To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants of assistant secretary level and above have resigned from the Civil Service in each of the last 10 years.

Numbers of civil servants of unified grade 5 (assistant secretary equivalent) and above who have resigned from the Civil Service in each of the last 10 years are shown in the table. The numbers of resignations each year represent less that 2½ per cent. of the total staff numbers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing for each industry listed in the tables given in replies to the hon. Member for Great Grimsby, 14 November 1988, Official Report, columns 401–2 and 412, concerning import penetration in certain industries, the increase in the volume of imports and exports to the four areas between 1979 and 1987 together with the gross and net fixed capital investments.

I have been asked to reply.Constant price trade-by-industry data are not available on an area basis. Detailed information on fixed capital expenditure by individual sectors of industry may be conveniently found in the summary volumes of the annual census of production.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing his best estimate of the value and increase in volume, based on 1985= 100, and United Kingdom output of finished manufactures in 1973, 1978, 1981, 1985, 1987 and the current year to date and the value and volume of (i) imports of intermediate goods, (ii) United Kingdom output of finished manufactures less imports of intermediate goods and (iii) exports of finished manufactures.

I have been asked to reply.A current price estimate for the value of United Kingdom output of finished manufactures is not readily available. An index at constant prices is provided in the table. Figures for imports of intermediate goods and exports of finished manufactures may be found in the latest annual supplement to the monthly review of external trade statistics and the latest balance of payments press notice, both of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing (i) for ratio 3 of the export sales ratio in the years 1975, 1979 and 1987 for manufacturing less divisions 21, 23, 24, 41/42, 46 and 47, (ii) the increase in the value of United Kingdom sales and exports for this group of industries less the value of imports of intermediate goods divided between them in the same ratio and (iii) the estimated increase in volume of net output and net exports for this group after this adjustment.

I have been asked to reply.Figures constructed from current price data are estimated to be as follows. Comparable data at constant prices could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the implementation of the abolition of the earnings rule.

I have been asked to reply.From 1 October 1989, existing pensioners who already have their pension reduced because of their earnings will be awarded the full pension to which they are entitled. Those who have deferred taking their pension will be offered the opportunity to claim it or to continue deferment. The Department's objective is that as many as possible of those who wish to do so will be able to draw their pension by Christmas. In any event, payments will be backdated to 1 October.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service, what has been the enrolment on the Civil Service senior management development programme for the last five years.

The senior management development programme was launched in September 1985. The approximate numbers of participants at 31 March of each year were:

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service how the next steps initiative is progressing; and if he will make a statement.

The next steps initiative is taking firm root. There are now eight agencies set up and the project manager expects that by this time next year there will be 20 or more established. Over 30 areas of Government activity covering around one third of the Civil Service, have been announced as candidates for agency status. These are all listed. The candidates include the social security operations, which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Security announced in May that he intended to set up as two or three agencies covering virtually the whole of his Department. There is more to come; work is progressing in a number of other important areas of government.In support of this, a good deal of other work has been completed or is in hand, including work on accountability, appointment of chief executives, pay and personnel and recruitment flexibilities, financial regimes and delegation generally.The aim of next steps is better value for money and better service to the public. Accordingly agencies set up are being given performance targets and objectives in these areas. The first Agency is not yet a year old, but the signs are that targets will be achieved, and meanwhile that the move to agency status has, as expected, released energies and enthusiasms of staff to tackle their tasks differently and better. I look to this to develop and progress. The success of next steps will be measured not simply by the number of agencies set up, but in the improvements in performance, for the benefit of taxpayers, customers and staff, that are expected to result. Arrangements are being set in hand to evaluate the project.Next steps has attracted considerable public interest and indeed general support, both at home and abroad. This House too has taken a close interest, and in the last six months both the Public Accounts Committee and the Treasury and Civil Service Committee have carried out their own inquiries. The Government welcome this interest and will be replying to their reports in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Nepalese authorities about providing medical or other equipment and assistance to overcome shortages due to the dispute between Nepal and India.

No specific request for medical equipment has been received. The flow of supplies into Nepal appears to have improved and this has been reflected in our own aid projects where the improved supply of fuel has enabled a sustainable level of operations. We are, however, engaged in a continuing dialogue with the Nepalese authorities on our aid programme and will consider any well-founded request carefully.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton of 19 July, if he will list the off-site activities of the chemical defence establishment at Porton Down involving detection, decontamination, treatment and protective systems involving anthrax other than on Gruinard island.

All research work on anthrax undertaken by CDE scientists has been located at Porton Down and Gruinard island.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if consultations have taken place with local fishermen concerning the mine warfare exercise which is to take place in the firth of Clyde during August; and if he will make a statement.

There is no specific exercise taking place in the Firth of Clyde in August, but a dummy minefield is being laid during the month for evaluation purposes, as part of a continuing programme of mine countermeasures work. The co-ordinates of this were passed to the Clyde fishermen's association on 20 June 1989. A favourable response was received from the association on 10 July, and a Clyde warning message was issued on 20 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Royal Navy is considering the re-introduction of the practice of having a fleet tender in attendance when a submarine is submerged on exercise; and if he will make a statement.

I am advised that it has not previously been standard practice for fleet tenders to be present at submarine exercises and there are no plans to introduce such a measure. Tenders will, however, continue to be a present for specific trials such as an initial dive after build or refit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his future plans for HMS Dreadnought.

I refer the hon. Member to the House of Commons Defence Committee's seventh report, published on 21 June 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make it his policy that there be no further storage of nuclear submarines in the vicinity of Rosyth dockyard.

The Government have made no decision about the method by which decommissioned nuclear submarines will be disposed of, nor where any submarines should be stored, should temporary storage afloat be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Clackmannan of 19 July Official Report, column 232, what are the restrictions on the nature and extent of the training which apply in the two areas referred to in his reply; for what purpose he acquired long term rights over the two areas referred to; and if he will make a statement.

The following restrictions apply to the nature and extent of training on the two areas in question:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) to what percentage area of Ministry of Defence property holdings the public has (a) full access, (b) limited access and (c) no access;(2) to what percentage area of Ministry of Defence training land the public has

It is our policy to allow access to MOD-owned land where this is compatible with operational and safety considerations and with the interests of tenants and licensees. Records are not held in a form that would show the percentage of MOD land over which the public has access.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage area of Ministry of Defence training land is allowed to be used for live-fire training exercises.

Records are not held in the form required and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual number of exercises involving the use of live ammunition for each of the last 10 years.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual number of reported incidents of members of the public discovering live ammunition in areas that had recently been used for training purposes, for each of the last 10 years for which data is available.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to whether any of the officers suspended or disciplined in the last five years in the west midlands police force were involved in investigating the murder of Carl Bridgewater.

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands police that no officer from that force who was involved in the Carl Bridgewater murder inquiry has been suspended in the last five years. Two such officers have been disciplined in that period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to publish in his annual report the statistics relating to the screening of reported crimes for further investigation; if he will publish the figures for 1988; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that detailed figures for 1988 are not available centrally, but that the commissioner is considering what information might be published in future annual reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the cause of the hold-up by the Home Office in relation to the sale of 44 homes on the Gartree estate to prison officers; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 81 prison quarters on the Gartree estate, 46 were released for sale under the prison service discount sales scheme on 30 June 1988. A total of 21 applications for purchase were received and offers of sale have been made to 18 applicants. Valuations for the other three properties have yet to be received from the district valuer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constables of Hampshire and Wiltshire on their investigations into the cornfield circles in Hampshire and Wiltshire; what is the estimated cost of these investigations; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the chief constables of Hampshire and Wiltshire that there have been no investigations into the cornfield circles by their officers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will direct the Chief Inspector of Constabulary to inquire into those aspects of the findings of the first report of the Liverpool 8 inquiry into race relations in Liverpool which relate to the Merseyside police; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that the Independent Television Commission will have adequate representation of deaf people.

The Independent Television Commission will be a regulatory body rather than a representative one. Members will be chosen to cover a wide range of experience and knowledge, but we do not believe it would be right to appoint a member specifically to serve the needs of the deaf.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he intends to lay down regulations that oblige the television broadcasters to ensure that whenever there is an emergency or urgent news flashes, the programme is broadcast so that deaf viewers can fully understand the message;(2) whether the proposed requirements for Channels 3 and 5 with regard to subtitling for the deaf will be applied to the BBC channels, Channel 4, cable and satellite channels; what reasonable target for the amount of subtitles in future years will be set by the Independent Television Commission; whether the proposed 10 per cent. increase in Teletest subtitles will be a minimum requirement; whether the proposal will include a requirement to provide a diverse service across all programming; and whether he is considering any inclusion in the proposal for sign language services and open-in-vision subtitles.

As I announced on 13 June, at column 715, we are proposing that Channel 3 and Channel 5 licensees should, in the first year of the new licences provide 10 per cent. more hours of subtitling than had been achieved on average by the ITV companies in the previous year. The licensees would, of course, be free to provide more hours than this if they so wished. The ITC would take this and other matters into account In judging a suitable target for future years. We envisage that the choice of which programmes should be subtitled should be left to the licence holder. The BBC and Channel 4 will continue to be bound by public service commitments and so can be expected to continue to provide subtitling.It will be for the broadcasters to determine how information is presented, beyond the requirement to be impartial and accurate in news reporting. Live subtitling is complex, and in some instances would be difficult to provide.With regard to the additional television channels, which are becoming available, we have always made it clear that we intend to impose on these channels a number of consumer protection requirements to safeguard the public on matters of taste and decency. Beyond that their success or failure will be determined by their ability to attract and retain viewers with their programme service.Services for the deaf should generally be provided by teletext, although by virtue of their public service obligations the BBC and Channel 4 can be expected to provide specialist services for those viewers without access to a teletext television set.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers involved in the case against Keith Parchment were also involved in the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings;(2) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers involved in the case against Paul Fitzsimmons were also involved in the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings;(3) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers involved in the case against Hassan Khan were also involved in the case against the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings;(4) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers involved in the case against Ernest Callaghan, Anthony Waldron, Robert Burston and Alexander Davies were also involved in the case against the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings;(5) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many of the officers involved in the case against Paul Dandy were also involved in the case of the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.(6) if he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many officers involved in the case against Vincent Palmer were also involved in the case against the six men convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings;

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands Police that no officer involved in the cases of any of the individuals named was also involved in the case concerning those convicted of the Birmingham pub bombings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Police Complaints Authority as to the number of complaints made to them against Detective-Sergeant Michael Hornby; and what action was taken in each case.

No. The Police Complaints Authority is not itself empowered to receive complaints against police officers. Any complaint that the authority may receive against an individual officer is passed to the chief constable of the force concerned, so that he may record it and have it investigated under the terms of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 where appropriate under the supervision of the authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 425, he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to whether Detective-Sergeant Michael Hornby's personal file contains details of the offence for which he was disciplined in 1980.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 July, at column 403, pursuant to the answer given to the hon. Member on 11 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to his answer of 11 July, Official Report, column 425, he will call for a report from the chief constable of the West Midlands as to how many complaints have been received against Detective-Sergeant Michael Hornby for each of the last seven years.

I understand from the chief constable of the West Midlands Police that four complaints have been made against Detective-Sergeant Hornby in the last seven years, consisting of one in 1983, two in 1986 and one in 1987 which was subsequently withdrawn.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what instructions are given to immigration officers about providing receipts for personal property which is retained by such officers;(2) what was the reason for the delay in responding to the letter from the hon. Member for Stretford about Mr. Majid Agha (HO Ref A429590);(3) what were the nature and length of the avoidable delays in arriving at a decision in the case of Mr. Majid Agha; and what steps have been taken to avoid repetition;(4) when the conclusion was arrived at that Mr. Majid Agha resides lawfully in Britain;(5) when the passports of Mr. Majid Agha were returned to him by immigration officers following their seizure;(6) why the visit to the home of Mr. Majid Agha by immigration officers took place without notice; why the immigration officers were accompanied by police officers on the visit to Mr. Majid Agha; and why Mr. Majid Agha's passports were taken by immigration officers.

The case to which the hon. Member refers was the subject of a complaint about the conduct of the immigration officers involved in the particular inquiry. Following investigation I wrote to the hon. Member on 8 June. The answers to the additional specific questions are as follows:The reason why an unannounced visit by immigration and police officers took place was because information was available about the possible commission of immigration and other criminal offences. In the course of the inquiry two passports were taken away, against receipt, and with the consent of the person who was the subject of that inquiry. Instructions to immigration officers are that documents or other items taken during this kind of inquiry should have been provided voluntarily and that a receipt should be provided for any items retained.The visit took place on 31 January, the decision that the person in question was lawfully settled in the United Kingdom was made on 3 April and the passports returned on 20 April. There were two avoidable delays: one between 10 February and 21 March when the case received insufficient attention due to pressure of work, and one between 3 April and 17 April when the papers were temporarily mislaid in the immigration office at Manchester airport. Local procedures have been revised, aimed at avoiding a repetition of such delays.The reason for the delay in responding to the letter from the hon. Member for Stretford was, as explained in my interim reply of 13 March to his letter of 1 February, that investigation of the complaint and other inquiries at Manchester airport took some time to conclude.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the Government intend to respond to the request of the Association of Chief Police Officers for additional breath-testing powers; and if he will make a statement;(2) when the results of the Home Office consultation period on police breath-testing powers will he published; and in what form.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for East Lothian (Mr. Home Robertson) on 8 May 1989 at column 284.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no Home Office representative was available to attend the case of Yashpal Singh (TH/1204/88) at Thanet house on 21 July, in which the entry certification officer, New Delhi, is the respondent; when a Home Office representative will be available to attend a hearing; and if he will make a statement.

The Home Office presenting officer allocated to the case was unfortunately admitted to hospital on that day. The case was complex and it was not, at short notice, possible to reallocate it. The adjudicator agreed to an adjournment and future listing of the case is a matter for my noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has received from chief constables in England and Wales concerning the extent to which they have designated custody officers having a rank other than that of a sergeant and having dual responsibilities within their police station in accordance with the provisions of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act; and if he will make a statement.

Chief officers are not required by the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to provide my right hon. Friend with such information and he has not received any approaches from them on this point.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from the Northumbria police concerning exceptional radio interference on both VHF and UHF radio channels resulting from the European Cellnet system; what information he has on the extent to which this is causing a breakdown of communications between the command and control systems and police officers on the street; and what action he is taking to remendy this problem.

I shall write to my hon. Friend and place a copy of the letter in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will extend the arrangements for the disclosure of police information about those who apply to work with children, which are currently available to local authorities and to voluntary organisations.

We have today announced that, with the agreement of the Association of Chief Police Officers and representatives of the voluntary sector, three pilot schemes are to be set up to allow voluntary organisations access to police information about those who apply to work with children. One of the schemes will cover, principally, national child care organisations, the other two will be based locally in Dudley and Lancashire.The national scheme will be hosted by the National Council of Voluntary Child Care Organisations and, although it will cover largely national child care organisations, it would not exclude other nationally based organisations.The two local schemes, hosted by the Dudley Council for Voluntary Service and the Community Council for Lancashire will aim to provide a service for locally organised voluntary groups.The three new schemes, which will be funded by the Government during the pilot phase, will extend to voluntary organisations the arrangements now available to local authorities and the health service which will allow them access to police information about those seeking to work in posts which would give them substantial and unsupervised access to children.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to make regulations on fire precautions in underground railway stations.

The necessary consultation with railway operators, fire authorities and others has now been completed and it is my intention to lay regulations within the next two weeks. The first of them will come into effect in mid-September. The regulations will be made under section 12 of the Fire Precautions Act 1971 and will be subject to the negative resolution procedure.The regulations are part of the Government's response to Mr. Desmond Fennell's investigation into the King's Cross Underground fire and were announced to the House by my right hon. Friend, the Member for Southend, West (Mr. Channon) last November. They will incorporate the great majority of Mr. Fennell's recommendations concerning fire precautions in underground railway stations and some additional requirements amongst them those concerning the construction of stations.The regulations will include those requiring the installation of heat detectors and sprinklers in escalators and other areas of high fire risk, for the protection and maintenance of exits so that all of these, including ticket barriers, can he immediately opened in case of fire, and for the training and provision of staff so that in an emergency they will know what to do.They apply to all underground stations, not only to those in London, and will be enforced by the local fire authority for the area. Fire authorities will have discretion to relax some of these requirements when this is justified by the circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for registration as British citizens made under the transitional provisions of the British Nationality Act 1981 are still outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

In the financial year 1987–88 some 190,000 such applications for registration were received. I announced to the House on 19 May 1988 at column 1080 that a new nationality office in Liverpool would be opened to assist with the processing of the applications and the new office opened on 22 August 1988. Excellent progress has been made and the number of registration applications now outstanding is less than 60,000. We expect to have taken decisions on the last of the outstanding applications during January 1990—significantly ahead of the target date of 1 April.The establishment of the Liverpool nationality office to process registration applications has allowed the rest of the nationality division in Lunar house to concentrate exclusively on other categories of application for citizenship. Furthermore, once the registration work is completed, the Liverpool nationality office will begin to process naturalisations, almost doubling the capacity available for that work. In this way, we hope to be able to improve the level of service given to applicants during 1990–91.The difficulties caused by the rush of applications at the end of 1987 are not yet over, but we are on course to improve the level of service to our customers. The staff of the nationality division, both in Croydon and Liverpool, are to be congratulated on the efforts made to achieve that aim.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigration inspectors have been involved in each of the last six months for which records are available in the authorisation of decisions of immigration officers to make deportation orders against people; and on what basis each decision for (a) overstaying, (b) breach of conditions or (c) otherwise was taken.

[holding answer 17 July 1989]: Fourteen immigration inspectors are authorised to take decisions relating to those liable to deportation under section 3(5)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971. Other categories of deportation cases are dealt with exclusively by the deportation section. Decisions in all deportation cases are based on all the known relevant facts in accordance with the immigration rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will report upon the progress of the Government's inner-city initiative.

Under the comprehensive range of measures, costing £3·5 million this year, which makes up the Action for Cities initiative, good progress continues to be made in the regeneration of our inner cities. In the 57 inner city target areas, unemployment fell by almost 24 per cent. in the 12 months to May 1989. Recorded crime in the Metropolitan police force areas fell by 6 per cent. in 1988. Involvement of private companies continues to grow—over the last six months the number of companies working with the Government's inner city task forces has increased from 450 to 500.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will take steps to ensure that the financial assistance given to, and the tax incentives provided for, the Astra project by the Luxembourg Government are in accordance with the treaty of Rome and that these aids will not distort fair competition in the United Kingdorn satellite market.

It is open to the Government to raise with the European Commission any cases in which EC rules on state aids are alleged to have been broken and where British companies have been put to competitive disadvantage. If my hon. Friend would like to give me any further information relating to the aid given to the Astra project by the Luxembourg Government, I would be happy to consider the matter further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish in the Official Report figures for each year since 1979 showing the net increase in the amounts available for investment of life assurance and pension schemes to the nearest £1 million; and if he will provide a forecast for 1987 and for 1988

Estimates of total net investment by the long-term funds of insurance companies and self administered pension funds (excluding net investment by pension funds in insurance-managed funds) are as follows for the year 1979 to 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make proposals to amend the law to ensure that tied agents of insurance policies disclose their commissions.

No. Tied agents are not providing independent advice on behalf of a client, but are acting as the agent of the company they represent. The Securities and Investments Board has produced further proposals for disclosure of the status of the intermediary and disclosure of expenses in sales of life assurance and unit trusts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what representations he has received concerning cancellation provisions in contracts for timeshare developments; and what conclusions he has drawn;(2) if he will introduce legislation to require timeshare developers to include cooling off periods in contracts and provide for independent arbitration in the event of disputes over timeshare contracts;(3) if he will take powers to ban the use of incentive awards and sales presentations by timeshare developers.

I receive a steady flow of complaints about timeshare problems mainly criticising the sales techniques used by some companies and the lack of a penalty-free cooling off period in many timeshare contracts. I announced on 2 June that I had asked the Director General of Fair Trading to carry out a review of the whole range of timeshare problems and to make appropriate recommendations in the early part of next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will withdraw financial assistance from those organisations which are presently receiving assistance to further trade with China.

The maintenance of departmental financial support for missions to and exhibitions in China is being reviewed on a case by case basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will report on the outcome of the Internal Market Council on 18 July; and if he will make a statement.

The Council, at which my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office represented the United Kingdom, discussed several issues, including the proposed European company statute; the draft EC merger regulation; and draft directives relating to rights of residence, the legal protection of computer programmes, and the introduction of public purchasing rules into the energy, water, transport and telecommunications sectors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what arrangemens have been made to provide guidance to life offices on the regulatory position as it affects broker funds.

We have recently considered whether any regulatory issues arise from the operation of "broker funds", defined as "Any arrangement under which a broker (or a nominee of the broker) has rights, not available to individual policyholders, to advise or decide on matters which determine the benefits under policies issued by the life insurance company through the broker.We have consulted the Securities and Investments Board and other relevant self-regulating organisations. The Securities and Investments Board is today issuing a consultation paper on the marketing and competence issues involving broker funds.We have concluded that the operation of broker funds may in the past have exhibited some potential for unfairness although we have no firm evidence that there was any unfairness.Consequently the Department has today written to life offices and other relevant organisations providing guidance to life offices and their auditors on the regulatory position as it affects broker funds, and on certain other issues to which they should have regard in the appointment of brokers to manage funds and in the operation of those funds. I have arranged for a copy of the text of the letter to be placed in the Library of the House. The letter emphasises the importance of section 31A of the Insurance Companies Act 1982. This section requires insurance companies to ensure that adequate arrangements are in force for securing that transactions affecting assets of the company (other than transactions outside its control) do not operate unfairly between different funds of the company. In the Department's view any transaction between funds which is effected in the knowledge that it will, or is likely to, cause detriment to one of the funds must "operate unfairly". While section 31A is already in force we are considering introducing a new regulation later this year requiring companies to report on their arrangements to meet the duty imposed by the section. This regulation—which is the subject of separate consultation with the industry—would require a certificate to be signed by the directors, to be annexed to the annual report, which would state that for the past financial year the company has had in force arrangements to meet this duty. This certificate would be subject to audit. We have considered the implications of section 31A for the operation of intermediaries funds, and in particular for the granting of rights to brokers which are not conferred on policyholders generally and detailed guidance is provided in the letter to assist insurance companies to comply with the section. Further, we consider that insurance companies should satisfy themselves as to the competence of any broker or nominee managing any of its funds and to monitor their performance on a regular basis. At all times companies should maintain tight controls on broker fund operations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to make the regulations to implement in the United Kingdom the European Community directive on toy safety.

I am pleased to inform my hon. Friend that I made the Toys (Safety) Regulations 1989 on 25 July and they are being laid before the House today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he made to Rover Group, British Aerospace or Honda in relation to the location of the proposed car production plant at Swindon.

The location of Honda's proposed car production plant was a matter for the company, but the Government made clear their welcome for Honda's decision to develop its existing engine facility at Swindon to full vehicle manufacture.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the letter he received recently from the chairman of FIMBRA as referred to during the proceedings of the Standing Committee of the Companies Bill by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Smith), column 619.

[holding answer 25 July 1989]: It is not my right hon. and noble Friend's normal practice to place in the Library correspondence which he receives from third parties simply because it is referred to by an hon. Member in debate. However, since I understand that the chairman of FIMBRA provided copies of the letter in question to hon. Members serving on Standing Committee D at the time, I am, with the agreement of the chairman, placing a copy in the Library.

To ask the Attorney-General if he has received any representations about the covenant on Birtenshaw farm, Bolton; and if he will make a statement.

The Attorney-General has received an application for his consent to realtor proceedings in respect of a proposed development at Birtenshaw farm. This application is now being considered.

To ask the Prime Minister how many football matches she has attended in an official capacity in the past 10 years.

I have attended four matches in my official capacity over the past 10 years. In addition, since his appointment, my hon. Friend the Minister for Sport has attended 25 domestic and international matches.

To ask the Prime Minister if she will list the numbers and types of gifts she has received on her official visits abroad; and where these gifts are currently stored.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister how many representations she has received from (a) the United Kingdom and (b) Norway regarding Nirex proposals for radioactive waste disposal at Sellafield and Dounreay

I have so far received two representations from United Kingdom residents and approximately 2,400 from Norway.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to recognise above-average teacher performance in any plans he has for the future determination of teachers' pay.

Local education authorities can already award incentive allowances to teachers who have demonstrated outstanding ability in the classroom. It is important that any new pay arrangements continue to allow for classroom excellence to be rewarded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn of 29 June, Official Report, column 536, what information or estimates he now has as to the number of resignations submitted by teachers as at 31 May;(2) what inquiries he has been able to make as to the number of

Comprehensive data are not available. My officials telephoned a number of local education authorities to ask about the level of teacher resignations. Separate information on head teachers was not collected. Information from those authorities suggests that the position is little changed from that in recent years. As local authorities and schools are still recruiting teachers to take up posts in September, it is too early to make estimates of likely vacancies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the benefit to primary schools of the introduction of the national curriculum and pupil assessment.

The national curriculum will assist all primary schools to reach the standards currently found in the best. Its framework of targets with linked assessment will enable primary schools to judge their pupils' achievements against objective standards and to identify their needs accordingly. This will give pupils the best possible foundation for their future education.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis postgraduate grants will be calculated once the link with the undergraduate grant comes to an end; and what compensation postgraduate students, especially those in high rent areas, will receive for the removal of benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the Official Report the expected dates for the publication of any report of any committee of Her Majesty's inspectors and of other documents of significance, during the next six months, with brief details of each publication.

There are no reports of Her Majesty's Inspectorate committees published. Her Majesty's Inspectorate publications are based on the findings and messages from inspections and as such are planned and produced by Her Majesty's inspectorate and it is the senior chief inspector who decides where and when what is to be put to the Secretary of State for his agreement to publish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he has yet an indication of the effect of the GCSE examinations on staying on in full-time education and on the attainments of those taking the examination; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to the reply, 10 February 1989,c. 846–48]: Provisional statistics collected by my Department indicate that in January 1989 there were some 382,000 pupils aged 16 and over in maintained and independent schools in England, an increase of 5 per cent. on the previous year. This represents a staying-on rate of 32·4 per cent. in all schools (29·5 per cent. in maintained schools alone) compared with 29·4 per cent. and 26·6 per cent. respectively in 1987–88. These are the highest-ever rates for staying on in school.Of these pupils, some 314,000 are following A-level courses, an increase of 8 per cent. on the previous year.

The levels of postgraduate studentships will in future be determined by the award-making bodies, consulting among themselves and with the Department as appropriate, in the light of all relevant factors, including the number and quality of applications for support and other claims on their resources. Students who face financial difficulties when they are no longer eligible for social security benefits will be able to seek supplementary assistance from their higher education institutions from the access fund for postgraduate students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the latest information relating to school closures for the current year to date on a basis consistent with the table in his answer to the hon. Member for Blackburn, Official Report, of 29 June, column 536.

The information is given in the table.The proportion of the age group on first year A-level courses in schools has risen by 3 percentage points to just under 24 per cent.; again, the highest figure ever.These are encouraging figures, particularly given the decline in the age cohort. They represent a 10 per cent. increase in the staying-on rate, the highest increase ever. In particular they strengthen the earlier evidence that the GCSE has raised the sights of many pupils and encouraged them to stay on for more advanced study.Comparable figures for enrolments in further education are not yet available.The following tables set out the relevant information.

To ask the right hon. Member for Selby, as representing the Church Commissioners, if he will publish the details of the scheme operated by the Church Commissioners, in conjunction with dioceses of the Church of England, to assist clergy with car purchase and operation.

The car loan scheme operated by the commissioners enables all serving clergy, deaconesses and licensed lay workers on the commissioners' payroll to apply, through their diocesan office, for an interest free loan towards the purchase of a car. The loan is normally repayable over four years and, for parochial clergy, has a current ceiling of £4,550.The scheme was introduced on 1 July 1988 and has proved extremely popular; to date 2,798 loans have been granted, the total sum involved being £9·9 million.Parochial church councils are expected to reimburse the clergyman in full for those expenses which relate to parochial duties. These include car expenses, which the commissioners recommend be met by a mileage rate which includes elements for running costs, insurance, tax and depreciation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Sedgefield (Mr. Blair) of 10 July, Official Report, column 380, if he will set out a detailed breakdown of the expenditure listed for 1988–89 nuclear, under the column headed "Other"; and what are the reasons for the increase from 1987–88 to 1988–89.

The information requested is set out in the table. It should be noted that the figures are based on estimated outturn. Final outturn figures for 1988–89 are not yet available and will be published in the appropriate accounts in the usual way.The increase from 1987–88 is largely accounted for by decommissioning and radioactive waste management operations (Drawmops), the purpose of which is to enable the UKAEA to do the work needed to ensure that the Department's liabilities for radioactive waste management and decommissioning work are properly and safely met. The 1988–89 main estimates provision for Drawmops was some £10 million higher than in 1987–88. Drawmops is an operational programme where the work in any particular year is determined in the light of safety factors and the need to carry out work at least overall cost to the taxpayer. The Drawmops figure in the table also includes the provision of £51·4 million made in a spring supplementary

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress is being made in his Department's review, in line with Treasury guidelines, of the potential for the further relocation of Civil Service posts outside London and the South East; and when he expects the review to be completed.

As my predecessor told my hon. Friend on 15 February 1988 at column 513, there are no current plans for such relocation.The position will be reviewed at the end of 1990–91, when the Department has had some 18 months' experience of working in its new headquarters building.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total expenditure on energy in the United Kingdom by end users for each of the last three years; what proportion of that expenditure was tax; and what proportion that expenditure was of gross domestic product.

Figures for the United Kingdom for the years 1986 to 1988 are shown in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what was the budget for the Energy Efficiency Office for each year since its inception.

The Energy Efficiency Office was established on 31 October 1983. Actual expenditure in each year has been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what research has been, and is being, undertaken to investigate the possible detrimental effects to health of overhead electricity power lines, specifically the alleged link between electromagnetism and childhood cancer; and if he will make a statement.

The Central Electricity Generating Board has been carrying out research into the health effects of power frequency electromagnetic fields produced by overhead lines since the late 1970s.Independent work has also been carried out under contract at hospitals and universities in the United Kingdom and has included a detailed case/control study to investigate any possible links with childhood cancer. So far, the results have revealed no association between childhood cancers and overhead power lines. Research is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the report of the chief electoral officer for Northern Ireland for 1988–89 will be published.

The chief electoral officer's report was laid before the House today and is published as a House of Commons paper (No. 497). Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the status, after the company is sold to Bombardier, of the Government's assurances to creditors of Short Brothers plc that Her Majesty's Government would, in the last resort, ensure that their claims were fully met.

After the date of completion of the sale of Short Brothers plc to Bombardier, no new obligations incurred by the company will he covered by any such assurances which have been given on a number of occasions, most recently on 21 July 1988. Obligations incurred between the signature of the contract and the completion date will cease to benefit from the assurances on completion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions he has had with organisations of and for disabled people on the findings of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys surveys.

[holding answer 24 July 1989]: None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made on assessing the financial implications of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys surveys and of the Disabled Persons (N.I.) Act 1989.

[holding answer 24 July 1989]: As the hon. Member is aware, the findings of the OPCS surveys relate only to Great Britain. The financial implications of the comparable Northern Ireland surveys will be considered when the relevant information is available.As to the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, the Department of Health and Social Services is currently consulting health and social services boards about the financial implications of its implementation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has formally, to consult organisations of and for disabled people about the overall structure of the disability benefits review.

[holding answer 24 July 1989]: Now that the sixth and final report of the OPCS survey of the disabled in Great Britain has been published, I understand that my hon. Friend the Minister for the Disabled will be announcing a timetable for further action once proper consideration of these surveys has been completed. The need for consultation with organisations of and for disabled people in Northern Ireland about any Government proposals arising from the exercise and from the parallel surveys now being conducted locally will be considered at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many letters were received from, and sent to, hon. Members by his Department in (a) January and (b) the whole of this session up to 1 July.

The records show the following:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present state of deliberations in the Western European Union Council of Ministers on the establishment of a European institute for advanced security studies as proposed by the Western European Union parliamentary assembly.

The Permanent Council is continuing to study this question. A report will be made to the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what specific measures the Government considers are necessary to ensure the progress of negotiations on the limitation of conventional armaments, and to link all initiatives in regard to short-range nuclear weapons with their success, as recommended by the Western European Union Parliamentary Assembly.

Alliance proposals for progress in the conventional armed forces negotiation were tabled in Vienna on 9 March and 13 July. The Alliance position on the relationship of SNF to conventional arms control was set out in the comprehensive concept issued by the NATO heads of Government summit meeting on 29–30 May.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the names of the British delegations to each meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in the past two years.

A list of accredited delegations to the United Nations General Assembly is published each year by the United Nations. I have arranged for copies of the list for 1987 (UNGA 42) and 1988 (UNGA 43) to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's estimated expenditure in the current year on hosting official visitors from foreign countries.

Since January there have been 15 guest of Government visits initiated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1989. These were:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last made representations to the South African Government for the release of (a) Walter Sisula, (b) Elias Motsoaledi, (c) Andrew Mlangeni, (d) Ahmed Kathrada, (e)Wilton Mkwayi and (f) Nelson Mandela; what reply he has received; and if he will make a statement.

We have made frequent representations to the South African Government calling on them to release Mr. Mandela and all other political prisoners. Most recently, on 23 June, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister raised the subject with the new leader of the South African National party, Mr. F. W. de Klerk. We continue to look for a positive response from the South African Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between Her Majesty's Government and Grenada.

Our relations with Grenada are close and friendly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the export of chemicals from India which may be used for the production of chemical weapons.

India has a growing chemical industry and exports a number of chemicals. We understand that the Indian Government are reviewing the country's chemical export practices to ensure that chemicals exported from India cannot be diverted into the manufacture of chemical weapons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Colombia.

We have made a number of representations about human rights to the Colombian authorities over the last five years. The precise information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Bahrain.

We have made a number of representations to the Bahraini authorities about human rights over the past five years but the precise information required is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in French Polynesia.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many representations he has made complaining about the denial of human rights in the last five years in Andorra.

None.