To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what occasions (a) Ministers and (b) officials have refused to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings with hon. Members to discuss matters relating to interests registered by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8093]

The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) made it clear that, when Members are meeting Ministers or others on topics in which they have an interest, the onus is on the Member to declare that interest not the Minister to know (paragraph 63 of Cm 2850). It is not practicable for Ministers and officials, amongst their other duties, to vet requests for meetings against the Register of Members' Interests. It is for the Member, and not the Minister, to ensure that the rules of the House are complied with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will ensure that (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department refuse requests from hon. members to (i) arrange and (ii) attend meetings relating to interests held by those hon. Members under categories 1, 2, 3, 4(b), 8 and 9 in the Register of Members' Interests. [8090]

The First Report from the Committee on Standards in Public Life (Cm 2850) recognised the value of enabling members to retain interests outside the House, provided these were properly declared, both in the Register of Members' Interests and on other occasions. Subject to these requirements, and to the rules of the House relating to delegations to Ministers, Members are free to seek meetings with Ministers and officials, who will consider such requests alongside the many other approaches from individuals and organisations concerned to press their own interests or those of others. It is for the Member, and not the Minister, to ensure that the rules of the House are complied with.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to establish patient-GP contracts to ensure that all patients have agreed to private health treatment before undergoing that treatment. [8345]

The General Practitioner's Terms of Service, as set out in Schedule 2 of the National Health Service (General Medical Services) Regulations 1992, makes clear that GPs must not charge or accept a fee for any treatment given to patients who are registered with them for NHS treatment except where the Terms of Service specifically allow them to do so. It is open to Fundholding GPs to refer patients, free of charge, for treatment in private hospitals but this needs the agreement of the patient. Where a private fee can be charged or the patient can be referred for private treatment, the patient has to be informed and his or her consent secured.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he will take to reduce waiting lists for elective surgery at the Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust. [8730]

The extra £1.2 billion for the National Health Service that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 2 July proves our commitment to the NHS. The extra money will enable us to treat more patients from waiting lists and will help us to end waits for cancer treatment. The legacy we have inherited from the previous Government is record numbers waiting for treatment and longer waiting times. We look to health authorities to maintain downward pressure on waiting times. In Somerset the health authority and hospitals are working to treat all patients within twelve months of a decision to admit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the average cost of providing (a) local authority accommodation and (b) a foster care place for one child per year. [8752]

The latest available information on gross expenditure on residential accommodation and foster care for children, by local authorities in 1994–95, was published via the "Key Indicators 1997 Graphical System", copies of which are available in the Library. The figures for England were £1,151 and £157 per week, or about £60,000 and £8,200 per year for residential and foster placements respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the deficit of each English health authority which has overspent as a per capita figure against the population of the area. [9084]

The information requested has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients have been removed from patient lists in the last year by (a) general practitioner fundholding practices and (b) general practitioner non-fundholding practices. [9467]

The number of patients removed from general practitioners lists in 94–95 is shown in the table. It is not possible to distinguish between those removals which relate to fundholding and non-fundholding general practitioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will take steps to restore the system of national negotiations on pay and conditions in the national health service. [9767]

We wish to see a national system of pay determination, for those on national terms, supported by appropriate local flexibility. We have made a commitment to consult widely on possible changes to the National Health Service national pay system and our intention is to engage with all key stakeholders shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9530]

All departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the present legal description of care came into force. [9593]

The present system for provision of residential accommodation by local authorities derives from the National Assistance Act 1948. This provides for residential accommodation for certain persons in need of care and attention but the word "care" is not defined in the legislation. The term "residential care home" is defined in the Registered Homes Act 1984.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of employees in his private office are (a) of Asian origin and (b) of Afro-Caribbean origin. [8940]

There are no employees in my private offices that are of Asian origin and three employees who are of Afro-Caribbean origin representing 16 per cent. of the total staff complement.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many and what percentage of employees, in each payband, in the quangos for which his Department is responsible, are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [8941]

The quangos for which my Department is responsible are purely advisory and do not directly employ any staff.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the policy of his Department on the timely payment of debts; and what is his Department's record on the payment of debts in the current financial year. [9521]

All Departments are required to pay all their bills within the agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is the later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the decision was made to allow the Portadown Orangemen to march down the Garvaghy Road; and what were the criteria used for that decision. [7480]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: The Chief Constable concluded on the night of Saturday 5 July that the parade should be permitted to proceed along its notified route on Sunday 6 July was made.He based his decision on the criteria set out in the public order legislation, in order to preserve public safety, only after all efforts to find an accommodation agreeable to both the Garvaghy Road Residents Coalition and the Orange Order had failed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what decision her Department has taken with regard to the routing of Orange marches pending at (a) Bellaghy, (b) the Lower Ormeau Road and (c) Derry City. [7481]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: As my hon. Friend will be aware the Orange Order decided not to parade along the lower part of the Ormeau Road on the 12 July, and to switch their planned march from Derry to Limavady. The Orange Order in Bellaghy decided to shorten their morning parade and not to parade, as provisionally planned, through the village in the evening. Because of these most welcome and significant decisions by the Orange Order my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State was not required to make any decisions on the parades in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many plastic bullets were fired in Northern Ireland on (a) 6 and (b) 7 July. [7482]

[holding answer 10 July 1997]: Between 6 am on 6 July 1997 and 6 am on 7 July 1997, a total of 1,608 plastic baton rounds were fired by the security forces; and between 6 am on 7 July 1997 and 6 am on 8 July 1997, a total of 820 were fired.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what performance targets have been set for the Valuation and lands Agency for 1997–98. [10166]

For 1997–98 the following key performance targets have been set for the Agency:

1. To complete 54,000 rating cases—equivalent to 33,600 work units.

2. To complete 30,000 client service cases—equivalent to 15,000 work units.

3. To have completed by 31 March 1998 an overview database of the public sector property estate in Northern Ireland.

4. To achieve a productivity for caseworking valuers of 342 work units.

5. TO achieve at least a 2.5 per cent. efficiency saving on the 1996–97 allocation in real terms.

6. To achieve a unit cost of casework no greater than the 1996–97 unit cost in real terms.

7. To achieve a standard in domestic rating valuations such that 88 per cent. of those determined on appeal are within plus or minus 10 per cent. of the initial assessment.

8. To achieve a standard in non-domestic rating valuations such that 80 per cent. of those determined on appeal are within plus or minus 10 per cent. of the initial assessment.

9. To complete 85 per cent. of domestic rating appeals within 6 months of receipt.

10. To complete 80 per cent. of non-domestic rating appeals within 6 months of receipt.

11. To complete 93 per cent. of a representative sample of client services casework within agreed time limits.

Full details are set out in the Agency's Corporate and Business Plans, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will encourage public bodies to commission tapestries for their buildings. [7922]

British crafts makers and artists are among the best in the world and their works can illuminate and enhance our built environment and public spaces. Tapestry is just one form of craftsmaking but can add obvious and immediate value to the experience of public buildings. I know that a splendid tapestry hangs in the office of my hon. Friend the Scottish Office Minister for Health and the Arts. A tapestry will enhance the entrance hall of the new British Library.Tapestry is not the only medium for public art works: all of us can think of works that have impressed us, whether sculpture, ceramics, ironwork or electronic images. I consider them an excellent investment, in terms of quality of life, for those who commission and build with public money.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations he has received urging him to make chess an olympic sport; and if he will make a statement. [8551]

[holding answer 16 July 1997]: I am not aware we have received any, but I do know how popular chess is and am pleased that my Department is able to provide support to the game in England through the British Chess Federation. I have received a number of representations from hon. Members and members of the public who are concerned that chess is not an activity recognised by the English Sports Council and the Lottery Sports Fund. I am sympathetic to the difficulties this creates, particularly in respect of providing access to additional sources of funding. The English Sports Council's recognition rules are kept under review and revised from time to time. The question of chess becoming an olympic sport is, however, a matter for the International Olympic Committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, media and Sport how often since 1992 his Department has been responsible for employment advertisements which contained age restrictions upon those who could apply. [9505]

Age restrictions are not specified in employment advertisements for this department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, media and Sport what proportion of the planned National Endowment for Science and the Arts will be funded by national lottery money; and from which other sources funding will be sought. [9170]

The Government has announced its intention to establish a National Endowment for Science and the Arts (NESTA) to be funded initially from the National Lottery. Our proposals for NESTA, including possible sources of funding in addition to the Lottery, will be set out in a white paper which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be publishing on 21 July.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the persons who were not established civil servants on 2 May whose salaries are currently being paid by Government Departments, identifying those who previously assisted the campaigning activity of the Labour Party under the present Minister without Portfolio; and if he will list the current salaries and positions held by each of these persons. [5421]

[holding answer 25 June 1997]: It would be impracticable to list all persons who were not established civil servants on 2 May, whose salaries are currently being paid by Government Departments, since this would include all civil servants recruited since this date. In respect of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the replies that I gave to the hon. Members for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) and for Worthing, West (Mr. Bottomley) on 2 June, Official Report, columns 97–99. In addition, my right hon. Friend, the Chief Whip, has now appointed two Special Advisers, Mr. Tom Greatrex and Mr. Kieran Simpson and my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, has appointed Mr. Hilary Benn. All paid Special Advisers have at some stage in their careers been employed either by the Labour Party or by individual members of a Labour Shadow Cabinet except:

• Huw Roberts
• Norman Warner
• Damian Welfare.

As regards the current salaries of Special Advisers, I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 10 June,

To ask the Prime Minister when the Devolution White Paper will be published. [8465]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The White Paper relating to Welsh Devolution will be published on 22 July, and the White Paper on Scottish Devolution will be published on 24 July.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 July, Official Report, column 44, if he will make a statement on (a) the recommendations relating to pension fund income contained in the documents cited and (b) the advice taken in respect of the review of corporation tax; and what statements his Department has made relating to the measures. [9116]

Our manifesto and business manifesto made clear our intention to review the corporate tax system. The changes announced in the Budget are consistent with our manifesto objective to promote greater long-term investment. The Budget promotes greater economic stability and provides a boost to quality and long-term investment which should benefit pension funds and other investors.In the run up to the Budget advice was provided to the Chancellor by his civil servants. He also received a large number of representations from individuals, businesses and representative bodies. The Budget measures on corporation tax were set out in the Budget statement on 2 July. The details were published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 626, what was the policy of the South African Government towards Libyan sanctions and Lockerbie, as set out at his meeting with President Mandela. [9018]

[holding answer 17 July 1997]: I have nothing further to add to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend on 16 July, Official Report, column 388.

To ask the Prime Minister what further official histories have been commissioned. [10008]

I have appointed Professor Lawrence Freedman, Head of War Studies at Kings College, London as an official historian with effect from 1 July 1997 to write the official history of the Falklands Campaign.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many overseas domestic workers have been admitted to the United Kingdom in each year since the 1979 Immigration Rules concession came into force; and if he will make a statement. [8525]

Comprehensive information on domestic workers admitted to the United Kingdom is not available. Information is available on domestic workers granted entry clearance in 1995 by the 21 posts in the Middle East and Far East which are likely to have dealt with the vast majority of applications by domestic workers. Some 14,000 entry clearances were issued by those posts to domestic workers, the great majority to servants accompanying their employers on a visit to the United Kingdom. I regret that corresponding information for other years is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new plans he has to introduce cuts and savings in his Department as a result of the effect on his Department's budgets for 1997–98 and 1998–99 of the upward revisions to the GDP deflators in the Budget on 2 July; and if he will make a statement. [8292]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their Departmental ceilings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, following the recent Budget, he will give his estimate of the total real level of his Department's budget, in 1995–96 prices, in (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99; if he will estimate what such figures were for (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1998–99 following the November 1996 Budget on the basis of the estimates of the GDP deflator contained in that Budget; and if he will make a statement. [8291]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: Following the recent Budget, my Department's spending plans within the Control Total in real terms using 1995–96 prices are (a) £6,517 million in 1997–98 and (b) £6,269 million in 1998–99.The corresponding figures following the November 1996 Budget, based on the GDP deflator contained in that Budget, were (1) £6,484 million in 1997–98 and (2) £6,385 million in 1998–99.In comparing these figures the following points should be noted. The Home Office Annual Report 1997 (Cm 3608), published in March this year, announced a cash increase of £110 million in Home Office spending plans for 1997–98 compared with those set out in the November 1996 Budget. That increase reflected the inclusion of new provision for firearms compensation and related costs. Since then, a change in the way that certain receipts are handled has resulted in a cash decrease, incorporated in the recent Budget, of around £8 million on previous Home Office spending plans for each of the years 1997–98 and 1998–99. Because of these changes, the real terms figures shown at

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria govern the choice of the veterinary surgeon and the person responsible for day-to-day care of laboratory animals, in connection with premises registered to perform animal experiments under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [8678]

The named persons responsible for day-to-day care of animals and the named veterinary surgeons are extremely important to the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. The criteria for their selection are derived from their roles and responsibilities which are detailed in sections 2.9 to 2.15 of the "Guidance on the Operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986".Named veterinary surgeons must also be members of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The College has published a Code of Practice for named veterinary surgeons and, in 1995, the Home Office introduced mandatory training to ensure that new named veterinary surgeons are made fully aware of their duties under the Act.The Institute of Animal Technology has published guidance notes for named persons responsible for the day-to-day care of animals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports have been published by the Animal Procedures Committee since 1986; and when it plans to publish its next report. [8685]

Section 20(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires the Animal Procedures Committee to publish a report on its activities each year. Reports for every year between 1987 and 1995 have been published and the report for 1996 will be published in September. It will include a section on the Committee's review of the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what account is taken of the therapeutic necessity of new products in the procedure for issuing licences for experiments on animals under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [8667]

Section 5(4) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 requires that, when determining whether and on what terms to grant a licence, the likely adverse effects on the animals concerned must be weighed against the benefits likely to accrue. The need to find better medical and veterinary treatments constitutes one of the potential benefits which can be considered when this assessment is made.Work would be licensed only if there was no alternative means of meeting the objective; if the programme of work is likely to be successful; and the protocols have been refined as far as is practical to minimise the number of animals used and the suffering caused.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many laboratories the Animal Procedures Committee has visited since 1986; and on what dates. [8683]

Historical information is not available but in the last year Members representing the Committee have visited three laboratories. These visits were made on 20 November 1996, 5 March 1997 and 5 June 1997 and will be discussed in the Committee's annual reports for the relevant years.Two more visits are planned for this year, one to an establishment designated as a breeder and supplier of laboratory animals and one to another laboratory.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are currently employed under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986. [8666]

There are 17 inspectors and one vacancy which is expected to be filled in September. We are currently considering ways of strengthening the Inspectorate without adding to the demands on the public purse.Information on the complement of the Inspectorate at 31 December each year is published in the "Statistics of Scientific Procedures on Living Animals, Great Britain".

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress the Animal Procedures Committee has made in assessing the use of animals in painful psychological and behavioural experiments. [8682]

The Committee and its predecessor, the Advisory Committee on Animal Experiments, considered psychological and behavioural research in the 1980s. The outcome of these considerations was published in the 1989 annual report of the Animal Procedures Committee. No further consideration has been given specifically to this area since then.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what organisations the Animal Procedures Committee has consulted since 1986; and on what dates. [8684]

A part of its review of the operation of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, the Animal Procedures Committee wrote in March 1996 to all designated establishments¹, to a number of animal welfare groups and to other organisations with an interest in the operation of the Act. One hundred and fifty-seven responses were received.The Committee holds hi-annual meetings with the Farm Animal Welfare Council.Less recent information about organisations the Committee has consulted can be acquired only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, column 470, on perjury convictions, what was the average length of time between commitment of the offence and the charge being brought in the last year for which figures are available. [8689]

The information requested is not available centrally. Information on time intervals for proceedings completed in magistrates' courts is collected by the Lord Chancellor's Department in selected sample weeks in February, June and October of each year. This includes the period from offence to charge or summons. Information for specific offences is not collected, as the sample size is not sufficiently large. In 1996, the average period from offence to charge or summons was 45 days for indictable offences (including triable either way offences).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the serious incident reports procedure was set up for the Probation Service in England and Wales. [8900]

May 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many serious incident reports from each probation service in England and Wales have involved assaults against staff since May 1995. [8902]

One.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason no press notice accompanied Probation Circular 00/97. [8903]

Formal press notices are not issued on each occasion that circulars are issued but on this occasion, as on others, guidance was given to the press to put the circular in context.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Ministers assessed the contents of the Probation Service circular on serious incidents reports issued on 30 June. [8905]

The material in the circular was submitted to us shortly before issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the murders reported as serious incidents by each probation service in England and Wales during 1996 were classed as (a) domestic, (b) in the furtherance of theft or gain, (c) suspect described as mentally disordered and (d) against a child under the age of one. [8904]

In the period 16 November 1995 to 17 December 1996, at least 27 of the offences reported involved a victim who was a relative or a partner; and 27 of those charged with serious offences were described as mentally disordered to some extent. The other information sought is not available from the reports submitted by probation services. More detailed reporting requirements now apply.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders and acts of manslaughter have involved the use of illegal and unlicensed firearms in each of the last five years. [8809]

[holding answer 16 July 1997]: In the past, information on whether firearms used in the crime are legally held or not has not been collected centrally in England and Wales as a matter of routine. However, a special exercise was conducted last year to obtain further information on homicides involving firearms. This covered the three years 1992 to 1994, and out of a total of 196 homicides involving the use of a firearm, information was available in 129 cases to show the weapon was illegally held.These figures refer to offences initially recorded as homicide. Information was not collected on whether the final classification was murder or manslaughter, which is not available until a court decision is reached. Nor do all offenders come to court, or the offence remains undetected.In 1995, the last year for which figures are available, 398 burglaries and thefts of handguns were reported, and 3,517 of other firearms. This demonstrates that legally held firearms can become a source for illegal weapons and used in serious crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of the Task Force on Youth Justice have previous experience of youth and community work; and if he will make a statement. [9136]

A number of the members of the Task Force on Youth Justice have direct experience of working with young people within the youth justice system as distinct from within the youth service. There are no youth workers among them. The role of the Task Force, and the names and professions of those appointed to it, were set out in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Brigg and Goole (Mr. Cawsey) on 17 June, Official Report, columns 99–100.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which European Union countries have higher age limits for mutual consent for homosexual acts in situations where the older person is in a position of authority, influence or trust. [9161]

No European Union country makes specific provision for a higher age of consent for homosexual acts involving persons in positions of authority, influence or trust. Although it is difficult to make direct comparisons between countries with different legal systems, the following countries have special provision to deal with circumstances where one of the participants is older than the other:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he proposes to introduce changes in the age of mutual consent for homosexual acts in the next Criminal Justice Bill. [9160]

Number of males aged 21 and over prosecuted for certain sexual offences by type of offence 1979–1995
England and Wales
Offence description	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985
Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act Section 3(1)
Buggery with a boy under 16 or with a woman or an animal	119	178	167	119	167	142	155
Buggery by a man with a male of the age of 16 or over without consent	20	25	12	14	11	15	19
Buggery by a man with another male under the age of 21 with consent	22	20	17	12	19	12	19
Attempt to commit buggery with a boy under 16 or with a woman or an animal	15	6	8	5	8	11	13
Attempt by a man to commit buggery with a male of the age of 16 or over without consent	—	2	3	3	—	1	1
Attempt by a man to commit buggery with another male under the age of 21 with consent	4	1	2	—	1	—	—
Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 12 as amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 Section 143
Buggery by a male of a male under 16	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—
Buggery by a male with a male aged 16 or 17	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—	1—
Sexual Offences Act 1956 Section 15
Indecent assault on male under 16	449	431	429	463	450	442	475

The Crime and Disorder Bill is intended to deliver our manifesto commitments on tackling youth crime, disorder and sentencing. The Government have long held the view that setting the age of consent for consensual homosexual acts is a matter for Parliament to decide, and that it should be the subject of a free vote at a suitable opportunity. It seems unlikely that the scope of the Crime and Disorder Bill will be wide enough to provide that opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the dates of legislation currently in force relating to the age of mutual consent in respect of sexual acts between (a) males and females and (b) males and males. [9157]

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instigated for sexual offences against males under the age of 18 years in each of the last 20 years; and how many of these offences were committed by older men in positions of authority, influence or trust. [9159]

Limited information, for the years 1979 to 1995, on the number of males aged 21 and over prosecuted for sexual offences involving younger men is given in the table below.Information regarding the status of a defendant is not collected centrally. Also, offence information is not available to the detail required for the years prior to 1979.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to introduce a proportional voting system for the 1999 European election. [10066]

Legislation will be brought forward this session to enable the 1999 European elections to be conducted by a regional list electoral system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what his Department's outturn expenditure was in 1996–97 under the headings Health, Other Central Government Services, Local Government Capital, Local Government Current, Total for Local Government, Miscellaneous and Overall Total; and what the planned overall change in expenditure is in (a) money and (b) percentage terms under each of these headings between 1996–97 and 1999–2000. [8129]

The information is not available in the form requested. However, The Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (Cm 3696) published on 3 July gives the provisional 1996–97 outturn figures on the Control Total and includes information on individual Votes, cash limits, running costs limits and EFLs for nationalised industries, other public corporations and trading funds.The Appropriation Accounts, to be published later this year, will contain a further analysis of voted expenditure.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list (a) in total and (b) by local authority the number of rat infestations recorded in each year since 1990. [8446]

The available information, drawn from reports prepared annually by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland on a variety of environmental health matters, is set out below.The total number of rat infestations dealt with by local authorities in Scotland is reported as follows:

	Number of infestations
1990–911	12,714
1991–92	11,312
1992–93	10,997
1993–942	Not collected
1994–952	Not collected
1995–962	Not collected
1996–97	Available December 1997

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the average and maximum number of weekly lorry movements on the Al road in East Lothian expected to be generated by the use of the new landfill facility at Oxwell Mains for rubbish from Edinburgh. [7698]

[pursuant to his reply, 14 July 1997, c. 65]: No lorry movements to transport land waste by road from Edinburgh will be permitted until such time as road improvements being carried out as part of the A1

Persons convicted of selected serious assaults receiving (a) a community service order or (b) custody, Scotland 1991–1995
Main offence	1991		1992		1993		1994		1995
	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
Assault to:
(i) severe injury	66	191	92	218	85	249	93	209	84	203
(ii) permanent disfigurement	33	91	32	115	34	123	29	128	32	132
(iii) disfigurement and danger of life	1	14	1	15	3	22	1	24	1	14

Offences are categorised under the most serious offence; for example a person convicted of "Assault to severe injury and permanent disfigurement" will be included in category (ii) but not in category (i).

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposals for devolving some social security matters to a Scottish Assembly. [9156]

[holding answer 17 July 1997]: The Government's proposals, including those for social security, will be set out in the White Paper to be published on 24 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current financial budget of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for the regulation of marine cage fish farming; and what is the expected budget for the following financial year. [8214]

The Scottish Environment Protection Agency does not have specific budgets for individual regulatory functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many baton rounds were issued in 1994; how long they would have lasted at 1993 rates of usage; and what were the reasons for issuing this number. [8531]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: Our records show that, in 1994, 33,000 baton rounds were issued to the Army in Northern Ireland and 51,000 were issued to the RUC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been sentenced to (a) community service orders and (b) custody in Scotland after having been convicted of stabbing offences involving (i) severe injury, (ii) permanent disfigurement and (iii) disfigurement and danger to life in the current year and in each of the previous four years. [8778]

Information collected centrally on assaults resulting in conviction does not indicate whether these involved stabbing. The following table sets out the available information for 1995 (the most recent year) and each of the previous four years.The numbers of baton rounds held by the Army must be sufficient to cover both training and operational requirements, as well as the maintenance of an adequate reserve. It is not, however, possible to say how the rounds issued in 1994 would have lasted at 1993 rates of usage because records of training usage for that year are no longer available.Details of RUC usage and operational requirements are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many and what percentage of civil servants in each of grades 1 to 5 in his Department are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin. [9570]

The number and percentage of permanent civilian staff in my Department and its Agencies in each of the grades 1 to 5 who have indicated that they are of (a) Asian origin and (b) Afro-Caribbean origin in the MOD's ethnic origin survey are shown below:

Grade level	Asian origin	Afro-Caribbean origin	Percentage of staff in grade
Grades 1–4	Nil	Nil	Nil
Grade 5	6	Nil	3.2

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was on the reserve forces in (a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) is projected for 1998–99 in the categories (i) man training days, (ii) ammunition, fuel and other training expenditure, (iii) equipment, purchase and spares, (iv) full-time military personnel costs, (v) NRPS/PSA0 personnel costs, (vi) civilian personnel costs and (vii) buildings and building maintenance; and what was the expenditure in man training days by district command in the case of the TA. [8827]

I will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanism exists for checking whether money allocated to the reserve forces by Ministers is spent on the reserves by districts and their formation councils. [8826]

Responsibility for expenditure on all defence operating costs, including those related to the Reserve Forces, is delegated to top level budget holders to enable them to achieve the objectives required of them. They in turn delegate funds and responsibility to levels at which the priorities for expenditure can best be assessed. A fundamental principle is that operational and financial responsibility should be linked, which means that commanders must have flexibility over how they spend money. They are best placed to judge where priority should be given, so that they meet the objectives they have been set. Whether they have achieved their objectives is assessed regularly by means of formal performance reviews.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present manpower strength of Her Majesty's (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Navy and (c) Army; and what percentage of full manning these figures represent. [9202]

The trained strengths of the regular Armed Forces as at 1 June 1997, the latest figures available, were as follows;

	Number
(a) Royal Air Force	53,769
(b) Naval Service (RN and RM)1	41,368
(c) Army12	101,372
1 Excludes Locally Entered Personnel.
2 Includes trained Gurkha strength but excludes Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service).

These figures represent

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what guidelines apply to the loaning or the hiring of military personnel or equipment to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [9203]

The use of military personnel or equipment in aid of the private sector is not, as a general rule, encouraged as Defence funds are not granted for such a purpose. Where the Ministry of Defence makes goods or services available to commercial organisations, they are normally charged for at a rate which covers the full costs. This reflects Government Accounting principles. One example of assistance which might be provided is the provision of military resources in a civil emergency to help return a community to normality, which might include the restoration of commercial viability.My Department also recognises that there may be value and benefits to the country from military participation in commercial projects from time to time. Any request would be considered on its merits and would not be accepted at the expense of a unit's operational or training duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the manning levels for infantry battalions; and how many battalions are at full strength disregarding personnel posted away from their unit but included in the strength figures. [9201]

The strength of the Army's Infantry Battalions at 1 June 1997 is shown at Table 1. The figures include only those personnel serving with their parent units. There are at present eight Battalions either at or above full strength as shown at Table 2.

Table 1: Infantry
	Strength	Surplus deficit against establishment
Household Division
1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards	433	-125
N Company, Grenadier Guards	98	-2
1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards	580	-48
7 Company, Coldstream Guards	113	+13
1st Battalion Scots Guards	440	-83
F Company, Scots Guards	84	-16
1st Battalion, Irish Guards	447	-76
1st Battalion, Welsh Guards	497	-25
Total	2,692	-362
Scottish Division
1st Battalion, Royal Scots	408	-174
1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers	519	-107
1st Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers	441	-79
1st Battalion, Black Watch	453	-70
1st Battalion, Highlanders	507	-76
1st Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders	471	-87
Total	2,799	-593
Queens Division
1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	413	-126
2nd Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment	518	-37
1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	504	-51
2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers	607	-18
1st Battalion, The Royal Anglian	531	+12
2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian	570	+9
Total	3,143	-211
Kings Division
1st Battalion, The King's Own Royal Border Regiment	533	-92
1st Battalion, The King's Regiment	543	+4
1st Battalion, The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment	537	+18

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to change the laundry arrangements at the Royal Hospital, Haslar; and if he will make a statement. [3534]

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Secondary Care Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the current state of the historic buildings at Greenwich in the ownership of the Ministry of Defence. [7818]

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence holds the freehold of the historic buildings of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich, together with the Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital and the Devonport Nurses' Home, on behalf of the Crown for the benefit of Greenwich Hospital. Of these, the Royal Naval College, which is occupied by the Ministry of Defence is, with the exception of King William Building and the external areas, in a fair state of repair. The Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital and the Devonport Nurses' Home (neither of which is leased to my Department) are unoccupied and are in a less satisfactory condition. I understand that Greenwich Hospital has been encouraging the tenants, which have full responsibility for repairs and maintenance, to take measures to prevent further deterioration.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the impact of organic farmland on farmland bird populations. [7478]

A MAFF funded research project on this subject, undertaken by the British Trust for Ornithology and the Institute of Arable Crops Research, was completed in March 1995. The report provided some evidence that organic farming can lead to an increase in the number and diversity of bird species compared to conventional farms. We are aware that organisations such as the British Trust for Ornithology consider that more research into this issue is justified. We will consider any proposals for future research from such organisations alongside other research priorities.The Department also funds a wider-ranging programme on the effects of agriculture on the environment including research on the impact of agricultural intensification on farmland birds. These projects are contributing to a better understanding of the possible causes of difference found in bird populations on organic and conventional farm-land.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the research into organic farming methods conducted at his Ministry's plant breeding stations; and what proportion of his Department's research budget for organic farming is constituted by funding allocated to these establishments. [7474]

The Ministry has no plant breeding stations. However, we are currently funding some research on plant varieties suitable for organic farming. This is being undertaken by the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB). This work will cost approximately £29,000 IN 1997–98, and it represents about 3 per cent. of the total annual budget available for organic research and development.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has made to EU partners to persuade them that long distance live animal transport should end. [8655]

We shall take every opportunity in contacts with our EU partners to press our view that a trade in meat is preferable to the long distance transport of food animals. In support of this we shall now be pressing our partners to implement and enforce the new EU rules on journey times which we ourselves have introduced as a priority, and are seeking improvements in these rules in ongoing EU discussions.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what assessment he has made of the provision of slaughter facilities for OTMS cattle in the county of Shropshire; [9457](2) if he will list the abattoirs available for the slaughter of OTMS cattle emanating from Shropshire farms. [9453]

Contracts for the slaughter of OTMS cattle have been awarded to 26 abattoirs in Great Britain. None are in Shropshire, but seven are in counties neighbouring Shropshire and are available to producers in Shropshire. These include:

• North West Meats
• F. Redfern
• Bradeley Meats
• R. B. Elliot
• Nottingham Processing Co.
• ABP Nuneaton
• The Baker Group.

This does not preclude cattle from the county going further afield if appropriate. As such, I am satisfied the producers in Shropshire are well served under the new arrangements.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his proposals to limit the availability of vitamin B6 to 10mg per tablet or capsule. [9425]

I have received advice recently from the Food Advisory Committee that the level of vitamin B6 in dietary supplements should not exceed 10 milligrams per daily dose, and that such supplements should carry a warning label about the harmful effects of high intakes. I have accepted this advice and have instructed officials to draw up legislation under the Food Safety Act 1990 to control dietary supplements containing vitamin B6.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what his Department's policy is on the timely payment of debt; and what its record has been on debt payment in the current financial year. [9323]

All Departments are required to pay all their bills within agreed contract terms, or 30 days from receipt of the goods or service or a valid invoice, whichever is later, where no such terms exist. Information on payment performance for the current financial year could only be provided at disproportionate cost. The Government will publish a league table of departmental payment performance for 1996–97 in the Autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following the recent Budget, he will give his estimate of the total real level of his Department's budget, in 1995–96 prices, in (a) 1997 (b) 1998–99; if he will estimate what such figures were for (1) 1997–98 and (2) 1998–99 following the November 1996 Budget on the basis of the estimates of the GDP deflator contained in that Budget; and if he will make a statement. [8316]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: The figures requested for this Department's spending plans within the Control Total in £000,000 and expressed at 1995–96 prices are as follows:

(a) 1,021, (b) 990, (1) 1,036, (2) 1,013.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what new plans he has to introduce cuts and savings in his Department as a result of the effect on his Department's budgets for 1997–98 and 1998–99 of the upward revisions to the GDP deflators in the Budget on 2 July; and if he will make a statement. [8317]

[holding answer 14 July 1997]: All Departments are reallocating spending within their departmental ceilings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the statement of 9 July, Official Report, columns 1044–52, what was the purpose of the visit of Mr. Danny Woodier to Caracas in January 1997. [8897]

Mr Woodier, Consular Protection Desk Officer for South America, visited the Caracus area in March 1997 as part of a familiarisation visit to South America. The purpose of his visit was to gain first hand knowledge and experience of his area of responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reasons the agreement reached on quota-hopping was not included in the Amsterdam treaty; [9080]

I refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Minster for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the House on 18 June, Official Report, column 331.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Human Rights article contained in the Amsterdam treaty. [9117]

We welcome the reference to fundamental rights in Article F of the Treaty on European Union. The new article re-states the principle that acts of the Union and of the Community must respect the existing fundamental rights of EU citizens, which are an essential feature of the responsibility which states bear towards their citizens. We also welcome the new Article 6a to the Treaty of Rome permitting (but not obliging) the Council, acting unanimously, to take action at Community level to combat discrimination.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those areas where the European Court of Justice has gained jurisdiction as a result of the Amsterdam treaty. [9077]

Because the Court has a full role in the European Community pillar, extensions of the EC Treaty provisions at Amsterdam also involve an extension in the jurisdiction of the Court. Article K.7 of the Amsterdam Treaty will also give the Court a limited role in relation to the Justice and Home Affairs pillar of the Treaty on European Union: the Court will have a preliminary rulings jurisdiction for those Member States which choose to accept it; jurisdiction to review the legality of framework decisions and decisions adopted by the Council; and jurisdiction over certain disputes between Member States and between Member States and the Commission. Under Article K.12 the Court will have jurisdiction to review the operation of the Justice and Home Affairs pillar flexibility procedure. The Court will also have jurisdiction, through Article L, over the fundamental rights implications of action of the institutions within the Justice and Home Affairs pillar insofar as it has wider jurisdiction in that pillar.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the impact of the Amsterdam treaty on the work of the European Court of Justice. [9076]

There is likely to be some increased workload for the Court of Justice deriving from the extension of its jurisdiction under the Treaty of Amsterdam. However, the impact of the new Treaty on the Court's workload will not become clear until sometime after the Treaty comes into force.