To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to make it illegal to wheel-clamp orange badge holders on private car parks or other private land.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Clwyd, South-West (Mr. Jones) on 25 April at column 524.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he is to attend the forthcoming British Rail celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the Brighton line.

I hope to be present for the ceremony for the reintroduction of the Brighton Belle on 21 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish the scheme for the high-speed rail link submitted to him by British Rail and the alternative proposals.

I expect British Rail's report on the route options to be published in due course when we have had time to consider it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Welsh local authorities and voluntary bodies are eligible to bid for money from the £40 million kitty established in his Department's recycling encouragement initiative.

No. £40 million of supplementary credit approvals are being made available over three years for local authorities in England.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for Great Grimsby, Barrow in Furness, Wandsworth, Westminster and Elmbridge particulars of the amount spent and income received per adult under each category in table 4 of "Local Government Financial Statistics No. 2 1990".

I have today arranged for the available information to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any plans to abolish the £15 million budget exemption rule for the purposes of charge-capping designation; and if he will make a statement.

Ministers have indicated that this is an issue to be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many licences for the importation of (i) green-cheeked Amazon parrots and (ii) grey parrots were issued in each year since 1988;(2) what advice he has received from the United Kingdom Scientific Authority on the convention on international trade in endangered species concerning the importation of (i) green-cheeked Amazon parrots and (ii) grey parrots.

The information requested is as follows:

	Licences issued
	1988	1989	1990
Green cheeked Amazons (Amazona viridigenalis)	3	1	—
Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus)	151	148	94

All applications to import these species are referred to our scientific advisers, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, for advice on whether such imports would be harmful to efforts to conserve the species.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the land area of England is (a) now urbanised or built upon and (b) likely to be urbanised or built upon by the end of the century based on existing plans.

Recently published research by my Department on rates of urbanisation in England 1981–2001 showed that in 1981, 10·2 per cent. of the land area of England was urbanised and forecast that by 2001 the extent of urbanisation would be 11 per cent., an increase of 7·9 per cent. over a 20-year period. This estimate was based on the likely land requirements to house the projected increase in households, rather than the proposals in structure plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a summary of the main findings of the departmental report on pollutants in cleaning agents.

A summary of the main findings of the departmental report on pollutants in cleaning agents has been published along with the report. Copies have been placed in the Library and have been sent to interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department is to propose any changes to the rules governing access by local authorities to the European regional development fund and other EC structural funds.

Access by local authorities to the European structural funds, including the European regional development fund—ERDF—is governed by the relevant European Community regulations which establish operating procedures for the structural funds. In consultation with member states, the Commission will be reviewing the structural funds so that new regulations can be in place by the end of 1993. In the meantime, no change is envisaged to the current arrangements whereby local authorities apply for ERDF grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account is taken of the shortage of water in the south-east of England in the planning department and inspectorate of his Department.

Water shortage can be a material planning consideration to be taken into account by my right hon. Friend and his inspectors when taking planning decisions. When local planning authorities prepare their development plans, they commonly consult the National Rivers Authority about the water resource implications. Such plans may include policies that planning permission will normally only be granted for development when appropriate infrastructure, including the provision of water, is available.Water storage can be one of the technical matters to be considered when my right hon. Friend or his inspectors determine applications for orders or appeals under the Water Acts. In such cases, and particularly when surface supplies are in jeopardy, the stored quantity of water is considered against the demands upon it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy on the role of the planning system in facilitating the provision of affordable housing; and if he will make a statement.

We are today publishing guidance in a circular, describing the role the planning system can play in securing the provision of affordable housing, and announcing more flexible arrangements to encourage shared ownership schemes in rural areas.The planning system must play an important role in securing adequate provision of affordable housing. Development plans should make realistic assessments of total housing requirements, including the provision needed for affordable housing. While not imposing fixed quotas, plan policies can reasonably encourage developers to incorporate affordable housing in larger developments. In rural areas, we have encouraged authorities to develop policies for the release of small, "off-plan" sites for affordable housing.In development control, conditions and agreements can be used to promote affordable housing schemes, where control is exercised in pursuance of a proper planning objective, and is sound and enforceable. Such schemes may be promoted in partnership with private developers, but, generally, the most secure and effective way of securing the provision of affordable housing is by co-operation with a housing association or other body, such as a village trust, whose continuing interest in the property, through either renting or shared ownership, can provide a basis for control over subsequent changes of ownership or occupation.We have decided to make a change in the present arrangements for shared ownership. Until now, we have not allowed public subsidy to be invested in schemes unless the occupiers have a right to "staircase" to full owner-occupation if they wish, at a time of their choosing, without being forced to move.To encourage more schemes in the future, we have decided to amend our policy, and also allow public subsidy to be put into housing association and other private shared ownership schemes which contain a reasonable staircasing restriction in the special circumstances of a rural settlement. Details of those circumstances are set out in the circular published today.This is an important measure of flexibility which I know will be welcomed by many organisations who wish to see more done to bring home ownership within the reach of existing villagers. We have listened to their advice and we have acted. I now look to local authorities, to landowners and developers, and to housing associations to respond.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will arrange to repeal the legislation which prohibits local authorities from contributing directly to appeal funds to relieve overseas disasters.

[holding answer 10 May 1991]: Local authorities have only the powers that have been given to them by, or under, an Act of Parliament. Parliament has never given to them a power to contribute directly to an appeal fund which is solely for the relief of disasters outside the United Kingdom. There is, therefore, no legislative prohibition to repeal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to increase the number of (a) nitrogen monitoring stations and (b) sulphur dioxide monitoring stations operating in the United Kingdom.

The Government are taking forward plans, announced in the environment White Paper, for a major expansion of the United Kingdom monitoring networks. Proposals for a new £3 million enhanced urban monitoring programme are currently out to tender. These proposals aim to increase the number of automatic sites measuring nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide from 15 at present to 27 over the next three years. The first phase of the programme will locate new sites in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Newcastle and Birmingham and is expected to be complete early next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the second preparatory committee meeting of the United Nations conference on environment and development.

The second meeting of the preparatory committee for the United Nations conference on environment and development—UNCED—took place in Geneva from 18 March to 5 April 1991. The preparatory committee examined a series of reports on environment and development topics and instructed the conference secretariat to prepare further reports, focusing on potential areas for action by Governments and international organisations, in time for the third meeting of the preparatory committee in Geneva from 12 August to 4 September 1991.The preparatory committee made progress in a number of areas, including agreement on the participation of non-governmental organisations in the preparatory meetings and on the examination of options for a global consensus on forests by the committee at its third meeting. This decision could lead to a statement of guiding principles on the management of the world's forests for endorsement by world leaders at UNCED. Working group III of the preparatory committee was established and began its examination of legal, institutional and related matters. The preparatory committee had an initial discussion of the secretary-general's proposals for a programme of work for the international community in the period following the 1992 United Nations conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance has been made available to non-governmental organisations to participate in the preparatory meetings for the 1992 United Nations conference on environment and development.

My Department is providing financial assistance for the programme of non-governmental preparations for UNCED which is being organised by the International Institute for Environment and Development on behalf of the United Kingdom committee for the United Nations Environment Programme—UNEP-UK. The United Kingdom delegation to the first two meetings of the preparatory committee for UNCED included a non-governmental adviser from UNEP-UK.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has received on the effects of radioactive contamination from Chernobyl upon soil bacteria (a) in the immediate exclusion zone around Chernobyl and (b) elsewhere; and whether his Department has made any scientific study of the effects of radioactive materials on soil bacteria.

A study of the interactions between soil components and radionuclides forms part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food research programme. My Department has not commissioned any research of this nature.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of heather moorland which has been lost in the last 30 years.

My Department's estimate of heather cover in England and Wales indicates that between 1947 and 1980 heather cover decreased by 20 per cent. We shall have information on losses over the past decade when the results of the "Countryside Survey 1990" have been analysed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had on the question of the immediate abolition of the 20 per cent. contribution rule under poll tax; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a number of representations. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 8 May, Official Report, column 706.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to assess the cost of decontaminating land in the United Kingdom.

No. It is not possible to make a realistic estimate of the costs nationwide. However, the Government have introduced legislation—section 143 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990—to require local authorities to set up registers of land that has been subject to contaminative use, and I am pleased to be able to inform the House that a consultation paper with our proposals for registers has just been published. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.When registers are established, we shall know for the first time how much land may be contaminated. Any assessment of the need for decontamination, the methods to be used and their cost would, however, have to be carried out individually for each site as the need arises. The Government are also carrying out research on these issues and we shall publish guidance on them when the results are to hand.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make available resources to enable non-governmental organisations to attend the next meeting of the negotiating forum on a global biodiversity convention planned for 24 June to 3 July in Madrid.

The purpose of the Madrid meeting is for Governments to negotiate a framework convention on the conservation of biological diversity. The Department has made no financial provision to enable non-governmental organisations to attend as observers and no request for resources has been made. The Department has made arrangements for regular consultations on the progress and content of the negotiations with the most qualified individuals and organisations from the non-governmental community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has any proposals to tighten international and national legislation relating to the trade in rhino products.

All five species of rhinoceros are listed on appendix I of the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora—CITES. This means that almost all trade in rhino products is prohibited already under legislation implementing CITES—EC regulation 3626/82 in the European Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to oppose any moves by the South African authorities to transfer their elephant population to appendix II of CITES; and if he will make a statement.

The final decision on the application from South Africa for the downlisting of its elephant population will be a matter for the conference of the parties to CITES. We should need to establish in consultation with our EC partners a common Community position. I can confirm that the United Kingdom would not support any proposals to permit trade to recommence unless we were fully satisfied that the conditions for a resumption of trade, drawn up at the seventh CITES conference, had been met.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of transit-shed operators at Heathrow airport which operate road vehicles which conform with International Air Transport Association regulations regarding the movement of live animals and birds.

The IATA live animals regulations do not cover ground transport. It is the responsibility of the shipper to ensure that live animals are packed in accordance with the regulations, and the responsibility of the carrier to ensure that live animal shipments are properly handled and loaded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on which airlines landed consignments of live birds into the United Kingdom in 1990.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing for Great Grimsby the number of householders qualifying for (i) rate relief, (ii) housing benefit, (iii) the average amount per head in each case and (iv) his forecast under the council tax.

I have been asked to reply.The latest information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what records his Department keeps of (a) the importers and (b) the retailers dealing in exotic animals as domestic pets.

[holding answer 10 May 1991]: My Department maintains a record of all applications to import species controlled under the provisions of the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act 1976 and EC regulation 3626/82, which implements the convention on international trade in endangered species—CITES—in the European Community. We do not, however, maintain a register of retailers as such.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many flying foxes, of what species, have been imported into the United Kingdom in the past five years; and whether he will list the most regular exporting countries.

[holding answer 10 May 1991]: Since 1 January 1986, a total of 160 specimens of the Indian flying fox—Pteropus giganteus—have been imported, from Indonesia. Licences have also been issued for the import of 44 specimens of the Rodriguez flying fox—Pteropus rodricensis—from Mauritius and 20 specimens of the Malayan flying fox—Pteropus vampyrus—from Thailand.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed EC restrictions on direct mailing and his assessment of its effect on hospices with charity status.

Proposed requirements in the draft EC data protection directive for consent by data subjects seem likely seriously to inhibit targeted direct mailing by various organisations, including those with charitable status. The Government are taking up this point in the negotiations in Brussels.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Metropolitan police are taking to improve safety in domestic violence units and in the handling of cases.

I understand from the commissioner that, in the light of the tragic incident which recently occurred in the domestic violence unit at Stoke Newington police station, he has appointed a senior officer to consider the implications for practice within the Metropolitan police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 April, Official Report, column 298, if he will state the reasons why Lewes prison was put on maximum security alert on (a) 22 November 1990 and (b) 2 to 6 December 1990; and what were the results obtained.

On 22 November 1990, a full alert was called at Lewes prison in response to information about a planned mass escape involving a firearm. Nothing was found during searches.Following the discovery of a replica firearm on 2 December, a further full alert was initiated from 2 to 6 December 1990. In the course of extensive searches of all parts of the prison, a number of rounds of blank ammunition were found.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places, not including accommodation temporarily taken out of use for refurbishment, are currently provided in prisons; and what is the total prison population at the latest convenient date.

On 9 May the total certified normal accommodation of prison service establishments was 44,336 places. This figure excluded places taken out of use for major refurbishment, but included places taken temporarily out of use for repairs or minor refurbishment—for example, for the installation of integral sanitation systems. On the same day, the prison population, including prisoners held in police cells, was 45,262.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a direction under section 9 of the Broadcasting Act 1990 to the Independent Television Commission on the advertising of breath-testing devices; and if he will make a statement.

The advertising of breath-testing devices is prohibited under the ITC's code of advertising standards and practice. The ITC has not proposed any change and we have no plans to issue a direction.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his response to the report by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs entitled "Problem Drugs Use: A Review of Training".

The Government welcome this report and are grateful to the advisory council for the time it has devoted to this important subject. I have today written to the chairman, Professor Grahame-Smith, to convey the Government's response to the council's recommendations. A copy of my letter has been placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will encourage the Civil Service college to attract private sector students and strengthen links between Government and industry.

Yes. I have set the college a strategic target to increase the number of private sector students by nearly 300 per cent. between now and 1995.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he is taking to improve and extend the training available to civil servants to enable them to take advantage of the "next steps" initiative.

In line with the principles of "next steps", it is for Departments and agencies, in the light of their business objectives, to ensure that their staff are properly trained and developed for the job. My own Department supports them in this, particularly through the Civil Service college.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he has any plans to encourage contracting out as part of the "next steps" programme; and if he will make a statement.

Agencies are intended to deliver better quality public services within available resources. One important way of doing this, in accordance with Government policy, is by testing wherever possible the costs of having work done by the private sector compared with in-house costs, and selecting the option which gives best value for money. As with the question of privatisation, the scope for contracting out the whole of the activity is addressed before each agency is set up and will be kept under review subsequently.

To ask the Minister for the Arts what proposals he has to safeguard the level and quality of book stocks in libraries in the West Midlands region.

The day-to-day running of public libraries including the provision of book stocks is a matter for local library authorities in the light of local needs and priorities.I investigate any complaints which I receive about the levels of services provided.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many Turner paintings are currently hanging in Government offices.

There are currently four paintings by Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) hanging in Government offices. They are:

• A Quiet Ruin
• Italian Landscape with Tower
• Waves Breaking against the Wind
• Sunset

These four paintings are on temporary loan from the Tate gallery, London, to the Prime Minister's office, 10 Downing street, 1991. The loan was negotiated in 1989.

To ask the Minister for the Arts how many black arts organisations based in London he has visited since his appointment.

I have visited two black arts organisations based in London since my appointment, the Black Theatre Co-operative in March and the Temba theatre company in April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has received a copy of the interim report produced by the university of Warwick on the workloads of secondary school teachers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is grateful to the Assistant Masters and Mistresses Association for sending him a copy of this interim report. He has made it clear that he holds the commitment and professionalism of teachers in high regard and he has already taken steps to minimise the burdens which the implementation of our education reforms has placed upon them. This includes stemming the flow of paperwork to schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in the study of citizenship in schools; and if he will make a statement.

The National Curriculum Council issued advice to schools, "Curriculum Guidance 8: Education for Citizenship", last November. The document offers guidance to schools on planning and implementing a programme of education for citizenship and illustrates how the topic can be integrated with other elements of the curriculum. It is for individual schools, in the light of this guidance, to determine their own approaches to the teaching of citizenship.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the capital allocation for buildings for North Halifax high and Crossley Heath schools, Halifax.

Both these schools will receive grant calculated for capital expenditure by reference to the number of pupils on roll. For 1991–92 the allocation for North Halifax high school is £25,100 and for Crossley Heath school is £25,300. Both schools have also bid for support for specified capital projects. Those bids are being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will indicate the budget which would be available to the governors of Grove Road junior and infants schools, Tring, for the current year on the basis the schools were a joint and grant-maintained school.

Hertfordshire local education authority's financial delegation scheme allocates £212,916 and £161,095 respectively to Grove Road junior and infants schools. Should these schools achieve grant-maintained status they would receive those amounts plus an additional 16 per cent. to help meet costs previously borne by the LEA and a further sum reflecting LEA subsidies for school meals. They would also be eligible for other grants available to grant-maintained schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the figures of public funding for research and development by higher education establishments in the United Kingdom in the years from 1979–80 to 1989–90.

The estimated public funding for scientific research and development in the universities through the University Grants Committee and the Universities Funding Council is as follows:

Financial year	£ million
1979–80	359
1980–81	441
1981–82	484
1982–83	535
1983–84	551
1984–85	564
1985–86	609
1986–87	655
1987–88	695
1988–89	725
1989–90	785

Comparable figures are not available for other higher education institutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he is taking to ensure continuing parity of pay between clinical academic staff and national health service doctors;(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals has available sufficient funds to continue parity of pay between clinical academic staff and national health service doctors.

It is for the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, as the representatives of university employers, to settle the pay levels of clinical and other academic staff within the aggregate resources available. The Government remain committed to the principle that universities will not be given less favourable treatment than the hospital and community health service in any decisions to provide additional funds to meet extra costs arising from the annual recommendations of the Doctors and Dentists Review Body on NHS doctors' pay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers are currently employed at Stratford grant-maintained school; and what is the proportion of teachers to pupils.

These are matters for the governing body of the school. The information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the level of annual maintenance grant for Stratford grant-maintained school for 1991–92; and what will be the cost per pupil at (a) Stratford grant-maintained school, (b) on average for national allocations to grant-maintained schools and (c) on average at non grant-maintained schools.

The level of annual maintenance grant for Stratford grant-maintained school for 1991–92 has not been finalised. The proposed figure, issued to the school and to Newham local education authority for comment, is £1,551,435.The 1991–92 data on average allocations to grant-maintained schools, and collated data on non grant-maintained schools taken from local education authorities' published local management of schools budget statements, are not yet available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of pupils at Stratford grant-maintained school now; and what was the figure before grant-maintained status was achieved.

I understand that as of 10 May 1991 the school had 289 pupils on roll. It achieved grant-maintained status when it was incorporated as grant maintained on 1 April 1991. The last annual pupil number count carried out at the school while it was in local education authority control was for January 1991. The LEA reported that the school at that time had 393 pupils on roll.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and. Science what information he has on the projected roll and spread of A-level courses in the sixth form at Stratford grant-maintained school for the next academic year.

These are matters for the governing body of the school. The information is not held centrally.

'To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the schools which have applied to his Department to transfer to grant-maintained status.

I will list the schools under three categories: (i) those whose applications for GM status we have approved; (ii) those whose applications for GM status we have rejected; (iii) those that have published proposals on which decisions are pending.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on attendance figures at the National Museum of Wales for the last financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on attendance figures at the National Museum of Wales for the last financial year.

A total of 704,035 people visited the National Museum of Wales during the financial year 1990–91 compared with 469,521 during the previous financial year. This represents an increase of almost 50 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has on the level and quality of book stocks in public libraries in Wales.

Both the level and quality of book stocks in public libraries in Wales are matters for local library authorities. Information on the level of book stocks is prepared and published annually by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in its volumes on public library statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has met the chair of the Welsh Arts Council to discuss funding for museums in Wales.

The Welsh Arts Council has no responsibility for museums in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish a programme of evaluation of the numbers of houses in Wales that have drinking water containing lead levels above those permitted by EC standards.

Water companies in Wales are presently carrying out a survey of water supply zones where lead levels exceed, or are at risk of exceeding, the standard of 50 microgrammes per litre set in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989, a standard which is tighter than the EC limit. The survey should be completed by June and the companies will then determine what, if any, remedial measures are required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who is responsible for deciding the criteria and the level of annual funding for the hospital travel cost scheme, following designation of its administration as an agency responsibility.

The hospital travel costs scheme is operated throughout the United Kingdom in accordance with the criteria which were established centrally by all three health departments. Annual funding for its operation in Wales is the responsibility of the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy towards the establishment of NHS trusts in Wales.

The development of a contractual framework for the delivery of quality driven patient care will see NHS trusts increasingly evolving as the natural organisational model for hospitals and other units in Wales. However, it will be important that the initiative for deciding whether to seek self-governing status is determined locally taking account of individual circumstances and commitment. This view has been made clear to district health authority chairmen, senior DHA management and to existing units in Wales.

To ask the Prime Minister whether any civil servants will be involved in carrying out the costing of Labour's programme to which he referred in his answer of 7 May, Official Report, column 624.

Guidance on the involvement of civil servants in costing policies of Opposition parties is set out in the fifth report of the Treasury and Civil Service Committee, Session 1989–90, HC 260.

To ask the Prime Minister whether any Government Minister or official plans to meet General Pinochet on his forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will now set a timetable for the United Kingdom to meet the United Nations aid target of 0·7 per cent. of gross national product.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood) on 30 April at column 163.

To ask the Prime Minister who approved the Government's £10 million contribution to the Red Cross appeal for the Kurds; when such approval was given; from which departmental budget the donation came; what proportion of the Government's donation will be allocated to relieve hardship of Kurds and Shias in Iraq and Iran; and if he will make a statement.

I announced the Government's decision to contribute £10 million to the "Simple Truth" refugee appeal in my reply to the hon. Member for Cynon Valley (Mrs. Clwyd) on 29 April at column 31. This addition to the overseas aid programme will provide relief to all Iraqi refugees, not just Kurds.

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the purpose of the question in the House of Commons pass renewal form which requires applicants to give details concerning their parents.

I will write to the hon. and learned Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional resources will be made available by Her Majesty's Government to the International Atomic Energy Agency in respect of enforcement of United Nations Security Council resolution 687; what resources have been committed by the United Kingdom to the special committee of the United Nations in support of that resolution; and whether Her Majesty's Government have any reliable evidence available as to the whereabouts of militarily usable nuclear material in Iraq.

The method of financing the additional work which the IAEA will undertake as a result of United Nations Security Council resolution 687 has yet to be established by the United Nations secretariat. The United Kingdom has an exemplary record in paying its assessed contributions to the United Nations and the IAEA regular budgets and is ready to pay its appropriate share of the costs of this additional work. Iraq has made two declarations to the IAEA on the location of its nuclear weapons usable material. The declarations are deficient in a number of respects, and do not meet the requirements of UNSCR 687. The location of the material is a matter for verification by the IAEA with the assistance and co-operation of the special commission.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his assessment of the level of human rights violations in Syria; how many political prisoners are currently estimated to be held by the Assad regime; of those, how many are alleged to have been tortured; what is the Government's current policy regarding the sales of arms or high technology to Syria; and if he will make a statement.

We are well aware of the public concern about human rights in Syria and allegations of torture. The resumption of relations enables us to raise these matters with the Syrians. We will play our part in underlining international concern. EC measures continue to apply to the sale of weapons and related items to Syria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, on his recent visit, he raised with the Government of Kuwait the Amnesty International report on the torture of Palestinians; what was the response; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Knapman) on 8 May. The Kuwaiti authorities have made it clear that all residents will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Governments of China, South Korea, Thailand and Taiwan about their continuing to allow the trade in rhino horn.

We fully support efforts to stop the trade in rhino horn. We shall therefore raise this issue when appropriate in our contacts with the authorities in the People's Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand. We have no governmental dealings with the authorities in Taiwan.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables, otherwise identical to table 2.5 of Cm. 1520, showing separately (i) the central Government component of general government expenditure by function, (ii) the local authority component of general government expenditure by function and (iii) the public corporation component of general government expenditure by function.

I am arranging for analyses of the central Government and local authority contributions to the data on general government expenditure by function presented in table 2.5 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—to be placed in the Library of the House. Public corporations' expenditure is not part of general government expenditure although grants, subsidies and net lending from central and local government to public corporations are included. These payments are included in the central Government and local authority analyses I have referred to.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table, otherwise identical to table 2.6 of Cm. 1520, which shows separately the contributions of central Government, local authorities and public corporations.

I am arranging for analyses of the central Government and local authority contributions to the data on general government expenditure by economic category presented in table 2.6 of the "Statistical Supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement"—Cm. 1520—to be placed in the Library of the House. Public corporations' expenditure is not included in general government expenditure although grants, subsidies and net lending from central and local government to public corporations are included. These payments are included in the central Government and local authority analyses I have referred to above.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table covering the period 1963–64 to 1993–94, consistent with table 2.1 of Cm 1520, but expressed to the nearest £ million, showing separately for each of the general Government expenditure columns the respective contributions of (i) central Government, (ii) local authorities and (iii) public corporations.

Data are not readily available in the form requested. I am arranging for tables giving the information requested for the central Government and local authorities components of general government expenditure for the years 1963–64 to 1989–90 consistent with the latest estimates of general government expenditure published in the April 1991 edition of "Financial Statistics" No. 348 to be placed in the Library of the House. Corresponding data for later years are not available.Public corporations' expenditure is not part of general government expenditure although grants, subsidies and net lending from central and local government to public corporations are included. These payments are included in the central Government and local authority analyses I have referred to.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the methods of monitoring of the economy; how he proposes to ensure that such changes will reflect objective and reliable data; and how the retail prices index will reflect what ordinary people are paying for more expensive and less expensive goods and services.

A comprehensive statement on the current state of official economic statistics was submitted by the Central Statistical Office to the Treasury and Civil Service Select Committee on Wednesday 24 October 1990—see HC 671, Session 1989–90.The memorandum gave details of an important package of measures to improve the reliability of economic

data which the Central Statistical Office is now implementing. This package was announced to the House by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 May 1990, at column

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what percentage of freehold properties transferred in (a) 1989 and (b) 1990 were worth (i) under £20,000 and (ii) over £100,000 (1) nationally and (2) by region;(2) if he will publish a table showing for sales by individuals of single dwellings the number and average value of transactions nationally and regionally in 1989 and 1990 by range of consideration as set out in "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990";(3) if he will analyse the property transfers reported to the Inland Revenue in 1988, 1989 and 1990 so as to give for each year

The tables provide the information requested on property transfers. All estimates are derived from a sample of property transactions in England and Wales which are reported to the Inland Revenue and cover all transactions which are classified as residential. The estimates exclude transactions in non-residential properties, but include a number of low-value transactions which cannot be regarded as ordinary house sales at market value: examples are transactions at nominal value to a connected person, disposal of part share of a house as a result of a divorce or separation, transfer of a half share on marriage, purchases of council houses under the right-to-buy scheme, purchases of tenanted property,

Table 2A
Sales of residential1 properties by individuals
Numbers: thousands													Average values: £ thousands
	Range of price (lower limits)
1989	£0		£10,000		£20,000		£30,000		£50,000		£100,000		£250,000		All prices
	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average	Numbers	Average
North	5	3	11	16	18	25	21	39	12	64	1	122	2—	395	67	35
Yorkshire and Humberside	7	3	19	16	36	26	46	39	28	66	5	138	2—	370	142	40
East Midlands	4	3	4	15	14	26	27	40	22	66	3	146	2—	385	75	49
East Anglia	3	3	2	15	2	24	6	41	14	68	3	143	1	370	30	65
South East3	10	3	6	14	6	25	17	42	113	71	39	141	5	377	198	84
Greater London	10	2	3	14	4	24	5	39	72	74	29	138	5	403	127	91
South West	6	2	3	14	4	25	15	43	46	68	14	139	2	373	91	72
West Midlands	7	3	7	15	17	26	36	41	31	68	7	143	1	350	105	51
North West	10	4	26	16	39	26	55	40	36	65	6	138	1	346	173	41
England	61	3	81	15	139	25	229	40	376	70	108	140	14	382	1,008	60
Wales	5	3	5	15	14	26	21	40	12	66	3	135	2—_	363	60	44
England and Wales	65	3	86	15	154	25	250	40	388	69	111	140	15	381	1,069	59
1 Includes freehold and leasehold properties.
2 Less than 500.
3 Excludes London.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on progress of the Treasury working group on possible money laundering through casinos, bullion dealers, bureaux de change and through the legal and accountancy professions.

Priority is currently being given to measures to combat money laundering in the banking, insurance and financial services sectors. However, together with other interested Departments, we are examining the scope for tightening up procedures elsewhere. Consultations are proceeding with the law enforcement agencies on which other activities and professions are the most susceptible to being used for money laundering and we shall then begin discussions with the relevant representative bodies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on section 39 reviews by the Bank of England on money laundering.

All institutions authorised under the Banking Act are expected to be able to demonstrate that they maintain adequate policies, records and systems to counter money laundering. The Bank of England notified these institutions in November 1989 that a review of control systems and accounting records in money laundering-related areas may form part of the report requested under section 39 of the Banking Act and a number of such reviews have been commissioned or have taken place.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the (i) weekly and (ii) annual (a) gross income and (b) taxable income of (1) a single person on half average earnings, (2) a single person on two thirds average earnings, (3) a single person on average earnings, (4) a single person on double average earnings, (5) a couple with the male partner on average earnings and a non-working wife and (6) a couple each earning male and female average earnings respectively in Scotland in 1990–91 and estimates for 1991–92.

Information for 1990–91 is given in the table. Taxpayers are assumed to have no reliefs or allowances, other than the appropriate personal allowances, and no unearned income. Information for 1991–92 is not yet available.