To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the percentage of local authorities' total expenditure spent on education for each county in Wales for the years (a) 1991–92, (b) 1992–93, (c) 1993–94, (d) 1994–95, (e) 1995–96 and (f) 1996–97, ranked in order from the highest percentage to the lowest.[10865]

The information requested is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the administration cost for 1996–97 of each of the executive agencies listed in annexe B of the White Paper on a Welsh Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [11931]

The following table sets out the latest available information for those executive agencies listed in annexe B of the White Paper on Welsh devolution:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people are employed in each of the executive bodies outlined in annexe B of the White Paper on a Welsh Assembly: what changes to these numbers he envisages following the changes to their status proposed in the White Paper; and if he will make a statement. [11929]

Details of staff numbers are published annually in "Public Bodies", a Cabinet Office publication, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. I expect that the reforms detailed in the White Paper will lead to efficiencies in the delivery of services, but it is not possible to say precisely at this stage how this will affect staff numbers. This will depend upon decisions yet to be taken by the boards of the bodies concerned, the Welsh Assembly and me.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what savings in administration costs he calculates will accrue from the proposed changes to the executive bodies listed in the White Paper on a Welsh Assembly; and if he will make a statement. [11930]

I expect that savings in administration costs will accrue from the abolition or merger of five executive non-departmental public bodies, two special health authorities and two training and enterprise councils, because there will be fewer boards, chief executives and so on. But it is not possible to calculate precisely at this stage what the savings will be, because that depends on decisions yet to be taken by the boards of the bodies concerned, the Welsh Assembly and me.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the cost of setting up the information hotline relating to the Welsh Assembly; and if this figure has been included in his Department's estimates of the cost of disseminating information relating to the Welsh Assembly. [12019]

The telephone helpline cost £13,054.25 to set up. This figure has been included in the published estimates. The Government believe that it is necessary that the public be fully informed of their proposals for a Welsh Assembly, the establishment of which was a key element in the election manifesto.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many copies of the White Paper on the Government's proposals for a Welsh Assembly have been printed; what forecasts he has made of their likely sales; what has been the total subsidy towards production of the White Paper to date; and if this figure has been included in his Department's published estimates of the cost of disseminating information relating to the Welsh Assembly. [12020]

Twelve thousand five hundred copies of the White Paper have been printed. Sales forecasts for White Papers is a matter for the Stationery Office. However, it is my intention that this document should be easily available to anyone throughout Wales. Up to now, I have agreed a subsidy of £17,200. Any additional subsidy—for example, because of particularly high demand—will be a matter for negotiation between my officials and the Stationery Office. It is my intention that costs will remain within published estimates. The Government believe that it is necessary that the public be fully informed of their proposals for a Welsh Assembly, the establishment of which was a key element in the election maniofesto.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will produce a video version of his proposals for a Welsh Assembly carrying subtitles and sign language interpretation. [12002]

A printed summary of the Government's proposals will be delivered to every household in Wales. This will be supported by television advertising and telephone helpline. I have no plans to produce a separate video.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure that all publicly broadcast information in relation to the forthcoming referendum in Wales carries subtitles and sign language interpretation. [11999]

Television advertising in support of the referendum information campaign will carry Teletext subtitles. I will examine the practicality of also including sign language.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what plans he has to build new roads across the Gwent levels; and if he will make a statement;[11902](2) if he will list all continuing plans under the roads programme; and if he will make a statement. [11911]

My right hon. Friend announced the broad terms of a strategic review of the trunk roads programme in Wales on 3 July, and we are today publishing a consultation document.The review will be set firmly within the context of the development of a balanced, integrated transport policy for Wales. I intend to take a strategic approach to the process of making decisions on the roads programme, judging proposals—including those relating to the Gwent levels—on the criteria of accessibility, safety, economy and the environment, together with their contribution to the achievement of an integrated strategy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairmen of the Welsh health authorities concerning recent changes in the provision of family planning services; if he will list recent changes in family planning service provision notified to him; and what guidance he has issued to health authorities on the commissioning of such services. [11927]

I have had no consultation with chairmen of health authorities regarding family planning services. Government policy is that people should be free to choose their source of contraceptive advice and that health authorities' family planning services complement rather than duplicate those services provided by GPs. Guidance which reminded health authorities of their responsibilities was issued to the service in Wales in 1990 and reinforced in 1993 by the "Protocol for Investment in Health Gain: Healthy Living".Copies of both documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the relationship between changes in the level of provision of family planning services and the number of abortions carried out in Wales. [11928]

The following figures show the general downward trend of abortions in Wales. The increase in the first quarter of 1996 might be attributable to the reaction to publicity about oral contraceptives and thrombosis in October 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to have St. David's day made a bank holiday in Wales. [11718]

The Government have no current plans to change the bank holiday arrangements in the UK. However, I am sympathetic to the sentiment that my hon. Friend expresses and will seek to promote further consideration of this idea within government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many unemployed people have qualified for assistance on the business start-up scheme in each of the last five years; and what was the annual expenditure. [12169]

The information requested for Wales is given in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider restoring to the people of Aberfan the sums taken from them in 1968 towards the cost of removing coal tips above the village. [12269]

I have long made clear my view that there should have been no requirement in the first place for a contribution to be made from the disaster fund toward the costs of clearing the tips.I am pleased to announce today that I shall be making available a grant of £150,000 to repay the sum originally contributed and to supplement provision in the Aberfan disaster fund and in the memorial charity. My Department will be discussing with the trustees how this money can best be spent for the benefit of the community of Aberfan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what approach he will adopt when considering applications for sanction by local authorities under sections 19 and 20 of the Local Government Act 1982; and if he will make a statement. [12455]

As required by the statute, we shall decide each application for sanction on its merits having regard both to our policy on sanction applications and to the circumstances of the individual case concerned. Our policy is to continue the approach previously followed—that the power to sanction should not be exercised too widely. Sanction may be appropriate in those cases where the expenditure is incurred in good faith, but in ignorance of the strict letter of the law, or inadvertently without observance of requisite formalities, or under such circumstances as make it fair and equitable that the expenditure should not be disallowed by the auditor.In accordance with our commitment to open government, we will send to the Welsh Local Government Association, the Audit Commission, the Commission for Local Administration in Wales and to all local authorities in Wales a departmental note setting out the basis on which applications for sanctions under sections 19 and 20 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 are to be made and considered. Copies of the note will be placed in the Library of the House as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the operation of the legislation on council tax discounts for second homes in Wales. [12456]

My right hon. Friend and I are aware of the concerns of a number of local authorities about the operation of the legislation on council tax discounts for second homes and have decided to review it in partnership with the Welsh Local Government Association.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to address the implications of the multilateral agreement on investment for small firms in Wales [10654]

The multilateral agreement on investment will be the first multilateral, comprehensive and legally binding investment instrument and will represent a major step towards a global level playing field for investors. It will create the framework which all businesses need to be able to take international investment decisions with greater confidence.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the investigation by the Legal Aid Board's special investigations unit of the applications for legal aid made by a constituent of the hon. Member for Taunton, whose name has been supplied to him. [11615]

I do not comment on, or intervene in, the award of legal aid in individual cases. I have, however, been advised by the Legal Aid Board that the investigation of the hon. Lady's constituent's means by the special investigations unit is still in progress.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what measures he is taking to prevent multiple applications to the Legal Aid Board through different regional offices to support unnecessary litigation. [11631]

All application forms for legal aid require the applicant to state if they have applied for legal aid before and, if so, to provide details. The declaration to be signed by the applicant makes clear the range of penalties available if the applicant knowingly gives false information or withholds relevant information.The Legal Aid Board is introducing a new corporate information system which will give every legally assisted person a unique personal identifier. This will provide board staff with the applicant's full legal aid history, preventing applications relating to the same case from being submitted to more than one regional office.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list each of the functions relating to the payroll for which his Department is responsible, indicating the management systems purchased, all subcontractors involved in the work, co-operative arrangements with other Departments and the costs of the systems and processes in the last year for which figures are available. [10733]

The Lord Chancellor's Department's departmental pay unit is responsible for collating and inputting data to enable the payment of salaries and allowances to staff of the Lord Chancellor's Department, including the Court Service and the Public Trust Office agencies, and to certain full-time judicial officers and judges. The Department also processes data for the payment of fees and retainers for the clerks to the general commissioners of income tax, the Lord Chancellor's advisory committee on legal education and conduct and staff of the legal services ombudsman's office. The unit also inputs data to enable the payments of some pensions.Payments are actually made by Chessington Computer Services Ltd. on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department. It also calculates, deducts and pays income tax and national insurance.Payment of fees to part-time judicial officers and certain part-time Lord Chancellor's Department staff are processed by local offices within the Lord Chancellor's Department, with deductions for tax and national insurance. Some offices use manual systems, while others use an in-house accounting package for calculation and payment.For the centralised payroll function, the Department uses SPIRE—standard payroll input and retrieval—a software package operated by Chessington on a bureau basis. This permits the Department's payroll staff to input data on payments and deductions direct to the payroll computer at Chessington.Staff costs of the Department's pay unit in 1996–97 were £492,952, with £6,817 being spent in postage, training, staff travel and miscellaneous items. Chessington Computer Services Ltd. provided its services at a cost in 1996–97 of £780,867.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has for the creation of an independent body to adjudicate on complaints against solicitors. [11226]

The Department has no plans to create a new complaints handling body. The Office for the Supervision of Solicitors was set up by the Law Society in September 1996 and I agree with the legal services ombudsman that it will take two to three years before the office can be properly judged by results.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what plans he has to introduce a waste minimisation strategy for his Department. [11571]

As Green Minister for the Lord Chancellor's Department, I am currently revising the Department's environmental strategy and associated action plans. Waste minimisation will be one of the major elements within this strategy.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on existing targets set to minimise waste within his Department. [11572]

As Green Minister for the Lord Chancellor's Department, I am currently revising the Department's waste management procedures. The information gathered during this process will be used to measure progress in the reduction of levels of waste in due course.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the amount, and proportion, of paper recycled by his Department in each of the last five years. [11573]

The information requested is not available. The Lord Chancellor's Department has 417 buildings, each with separate contracts for collection of confidential and ordinary waste. The information could not be determined without incurring disproportionate cost. As Green Minister for the Lord Chancellor's Department, I am currently reviewing the arrangements for collection of waste.The existing arrangement is for confidential waste to be collected by specialist contractors. All other waste is collected through local authorities. Paper collected by our confidential waste contractors is either pulped prior to recycling or incinerated to produce electricity. I intend that all our paper waste should be disposed of in this way.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the Crown Prosecution Service's consideration of the unlawful killing of Mr. Shiji Lapite. [11282]

Following the concerns expressed by the divisional court, the Director of Public Prosecutions has, with my full support, commissioned an inquiry into the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service not to bring criminal proceedings following the deaths of Shiji Lapite and Michael O'Brien. It will be headed by His Honour Gerald Butler QC and it will inquire into the considerations by the Crown Prosecution Service of the Lapite and O'Brien cases and, more generally, the process and quality of casework decision making in deaths in custody cases.His Honour Gerald Butler QC will make such recommendations as appear appropriate and will report to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who will then report to me. The report will be made public.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the terms of reference for the review of the CPS; from what sources evidence and opinions are being sought; and what is the timetable for the review. [12213]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Lincoln (Gillian Merron) on 12 June, Official Report, columns 533–34.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio (1) pursuant to his answer of 28 July, Official Report, column 25, for what reasons he is unable to itemise the journeys undertaken at public expense since 2 May; [11804](2) what were the objectives of his recent visit to France. [11811]

I do not propose to disclose the details of conversations, meetings or other engagements undertaken in pursuance of my duties as Minister without Portfolio.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio what independent advice he has taken in respect of the environmental impact of (a) the materials and (b) the method of construction identified for the millennium dome. [11878]

The New Millennium Experience Company, of which I am sole shareholder, has taken the advice of a wide range of organisations in the construction field. Specifically, the environmental consultant, Battle McCarthy, was commissioned to provide advice on the construction of the millennium dome, including its environmental impact. In preparing its report Battle McCarthy drew on the technical expertise of the dome's architects, the Richard Rogers Partnership, and the consulting engineers, Buro Happold.

To ask the Minister without Portfolio if he will list the persons who are not established civil servants who advise or assist him in the performance of his ministerial duties indicating their age and previous occupations, the use they make of official accommodation, equipment, facilities, transport and secretarial services, the access they are given to official meetings or unpublished official information, and the person or organisation responsible for their remuneration. [11720]

I have nothing further to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 18 July, Official Report, columns 340–41.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding is presently committed from his departmental budget for (a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99 and (c) 1999–2000 to resolve the year 2000 computer problem; and if he will make a statement. [11889]

I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall therefore be writing to the hon. Member and will place a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list for each Department and agency (a) the average days of sick leave, (b) the total days of sick leave and (c) the index figure, taking the civil service average as 100, in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [11504]

The information requested is shown in the tables for 1994 and 1995. It is based on figures in the report "Analysis of Sickness Absence in the Civil Service 1995" prepared for my department by the Occupational Health and Safety Agency Ltd. and published last month. Figures for earlier years could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.My Department regularly encourages Departments and agencies to review their approaches to sickness absence management.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list the next steps agencies which have regional administrative structures. [11363]

The next steps agencies which have regional administrative structures are listed:

• Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency
• Central Office of Information
• Coastguard
• Court Service
• Defence Dental Agency
• Defence Estate Organisation
• Defence Evaluation and Research Agency
• Defence Postal and Courier Services Agency
• Defence Secondary Care Agency
• Defence Vetting Agency
• Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
• Driving Standards Agency
• Employment Service
• Employment Tribunals Service
• Farming and Rural Conservation Agency
• Forensic Science Service
• Highways Agency
• HM Land Registry
• HM Prison Service
• Insolvency Service
• Marine Safety Agency
• Meat Hygiene Service
• Medical Supplies Agency
• Medicines Control Agency
• Ministry of Defence Police
• NHS Estates
• Ordnance Survey
• Property Advisers to the Civil Estate
• Radiocommunications Agency
• Social Security Benefits Agency
• Social Security Child Support Agency
• Social Security Contributions Agency
• Specialist Procurement Services
• The Buying Agency
• United Kingdom Passport Agency
• Valuation Office
• Veterinary Laboratories Agency

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans his Department has to extend benefits currently enjoyed by spouses of members of the principal civil service pension scheme to partners of members who are the same sex or a common law spouse. [11829]

Any extension of benefits would have a cost and could be made only if there is a willingness on the part of scheme members to meet the cost in full.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) on how many occasions a civil servant who has reported alleged wrongdoing under the civil service code has reported the matter in writing to the Civil Service Commission; [11814](2) on how many occasions since the introduction of the civil service code a civil servant has reported alleged wrongdoing. [11813]

Where a civil servant believes that he or she is being required to act in a way which would be in breach of the Civil Service Code, he or she should report the matter internally in accordance with departmental procedures. If the civil servant involved believes that the response is not a reasonable one, he or she may report the matter in writing to the civil service commissioners.Two appeals falling within the terms of the civil service code have been investigated by the civil service commissioners and upheld. Details are provided in the commissioners' annual report for 1996–97. A third approach is still the subject of internal departmental procedures. A fourth was resolved within the Department before it became clear whether it fell within the terms of the code.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates his Department has made of the number of over-30-months scheme cattle in Kent requiring incineration over the next three years. [10355]

A designated abattoir in Kent has been awarded a contract to deal with those animals coming forward for slaughter under the scheme in Kent and the neighbouring counties, notably Sussex and part of Hampshire. It is estimated that 25,000 animals over 30 months of age from these counties will be slaughtered in Kent each year. It is not possible to give an estimate of the numbers which will be incinerated over the next three years because the majority of animals being slaughtered under the scheme at the present time are being rendered prior to disposal. However, a carcase incineration facility may be established adjacent to the over-30-months scheme abattoir in Kent which will offer significant efficiencies.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average weight of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme; and what proportion of the cattle slaughtered under the scheme exceeded that average weight. [10159]

[holding answer 28 July 1997]: The average weight of cattle slaughtered under the over-30-months slaughter scheme is 595 kg.Sixty-three per cent. of cattle presented under the scheme weighed more than 595 kg

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cattle weighing (a) between 560 kg and 609 kg, (b) between 610 kg and 659 kg,(c) between 660 kg and 709 kg,(d) between 710 kg and 759 kg and (e) over 760 kg live weight have been slaughtered under the over-30-months cattle slaughter scheme during 1997. [10160]

[holding answer 28 July 1997]: The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Dr. Moonie) of 1 July, Official Report, columns 158–59, what radioactive waste has been dumped in the Rockall or Rockall trough areas, other than that already reported to the International Atomic Energy Agency and listed in IAEA-TEC Doc. 558, March 1991. [11357]

I am not aware of any dumping of radioactive waste in those areas other than those reported in the IAEA document and carried out in 1951 and 1953. The search of archive records referred to in my reply of 1 July was in relation to areas not previously recognised as sites for the disposal of radioactive waste.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects to publish the remit of a food standards agency; [11325](2) what will be the composition of the membership of the proposed food standards agency. [11326]

The Government will publish a White Paper in the autumn setting out their detailed proposals for a food standards agency in the light of pubic consultation on Professor Philip James's report.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects the Meat Hygiene Service to be incorporated into a new food standards agency. [11324]

The Government are considering all aspects of the structure and remit of the proposed agency, including the question of meat hygiene enforcement, in the light of consultation on Professor James's report. It will publish detailed proposals in a White Paper in the autumn.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments were made under the arable area payments scheme in 1996 of (a) £0 to £1,000, (b) 1,000 to £5,000,(c) £5,000 to £10,000, (d) £10,000 to £15,000, (e) £15,000 to £20,000, (f) £20,000 to £25,000, (g)£25,000 to £30,000, (h) £30,000 to £40,000, (i) £40,000 to £50,000, (j) £50,000 to £75,000, (k) £75,000 to £100,000, (l) £100,000 to £200,000, (m) £200,000 to £500,000, (n) £500,000 to £1 million, (o) £1 million to £1.5 million and (p) £1.5 million to £2 million. [11314]

[holding answer 30 July 1997]: The following table sets out the payments made to each claimant by the Ministry under the 1996 arable area payments scheme in the bands requested.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many payments of £1 million or more were made under the arable area payments scheme in 1996. [6300]

[pursuant to his reply, 1 July 1997,c. 158]: Six.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on existing targets set to minimise waste in his Department. [11539]

Under the Department's action plan for green housekeeping, there is a requirement on all our sites to minimise the generation of waste. So far, it has not been considered appropriate to set specific targets in what is a diverse and changing departmental estate. Although the scope for setting targets remains under consideration, a series of formal environmental audits of our laboratory sites is planned for later in 1997–98.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amount, and proportion, of paper recycled by his Department in each of the last five years. [11540]

This information is not available. Paper recycling schemes are in operation at many of the Ministry's 230 sites and the responsibility for handling such schemes is decentralised. At our London headquarters buildings, 37 tonnes of good-quality waste paper was recycled during 1996–97, which considerably exceeded expectations.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to introduce a waste minimisation strategy for his Department. [11538]

A waste minimisation strategy already forms part of the Department's action plan for green housekeeping, with the objective of reducing the amount of waste produced, encouraging recycling schemes and reusing materials. A leaflet and notices have been issued to all staff and local campaigns have been undertaken to encourage participation, including exhibitions, presentations and the introduction of schemes for recycling paper, tin cans and other materials.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library a copy of the advice he received from the Farm Animal Welfare Council on the carbon dioxide gas stunning of pigs. [11827]

I have placed in the Library a copy of the letter from the Farm Animal Welfare Council dated 1 May 1997. This says that the council would like MAFF to encourage the industry to develop superior stunning and killing methods which move away from stressful handling and that these should make use of non-aversive gas mixtures. FAWC in its letter further recommended that the industry should concentrate on the use of argon to induce anoxia and that high concentrations of carbon dioxide in air should be phased out as systems using alternative gas mixtures became commercially available.We have commissioned commercial trials using alternative gas mixtures and the next steps we take will depend on the results of these.We also await formal proposals from the European Commission to add alternative gas mixtures to the permitted methods for stunning animals.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the refurbishment of ministerial offices in his Department; and what is the estimated cost of the works and date of completion. [11870]