inspectorate's chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list proposed special areas of conservation in the United Kingdom that contain specimens of shore dock. [39244]

The sites proposed to Government by the statutory nature conservation agencies, working through the Joint Nature Conservation committee, as possible special areas of conservation representing an appropriate UK contribution for the shore dock—Rumex rupestris—to the European Union wide Natura 2000 network were:

• Angelsey Coast Dunes (Glannau Mons)
• Fal and Helford
• Isles of Scilly Complex
• Penhale Dunes
• Plymouth Sound and Estuaries
• The Lizard

Following a public consultation on those proposals in the spring, the Anglesey coast dunes site was submitted to the European Commission as a candidate special area of conservation in June. I anticipate that other sites for this species will go forward as candidate special areas of conservation later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by county, those designated areas that have been damaged in each of the last four years, with the cause of damage in each case. [39064]

The information is not available in the form requested. Information on damage to SSSIs is contained in the annual reports of English Nature, copies of which are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment he has made of the effect of people receiving benefit, where the level of housing benefit has been capped in line with the local reference rate, on the overall availability of private rented accommodation; [38895](2) what assessment he has made of the extent to which the private rented sector will be used only by people with a guaranteed income capable of paying the levels of rent demanded following the capping of housing benefit levels. [38871]

Under the changes to the housing benefit system, housing benefit will continue to meet in full rents at or below the general level of rent for similar accommodation in the same locality. Even where the market rent is above the general level, housing benefit will meet half the excess. The effect of the new system will depend on the decisions landlords and tenants reach on rents locally and we will be monitoring this closely.The Housing White Paper made it clear that we see the private rented sector as an important complement to social housing for people on low incomes. We are committed to providing an effective housing benefit system that enables low income households to rent in the private sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to invite the application of the Montreux procedure, in accordance with resolution C.5.4 of the Ramsar convention, for those United Kingdom wetland sites where the Joint Nature Conservation Committee has recently predicted or recorded negative changes in ecological character. [39238]

None. The United Kingdom is a strong supporter of the Ramsar convention, which does much valuable work in fostering the conservation and wise use of wetlands. The United Kingdom national report to the sixth meeting of Ramsar contracting parties in 1996 states that the ecological character of 12 of the 95 United Kingdom Ramsar sites has changed, is changing or is likely to change. No additional UK sites are appropriate for inclusion on the Montreux record. In responding the UK national report, the Ramsar secretariat stated that the UK report is one of the most comprehensive, detailed and open of the reports they receive. A copy of the UK national Ramsar report is in the House Library.One UK Ramsar site, the Dee estuary, is currently on the Montreux record, and was the subject of a monitoring visit last autumn by the Ramsar bureau and other international wetland experts who reported to my right hon. Friend this summer. A response to this report is currently in preparation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if water extracted from boreholes or aquifers requires a water extraction licence: and if he will make a statement. [38994]

The National Rivers Authority has a duty to manage water resources, including groundwater, under part II of the Water Resources Act 1991. Most abstractions from groundwater require a licence from the authority. The major exemptions are for agriculture or domestic use below 20cm per day.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list by (a) region or county and (b) location the number of new water extraction licences that have been approved since 1 July; and if he will indicate the amount of water granted to be extracted. [38993]

The number of new abstraction licences issued by the National Rivers Authority between 1 July and 15 October, with their associated quantities, are as follows:

Region	Number of new licences	Quantity(Megalitres perannum)
Anglian	26	462
North West	21	200
Northumbria and Yorkshire	38	2,751
Severn Trent	53	6,811
Southern	5	14,708
South Western	34	13,040
Thames	4	2,801
Welsh	22	35,920
Total	203	76,693

These figures do not include variations, successions, drought orders or re-issued time limited licences. The quantities for Welsh, South Western and Southern regions have been distorted by the issue of several very large, low loss licences—fish farms, Hydropower and cooling.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to exempt small rural villages from his Department's new right-to-buy arrangements for (a) local authorities and (b) housing associations' tenants to ensure their homes are not turned into holiday cottages or sold to outsiders; and if he will make a statement. [39057]

Following the publication of the Housing White Paper, we consulted widely on the proposal for a purchase grant scheme for tenants of housing associations. In the light of concerns expressed about the impact of the proposals on the availability of social housing in rural areas, we have concluded that existing and future housing association properties situated in rural communities of less than 3,000 people will not be included in the purchase grant scheme. This will be provided for in legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the effect of the abolition of discretionary subsidies on homelessness among the most vulnerable groups in society. [38897]

The changes to the housing benefit rules that will be introduced in January 1996 are intended to bear down on high rents in the private rented sector. There is no reason to assume that the changes will affect the level of homelessness.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will investigate the extent to which water in the aquifers of the Doncaster area geological syncline could be used in greater volumes, either in the public water supply or other purposes; what is the current cost of obtaining potable water from this source; what capital and revenue cost would be incurred in using sufficient water for these uses so as to stabilise the height of the local water table; and if he will make a statement. [39035]

The National Rivers Authority has a duty to conserve and secure the proper use of water resources in England and Wales. I understand that the Sherwood sandstone aquifer in the Doncaster area is already fully utilised for public water supply. It is possible that some groundwater could be made available from the carboniferous stratum, but the quantities are expected to be small and the water quality poor. The cost of obtaining a potable water supply or stabilising the local water table have not been investigated.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about progress on implementing the Latham report. [38868]

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Strathkelvin and Bearsden on 18 July 1995, Official Report, column 1065. We have now published the results of the two consultation exercises and continue to consider legislative proposals in the light of these, and subsequent discussions with the construction industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the latest information he has for each of the water companies of the level of dissolved lead in water pipes; and if he will make a statement. [38995]

The standard for lead in drinking water in England and Wales is a maximum allowable concentration of 50 microgrammes per litre—ug/litre. This standard relates to unflushed samples at consumers's taps and is equivalent to an average concentration of about 20ug/litre. This is more stringent than the 5Oug/litre standard in the European Community directive on water intended for human consumption which relates to flushed samples.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to call in the planning application for expansion of Birmingham international airport. [39621]

The application is still being considered by the local planning authority, Solihull metropolitan borough council. Should they be minded to approve it the application will be notified to the Secretary of State in due course and he will then decide whether to call it in for his own decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he will take to enable tenants in rent arrears to transfer to cheaper accommodation where this is at the tenant's request. [38538]

None. Transfers of local authority tenants and rent arrears are matters for local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment pursuant to his answer of 21 February, when he now expects to publish Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution's report on polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-para-dioxins and polychlorinated d:benzofurans in the vicinity of inc inerators. [38904]

It should be available before Christmas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has commissioned on the use of travel-to-work areas to calculate area cost adjustment; what further studies have been commissioned into area cost adjustments, and if he will make a statement. [38918]

We commissioned research into the possible use of travel-to-work areas from the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies at Newcastle university. The report of this work has subsequently been discussed with the local authority associations in the standard spending assessment sub-group.This sub-group has received a number of other papers on area cost adjustment which include or comment on other research work. These are a report from a technical sub-group which sought to investigate alternatives to the current methodology, a commentary by the south east counties on the alternatives, and a paper by the metropolitan districts which covered a report by Ernst and Young on the current methodology.The Minister for Local Government, Housing and Urban Regeneration has announced his proposals for an independent review of the adjustment. I refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend gave on 17 October 1995,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are currently homeless in London. [39645]

Local authorities in England report on their quarterly PIE return to my Department the number of households for whom they accept responsibility to secure accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the Housing Act 1985.The latest estimate for London appears in table 1 of "Households found accommodation under the homelessness provisions of the 1985 Housing Act 1985: England. Statistics for the second quarter of 1995", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many London homes (a) public and (b) private sectors are unmodernised. [39369]

The 1991 "English House Condition Survey" recorded modernisation only in relation to kitchens and bathrooms. The following were found in London.

	Public sector		Private sector
	Percentage of sector	Number	Percentage of sector	Number
Unmodemised kitchen	142,000	20.6	325,000	14.1
Unmodernised bathroom	216,000	31.4	486,000	21.1

The 1991 EHCS defines an unmodernised kitchen or bathroom as one with amenities more than 25 years old.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many homes in London are unfit for habitation. [39368]

The 1991 "English House Condition Survey" found 301,000 London dwellings to be unfit under section 604 of the Housing Act 1985, as amended by schedule 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has for the amount of (a) land and (b) buildings in London which are available for development. [39370]

The Department of the Environment does not hold detailed information on buildings in London available for development. A central register of unused and underused public land was maintained in the Department from 1981 onwards in accordance with part X of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980. In 1989 this responsibility was transferred to local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment if he intends to appeal against the ruling of the High Court on 6 October 1995 that his decision to abolish Berkshire county council and transfer its functions to the six existing district councils was invalid in so far as it concerns the transfer of functions to the borough of Bracknell Forest and the royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. [40487]

The court ruling was not a judgment on the merits of my decision on the structure of local government in Berkshire, but turned on a point of interpretation of the Local Government Act 1992 which I feel needs to be tested further. Leave to appeal was granted by the High Court, and I shall be serving notice of appeal to enable the matter to be argued further in the Court of Appeal. I shall not lay the Berkshire (Structural Change) Order before Parliament while the appeal is proceeding.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list his Department's responsibilities. [38450]

My Department's responsibilities are indicated in the list of ministerial responsibilities which is published regularly by the Cabinet Office and is available through the Vote Office. The Department's objective is to help UK business compete successfully at home and abroad. It also aims, through the Office of Science and Technology, to strengthen the UK's science engineering and technology capability and to maximise its contribution to national economic performance and quality of life.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received following the revocation of the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1986. [39348]

My Department has received a number of inquiries about the implications of the revocation of the 1986 regulations. My officials have held discussions with representatives of the trading standards service and explained that the supply of fireworks to children under 16 remains an offence both under section 31 of the Explosives Act 1875 (as amended) and under the General Product Safety Regulations 1994.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will reintroduce the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1986. [39347]

I am satisfied that the requirements currently in place are adequate to prevent the sale of fireworks to children under 16 years of age. I do not believe there is any need for changes in the legislation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when he last met the chief executive of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents; and what was discussed. [39088]

I met Mr. Bob Frost, chief executive of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents, on 13 July 1995.Mr. Frost expressed the NFRN's concerns about recent developments, in particular: the recent increases in wholesaler's carriage charges; the changes being made in wholesale distribution areas; the decision by several publishers to reduce the newsagent's margin on retail sales; and the effect on newsagents of orders made against the NFRN under the Restrictive Trade Practices Act 1976.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the Office of Fair Trading's proposals which require that all retail newsagents supplied from the same distribution point must by October 1996 be charged the same rate for delivery. [39087]

The OFT has no such proposal. However, I agree with the OFT that high carriage charges should not be used as a means of deterring new entrants.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent increases in carriage charges on newspaper outlets. [39086]

It appears that wholesalers have increased their charges to recover an increased element of the expenses associated with distribution and delivery. That is a matter for their commercial judgment.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reviews of the law and regulations regarding company takeovers have been carried out since 1985; and what were their main conclusions. [39262]

In 1988, the Government published the results of a review of mergers policy and the merger control procedures of the Fair Trading Act 1973—"Mergers Policy—a DTI paper on the policy and procedures of merger control". The main conclusion was that the policy towards mergers should remain unchanged but that a number of changes would be made to merger control procedures to help speed up decision. The changes introduced include a non-mandatory prenotification system and the power to accept divestment undertakings in lieu of reference to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. More recently, following a review of merger control procedures as part of the Government's deregulation initiative, a number of changes have been made or are to be made, including the power to accept behavioural undertakings in lieu of reference to the MMC and a reduction in the period during which a merger may be referred to the MMC from six to four months.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, if he will make a statement on the objectives of the current law regarding company takeovers. [39264]

The Fair Trading Act 1973 gives my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade discretion to refer qualifying mergers to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission where he believes they may operate against the public interest. Since 1984, the Government's policy has been that, in determining whether mergers should be referred, the primary consideration is the effect on competition. Certain mergers are also subject to the City code on takeovers and mergers which is a non-statutory code administered by the panel on takeovers and mergers. The code and the panel operate principally to ensure fair and equal treatment of all shareholders in relation to takeovers. The code also provides an orderly framework within which takeovers are conducted.In 1987, a review of the operations of the takeover panel identified a number of measures to strengthen the panel's regulation of takeovers while maintaining its existing non-statutory status. The measures were designed to improve the monitoring and investigative capabilities of the panel and to bring the panel into a closer relationship with the regulatory arrangements established by the Financial Services Act 1986.The Trade and Industry Committee of the House also undertook a review of takeovers and mergers policy and made a number of recommendations, which were published on 27 November 1991, HC 90. The Government's response to that report was published on 26 February 1992, HC 300.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his proposals for deregulatory changes within the newspaper industry. [39085]

The changes introduced in October 1994 have had 'a significant effect in opening the retail market. I have no further proposals in this area.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints he has received in the last 12 months from (i) members of the public, (ii) local authorities and (iii) hon. Members about cable companies failing to reinstate properly the pavement or highway after cabling work is completed. [38850]

One complaint was received between 21 October 1994 and 20 October 1995 stating that a cable company had not met its statutory requirements with regards to reinstatement. However, the number of complaints received during this period expressing displeasure over reinstatements by cable operators are as follows:

• Members of the public: 41
• Local authorities: 2
• Hon. Members: 21

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 sets the standard of works for cable operators and the utilities, and provides that both interim and permanent reinstatements must conform with the statutory national specification. All cases of defective reinstatement which are identified by the local highway authority must be rectified at the undertaker's expenses; additionally, the undertaker must for each proved defect bear the cost of the initial investigation and three further follow-up inspections.The number of complaints per kilometre trenched has fallen.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action his Department is taking in respect of those manufacturers who sell mountain bikes that are unsafe for use other than on a tarmac road as notified to him by Nottingham university in the research it has carried out for his Department; and if he will make a statement. [39017]

The report commissioned by my Department into the safety of mountain bikes made a number of recommendations aimed at better matching the performance of mountain bikes with user's expectations and intended use. My officials will shortly be discussing the detailed findings of the completed research with the bicycle industry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how much funding has been provided to Barnsley and Doncaster TEC. for small and medium-sized businesses in each year since its inception, including the current financial year; what is his forecast for the coming financial year; and if he will make a statement. [39556]

Barnsley and Doncaster TEC has received funding for the support of small and medium-sized businesses from numerous Government and European sources. The main DTI support is the enterprise budget which was £328,000 in 1993–94, £362,500 in 1994–95 and is forecast to be £294,000 in 1995–96.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade when the hon. Member for Walsall, North may expect to receive a reply to his letter of 5 September concerning a company in his constituency which is being dealt with by the offices of the Minister for Trade. [39646]

I replied to the hon. Gentleman's letter on 23 October.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to discuss with the Japanese Government the position of those British workers in Japan who, after paying into the Japanese state retirement pension scheme, are eligible neither for a pension nor for a lump sum payment [39393]

Officials in the Department of Social Security have held informal, exploratory discussions with Japanese officials about a social security agreement between the two countries concentrating on matters of national insurance contribution liability. We have had no formal request from the Japanese Government for such an agreement, but any such approach would be carefully considered.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the Departments and agencies that provide a free phone number allowing members of the public to pass on information regarding private individuals. [38893]

This information is not held centrally.

To ask the Prime Minister what were his engagements on 11 September; what factors made it impossible for him to accept an invitation to open a European contest for young scientists on that date; and if he will make a statement. [39029]

I have no record of an invitation to open such a contest on 11 September. I did receive an invitation, in February, to attend the meeting on 12 or 13 September, but I declined the invitation since I had no plans to be in Newcastle on that date; nor was I.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish an updated list of ministerial Committees of the Cabinet. [39495]

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edmonton (Dr. Twinn) on 18 July, Official Report, columns 1005–12.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the campaign led by the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association for recognition and compensation for those veterans who participated in or witnessed nuclear tests held by the United Kingdom. [39208]