To ask the Attorney-General (1) what target he maintains for the number and percentage of female judges there will be in the year 2000;(2) what target he maintains for the number and percentage of black judges there will be in the year 2000;(3) what steps he is taking to increase the number of female judges;(4) what steps he is taking to increase the number of black judges.

Candidates for judicial appointment are considered on their merits, regardless of sex or ethnic origin. The Lord Chancellor has, however, repeatedly made clear his wish to appoint more women and members of ethnic minorities to judicial office. Steps have been taken to make this widely known, and thus to encourage more suitably qualified women and members of ethnic minorities to put themselves forward for consideration. The composition of the bench at any one time is, however, dependent on the composition of the legal profession in the age groups with the necessary experience to be suitable. At the moment, there are relatively few women and ethnic minority candidates in the legal profession in the appropriate age groups with the right experience. It is expected that the number will increase significantly over the next 10 years, and that this will result in more women judges, and judges from ethnic minorities. It is, however, impossible to predict the composition of the pool of suitably qualified candidates for judicial office, or the number of appointments needed, 10 years ahead, and it would therefore be inappropriate to set targets.

To ask the Attorney-General what percentage and number of (a) county court judges, (b) judges who sit full time in the Crown courts, (c) judges who sit in the divisional court, (d) recorders, (e) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, (f) judges who sit in the Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal and (g) judges who sit in the High Court, are female.

The following figures are correct as at 1 December 1990. There are 10 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, of whom none is female. There are 27 Lords Justices of Appeal, of whom one is female (3·7 per cent.). There are 83 High Court judges, of whom two are female (2·4 per cent.). There are 424 circuit judges, of whom 19 are female (4·5 per cent.). There are 762 recorders, of whom 43 are female (5·6 per cent.). In addition, the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls, president of the family division and Vice-Chancellor are all male.

To ask the Attorney-General what percentage and number of (a) county court judges, (b) judges who sit full time in the Crown courts, (c) judges who sit in the Court of Appeal and Court of Criminal Appeal, (d) judges who sit in the divisional court, (e) judges who sit in the High Court, (f) Lords of Appeal in Ordinary and (g) recorders, are black.

Records are not kept on the ethnic origin of members of the judiciary or of candidates for judicial appointments, but our understanding of the position is as follows.There are no Lords of Appeal in Ordinary, heads of division, Lords Justices of Appeal, or High Court judges from the ethnic minorities. There are 424 circuit judges, of whom one is from an ethnic minority (0·2 per cent.). There are 762 recorders, of whom five are from ethnic minorities (0·65 per cent.).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to make any orders under section 48(2) of the Housing Act 1988 to amend the permissible objects of housing associations.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he plans to implement the declarations made following conferences on the protection of the North sea in Bremen 1984, London 1987 and the Hague 1990.

Progress on implementation of measures agreed at Bremen was reported to the second North sea conference held in London in 1987 and detailed national progress reports on the implementation of second North sea conference measures were prepared by all North sea states for the Hague conference in March 1990. Copies of these reports are held in the Library.In July this year the United Kingdom published a "Guidance Note on the Ministerial Declaration of the Third International Conference on the Protection of the North Sea" which details action planned to implement the new measures agreed at the Hague. Copies are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table in the Official Report based upon the information contained in annex VIII of his local government finance statement of 31 October, showing for each local authority area listed on pages 2 to 13 (a) income from the community charge for standard spending, (b) business rate income and (c) revenue support grant, in each case as a percentage of their standard spending assessment, with each local authority being listed in ascending order according to the percentage size of their revenue support grant.

Revenue support grant (RSG) and business rate income are distributed to charging authorities so that if each notifiable authority spent at the level appropriate to provide a standard level of service, all charging authorities could set a charge at the community charge for standard spending of £380·41. As the cost of providing a standard level of service, measured by the standard spending assessment (SSA) varies with the demographic, social and physical characteristics of an area—the proportions of SSA met from RSG and business rates also varies. Uniquely the SSA for the City of London does not reflect the cost of providing a standard level of service.Full details of the distribution of RSG and business rates for 1991–92 are set out in the Revenue Support Grant Distribution Report (England) approved on 18 January and the draft Revenue Support Grant Distribution (Amendment) Report (England) published on 31 October.I have today placed in the Library a table showing for each receiving authority area in England the information requested, together with an additional column containing the percentage of standard spending assessment (SSA) met by total external support, that is, the sum of business rate income, revenue support grant, area protection grant and the inner London education grant. The SSA for a receiving authority area is calculated by summing the SSAs per adult of the receiving authority and of all notifiable authorities precepting on that receiving authority and multiplying by its relevant population.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the latest figures for the level of production of roofing slates within the United Kingdom; what was the level five years ago; and what were the corresponding figures for the importing of roofing slates into the United Kingdom in each of those two periods.

The information requested on the production and imports of roofing slates for the United Kingdom is given in the table. Exports have been added for completeness.

Tonnes
	Production	Imports	Exports
1984	22,000	14,000	2,000
1989	46,500	49,000	5,500

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many leaseholders live in flats, including old houses converted to flats, in England and Wales excluding right-to-buy purchases from local authorities.

The information is not available in the form requested. In 1981 the total number of leasehold households in England and Wales was 1,506,434. It is likely that the majority of these households occupied flats.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many single persons, over the age of 16 years, are currently living within family units; how these persons are considered in producing projections for future housing needs; and what assessment he has made of the future requirement for single persons' accommodation.

[holding answer 22 November 1990]: The estimated number of single persons aged 16 or over living within family units in England in 1988 is 4·9 million, of which 1·3 million were aged 16 or 17. These figures are derived from the 1988 labour force survey housing trailer.In estimating the future number of households my Department makes projections of the proportions of persons who will be household heads, separately by age, sex and marital status (including single). The method is described in the Department's publication "1985 based estimate of numbers of households", a copy of which is in the Library.The Government do not make estimates of housing requirements for particular types of household.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many schemes in cities and towns have been set up or commenced under the Government's business in the community programme; if he will list the schemes giving locations and the amount of grant allocated for each scheme; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 29 November 1990]: Business in the Community (BITC) is not a Government initiative. It is a charity funded by over 400 of the country's major businesses and grants from the Departments of the Environment (DOE), Employment (DE) and Trade and Industry (DTI). BITC encourages business men to play a part in encouraging economic regeneration aims across the country. I will write to the hon. Member with details of my Department's grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regulations he proposes to introduce to limit private firms' use of uniforms in the style of police officers; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans, at present, to introduce such regulations. I am pleased to note that the British Standards Institution has recently issued, for public comment, a draft British standard code of practice for manned security services, which makes recommendations on the provision of uniforms by security companies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he last met local authority representatives to discuss the role of local authorities in the energency response to an accident involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; if he will detail that role; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has not had the opportunity to meet with local authority representatives to discuss this specific matter. However, Mr. Brook, the Home Office civil emergencies adviser, has had, and will continue to have, discussions with the local authorities about their response to a whole range of civil emergencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements exist to protect the general public from possible off-site consequences of an accident involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals.

The off-site consequences arising from such an accident are dealt with by the emergency services in consultation with the local authority and sources of specialist advice on chemical toxicity.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what initiatives he has taken in respect of research into alcohol misuse and the social effects of alcohol misuse in England; and how much money he has made available for this purpose in the current financial year.

During the past three years the Home Office has commissioned a survey of drinking in England and Wales, carried out research into drinking and disorder in non-metropolitan areas, evaluated the effects of experimental byelaws to control public drinking in the central parts of various towns and cities and commissioned a preliminary study of the role economic models may play in understanding the links between alcohol and crime. The cost of work falling in this financial year was about £15,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

The information requested is not available centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

The information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Details of remuneration at 1989 rates for appointees to Home Office public bodies are contained in the publication "Public Bodies", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish reports by Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary on its inspections of police forces.

[pursuant to my noble Friend's reply, 23 March 1990, c. 794]: All reports of Her Majesty's inspectorate of constabulary inspections are now published; the Derbyshire report will be published tomorrow and copies will then be placed in the Library.The report conveys the professional policing judgment of the inspectorate; it offers a worrying catalogue of Derbyshire county council's policies and procedures which, in the view of the inspectorate, hinder the commendable efforts of the police force to provide the best standards of policing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider establishing an independent inquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of passengers falling from trains.

Accidents involving deaths are fully investigated by railway operators and the appropriate coroner. The Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate would investigate as a matter of course if there were any evidence that accepted standards of safety had not been maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many incidents of passengers falling from moving trains there were in each of the last five years; how many died from the fall; and how many were seriously injured.

The information is as follows:

Year	Fatal	Major Injury	Minor Injury	Total
1985	16	8	42	66
1986	12	15	34	61
1987	26	16	28	70
1988	19	13	32	64
1989	19	16	12	47

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many houses his Department owns; how many are empty; and how many are along routes of proposed road building schemes.

On 1 October 1990, the total number of dwellings owned by the Department of Transport was 2,370. Of these 2,339 have been acquired in connection with road schemes and 31 are used by the coastguard services. A total of 498 are empty.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of (a) the amount, (b) the type and (c) the frequency of the transportation of loads of aviation fuel from the Isle of Grain through London to Stansted airport.

This is a commercial and operational matter for British Rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail prices index in the last financial year.

Gross running costs expenditure on Department of Transport administration was 9·3 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than in 1988–89. During the same period the retail prices index rose by 7·8 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what arrangements have been agreed concerning rail transportation of hazardous chemicals through the channel tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

No arrangements have yet been agreed. It is for Eurotunnel to put forward proposals for the movement of dangerous goods. The proposals will be considered by the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission which is advised on safety matters by the independent binational safety authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will set out the regulatory framework that exists to cover the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals;(2) what regulatory framework exists to cover the possible health and safety implications of the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will review the regulations and their enforcement controlling the containment of chemicals in transit in the light of the Isle of Grain derailment on 28 November; and if he will make a statement.

Dangerous substances are carried by rail in accordance with the British Railways Board's "List of Dangerous Goods and Conditions of Acceptance by Rail on Freight Services and Parcels Service" (BR 22426). These are based on the United Nations' "Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods".Responsibility for the safety of staff and the public rests primarily with the railway operator. Her Majesty's railway inspectorate is responsible for enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 on the railways. The inspectorate transferred to the Health and Safety Executive on 1 December.I am considering what further action is needed to ensure that dangerous substances safety rules on our railways and those applying internationally are regularly updated and appropriately aligned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken concerning (a) the derailment of a train carrying chemicals at Stratford, east London, on 21 November, identifying the chemicals being transported and (b) the derailment of a train near the Isle of Grain refinery on 28 November; and if he will make a statement.

An inspecting officer of the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate (RI) visited the scene of the accident on the Isle of Grain on the morning of 28 November. British Rail will be conducting its own inquiries into both the Stratford and Isle of Grain accidents and will send a copy of its findings in due course to RI, which will then decide whether any further action is necessary. I understand from BR that the train at Stratford included wagons carrying sodium hydroxide solids and diphenyl methane—4, 4—diifocyanate, but that these particular wagons were not derailed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give details of the inventory his Department maintains on those chemicals currently transported by rail in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The Department does not have such an inventory, but I understand that British Rail has a list of dangerous substances which can be transported by rail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of railway accidents involving chemicals being transported in each of the years 1980 to 1990 and for each of the categories (a) corrosive, (b) poisonous, (c) volatile and (d) explosive.

I understand that the railway inspectorate does not have information in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what role his Department takes in planning for, and responding to, possible accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for British Rail, the emergency services and local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what hazard assessment and emergency planning arrangements exist for accidents involving the rail transportation of hazardous chemicals; what body is responsible for this work; and if possible off-site consequences of an accident are taken into account in the assessment and planning arrangements.

British Rail, the emergency services and local authorities, which are responsible for the off-site consequences of an accident, liaise closely in assessing hazards and developing arrangements to deal with major railway accidents, including those involving hazardous chemicals. As part of these arrangements, joint exercises are held frequently.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedure exists to provide emergency services attending an accident involving the rail transportation of chemicals with information concerning the identity and possible hazard of these substances; and how early during an emergency response such information is available to the emergency services.

Every railway wagon carrying a dangerous substance should be identified by a HAZCHEM label, and there are also arrangements for British Rail regional control offices to provide the emergency services with lists of wagons and contents. Further advice is available from the consignor or the Chemical Industries Association's CHEMSAFE arrangements. I understand that response times are usually very quick.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings,(c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

I shall write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

Fees and salaries for the majority of appointments made by my right hon. and Friend are contained in the annual publication "Public Bodies" published by HMSO, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House. The appointments which are not listed in this document are:

Acting conservator of the River Mersey (£7,667 per annum),

Delegate to the Central Rhine Commission (unpaid),

Chairman and members of the honorary medical advisory panel on driving and diabetes (unpaid),

Chairman and members of the honorary medical advisory panel for driving and disorders of the nervous system (unpaid),

Chairman and members of the honorary medical advisory panel on driving and cardiovascular disorders (unpaid).

My right hon. and learned Friend also appoints some part-time members to ports authorities, but their remuneration is a matter for the individual authority concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he now expects the passenger trains for services through the channel tunnel from destinations from north of London to be delivered; and if he will make a statement.

British Rail last December announced plans to operate daytime international rail services connecting stations on the east and west coast main lines directly with Paris and Brussels. These plans remain unchanged. However the high-speed trains are even more complex than those which will operate between London, Paris and Brussels and will require a substantial period of safety and operational testing. The manufacturers have not yet been able to quote a firm price and delivery date. As a result, through passenger services are unlikely to be available until 1994. In the light of this I have indicated to British Rail the importance I attach to improving the journeys of passengers from north of London in the period immediately after the tunnel opens. I understand it is now planning to operate some inter-city services from the north into Waterloo, so avoiding the need for passengers to cross London. Tenders for rolling stock for night trains through the tunnel are likely to be invited shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about ministerial responsibilities in his Department.

I announced yesterday the following ministerial responsibilities.The right hon. the Lord Belstead, Her Majesty's Paymaster General and deputy to the Secretary of State, is responsible for law and order and the Department of Education. He is spokesman on all Northern Ireland matters in the House of Lords.Dr. Brian Mawhinney MP, Minister of State, is responsible for the Department of Finance and Personnel, the central community relations unit, political affairs division and the information services. He is also the spokesman in the House of Commons on law and order and education matters.Mr. Richard Needham MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, is responsible for the Department of Economic Development, the Industrial Development Board, and the Department of the Environment.Mr. Jeremy Hanley MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, is responsible for the Department of Health and Social Services and the Department of Agriculture. As one of the four United Kingdom Ministers responsible for agriculture I will maintain my interest in that area.I will continue to have overall responsibility for the work of the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently being provided to the Soviet Union; what form it takes; and if there are any plans for it to be stepped up.

We have announced a know-how fund of £20 million for the Soviet Union. Its aim will be to transfer British skills and expertise in areas essential to economic reform, particularly food distribution, energy, small business formation and financial services. Wider financial assistance will be a matter for multilateral action in the light of the EC and IMF studies of the Soviet economy now under way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress by the European Community on removing barriers to trade to permit a satisfactory outcome to the Uruguay round.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is this week leading the United Kingdom delegation to the ministerial meeting in Brussels called to conclude the Uruguay round of trade negotiations. It is in everyone's interest, including the European Community, that the round should succeed. For this to happen, all concerned will need to show flexibility. But it is essential to preserve and strengthen the multilateral trading system. We are continuing to work with our Community partners in Brussels this week to bring this about.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department intends to bring forward any new proposals to help British exporters.

My Department is seeking, through the current GATT negotiations, to liberalise the world trading environment. We are also leading the way in implementing the directives necessary for creating the single European market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to help British exporters.

My Department, together with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, provides a wide range of services for British exporters. We are continually monitoring our schemes to ensure they are meeting the needs of business.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the future of trade in textiles and clothing.

My right hon. Friend is seeking to improve market access by reducing tariff and trade barriers and to strengthen the rules and disciplines of GATT so as to provide fairer conditions for trade in textiles and clothing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had from industry about the future of the United Kingdom defence industry; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is in contact with many defence companies about a wide range of matters concerning the defence industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received about the telecommunications duopoly.

The Government published a consultative document entitled "Competition and Choice: Telecommunications Policy for the 1990s" on 13 November. By that time, my Department had received over 40 informal submissions regarding the telecommunications duopoly. I have now received a handful of responses to the proposals in the document. The deadline for comments is 14 January 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with the Director General of Oftel regarding developments in value added telephone services.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has recently discussed the full range of telephone services with the Director General of Oftel in the context of the telecommunications duopoly review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the current level of steel imports.

The latest available figures indicate that imports of steel for the 10 months to the end of October stand at 3·6 million tonnes. This represents a fall of 5·5 per cent. compared with the same period last year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the Post Office letter monopoly.

The Post Office's letter monopoly is a privilege, not a right. While we keep the options on the letter monopoly under review, we have no present plans to end it, although in the event of a cessation or serious disruption to the letter service we would consider suspending it. The Government and the Post Office remain fully committed to the existence of a national letter service available to everyone, including those in rural areas, at a reasonable and uniform tariff.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had about the prosecution of offences under the Companies and Financial Services Acts with the regulatory authorities.

My officials are in regular touch with the regulatory authorities; the subjects discussed include the prosecution of offences.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to expand the role of the Export Credits Guarantee Department.

Through the ECGD, United Kingdom exporters have access to a range and quality of credit insurance and export finance facilities which are among the best available in the major exporting countries. My aim will be to ensure that ECGD continues to respond flexibly to its customers' changing needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the dates and details of the last trade mission to Iraq that was sponsored by his Department.

The last outward mission to Iraq sponsored by my Department took place from 22–28 June 1990. It was organised by the Nottingham chamber of commerce and 13 United Kingdom firms were represented.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has received any representations from the City of London corporation regarding the future development of the City.

I have received no such representations from the City of London corporation, although I am aware of its decision to mount a study. I myself hold seminars with City practitioners to discuss the future of the financial sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider increasing the funding of debt advice services as a resource for households in debt.

My Department does not specifically fund debt advice services, and I have no plans to do so. However, a large proportion of debt advice is provided by local citizens advice bureaux, as part of their general advisory work. Local bureaux receive most of their funding from local authorities, but my Department funds the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland, which provide support services for local bureaux. Total DTI grant in aid to NACAB and CAS will be more than £11 million in 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether his Department proposes to make any changes in its scheme for assistance for exceptional projects.

I have no plans to alter the criteria for supporting applications for assistance towards exceptional projects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has had concerning progress at the GATT talks.

My right hon. Friend and I have had numerous representations on the Uruguay round of GATT negotiations, from a wide variety of sources, including industry, farmers, consumers and representatives of other Governments. This House also had a full debate on the Uruguay round on 23 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in the GATT talks to gain access to new overseas markets by the United Kingdom textile manufacturers; and if he will make a statement.

The GATT negotiations are continuing in Brussels this week. It is a high priority for the Government to reduce barriers to Community textiles exports in overseas markets. Some countries, such as Canada, South Africa and Thailand, have offered to reduce their textiles tariffs. The Community is pressing all participants to improve their offers on textiles as part of the overall market access negotiations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any plans to strengthen the provisions of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act to restrict the sale of solvent-based products to minors.

I have no plans to amend the provisions of the Intoxicating Substances (Supply) Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many of those measures laid down for the creation of the single European market still have to be agreed between the member states of the Community.

Of the 282 measures specified for the creation of the single European market in the Commission's 1985 White Paper, 190 have been agreed and 92 still remain to be agreed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to meet the chairman of the Post Office to discuss the quality of postal services.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State meets the chairman of the Post Office, Sir Bryan Nicholson, regularly to discuss various matters of mutual interest and concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will next meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the state of Scotland's industries.

I have no plans to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he last met representatives of local authority trading standards officers to discuss consumer matters.

My right hon. Friend has not had any meetings with representatives of local authority trading standards officers. However, officials have frequent meetings with them and I have accepted an invitation to meet representatives of the Institute of Trading Standards Administration early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to next meet his EC Trade Minister colleagues to discuss the glass industry.

My right hon. Friend keeps in close contact with his EC ministerial colleagues but he has no plans at present to discuss the glass industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further measures his Department is taking to improve the safety of retail goods.

The safety of retail goods will continue to be a high priority for my Department. The Consumer Protection Act 1987 makes it a criminal offence to supply any consumer product that is not reasonably safe. This is supported by specific regulations, where necessary, and by a range of enforcement powers that enable action to be taken effectively and swiftly against unsafe consumer goods. I see no justification for further legislation in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in which department requests which arise at Companies house satellite offices for individual company records on microfiche are dealt with.

The majority of search requests made in the satellite offices are satisfied by Companies house in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry where microfiche records paid for at a Companies house satellite office to be sent to the inquirer's office or home are posted.

Microfiche records requested and paid for in Companies house's satellite offices are not posted on to customers' offices or homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what system is used to transport company microfiche requested at satellite offices from Cardiff to those offices; and if this system is more expensive or cheaper to operate than if the same packets were sent to the satellites by Royal Mail.

The system used to transport search requests to the satellite offices is operated by Britdoc Ltd. trading as British Document Exchange. This system is 50 per cent. cheaper than first-class post per item and 33 per cent. cheaper than second-class post.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made in negotiations on the terms of the capital adequacy directive; and what issues remain to be determined.

The Commission proposal for a directive to establish minimum capital adequacy requirements for investment firms and credit institutions conducting investment business was submitted to the Council in June. Negotiations are now under way in the Council working group. The directive as drafted represented a major improvement on earlier, unpublished drafts but it is clear that a number of member states favour higher minimum initial capital requirements. The Government's immediate concerns are to resist any increase in these initial requirements, to agree a satisfactory treatment of independent financial intermediaries, and to agree a satisfactory definition of those illiquid assets which must be deducted from the capital of investment firms. The Government's overall objective remains to negotiate a directive which genuinely relates capital requirements for individual firms to the risks to which those firms are exposed, and maintains the international competitiveness of the European Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now make it his practice to answer any questions relating to the export of militarily sensitive supergun parts to Iraq.

[holding answer 27 November 1990]: Where I can add to the information provided by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade on Second Reading of the Import and Export Control Bill, without helping the Government of Iraq (or any other would-be evader of export controls), I will answer questions which fall within my Department's area of responsibility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on what date his representative on the Auditing Practices Committee was informed of the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies' review of the Auditing Practices Committee.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: In mid-July.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received in respect of the size of the new 5p piece.

A number of letters have been received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of business investment in 1991; and what is the level of business investment in (a) France, (b) Italy and (c) Germany, respectively.

In the autumn statement, business investment in the United Kingdom in 1991 was forecast to be £56 billion at 1985 prices.The latest estimates of private non-residential investment—the standardised international definition which is closest to business investment—for the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy are for 1989. They are set out in the table as a share of GDP. The United Kingdom devoted a larger share of its GDP to private non-residential investment than the other three countries.

Private non-residential investment as a share of GDP, 1989
	Share of GDP
United Kingdom	13·9
France	12·6
Germany	12·8
Italy	112·4
1 1988; 1989 not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

The annual salary and fixed fee cost of appointments made by the Treasury is about £1 million a year. There are further appointments that pay a daily fee depending on involvement and most appointments pay travel and subsistence expenses. Details of this expenditure are not held centrally and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the cost of technical and hardware measures outlined in the interim report of the Piper Alpha disaster and the Cullen report; and if he will make a statement.

The principal recommendations of Lord Cullen's report deal with broad principles of safety management rather than detailed technical or hardware measures. The cost of any measures required or thought desirable in the light of the application of these principles seems likely to vary from case to case, and it is not possible at this stage to make any overall estimate of additional costs attributable to the implementation of these recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will estimate the percentage of the cost of the technical and hardware measures outlined in the interim report of the Piper Alpha disaster and the Cullen report which will be met (a) by the oil companies and (b) by the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

The extent to which the future cost of any such measures would be borne by the Exchequer would depend on a number of factors including the tax position at the relevant time of the oil or gas field, and of the company, in question.

	1986–87	1987–88	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91 (forecast)
Number of new buildings1	—	—	—	—	—
Amount spent on new buildings1	—	—	—	—	—
Amount spent on repairs and maintenance2	£189,247	£71,704	£83,764	£231,542	£170,000
Amount spent on building renovation1	—	—	—	—	—
1 Expenditure on the Department's new headquarters building over the period 1987–88–1989–90 was borne on the Property Services Agency's Vote.
2 Expenditure on minor new works and maintenance within the Department's delegated responsibility under the Property Repayment Scheme rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the publication "Public Bodies" produced by the Cabinet Office, the latest edition of which will be published by HMSO later this month. The publication includes all

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what provision he has made to ensure information concerning the privatisation of the electricity industry has been made available on tape and in Braille to assist blind people.

The production of offer for sale documents on tape or in Braille was ruled out on the grounds of excessive cost. Blind people do, however, have the option to telephone the share information office, which is able to answer a comprehensive range of simple questions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what progress he has made towards establishing reliable estimates of gas leakage from the low-pressure distribution system; whether his Department remains dependent on British Gas for such estimates; and what is the current best estimate for such leakage.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison) gave on 23 April 1990, at column 96. The Department of the Environment (DoE) has primary responsibility for emissions inventories and currently uses an estimate of 1 per cent. for methane loss in the natural gas distribution system.Work is being undertaken by DoE, British Gas and others better to characterise all types of methane emission. This will be incorporated in the national estimates of total methane emissions in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

The information in respect of the Department of Energy for the financial years 1986–87 to 1990–91is:appointments to bodies for which my Department is responsible except for the Director General of Gas Supply whose salary is in the range £53,420 to £63,390.

To ask the Prime Minister if he has any intention of setting up an inquiry into teachers' pay; and if he will make a statement.

The School Teachers' Pay and Conditions Bill currently before the House sets up new machinery under which the local authority employers and the teacher unions will be able to negotiate teachers' pay. The Government have undertaken not normally to intervene on cost grounds if the overall cost of recommendations resulting from those negotiations falls within the inter-quartile range of private sector settlements for non-manual employees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the Antarctic minerals convention.

We believe that the convention on the regulation of Antarctic mineral resource activities (CRAMRA) contains all necessary environmental safeguards, and that it offers the best way to resolve the minerals issue and protect the Antarctic environment. However, as we have always made clear, we are prepared to discuss all proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the administrative costs of his Department rose by more or less than the retail prices index in the last financial year.

Gross running costs expenditure on Foreign and Commonwealth Office diplomatic wing administration was 9·86 per cent. higher in 1989–90 than in the previous year; and for the aid wing it was 9·56 per cent. higher. During the same period the retail prices index increased by 7·8 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the purchasing policy of his Department.

This Department is bound by the Government's policy that purchasers should base all procurement of goods and services on value for money, including quality (or fitness for purpose) and delivery against price. In accordance with that policy, goods and services are acquired by competition unless there are convincing reasons to the contrary. Under EC rules, and GATT (Government procurement agreement (GPA)) where appropriate, this Department is obliged to award relevant contracts in accordance with prescribed procedures aimed at avoiding discrimination on grounds of nationality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what were his Department's (a) best and (b) worst purchases made in the current month as measured against the Government's supply index;(2) what were the 10 worst purchases made by his Department in the month of October as measured against the Government's supply index.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not at present subscribe to the Government supply index run by PI Ltd.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

I refer the hon. Member to the latest issue of "Public Bodies", a copy of which is available in the House of Commons Library, which contains all the information he requires.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the proposed UNEP biological diversification convention; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The Government fully support proposals for the elaboration of a global convention on conserving biological diversity. The United Kingdom has extensive and internationally respected scientific and technical expertise in this area and has taken a leading role in a series of preparatory meetings organised by the United Nations Environmental Programme. Formal negotiations are planned to begin in February 1991, with the aim of reaching agreement in time for the UN conference on environment and development which will be held in Brazil in June 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research is currently being carried out within the national health service into improved methods of withdrawing from benzodiazepines.

Professor Malcolm Lader and his team at the Institute of Psychiatry in London provide a service to NHS patients who wish to withdraw from benzodiazepines. The service offers both psychological and pharmacological methods of treatment and aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a range of approaches to this form of drug dependency.Research into various aspects of dependency on benzodiazepines has been carried out in Yorkshire, West Midlands and South East Thames regions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the financial cost to the national health service of the cutback in military medical facilities since 1975.

Apart from the services provided to the dependants of military personnel, the treatment which military hospitals provide to civilians is undertaken to ensure adequate training and professional opportunities for the staff of such hospitals. It is not taken into account when determining the funding requirements of the national health service, or when allocating funds to regional health authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the cost of measures presently being undertaken in the national health service as a result of a possible military conflict in the Gulf.

The national health service has at all times the function of ensuring that it is in a position to respond effectively to a major emergency. Contingency plans are reviewed regularly in the light of prevailing circumstances. The cost of maintaining this function is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health on what date the consultation period for proposals for the creation of a new North Nottinghamshire health authority began; when it ended; and on what date the consultation document was supplied to the hon. Members for the constituencies concerned.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State is considering Trent regional health authority's proposal to proceed to formal public consultation. No document has yet been issued.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government's health advisers have now examined the evidence on exposure of the public to benzene in the atmosphere and its possible implications for public health; what conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.

At a preliminary discussion recently the Department of Health's independent committee on carcinogenicity of chemicals in food, consumer products and the environment (COC) concluded that benzene is a human carcinogen for which it is prudent to assume no safe level of exposure. This accords with the view of the International Agency for Research on Cancer and is based on evidence from heavily exposed occupational groups. Exposure of the general population from benzene in the environment, food and drink is at an extremely low level. The committee is now considering information on exposure levels including occupational exposures in order better to assess the risk to public health. Meanwhile the Department advises that exposure should be reduced as low as reasonably achievable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will meet voluntary organisations to discuss the implementation of sections 1 and 2 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986;(2) when he last met voluntary organisations to discuss implementation of sections 1 to 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986;(3) when he next expects to meet voluntary organisations to discuss implementation of section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986;(4) when he last met local authority associations on sections 1 to 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement on the meeting.

I met representatives of the consortium of voluntary organisations, "Act Now", on 5 June, with the right hon. Member and other members of the all-party disablement group. I have no current plans for further meetings. Decisions as to further action on sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act cannot be taken until our consultations with the local authority associations are complete. Officials last met the associations on 30 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give the latest available figures for (a) urgent and (b) non-urgent hospital waiting lists for each district in Herefordshire.

At March 1990 there were 3,579 people on hospital in-patient waiting lists in Herefordshire district health authority compared with 3,648 at March 1989, a reduction of 2 per cent. Waiting list data have not been collected by urgency of condition since 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will indicate the cost of the preparation and distribution of the leaflet "The National Health Service Reforms and You".

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister for Health gave the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 5 July at column 675.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of food poisoning have been notified to his Department as a result of the consumption of custard tarts.

None specifically related to custard tarts. The public do not, however, always report foodborne illnesses to their doctor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

The Department of Health occupies buildings on the common user estate provided and administered by the Department of the Environment. Identifiable totals of the Department of Health's expenditure are available only from 1 April 1989 following this Department's separation from the Department of Social Security. In the financial year 1989–90 the Department of Health spent £2·292 million on new works not exceeding £150,000 each.Details of the combined Department of Health and Department of Social Security major building projects are published each year with the supply estimates and details are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has decided on the arrangements which are to be made to set up the United Kingdom transplant service as a special health authority.

The report prepared by Dr. N. J. B. Evans has been considered and Ministers have decided, in general, to accept its recommendations. Regulations will be laid shortly to set up the authority. Dr. Evans will be appointed as its chairman. A copy of his report has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will itemise, by Department, the cost of the current year's state opening of Parliament.

I have been asked to reply.The estimated cost to the Parliamentary Works Office is £45,500.

To ask the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made on the feasibility study regarding a workplace nursery in the House; and if he has yet consulted the staff unions regarding carrying out the study and establishment of the nursery.

It is understood that the feasibility study by the Administration Department on the provision of child care facilities has been completed and is to be considered by the Services Committee at its next meeting. Copies of the study have already been made available to the trade union side of the House of Commons Whitley Committee, and there will be a further consultation with it and with other relevant staff organisations once the Services Committee has responded.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will bring forward proposals to reform the workings of the House of Commons.

[holding answer 3 December 1990]: I am always ready and willing to consider ideas for improvement. I shall, of course, be replying to the Procedure Committee on Select Committees.

To ask the Minister for the Arts whether he will publish tables showing (a) the number of new buildings, (b) the amount spent on new buildings, (c) the amount spent on repairs and maintenance and (d) the amount spent on building renovation by his Department in each of the last five years.

Responsibility for the repairs and maintenance of the two properties occupied by my Department rests with the Property Services Agency (PSA). The payments made to it in respect of these works are given the table:

	£
1986–87	26,747
1987–88	24,525
1988–89	36,333
1989–90	41,376
1990–91	52,983

Prior to 1 April 1988, responsibility for the building and maintenance programmes of the national museums and galleries that my Department sponsors and of the British library also rested with the PSA. Expenditure incurred by the PSA, but which was included in the central Government arts programme, was £34·5 million in 1986–87 and £34·0 million in 1987–88 in respect of the national museums and galleries, and £11·2 million and £21·8 million, respectively, for the British library.From 1 April 1988, such costs have become the responsibility of the individual institutions, with that of the new British library building project at St. Pancras the responsibility of my Department.The grant in aid provisions for the national museums and galleries building and maintenance programmes are:

Grant in aid
Building programme provision
(Amounts shown in £ millions)
Institutions	1988–89	1989–90	1990–91
British museum	6·497	7·650	9·000
Imperial War museum	6·363	4·097	3·100
National gallery	3·255	4·390	5·100
National Maritime museum	1·853	3·450	4·600
National museums and galleries on Merseyside	2·690	3·060	3·800
National Portrait gallery	2·926	1·530	1·800
Natural History museum	6·172	6·260	8·100
Science museum	4·617	5·310	5·920
Tate gallery	3·236	3·800	4·800

To ask the Minister for the Arts what information he has on the level of repairs and maintenance needs in (a) theatres, (b) museums and (c) libraries.

I am setting in hand a new initiative to review and assess rigorously the building renovation needs of the national museums and galleries which I sponsor. This review, which will be undertaken by professional multidiscipline building consultants, will entail a detailed study of a variety of building conditions and other technical surveys. These will be compared against requirements already identified in museums buildings and the need for further technical studies identified if required. The review should be completed by summer 1991. The results will inform my decisions in carrying forward the Government's policy of bringing about the renovation of these important and historic buildings by the end of the decade; I am at present providing £189 million over the next three years towards these building and maintenance needs.I understand that the Theatres Trust is carrying out a small study to establish whether a systematic examination of the national state of theatres could be undertaken at reasonable cost. It is for other relevant funding bodies, including local authorities, to determine the needs for the buildings within their areas of responsibility.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what he estimates is needed by (a) the Arts Council, (b) the Museums and Galleries Commission, (c) the Crafts Council, (d) the British Film Institute and (e) the British library if their 1991–92 budgets are (i) to stand still in relation to inflation, (ii) return in real terms, to levels of (1) 1986–87 and (2) 1979–80 in cash terms and in percentage terms.

The future expenditure programme of the Office of Arts and Libraries and the particular provisions for the institutions it supports are defined in cash terms.In comparison with 1986–87 and 1979–80, the 1991–92 expenditure programme will be higher in real terms by £86 million (18 per cent.) and £199 million (55 per cent.) respectively. No additional funding is needed, therefore.Additional details for each of the institutions listed could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what is the annual cost of fees and reimbursements to people appointed to (a) public, (b) non-governmental and (c) other bodies by his Department.

In general, those appointed by my Department to the institutions and committees it sponsors and supports do not receive fees or remuneration. They are normally reimbursed for travel and other expenditures which they incur as part of their duties, but detailed information on such reimbursements could be collected only at disproportionate cost.There is an exception; part-time members of the British library board are remunerated for their services. The annual cost to the British library is currently £70,000.