To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the criteria for appointing public inquiry inspectors; and on what basis public inquiry inspectors can be sacked.

Before appointing an inspector to hold a public inquiry, the Department considers what issues the case is likely to raise and then selects an inspector with the appropriate expertise and experience.Salaried inspectors are subject to the same disciplinary code as any other civil servant. Fee paid inspectors are subject to the rules set out in their contracts or terms of engagement. Public inquiries concerned with trunk road orders are conducted by independent individuals, not civil servants, and they are nominated specifically for each inquiry by the Lord Chancellor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing nationally, regionally and for each district, the total number of households, the number drawing household benefit, the number paying a reduced community charge by bands of reduced charge, and the number on national assistance.

Social Security Region	Unemployed (000s)	Pensioners (000s)	Others (000s)	Total (000s)
North-East	257	242	232	731
Midlands	250	258	235	743
London, North	249	251	268	768
London, South	221	228	219	667
Wales and South West	199	215	183	597
North-West	241	224	237	702
Scotland	180	151	176	507
National Total	1,597	1,568	1,550	4,715

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government will be allocating funds over and above those already earmarked for the urban development corporations or promised in grant aid to fund the full cost of completion of projects left unfinished on the termination of the urban development corporations' fixed lifetime.

I expect satisfactory arrangements to be made to deal with projects which are under way when a corporation is wound up. These arrangements will be determined by the circumstances of the particular case.

Information on households at district level is contained in table 39 of the county report to the 1981 census, copies of which are in the Library. Similar analyses from the 1991 census will become available during 1992. Current estimates of the number of households for England and the English regions were given in the reply to the hon. Member's earlier question on 20 May 1991 at columns 327–28.Estimates of the number of households in receipt of housing benefit are:

Estimated number of households claiming housing benefit
Standard region	Thousands
Northern	295·1
Yorkshire and Humberside	381·5
East Anglia	239·9
East Midlands	110·8
Greater London	533·6
South-East (ex· London)	499·3
South-West	252·2
West Midlands	366·3
North-West	508·2
England Total	3,186·9

The information relates to November 1990 and is based on quarterly caseloads. A table containing this information for districts, where available, has been placed in the Library.It is not possible to provide the information requested on the numbers who will be paying a reduced community charge at either regional or district level. For estimates at a national level I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 17 April 1991 to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) at columns

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he gives to local authorities on the definition of intentionally homeless.

Section 71 of the Housing Act 1985 provides for the Secretary of State to issue guidance to local authorities on how to apply the homelessness legislation. Local authorities must have regard to this guidance when dealing with homeless applicants. A revised code of guidance—third edition—is currently in preparation, following extensive consultation, and will be issued shortly. The code contains advice on how local authorities should assess whether an applicant has become homeless intentionally, although this decision will be a matter for the authority's own discretion on the facts of each individual case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider introducing legislation to place a duty on local authorities to provide accommodation for all 16 to 18-year-olds who are homeless.

The Government's 1989 homelessness review concluded that the homelessness legislation provided an adequate safety net to those in greatest need who were homeless through no fault of their own. The homelessness code of guidance contains advice on how local authorities should assess applications from young people who apply as homeless, although this will be a matter for the local authority's discretion on the facts of each individual case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities in England and Wales which provide rented accommodation for single, homeless people.

Local authorities that retain housing for rent provide accommodation for homeless households when the need arises. However the information available to my Department does not separately identify accommodation let to single people.For information about Wales I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he intends to call in the proposals for the erection of a Loran C transmitter near Amble, Northumberland by Trinity House; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend cannot call in a development proposal before a planning application has been submitted. 1 understand that Trinity House is consulting Alnwick district council and other interested parties with a view to exercising permitted development rights under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 to establish a transmitter at Togston to service the proposed north-west European Loran C system. Exercise of these rights is dependent upon the conclusion of an international agreement on the UK joining the system.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his Department's working forecasts for the number of (a) local authority new starts and (b) housing association new starts for each of the next five years.

I refer the hon. Member to the Department's annual report—(Cm 1508)—chapter 7, paragraphs 7.30 to 7.47 in particular.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what representations he has received from the Institute of Horticulture regarding garden festivals; and if he will make a statement;

I have agreed to meet the Institute of Horticulture to discuss the future of garden festivals, following a recent letter from the president arguing that further festivals be staged.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to promote the implementation of policies to ensure that safe and effective arrangements are made for the disposal of industrial waste in the country of origin; what steps he has taken to encourage the adoption of this policy by other countries: and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom has taken a leading part in persuading the international community to accept the principle that industrial and other wastes should be disposed of at environmentally sound facilities in the country of production. The OECD decision-recommendation on the reduction of transfrontier movements of wastes of 31 January 1991 requires member countries to dispose of their wastes in an environmentally satisfactory fashion as far as possible in their own territory. EC directive 91/156 of 18 March 1991 requires member states to dispose of waste to a high level of environmental protection and to establish an adequate network of disposal facilities to enable the Community as a whole to become self-sufficient in waste disposal and member states to move towards that aim individually. The United Kingdom has been advocating the importance of self-sufficiency during the current negotiations on the draft regulation on shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community which would enable member states to ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government intend to introduce legislation to impose the same or similar restrictions on the use of lead shot as imposed on the use of lead weights in angling.

The Government are aware of the potential effects of lead shot on the environment. We have asked the Nature Conservancy Council for England to assess the extent of any danger to wildlife and its habitat, and to monitor the outcome of current research into possible alternatives to lead shot. When we have evaluated all this evidence, we will be able to decide whether voluntary restriction or legislation is more appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the enterprise zone designated areas by standard region in England, giving the date of designation and expiry.

The table supplies this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the percentages of planning decisions made in eight weeks by each of the district councils in Staffordshire and in the Peak District national park in the 12 most recent three-month periods for which figures are available.

The information requested is as follows:

Percentage of planning decisions made within 8 weeks in Staffordshire, by planning authority
Per cent.
	Quarter of decision 1988
Local authority	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Cannock Chase	74	83	82	80
East Staffordshire	87	90	82	74
Lichfield	53	73	66	59
Newcastle Under Lyme	90	91	93	85
South Staffordshire	60	54	48	35
Stafford	81	85	78	39
Staffordshire Moorlands	62	63	55	48
Stoke on Trent	66	73	70	69
Tamworth	81	78	77	69
Peak National Park1	68	55	49	49
1 This includes figures for areas outside Staffordshire.

Percentage of planning decisions made within 8 weeks in Staffordshire, by planning authority
Per cent.
	Quarter of decision 1989
Local authority	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
Cannock Chase	75	80	60	72
East Staffordshire	70	75	68	70
Lichfield	57	63	57	59
Newcastle Under Lyme	90	86	75	83
South Staffordshire	40	41	37	51
Stafford	22	52	71	52

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will ask the Audit Commission to investigate the decision by Cheshire county council to replace existing road signs marking the county boundary;(2) if he will ask the Audit Commission to investigate the decision by Cheshire county council to allocate £60,000 to a public relations campaign to promote its image as the local authority.

No. These are matters for the auditor who must undertake his duties in accordance with the Audit Commission's code of audit practice. The code requires the auditor to satisfy himself that the body whose accounts are being audited has made proper arrangements for securing economy, efficiency and effectiveness in its use of resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the residents of Cheshire about the expenditure by Cheshire county council on public relations campaigns.

We have received no recent representations from residents of Cheshire concerning expenditure by Cheshire county council on public relations campaigns.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will intervene to prevent Cheshire county council from replacing all existing road signs indicating the county boundary in the light of the review of local government structure;(2) if he will meet the chief executive of Cheshire county council to discuss the decision of the county council to replace the existing road signs marking the county boundary.

Local spending decisions are a matter to be determined by Cheshire county council in the light of its knowledge of local circumstances and the relevant powers. Subject to audit, the council will in this, as in all matters, be accountable to Cheshire electors for its decisions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance he has issued to local authorities on public relations campaigns in the run-up to the review of local government structure.

The joint circular of 15 August 1988 from the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office contains the code of recommended practice of local authority publicity to which, by statute, local authorities must have regard.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the organisations that received grants from the Department of the Environment's special grants scheme; and at what level the grants were made for 1989–90 and 1990–91.

In 1989–90 a total of £1·942 million was expended from my Department's special grants programme to support 85 projects in England, which increased in 1990–91 to £2·235 million to 94 projects. I am placing a list of organisations receiving grant for both years in the Library of the House. Separate programmes are administered in Scotland and Wales by the Scottish Office Environment Department and the Welsh Office respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the locations of any high-volume waste incinerators which have received planning permission in the United Kingdom over the last two years; and what conditions were imposed, if any, in each case.

Whether to grant planning permission for a high volume waste incinerator is a function of local planning authorities. We do not collect records of permissions for such developments, or of conditions attached to such permissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list current United Kingdom regulations in force or pending which restrict or control the erection of high-volume waste incinerators in the vicinity of food storage and processing premises.

The erection of a high-volume waste incinerator would require planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Acts. Before they can operate, new incinerators must also be authorised under part I of the Environmental Protection Act either by the local authority or Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution, depending on the volume of the incinerator.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the reasons for the listing of the water tower at Southwold in Suffolk.

The old water tower was listed on 16 May on the basis of clear advice from English Heritage, the Secretary of State's statutory professional advisers, that it is a building of special architectural or historic interest. English Heritage advised that the tower, which was built in 1886, is a very rare example of a wind-powered water tower.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement outlining the procedures that were followed in the listing of the old water tower at Southwold in Suffolk; and if he will give the names of the inspector and of those who were consulted.

This building was drawn to the Department's attention in April and, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, English Heritage's advice was sought on whether it was a building of special architectural or historic interest. No other body was consulted in this particular case. The inspector who assessed the building was an historic buildings inspector from English Heritage, but the final decision was taken by the Secretary of State. It is not our normal practice to consult more widely on proposals for listing, or to give the names of the inspectors who advise the Secretary of State.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the covenants accepted by ID Investment Development AG, and the deed of covenant by Mr. A1 Ghazzi, guaranteeing the company's performance in relation to Heveningham hall.

The broad effect of the covenants which were entered into at the time of the sale has been explained on more than one occasion. I do not think that there is anything in the present situation which would justify breaching normal considerations of confidentiality as to the detailed terms of the conveyance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment further to his answer of 4 June, Official Report, column 163, who is re-examining Dame Sylvia Crowe's scheme and in the light of what specific research.

The re-examination is being carried out by the bodies mentioned in my previous answer in the context of their formulation of a replanting programme; English Heritage is also being consulted. I was referring to general advances in our understanding of historic landscapes over recent years rather than to specific research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what monitoring he has undertaken of (a) 18th century restoration and (b) 20th century restoration of Heveningham hall.

Monitoring of works carried out under listed building consent is in the first instance a matter for the local planning authority. In view of the importance of the building, English Heritage has also kept closely in touch with the progress of the repair and restoration work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to amend part VI of the Local Government and Housing Act to release capital receipts from the sale of council houses to be invested in the provision of new housing.

Local authorities are required to set aside part of their capital receipts that have accrued from the sale of assets to meet outstanding loan debt and other liabilities. The remainder they may spend in new capital investment. The balance between debt redemption and new investment is kept under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to place a duty on local authorities to help provide for another neighbouring local authority with greater housing needs.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of council housing in London is currently not inhabited by council tenants; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 7 May 1991]: From latest available information reported on HIP1 returns it is estimated that 2.9 per cent. of stock owned by London boroughs was vacant at 1 April 1990. A further 0·7 per cent. was recorded as in unlicensed occupation.The Government have taken steps to ensure that local authorities improve the utilisation and management of their stock. There is certainly considerable scope for improvement on the above figures, particularly among inner London boroughs. Revised housing revenue account subsidy arrangements now incorporate financial incentives for authorities to minimise the proportion of voids in their stock. The publication of performance indicators from this year onwards will highlight standards of housing management, including control of stock, and increase accountability to tenants. London boroughs have received additional allocations of £86 million over the past two years to repair empty local authority homes through the homelessness initiative. It is estimated that more than 5,000 will be brought back into use as a result.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what areas of local authority service provision for which he is responsible payments are required to be made to individuals who are not employees (a) in the form of a grant or one-off payment and (b) on receipt of paid invoices.

[holding answer 6 June 1991]: I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the funding sources and amounts already allocated for improvements to Holmewood estate in Bradford.

[holding answer 7 June 1991]: The Department has to date made the following allocations for improvements to the Holmewood estate:

	£
Estate Action Programme	4,958,600
Urban Programme	202,000
City Action Team Special Funding	68,670

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total daily admission cost for an unemployed man, his partner and two children over the age of five years to enter Kew gardens for each year since 1985; what account has been taken of the level of unemployment benefit in setting those charges; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The standard daily admission costs for two adults and two children over five years of age entering Kew gardens for each year since 1985 have been, and are, as follows:

	Admission £
1985	0·50
1986	0·50
1987	1·00
1988	1·00
1989	3·00
January-October 1990	3·00
November-December 1990	8·00
1991	8·00

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he has issued any guidelines during the past 12 months to the mobility allowance units with regard to the length of time for which mobility allowance is awarded; and if he will make a statement.

An award of mobility allowance is made by the independent adjudicating authorities for as long a period as it is considered that the conditions of entitlement will be met. I understand that no guidance on this point, other than that issued in connection with the changes relating to people without legs, has been issued to staff during the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will arrange to provide a simple medical report form for applicants for mobility allowance who are suffering from sickle cell disease in a similar style to form MY38A used for applicants who suffer from haemophilia.

Arrangements to introduce a special medical report form for people with sickle cell disease claiming mobility allowance are already in hand. Benefits Agency staff are liaising with the Birmingham sickle cell and thalassaemia centre about the questions to be included on the form and as soon as the text has been agreed, the form will be printed and brought into use.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the present criteria for deciding whether his Department will collect maintenance payments on behalf of income support claimants; and in what proportion of cases these arrangements currently operate.

The Department will collect maintenance payments on behalf of a claimant to income support if the liable relative does not pay the full maintenance due, pays late or misses a payment. Payments can also be collected by the Department where there are other good grounds for doing so—for instance, if there is a threat of violence from the liable relative.The latest information held is for May 1989

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the latest figures of applications made under the Vaccine Damage Payments Act 1979; and how many cases have been successful or are still under consideration.

Between 1979 and 31 May 1991, 3,447 applications for vaccine damage payments were received. Of these, 848 awards were made, 72 are still under consideration and 44 have been referred at the claimant's request to the independent vaccine damage payments tribunal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the estimated net cost or gain to the Exchequer in the current financial year of the final or incremental 34p by which retirement pension exceeds the single person's income support level inclusive of the £13·75 pensioner premium.

There is no net gain or loss to the Exchequer. A single pensioner on income support, inclusive of the £13·75 pensioner premium, receives £1·40 more than the full basic level retirement pension.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many telephone and fax lines are available at the Belfast office of his Department dealing with benefit claims from applicants in London;(2) what is the average time taken before claimants receive substantive replies to queries from his Department's office in Belfast sent in by

The relocation of benefits work to the social security centre in Belfast is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and copies will be placed in the Library and the Public Information Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the latest position on a European card for pensioners.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Worsley (Mr. Lewis) on 25 March at column 290. I will send him a copy of the letter I wrote to Members of the European Parliament on 28 February.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people registered disabled receive attendance allowance in (a) Scotland, (b) Strathclyde and (c) Renfrew district.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are being taken to harmonise the regulations governing prescribed industrial diseases within the European Community.

The Government are currently considering the European Commission recommendation of 22 May 1990 concerning the adoption of a European schedule of occupational diseases.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what information he has received from his Department's monitoring exercise of claimants who do not qualify for invalid care allowance in specific weeks because their children return home from residential care on alternate weekends; and what action he proposes to take.

In the 12 months to May 1990, out of a total of about 35,800 invalid care allowance decisions, 120 claims were disallowed solely on grounds of the effects of intermittent care. There are no plans to change the present rules.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what total amount of family credit was paid to farmers in England and Wales during the last year for which figures are available.

Separate information about farmers is not available. We estimate that in 1989–90 the total amount of family credit paid to families in England and Wales where the main earner was in "farming, fisheries and related occupations" was around £12 million, out of total expenditure on family credit in Great Britain for that year of £425 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the total number of farmers currently claiming family credit in England and Wales; and what were the equivalent numbers for (a) 1979 and (b) 1984.

Separate information about farmers is not available. As at 31 October 1990, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available, there were 8,980 families in England and Wales receiving family credit where the main earner was in "farming, fisheries and related occupation". Equivalent information is not available for 1984 and 1979, since the occupational classifications used for family income supplement statistics were on a different basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the number of self-employed currently applying for family credit and the total amount paid to the self-employed in family credit during the last year for which figures are available.

As at 31 October 1990, the latest date for which comprehensive information is available, there were 47,860 families receiving family credit where the main earner was self-employed. We estimate that, in 1989–90, the total amount of family credit paid to families where the main earner was self-employed was around £88 million, which was just over 20 per cent. of total expenditure on family credit in that year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total number of families who received family credit payments in each of the last two years.

597,000 awards of family credit were made in 1989–90 and 638,500 in 1990–91. The total of awards made since the start of the scheme in 1988 recently passed the 2 million mark. Awards last for six months, and then a renewal claim has to be made, leading to a further award if appropriate. Therefore, many families will have received more than one award, and information is not available as to the total number of families who have received family credit during a given period.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will estimate the additional costs of providing for all men and women to claim a full state pension at a common retirement age of 60, 62 and 64 years of age, respectively, at the current level of state pension paid in 1991–92;(2) if he will estimate the common retirement age for men and women for state pension purposes which would be cost neutral at 1991–92 levels of pension;(3) if he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's current policy on a common retirement age for state pension purposes; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mrs. Roe) on 20 May 1991 at col 627 and the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Brown) on 27 February 1991 at col 539.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the answer of 3 June, when he expects a decision will be made on the introduction of the limited price indexation under the terms of the Social Security Act 1990.

No date has yet been set.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend social security arrangements to allow for income support to be paid in advance to the individual and to make it easier for social fund loans and grants to be paid in advance to the landlord.

We have no plans to amend the payment of income support in arrears to claimants under pension age. Those over pension age are paid income support in advance. We consider that these arrangements are sensible because they are in line with the way wages and other benefits are paid. Anyone who is unable to manage until their first payday may apply for a crisis loan from the social fund.Loans are available from the social fund to pay for rent in advance. Whether such payments are made direct to the landlord is at the discretion of the local office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to apply the findings on airport security of the sheriff principal in the Lockerbie fatal accident inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

The sheriff principal's report is being studied most carefully by the Department. Only one of the 20 findings referred directly to the Department.The Department has required the industry to apply additional security controls to all unaccompanied bags. It is also discussing with representatives of airlines new procedures to ensure that all bags to be flown are properly authorised.Technology for carrying out reconciliation checks on large volumes of baggage is becoming available and is being introduced by airlines. It is not yet sufficiently widespread or co-ordinated to enable the Department to impose a general requirement for its use by all airlines. We are pursuing this with the industry and international bodies. In practice, at airports in the United Kingdom, British Airways and other major airlines substantially meet the requirements indentified by the sheriff principal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is prepared to authorise the expansion of British Rail's borrowing approvals to commence the immediate electrification of the Midland main line from Bedford to Sheffield; and if he will make a statement.

It is for British Rail to put forward electrification proposals. I have not received from it any proposals in respect of the midland main line. I understand that InterCity's first investment priority is the west coast main line, where the rolling stock and infrastructure is considerably older and the service less reliable than on the midland main line.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the total number of sections of the M25 that are underground in tunnels; what is the distance of the largest single section of the M25 in a tunnel; and if he will make a statement.

There are tunnels on the M25 at Bell Common and Holmesdale, the latter tunnel being the longer at 650 m. The London orbital is completed to the east of London by the A282 Dartford tunnels under the Thames which are some 1,400 m long.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to introduce compulsory insurance against third party liability for general aviation; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend is considering the advice he has received from the former chairman of the Civil Aviation Authority on the question of compulsory insurance for aircraft registered in the United Kingdom. The Civil Aviation Authority advice identified a number of issues which would need to be resolved, including how a compulsory scheme could be enforced and how much it would cost, what the implications for the insurance industry would be, various questions on liability, and whether the scope of a scheme should be such as to insure against liability to passengers in aircraft or only to persons on the ground.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be in a position to answer the letter from the hon. Member for Christchurch regarding his Department's attitude towards the Railway Reopenings (Tribunal) Bill; and if he will publish his reply by means of an answer to this question.

My right hon. and learned Friend has today written to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the total amount spent by the Land Registry in the 1990–91 financial year on management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases; and if he will list each management or computer consultancy contract awarded by the Land Registry in 1990–91, giving in each case the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment.

Management and computer consultancy contracts were awarded by the Land Registry in 1990–91 as follows:

To ask the Attorney-General how many complaints he has received about intimidatory bailiffs' letters; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

I have not received any complaints about intimidatory bailiffs' letters. The Lord Chancellor has received some complaints about private bailiffs employed by local authorities to enforce liability orders for unpaid community charge.The complaints concerned the intimidatory behaviour of some bailiffs and the lack of information about complaints procedures. These complaints were referred to the appropriate local authority.Procedures for the execution of warrants by county court bailiffs are standardised. Any forms or notices which bailiffs need to send are produced centrally and are pre-printed. Care is taken to ensure that the wording of these is clear, precise and not intimidatory.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will ask the Law Commission to look at the consequences of the Court of Appeal decision in the case of Billson v. Residential Appartments Ltd. in relation to claims for relief from forfeiture of leases.

The Law Commission is presently engaged in the preparation of a draft Bill to give effect to the recommendations for landlords' termination orders made in its report of 1985 (Law Com. No. 142 —H.C. 279) on the forfeiture of tenancies. I understand that the difficulties dealt with by the decision to which the hon. Gentleman refers were addressed by the recommendations, which the commission is now putting into draft legislative form.

To ask the Attorney-General how much in costs was ordered to be paid against the Crown Prosecution Service in respect of charges against Reg Brealey and others on a charge of insider dealing; and if he will make a statement.

The order made by His Honour Judge Sanders was that the Crown prosecution service should pay the whole of the defence costs post-committal in the case to which the hon. Member refers; and that, failing agreement between the parties as to the amount of such costs, they should be at liberty to apply to him for a determination. It is too soon to say whether agreement as to the amount of the costs will be possible. Moreover, the Director of Public Prosecutions has made application to the divisional court for judicial review of the order for costs.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average earnings for each year since 1979; and what percentage of that earnings was levied to pay national insurance.

Average weekly earnings are measured in April each year by the Department of Employment's new earnings survey. The figures since 1979 are given in column (a). The figures in column (b) show the percentage of all estimated income from employment and self employment paid in national insurance contributions. They should be regarded as indicating the trend in this percentage rather than as a meaningful measure of its level because the proportion of earned income which employees or self-employed persons may pay in national insurance contributions will vary according to individual circumstances.

Year	(a) £s	(b)percentage1
1979	862	8·7
1980	106·3	8·8
1981	1198	9·3

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of revenue was received from national insurance contributions (a) from employees and (b) employers for each of the years since 1979 at constant prices.

The information in real terms using GDP deflator at market prices, is as follows (£ million in 1985 prices).

Year	National Insurance contributions
	By employees	By employers
1979	11,481	7,580
1980	11,450	7,734
1981	11,045	8,655
1982	10,877	9,892
1983	11,654	11,023
1984	11,912	11,416
1985	12,245	11,683
1986	13,082	11,909
1987	13,678	12,360
1988	14,470	12,932
1989	14,402	11,973

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of days lost due to sickness in the civil service during 1990–91.

Sickness absence information for the civil service is collected on a calendar year basis. The 1990 statistics are not yet available. In 1989 about 4 per cent. of days were lost due to sickness absence in the non-industrial civil service.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met the relevant trade unions to discuss wages and conditions for contract cleaners in the civil service; and if he will make a statement.

Contract cleaners are not civil servants. Their pay and conditions of service are for agreement with their particular employers. However, to ensure compliance with the requirements of Government contracts, contractors must ensure that they maintain the level of service specified in the contracts and other rates of pay and conditions of service sufficient to attract suitable staff to achieve these levels. Departments monitor the performance of contractors throughout the duration of contracts.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for publication, for each Government Department, of the total amount spent in 1990–91 on (a) management and computer consultancy contracts, excluding hardware and software purchases, (b) details of each contract awarded in that year, giving the name of the consultancy firm and the subject of the assignment and (c) the total amount budgeted to spend in 1991–92.

Information on all Departments is not held centrally. For expenditure by Her Majesty's Treasury in the financial year 1990–91, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 4 June at column 142. These figures include the cost of development studies, which in turn include the cost of associated hardware and software; the latter items are not separately identifiable.The Treasury's budgeted consultancy spend for financial year 1991–92 is £3,568,000.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received from European banks on the subject of commercial confidentiality.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many female prisoners were mentally ill during the latest year for which figures are available.

Statistical records available for the six months 1 April 1990 to 30 September 1990 show that over that period 85 female prisoners were diagnosed as being mentally disordered and removed from prison; 43 of these were reported to be mentally ill.On 30 September 1990, the latest date for which figures are available, 23 female prisoners were reported by prison medical officers to be mentally disordered as defined by the Mental Health Act 1983. Of these, 10 were reported to be mentally ill.The Government encourage the diversion of mentally disordered offenders from the prison system whenever custody is not necessary in the public interest.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to make a decision on Michael Thynne's case and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.

When the House considers the House of Lords' amendments to the Criminal Justice Bill, we intend to bring forward proposals for new arrangements for deciding the release of discretionary life sentence prisoners, which will comply with the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Mr. Thynne and others.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent meeting he has had with the British Refugee Council concerning displaced Palestinians, Kurds, Shiite Iraqis, Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos and Yemenis following the Gulf war.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to the envisaged police national network, whether all the major command and control or criminal information systems of each police force are to be linked to the network; whether the network will include the police national computer; whether there are plans for the network to facilitate transfers between police forces and their respective criminal intelligence databases; whether there are plans to utilise more efficiently the name based information from the DVLA in relation to criminal information databases; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 15 May 1991 at column 185.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library the report of the review committee exploring the wider use of police criminal records; and if he will make a statement.

I have arranged for a copy of the report of the efficiency scrutiny of the national collection of criminal records to be placed in the Library shortly. The report is now being considered in accordance with the procedures for efficiency scrutinies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the organisations that have replied to his consultation exercise in relation to the proposal by the European Commission for a data Protection directive.

The following organisations have responded to our consultation exercise:

• The Advertising Association
• American Express
• The Association of British Chambers of Commerce
• Association of British Insurers
• The Association of British Travel Agents
• Association of Chief Police Officers
• The Association for Information Management (ASLIB)
• Association for Payment Clearing Services (APACS)
• Barclays Bank plc
• The Booksellers Association of Great Britain and Ireland
• British Bankers Association
• The British Broadcasting Corporation
• The British Computer Society
• British Dental Association
• The British Direct Marketing AT0
• British List Brokers Association
• British Medical Association
• British Telecom
• CCN Credit Systems
• The Chartered Association of Certified Accountants (ACCA)
• Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals of the Universities of the United Kingdom
• Confederation of British Industry
• Confederation of Information Communication Industries
• Consumer Credit Trade Association
• Consumers Association
• Consumers in the European Community Group (UK)
• Council of Mortgage Lenders
• The Office of Data Protection Registrar
• Direct Mail Services Standards BD0
• European Association of Information Services (EUSIDIC)
• Finance Houses Association
• Independent Television Association (ITV)
• Industry Forum on Data Protection
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants
• The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
• Institute of Credit Management
• The Institute of Information Scientists
• The Institute of Internal Auditors—UK
• Institute of Personal Management
• The International Stock Exchange of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland
• The Law Society
• The Law Society of Northern Ireland
• The Law Society of Scotland
• The Library Association
• Local Government Training Board
• The Mail Order Traders AT0
• The Market Research Society
• National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux
• The National Audit Office
• National Book Committee
• The National Computing Centre Ltd.
• The National Consumer Council
• The National Consumer Credit FT0
• National Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty)
• National Council for Voluntary Organisations
• National Westminster Bank plc
• The Newspaper Society
• Periodical Publishers Association
• The Retail Consortium
• Securities and Investments Board
• Trustee Savings Bank Group plc

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the reasons for the Government's opposition to the European Commission's proposals for a data protection directive in relation to (a) the distinction between personal data held in the public and private sector, (b) the supervision of the personal data held by security services, (c) the seeking of data subject consent and (d) the additional individual rights proposed in the directive; and if he will make a statement.

In large-scale, technically advanced societies both public and private sector organisations need to collect and computerise information about individuals in order effectively to discharge administrative and commercial functions in the public interest. The Government believe that data protection law should recognise this, and guard against damage to individual's interests through misuse of data rather than place unnecessary obstacles in the way of normal use.The Government therefore see no justification for treating either public or private sector use of data as intrinsically less desirable; nor do they believe that a proper balance would be struck between data user and data subject by requiring, for example, automatic notification and consent procedures. More generally, they believe that, under the new approach to harmonisation, single market measures should be confined to minimum essential requirements; they note that the activities of the security services lie outside the treaty of Rome. The Government would be prepared to support data protection harmonisation measures based more closely on the existing Council of Europe convention for the protection of individuals with regard to automatic processing of personal data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are involved in extra costs due to security needed at the homes of members of the royal family.

In England and Wales, there are royal palaces and residences in the Metropolitan police, Thames Valley police, Norfolk constabulary, Gloucestershire constabulary and Northamptonshire police force areas. Details of any operational policing costs are a matter for the chief officers concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces are involved in extra costs due to Prevention of Terrorism Act controls at ports.

Port controls under the Prevention of Terrorism Act may apply to any person who has arrived in, or is seeking to leave, Great Britain or Northern Ireland by ship or aircraft. The level of policing, and its costs, are matters for the chief officer concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the average delay before a witness of a crime views a witness album and its assessed effect on successful recognition.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that those witnesses to a crime who are called to view witness albums usually do so within seven days of the crime being committed. The interval will depend on several factors including the effect of the crime on the witness, the competence of the witness and the progress of the investigation. It is not possible to give a definitive assessment of the effect of any interval on successful recognition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of revenue and capital expenditure for magistrates courts in Knowsley for each court for each of the last five years and as budgeted for the current financial year.

The information available centrally is given in the table. This relates to net expenditure eligible for specific grant by the Knowsley magistrates courts committee as a whole. An approved level of capital spending for 1991–92 has not yet been set.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to reopen the Home Office immigration public information desk at Glasgow airport; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements for the public inquiry office at Glasgow airport are under review. We hope to reach a decision shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what future arrangements are to be made for the accommodation of those young offenders and remand prisoners formerly held at Her Majesty's prison Pucklechurch and now located at Her Majesty's prison Gloucester and Her Majesty's prison Cardiff; and if he will make a statement;(2) what representations he has received about the availability of resources at Her Majesty's prison Gloucester and Her Majesty's prison Cardiff to hold young offenders and remand prisoners.

I am aware that there are a number of difficulties involved in accommodating young offenders from the Avon area in Gloucester and Cardiff prisons. These are being addressed in consultation with the area manager concerned and taking into account the current review of the whole prison estate. The future of Pucklechurch is part of that review and we hope to announce the results shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what help has been requested of the United Kingdom Government by the Isle of Man legislature or judiciary within the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

[pursuant to his reply, 18 March 1991, c. 30]: The Isle of Man legislature or judiciary do not customarily request help from the United Kingdom Government. The Government do, however, regularly receive, and respond to, a wide range of requests from the Isle of Man Government for information, advice and services, in some instances under reciprocal arrangements between the United Kingdom and the island, including in relation to the formulation, scrutiny and operation of provisions of Isle of Man legislation and in relation to the island's system of civil and criminal justice. A central, chronological record of the number and exact nature of such requests is not kept.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) how many complaints were received by or concerning the electricity share information office in relation to the privatisation of the electricity supply industry in England and Wales;(2) what is the total number of complaints received on share allocations in the privatisation of

The records kept by the electricity share information office—SIO—were designed to enable telephoned or written inquiries of all types to be dealt with readily, rather than to enable one type subsequently to be distinguished from another on a statistical basis. It would entail disproportionate expense to conduct a precise analysis now. However, my Department estimates that the written complaints received following the share allocations were equivalent to about one in 5,000 of the number of applications received in both offers. Only a small percentage of these made any complaint about the SIO itself.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what was the total cost of operating the electricity share information office for the purpose of privatising (a) the distribution companies and (b) the generating companies of England and Wales;(2) what was the total estimated cost of the electricity share information service in each of the past two financial years; and in what way its staff contracts will expire or be terminated.

The cost to Government of setting up and operating the electricity share information office in respect of the privatisation of the electricity industry in England and Wales was zero in 1989–90 and 12·8 million in 1990–91. It is not meaningful to apportion this between the offers for sale of the regional electricity companies and the generating companies since the principal facilities, including the initial register, were used for both flotations.My Department contracted the project management of the office to Kleinwort Benson Limited, which was responsible for its day-to-day staffing and operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects to receive the next report from Touche Ross on the detection of multiple share application fraud in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

My officials are in regular contact with Touche Ross on the subject of multiple applications and fraud. I expect to receive a report from Touche Ross covering both electricity sales in England and Wales towards the end of this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what representations he has had from stockbrokers employed on the privatisation of the electricity supply industry concerning delayed payment of fees or commissions

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on 6 June. Since that reply four more stock brokers have made inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what discussions he has had with the chairman of the 12 regional electricity companies and the two fossil-fuelled generating companies of England and Wales concerning the completion of payments of fees and commissions to stockbroking firms employed in the privatisation of the electricity supply industry.

The companies have no locus in either the fees payable to the Government's stockbrokers or the commissions payable to stockbroking firms in respect of selling commissions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he has given to the need for fast reactors as an integral part of reprocessing plutonium in obsolete nuclear weapons.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what consideration he is giving to European co-operation in fast reactors in relation to design after the middle of 1993.

The Government will keep its position on the European fast reactor collaboration under review in the light of future developments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place his Department's proposals for decommissioning civil nuclear power stations in the Library.

The Department of Energy has no proposals for decommissioning civil nuclear power stations. Decommissioning is a matter for nuclear power station operators to consider within the guidelines on safety and environmental protection set by the Health and Safety Executive's nuclear installations inspectorate and Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will set out in convenient form the information he has on load factors of nuclear power stations in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) the USA, (c) France, (d) Germany, (e) Japan and (f) Brazil.

The information requested is set out in the table. The data are taken from the April 1991 edition of the Journal Nuclear Engineering International.

Country	1990 average load factor	Lifetime load factor to end 1990
United Kingdom	51·8	49·2
United States of America	64·6	59·4
France	62·9	62·3