To ask the Attorney-General what is the number of cases for investigation that have been referred to the Serious Fraud Office by company auditors since its establishment.

None.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Lord Chancellor intends to publish his regulations under sections 54 and 55 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990.

My noble and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor is today issuing a consultation document setting out draft regulations for probate complaints schemes under sections 54 and 55 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990. Under the provisions of that Act, membership of such a scheme will be compulsory for financial institutions and other persons wishing to provide probate services to the public. The draft regulations require all probate practitioners to belong to an ombudsman scheme with powers to award compensation. Copies of the consultation document and draft regulations will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses, are available in the Vote Office, and have been sent to representatives of the financial institutions, the legal profession and others who have an interest in the content of the regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Yugoslav Government concerning the need to prevent risk of ecological catastrophe or human suffering arising from the threatened attack by terrorists on the nuclear power plant at Krsko near Zagreb; and if he will make a statement.

Countries that operate civil nuclear power programmes are responsible for ensuring the safety of plants. The restoration of peace in Slovenia and Croatia would be the best guarantee of the safety of the nuclear power plant at Krsko. The plan agreed between the European Community troika and Yugoslav representatives at Brioni on 8 July offers a basis upon which negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the Yugoslav crisis can restart.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on behalf of the Baltic states regarding requests by the Soviet Government for economic aid; and if he will make a statement.

We have received representations from members of the public and Baltic emigré associations about economic assistance to the Soviet Union. In our approach to assistance for Soviet economic reform we will be sensitive to wider political developments, including the Soviet authorities' approach to the Baltic republics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 2 July, Official Report, columns 124–25, what analysis has been completed at Porton Down in relation to Iraq's chemical and biological weapons.

A vapour sample from the United Nations special commission's first chemical weapons inspection at the Muthanna establishment in Iraq from 9 to 14 June 1991 was analysed for the Commission by the Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment at Porton Down. While details of the results are confidential to the special commission, they are consistent with the press statement made by the United Nations on 24 June 1991 that nerve agents of the types GB and GF were present at Muthanna.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the European Community has signed any other co-operation agreements similar to that signed with Morocco on 27 April 1976.

The European Community signed similar co-operation agreements with Algeria in 1976, Tunisia in 1977, Egypt in 1976, Israel in 1976, Lebanon in 1977, Syria in 1977, Jordan in 1977 and Yugoslavia in 1980.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement outlining recent progress achieved with other Governments in the direction of arms control.

We are committed to verifiable arms control agreements which enhance our security. We participate actively in the follow-on negotiations to the conventional forces in Europe treaty of November 1990 and in negotiations on further confidence and security-building measures. We also participate in negotiations for a global ban on chemical weapons. We are promoting my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's proposal for a United Nations register of arms transfers and consulting other major arms suppliers, in particular the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, on how best to strengthen controls on all forms of arms proliferation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next plans to discuss arms control with the United Nations and his EC counterparts.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no immediate plans to discuss arms control with the United Nations. Some of this Department's senior officials recently met other members of the permanent five at the United Nations Security Council in Paris on 8 and 9 July to review issues related to conventional arms transfers and to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This group will next meet in London in September. It is possible that my right hon. Friend will discuss arms control issues with his European Community counterparts during the next Foreign Affairs Council on 29 July.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further plans he has to introduce new international controls on arms sales.

We are actively participating in efforts to introduce greater responsibility to the international transfer of conventional arms. The five leading arms exporters met in Paris on 8 and 9 July and agreed to work together to develop guidelines for restraint in arms transfer, and to set up a mechanism for continual consultation and exchange of information on these issues. This work will be taken forward at further meetings in London in the autumn.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in securing agreement for an international register of arms sales.

Our initiative for a UN register has received wide support. President Bush, President Mitterrand and Prime Minister Kaifu have endorsed the idea, and the European Council on 28 and 29 June decided that the Twelve should put forward a joint resolution to the next UN General Assembly proposing a register. At their meeting in Paris on 8 and 9 July the five permanent members of the Security Council also expressed their support for further work to this end. We are pleased that the recent report of the UN expert study group on transparency has recommended the prompt establishment of a register.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to minimise road works and the limitation on road lanes on the M4 for the remainder of the holiday period and particularly at weekends.

Two contracts are in progress on the M4. No additional schemes are to be carried out until September. Present restrictions required for these schemes will continue, but are unlikely to cause unnecessary delay to the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his reply of 8 July, Official Report, column 265, if he will state the year in which it is expected that the work in building the A5 across Ynys Mon will commence.

The 1991 supplement to "Roads in Wales: Progress and Plans for the 1990s" shows the A5 improvements as planned to start after April 1994. It is not possible to give a firmer indication of timing at this stage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of all infant and junior schools in each local education authority which have integrated units for children with special needs, together with their funding requirements under local management of schools; and whether each integrated unit receives all of the funding allocated to it under the local management of schools formula.

Information on infants and junior schools with integrated units for children with special needs is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to give local education authorities the statutory duty to provide places for pupils with special needs up to the age of 18 years at least.

At present local education authorities are required to secure the provision of suitable full-time education for pupils up to the age of 18, including those with special educational needs. For 16 to 18-year-olds, the Government intend that this duty will transfer to further education funding councils for England and Wales in a new independent further education sector. Our plans are set out in the White Paper "Education and Training for the 21st Century", Cm 1536.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many pupils with special needs were in schools and colleges, by year group, from five to 18 years in each of the last five years.

Information in respect of pupils with statements of special educational needs in schools is given in the table. Data on special needs by year group are not available. Local education authorities are not required to maintain statements for young people in colleges of furrther education.

Number of pupils in schools1
	Number
1986–87	9,916
1987–88	11,549
1988–89	11,340
1989–90	10,965
1990–91	12,647
1 At January of each year. Includes pupils receiving education within and outside their own local education authority in primary, Secondary, special and independent schools and special units.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a list of all secondary schools in each local education authority which have integrated units or other provision for children with special needs, together with their funding requirements under local mangement of schools; and whether each integrated unit, or other provision, receives all of the funding allocated to it under the local management of schools formula.

Details on the secondary schools with LEA designated special classes and their respective LMS budgets are given in the table. Information on schools with integrated units for children with special needs is not held centrally. Formula funding under LMS is based on two key principles—that the resources available should be allocated to schools on a clear and objective basis related to their relative need to spend, and that schools' budgets should depend mainly on the numbers and ages of their pupils. Whether or not factors for integrated units or other provision are included in the formulae is for LEAs to decide. LEAs retain their responsibilities in respect of children with statements of special educational need.

School Name	Local Management of Schools Budget(1) £
Clwyd
Rhyl High School	1,881,310
Denbigh High School	1,478,990
The Groves High School	1,447,240
Dyfed
Fishguard County Secondary School	1,315,469
Ysgol Y Preseli	1,164,472
Pembroke Comprehensive School	2,227,550
Cardigan County Secondary School	1,183,228
Penglais Comprehensive School	1,652,523
Ysgol Gyfun Maes Yr Yrfa	1,026,535
Gwendraeth Valley Comprehensive School	1,079,200
Gwent
St. Julians Comprehensive School	1,986,631
Hartridge Comprehensive School	1,614,260
Newbridge Comprehensive School	1,183,073
Pontllanfraith Comprehensive School	1,336,205
Llantarnam Comprehensive School	1,706,110
Glanyrafon Junior Comprehensive School	669,801
Cwmcarn Comprehensive School	730,367
Chepstow Comprehensive School	1,677,119
Caldicot Comprehensive School	2,194,349
Abersychan Comprehensive School	1,374,224
Abertillery Comprehensive School	1,447,560
Gwynedd
Ysgol John Bright	1,763,941
Ysgol Dyffryn Conwy	1,493,505
Ysgol Friars	1,703,648
Mid Glamorgan
Afon Taf High School	2,118,000
Cyfarthfa High School	1,850,000
Vaynor and Penderyn Comprehensive School	695,000
Bryn Celynnog Comprehensive School	2,476,000
Hawthorn Comprehensive School	1,744,000
Ysgol Gyfun Rhydfelen	1,744,000
Blaengwawr Comprehensive School	1,233,000
Tonyrefail Comprehensive School	2,010,000
Cynffig Comprehensive School	1,724,000
St. Cenydd Comprehensive School	1,622,000
St. Ilan Comprehensive School	1,599,000
Bryntirion Comprehensive School	1,670,000
Ynysawdre Comprehensive School	1,910,000
Pencoed Comprehensive School	2,078,000
Lewis Girls Comprehensive School	1,686,000
Brynteg Comprehensive School	2,698,000
Ferndale Comprehensive School	1,866,000
Tonypandy Comprehensive School	1,989,000
Bedwellty Comprehensive School	1,101,000

School Name	Local Management of Schools Budget (1) £
Archbishop McGrath School	830,000
Powys
Caereinion High School	882,275
Llanidloes High School	838,497
Newtown High School	1,817,623
Welshpool High School	1,293,060
South Glamorgan
Rumney High School	1,787,357
Willows High School	1,176,007
Fitzalan High School	2,182,776
Llanedeyrn High School	1,579,164
Cantonian High School	1,687,323
Llanrumney High School	1,565,969
Llanilltud Fawr Comprehensive School	1,684,498
Barry Boys Comprehensive School	2,421,338
Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School	2,390,428
St. Cyres Comprehensive School	2,308,914
St. Illtyds High School	1,247,509
Mary Immaculate High School	1,141,442
West Glamorgan
Olchfa Comprehensive School	2,862,000
Sandfields Comprehensive School	1,488,000
Gowerton Comprehensive School	1,960,000
Cwmtawe Comprehensive School	2,107,000
Cwrt Sart Comprehensive School	1,243,000
1 These details have been taken from LEAs' section 42 financial statements for 1991–92.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many applications were made for grants under the education support and training programme 1992–93; and how many were successful;(2) if he will publish his programme of grants awarded under the education support and training programme 1992–93 and the conditions under which grants were awarded in each section.

We will be publishing details of the 1992–93 GEST programme for Wales this month. Local education authorities will have until October to submit bids for grant support. Information on how many applications were successful and the grants awarded will not be available until we have had an opportunity to consider these bids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 1 July, Official Report, column 33, if he will place in the Library copies of the representations he has received on the standard assessment tasks completed by children aged six-and-a-half to seven years this year.

The representations received about the implementation of the assessment arrangement for the first statutory SATs undertaken this year were unsolicited and as such cannot be made public without consent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the abattoirs in Wales which slaughter fewer than 12 livestock units or cattle each week.

It would not be appropriate to list the information requested, in view of its commercial sensitivity. However, information on throughput derived from annual advisory visits by state veterinary staff to local authority licensed abattoirs is recorded in size bands. The 1990 figures for Wales are as follows:

Livestock units	Abattoirs
0–5	10
6–10	3
11–15	4

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether residents of private nursing homes whose only income is from income support are eligible for additional benefits to cover the costs of support services including physiotherapy and chiropody where such services are not wholly provided by the health authority.

Prep	P1	P2	P3	P4	P5	P6	P7
BELB n/a	1·20	1·0	1·0	1·10	1·0	1·00	1·10
NEELB 0·5 of P1–P7 values	1·23	1·09	1·0	1·09	1·0	1·09	1·09
SEELB 0·45	1·20	1·20	1·1	1·20	1·1	1·20	1·20
SELB 0·47	1·10	1·00	1·0	1·10	1·0	1·00	1·10
WELB 0·5	1·00	1·00	1·0	1·00	1·0	1·00	1·00

The cash value of each age-weighted pupil unit reflects the different approaches in each board area and are not, therefore, directly comparable. The figures are:

	AWPU £
BELB	813·79
NEELB	788·75
SEELB	730·92
SELB	852·35
WELB	812·25

Prior to local mangement of schools—LMS—the Department paid 50 per cent. of approved teachers' costs

	Mr. Brooke	Lord Belstead	Dr. Mawhinney	Mr. Needham	Mr. Hanley	Total
January	5	10	8	10	12	45
February	13	7	8	8	11	47
March	9	12	9	5	8	43
April	6	10	12	9	13	50
May	10	7	17	12	13	59
June	10	12	14	9	10	55
Total	53	58	68	53	67	299

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details for each of the last five years of all booklets, pamphlets, promotional literature, annual reports, statements of accounts, and other printed matter required by statute to be made publicly available by all (i) Government Departments, (ii) statutory bodies, (iii) other public agencies or authorities; the total cost in each case; and whether printing was carried out in Northern Ireland.

The information is not held centrally and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

I have been asked to reply.No additional benefits are available to cover these services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish details of the cash value and age-weighted pupil units allocated by each education and library board in Northern Ireland under the scheme for local management of schools to (a) preparatory school pupils and (b) primary school pupils; how much the difference is between the weighting for pupils attending preparatory and primary schools; and what is the reason for the difference.

Primary pupil age-weightings depend on the class being attended. The range of age-weightings in each education and library board is as follows:with all remaining costs being met by fees payable by parents. The reduced weighting under the LMS arrangements continue to reflect the ongoing contribution from fees.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many nights in each of the months of January, February, March, April, May, June 1991 each of the Ministers at the Northern Ireland Office remained overnight in Northern Ireland.

The information is

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will list the commencement dates and duration of each publicity campaign given in his answer of 3 July, Official Report, column 145;(2) if he will list the advertising, promotional or public relations companies employed by, or on behalf of, his Department who are involved in the campaigns given in his answer of 3 July,

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The information is:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by his Department since his answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 280.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The surveys since the answer on 20 December are:

• Entrance to Youth Training Programme
• Training and Employment Agency: Attitude and Awareness Survey
• Northern Ireland Museums Advisory Committee's Survey of Public Attitudes and Views of Museums in Northern Ireland
• Job Staff Satisfaction in DHSS
• Northern Ireland Continuous Household Survey
• Vehicle Testing Customer Survey 1991
• Customer Attitude 1991

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) on the latest year's figures available for England and Wales, what were the mean, median, longest and shortest lengths of time between the closing of a public inquiry and the subsequent announcement of his decision;(2) on the latest year's figures available for England and Wales, what were the mean, median, longest and shortest lengths of time from notification of a public inquiry to the announcement of the decision, following a call-in under section 77 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, previously section 35 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, or as the result of an appeal against a planning authority's decision, or for any other reason.

The information is not available in the form requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The table sets out available information on the median periods between the opening of inquiries and the issue of decisions in respect of planning appeals made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and listed building consent appeals made under section 20 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

England 1990–91	Section 20 appeals (weeks)	Section 78 appeals (weeks)
Inspector inquiries	7	7
Secretary of State inquiries	24	28

Comparable information for advertisement and enforcement appeals, and for Wales, is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many staff were in the Crown Suppliers furnishing business on 15 August 1990.

There were 493 industrial and non-industrial staff in post in TCS Contract Furnishing on 15 August 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers staff who transferred into Property Services Agency building management have now left the civil service on principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severance terms.

Seventy-six of the Crown Suppliers staff who transferred to building management have left the civil service on early retirement or severance terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what auditing arrangements apply to the preparation of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing for privatisation and eventual closure.

The accounts of the Crown Suppliers, and costs in respect of any residual activities, are subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General. An internal audit presence remained throughout the closure process.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers furnishing staff left the civil service under the principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severence scheme terms in the first seven months of 1990 prior to the closure announcement.

From 1 January to 14 August 1990, 85 Crown Suppliers furnishing staff left on early retirement and severence terms.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the projected cost excluding index-linking of annual compensation payments to design and furnishing staff until their retirement age.

A total of £7,916,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the purchase value of all stocks of furniture and equipment held by Crown Suppliers furnishing business on 15 August 1990.

A total of £7,873,000, excluding VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many Crown Suppliers staff have left the civil service on principal civil service pension scheme early retirement and severence terms from 15 August 1990 to date.

From 15 August 1990 to date the following industrial and non-industrial staff have the Crown Suppliers on early retirement and early severence terms:

	Number
TCS Contract Furnishing	256
The Buying Agency	15
TCS Transport Services	69
	340

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of annual compensation payments made under the early retirement rules of the principal civil service pension scheme to design and furnishing staff, Crown Suppliers staff generally, and Crown Suppliers furnishing staff separately, since 1 January.

The information is as follows:

	£
Design and Furnishing Staff	471,000
Crown Suppliers Staff generally	4,000
Crown Suppliers Furnishing Staff	42,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many design and furnishing, professional and technical officers transferred out of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing into Property Services Agency Building Management on 1 January 1989.

A total of 108 design and furnishing, professional and technical officers were transferred to PSA Building Management on 1 January 1989.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what the cost has been so far, excluding early retirement and severance payments, of closing down the Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing business.

The cost to the end of June 1991 was £10,400,000.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what money was realised from the sale of Crown Suppliers Contract Furnishing stocks of furnituree and equipment disposed of after the closure announcement.

A total of £6,460,000, excluding VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many design and furnishing staff are left in Property Services Agency Building Management; and what plans there are for compulsory redundancies.

Thirteen design and furnishing staff are left in PDS Building Management; four of these may have to be considered for compulsory redundancy.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he has taken to ensure that arrangements and contracts between Government Departments and the Property Services Agency comply with the European supplies directive.

While the PSA is part of the Government, the arrangements that it has with other Departments do not fall within the terms of the directive. The parts of the PSA that are proposed for privatisation are not suppliers of goods on any major scale. However, all PSA divisions have been reminded of the EC/GATT rules relating to public procurement.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will discuss with the chairman of the National Federation of Housing Associations a new format for the presentation of housing association annual accounts, with a view to making them more easily understood.

The Housing Corporation is reviewing the prescribed format for housing association accounts in consultation with the National Federation of Housing Associations. In considering what proposals for revision to put to my right hon. Friend, it will certainly have in mind the need to ensure that the accounts are clear and readily understood.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which district offices of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution have closed in the last year, or are scheduled to close in the future.

The former district offices in Bristol and Leeds closed in 1990–91 when new regional headquarters offices were opened in those centres. The former district offices in Luton will close shortly following the opening of the new eastern regional headquarters at Bedford. The position on other offices is being reviewed in the light of the Government's proposal to create an environment agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the forecast expenditure for 1991–92 by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on (a) staff dealing with authorisations and (b) staff undertaking inspection work.

The forecast Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution staff—salary related—costs for 1991–92 for dealing with authorisations and registrations, and for carrying out inspection work, are as follows:

	£
Authorisation	2,150,000
Inspection	3,275,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the forecast expenditure for 1991–92 by Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution on research work; and what proportion of this will be (a) undertaken by outside contractors and (b) devoted to radioactive substances work.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution plans to spend about £8 million on research work in 1991–92. All research is undertaken by outside contractors and about 80 per cent. of the total relates to radioactive waste.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to "Black Country Bright Future" to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I understand that, under procedures agreed by the Services Committee, arrangements have been made with the authorities of the House for the exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 28 October to 1 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to announce successful bids under the city challenge programme; and if he will make a statement.

We intend to announce the successful authorities by the end of July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many permanent traveller sites or pitches are provided currently by each local authority in west Yorkshire; what was the figure for the comparable period last year; how many additional pitches or sites are expected to become available during the coming year; and if he will make a statement.

The number of permanent traveller pitches provided by each local authority in west Yorkshire at this time last year, the current provision and the likely provision by next year are as follows:

	Number of pitches
Authority and site	Last year	This year	Next year
Bradford
Mary Street	24	24	28
Esholt Lane	16	16	19
Calderdale	Nil	Nil	Nil
Kirklees	Nil	Nil	Nil
Leeds
Cottingley Springs A	20	20	20
Cottingley Springs B	Nil	36	36
Wakefield
Heath Common	52	52	38

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many permanent traveller sites are currently available in Bradford; how many pitches are available; when improvement work to sites is expected to be completed; what is the total cost of improvement work to date; what is the total estimated cost of improvement work; how much of this improvement work is paid for by grant from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently two permanent local authority gypsy sites in Bradford, one at Mary street and the other at Esholt lane.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans are currently being made by his Department to deal with the growth in demand for public and private sector housing which will arise when the establishment of the armed forces is reduced and service men and women cease to be entitled to Ministry of Defence housing.

My Department is in touch with the Ministry of Defence about the likely effects of "Options for Change". The final form that the changes will take has still to be decided, but I know my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence will be taking into account the housing implications.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what weight he intends to give to the Boundary Commission's interim report "The Future of Humberside" in the full national local government review;(2) what account he is taking of the proportion of the public response to the Boundary Commission's interim report "The Future of Humberside" which favours retaining the present county of Humberside.

Due consideration will be given by my right hon. Friend to all the views expressed in the course of the review of Humberside.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the figures for empty properties by tenure for each London borough annually since 1979.

[pursuant to the reply, 9 July 1991, c. 312–20]: Local authorities report the number of their own dwellings which were empty at 1 April, and estimates of empty dwellings owned by other public sector bodies, housing associations and the private sector, in their annual housing investment programme returns (HIP 1). The available figures for London boroughs appear in the "HIP1 All Items Print" for each year since 1979, at the column references given in the table.

"HIPI All Items Print"—column references
Year	Local authority	Housing association	Other public sector*	Private sector
1979	B41	B42+B43**	B44	B45
1980	A81	A82 + A83**	A84	A85
1981 to 1984	A71	A72	A73	A74
1985 to 1989	A81	A82	A83	A84
1990	A71	A72	A73	A74

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many discretionary grants were awarded to private sector owners and tenants in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 to date;(2) how many mandatory grants were awarded to private owners and tenants in the years 1989, 1990 and 1991 to date.

Grants paid to private owners and tenants under the Housing Act 1985: England
(numbers of dwellings)
Year	Mandatory	Discretionary	All grants
1988–89	20,823	81,624	102,447
1989–90	17,729	82,750	100,479
1990–911	n.a.	n.a.	70,475

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the work of the Rural Development Commission since its inception.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The work of the Rural Development Commission is described in its annual reports which are in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he expects to receive the inspectors' reports on the east London river crossing and the London City airport before 31 August.

Both reports have now been delivered.

[holding answer 12 July 1991]: For the period up to June 1990 grants to private owners and tenants were made under the Housing Act 1985, although payments for grants approved are still continuing. The available information distinguishing mandatory and discretionary grants relates to payments for financial years up to 1989–90 appears in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what assessment his Department has made of the dangers present to individuals and the environment by the Tenex Elbow shock absorber; and what safety tests have been carried out on the absorber;(2) whether his Department will take steps to ban the sale of the Tenex Elbow shock absorber until he is satisfied that no danger exists for the public or the environment either whilst it is in use or when it has been disposed of.

The Tenex Elbow shock absorber has been examined by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist.It contains 30 grammes of mercury, a substance which is a well known environmental hazard and may pose a threat to the environment when discarded. I am therefore considering whether their supply should be prohibited. I have asked officials to contact the suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for breaches of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 have taken place in the past five years; and how many have been successful.

The information requested is given in the table. Data for 1990 are not yet available.

Defendants proceeded against and found guilty of offences under the Obscene Publications Act 19591
England and Wales
Year	Total proceeded against	Total found guilty
1985	275	226
1986	129	126
1987	121	93
1988	158	130
1989	125	96
1 Obscene Publications Act 1959, section 2 as amended by the Obscene Publications Act 1964, section 1.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter dated 5 November 1990 from the hon. Member for Woolwich about the case of Mr. Kanagerotnom Jeyabolasingam of 15 Goldfinch road, SE28, reference No. J/134460.

I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to provide a substantive reply to the letter of 25 June 1990 from the hon. Member for Woolwich about the case of Mr. Abdulahi Osman Jama, reference TN2/1581/12236/89, which was acknowledged by his Department on 31 July 1990.

A reply was sent to the hon. Member today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much will be the extra expenditure on the United Kingdom immigrant advisory service, following his statement on political asylum on 2 July.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Edinburgh Central (Mr. Darling) on 9 July at columns 324–25.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of parcels addressed to prisoners held in high security prisons are opened and searched by prison staff before delivery.

The current instruction to governors at all establishments on the handling of inmates' correspondence requires all incoming parcels to be opened by a member of staff in the presence of the inmate and examined for illicit enclosures.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British nationals have absconded from home leave in each of the last five years and have not been recaptured.

Since details of the nationality of prisoners who fail to return from home leave are not routinely collected, the information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any plans to transfer the holding of remand prisoners from police cells to military camps.

Remand prisoners have to be held in secure accommodation near the courts which have remanded them so that they may be escorted to and from the court for remand hearings. Military accommodation is not generally suitable for this role, although it has been used to hold sentenced prisoners in times of severe overcrowding. The present position is that industrial action has prevented the prison service from using existing prison places in order to avoid using police cells. But prison service management continues to work to gain access to accommodation and to use the prison estate flexibly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss with the chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers the policy of chief constables in relation to the pursuit of suspects driving away vehicles; whether any limits are imposed on the freedom of police officers to enter into pursuit and on the maximum speed of police vehicles while engaged in pursuit duties; and if he will make a statement.

The pursuit of suspects driving away vehicles is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. The Association of Chief Police Officers, in a recent review of police driver training, has produced a recommended code of practice on pursuit management and driving.All the emergency services, including the police, are exempt from the speed limits if observing them would hinder the purpose for which the vehicle was being used.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what studies the ministerial group on women's issues has made into issues affecting older women.

Most of the issues discussed by the ministerial group on women's issues affect women of all ages. Topics in which the interests of older women have been more specifically addressed have included a review of the needs of carers and training opportunities for women returners.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are currently detained at the Harmondsworth detention centre in London; why these people are detained; what was the (a) minimum, (b) average and (c) maximum period of detention, to date, during 1991; what the comparable figures are for the same period in 1990; and if he will make a statement.

At 10 July 1991, a total of 94 people were detained at the Harmondsworth detention centre. Of these, 66 were detained pending further examination of their applications for leave to enter the United Kingdom. Of the others, 13 have been refused leave to enter, seven have been served with notices that they are illegal entrants and eight are the subject of deportation action. These 28 people are detained while representations are considered, appeal rights exercised, or arrangements for removal from the United Kingdom made.Consideration is given in all case to whether release on temporary admission is possible; but the particular circumstances of each case makes this inappropriate.Records of those detained at Harmondsworth over the course of a year are not held centrally and it would be possible to provide all the information requested only at disproportionate cost. However, the minimum period of detention in 1991 to date has been less than 24 hours. The minimum period of detention in 1990 was also less than 24 hours.Other available information is as follows.The average period of detention of those held at Harmondsworth on 10 July 1991 was 24.6 days. This compares with an average of 10 days for those held on 10 July 1990.The maximum period spent by anyone in Harmondsworth in 1990–91 was 406 days—between 13 January 1990 and 22 February 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many days in the past month persons detained at the Harmondsworth detention centre in London have refused food; how many detainees are currently refusing food; what reasons have been given by detainees for refusing food; how frequently detainees refusing food are medically examined; and if he will make a statement.

As at 11 July, no detainee at the Harmondsworth detention centre was refusing to take meals. In the period 12 June to 10 July 1991, detainees declined meals on a total of seven days, the details being shown in the table.

Dale	Number of persons	Reason
26 June	2	Not hungry
30 June	1	Protest
2 July	2	Not hungry
2 July	1	Protest
3 July	1	Not hungry
4 July	11	Protest
4 July	2	Stomach upset

Date	Number of persons	Reason
8 July	4	Protest
9 July	1	Protest

All detainees who refuse meals are referred to the detention centre's medical practitioner's daily surgery for examination.The fact that a detainee is refusing meals does not necessarily mean that he or she is not taking nourishment. A range of confectionery is available for purchase within the centre and visitors are allowed to bring in certain items, including fruit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the past three years the fines imposed on British Airways relating to the arrival of illegal immigrants at United Kingdom airports; and how many fines remain outstanding.

The Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 makes carriers who bring improperly documented passengers to the United Kingdom liable to a charge. It is not the practice to disclose information on the record of individual airlines under the Act.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chairman of the Police Complaints Authority on the reasons for the delay since the result of the inquest on the Hillsborough football stadium disaster and any decision being made on the bringing of disciplinary charges against those police officers under investigation; and if he will make a statement.

No. My hon. Friend will be aware that on Friday 12 July the Police Complaints Authority issued a statement announcing their decision to direct that disciplinary charges be brought against two officers of the South Yorkshire police.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the incident at Winchester crown court on Tuesday 9 July and set up an inquiry to report specifically upon security of building construction and security procedures and on the manning levels of the local police and prison service.

At 13.40 hours on 8 July at Winchester Crown Court, six prisoners created a disturbance in the custody area. All were already serving sentences, and it is believed that their actions were in protest at the prisons to which they might be allocated when their current trial was over. They armed themselves with items of broken furniture in order to resist or prevent intervention by prison staff, and two climbed into the roof space above the cells area. All had surrendered to prison staff by 19.16 hours that day. There were no injuries to staff or to prisoners. The Hampshire police force is conducting a criminal investigation into the incident.An investigation into the design and construction of the custody area at Winchester Crown Court will be carried out by members of prison service headquarters. The detailed security procedures in the custody area of the court are a matter for the governor, in consultation with the Lord Chancellor's Department.The current strength of the Hampshire police force is fully up to its authorised complement, and Winchester prison has sufficient staff to carry out its work.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the overcrowding and staffing at Winchester prison and the reason why he decided not to invite the local hon. Member to attend his visit to Winchester prison.

The certified normal accommodation of Winchester prison is 458 and its operational capacity 623. On 10 July 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, the population was 556. This compares well with other local prisons. As far as staffing is concerned, I am satisfied that Winchester prison has been provided with enough staff to carry out its work.My hon. Friend will be informed of any future plans for Ministers to visit Winchester prison, and my right hon. Friend very much regrets that though a misunderstanding this was not done on the occasion of his visit on 6 March 1991.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service (1) how many staff were in post on the date that the Civil Service college was established as an executive agency; and how many staff are in post now;(2) what group bonus schemes are in operation in the Civil Service college; and if he will state the cash amount per person awarded in the last year for which figures are available, and the conditions attached to its award;(3) how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Civil Service college as an executive agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent Department or the new agency;(4) if he will list those new facilities for staff including nurseries and health care schemes which have been introduced in the Civil Service college since its establishment as an executive agency;(5) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into the Civil Service college since its establishment as an executive agency; and a breakdown by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern;(6) what appointments from the private sector have been made to the Civil Service college at grade 7 or above since its establishment as an agency; and if he will list the post, grade and maximum salary payable, including any performance related element.

These are matters for the chief executive and I have asked her to write to the hon. Gentleman direct.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service when the last annual report for the Civil Service college was published; and when the next one is due.

The Civil Service college's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 1990 were published on 20 August 1990. Copies were placed in the Libraries of both Houses in that week. It is planned to publish the 1990–91 report and accounts by 31 July 1991.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the public opinion surveys conducted by, for or on behalf of his Office since his answer of 20 December, Official Report, column 293.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: No public opinion surveys have been conducted by my office since 20 December 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether under the proposed recognised supervisory body regime, investors will be able to take legal action against the Auditing Standards Board for (a) adopting and (b) issuing passive auditing guidelines.

The Auditing Practices Board will have no functions under the supervisory regime in part II of the Companies Act 1989, so the question of legal action against the board by virtue of the introduction of part II does not arise. Whether the board could be liable for damages under the general law would be for the courts to determine.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the impact EFTA being given access to the EC free trade area will have on the Scottish salmon farming industry.

[holding answer 8 July 1991]: The negotiations between the EC and EFTA to create a European economic area continue. EFTA has not been offered improved access to the EC market for salmon.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it his policy that no agreement will be signed between EFTA and the EC until the current trade dispute with Norway is resolved.

[holding answer 8 July 1991]: I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent anti-dumping investigation by the EC into farmed salmon products from Norway. This case was dropped by the Commission following the receipt of assurances from Norway. I am aware of the salmon farming industry's concerns about imports of salmon or salmon products from Norway to the Community. These concerns are being borne in mind in the current discussions between the EC and EFTA on the European economic area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the value in ecu of the total imports into the EC of manufactured goods in each of the last three available years;

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The information is available in table 3 of the External Trade Statistical Yearbook published by EUROSTAT, which is held in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what was the total value in ecu of the total exports of imported goods from (a) Germany, (b) France and (c) Italy in each of the last three available years;(2) what was the value in ecu of the total exports of imported goods from the United Kingdom in the last three available years.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The information is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Fulham (Mr. Carrington) on units of measurement, of 2 July, Official Report, column 99, when his Department will begin consultation about the implementation and timing of the EC directive on units of measurement referred to in the debate on European Communities Document No. 4102/89 on 11 April 1989, Official Report, column 858.

[holding answer 12 July 1991]: My Department has already consulted interested parties about implementing the units of measurement directive and the timing of phasing out certain imperial units. The Department is preparing drafts of the implementing legislation. There will be further consultation when this work has been completed.

To ask the Prime Minister, if Ministers, at the time of the 1985 Budget, intended to lay regulations to create liability for tax relating to a year for which building societies composite rate tax liability had been fully discharged; what estimate of the money involved was available to Ministers at the time; and what, and when, an estimate was first made available to Parliament.

The 1985 Budget day press release announced that there would be transitional provisions to deal with the changeover for building societies from an annual to a quarterly accounting system in line with that for the banks.The announcement followed confidential discussions with building society representatives during which Ministers made it clear that the provisions would cover payments between the end of societies' accounting periods in 1985–86 and 5 April 1986 that would otherwise fall out of account.No estimate was made at the time of tax on interest accruing between the end of societies' accounting periods ending in 1985-86 and paid before the end of that tax year. No estimate covering all societies has subsequently been

made available to Parliament. For societies other than the Woolwich Equitable, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by the Economic Secretary on 21 June at column

To ask the Prime Minister what arrangements exist for co-ordination between the Treasury, the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office and the Welsh Office, on the question of additionality in respect of RECHAR funding from the European Community; and which Minister has the lead responsibility for policy regarding additionality.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has lead responsibility for all matters concerning the European Community structural funds.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, column 428, whether income arising from a former Prime Minister's special position in public life was taken into account in assessing their eligibility for the allowance to former Prime Ministers for the additional costs which they are liable to incur from their special position in public life.

No. The full amount of the allowance is available to all former Prime Ministers.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 27 March, Official Report, column 428, what is the former Prime Ministers' total annual allowance; whether it includes travel expenses (a) within the United Kingdom and (b) abroad; and if he will make a statement on the restrictions on the use of money under the scheme.

The maximum amount of the allowance available to former Prime Ministers during 1991–92 is £28,986 plus £2,899 for secretaries' pension contributions. Former Prime Ministers may draw on the allowance to offset the secretarial and other office expenses they incur because of their special position in public life, but not the cost of their travel either in the United Kingdom or abroad.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set up an interdepartmental working group to consider the future of Mar lodge.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has already established the Cairngorms working party to present options for the integrated management of the Cairngorms as a whole. Mar lodge estate is central to the area under consideration. The relevant Government Departments and agencies are represented on, or act as technical assessors to, the working party.I understand, moreover, that the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland are giving consideration to the future management of the natural heritage interest on the estate.

To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the communique issued following the meeting of Cairns group of ministers in Manaus, Brazil, on 9 July; if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

The communique rightly points to the need to bring the Uruguay round of trade negotiations to an early conclusion, and the crucial importance of agreement on agriculture in order to do so. As the communique says, the need now is to move from technical discussions to decisions on the framework within which agricultural support and protection are to be reduced. I hope that the London economic summit this week will give a strong push to the Uruguay round, and that Heads of Government will remain personally involved, with the aim of reaching a successful conclusion this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what guidelines he has issued to local authorities concerning the safety of children's play areas;(2) what specific advice he has given to local authorities concerning the synthetic surfacing of children's play areas; and what standards are required.

My predecessor the then Minister for Sport, commissioned the national children's play and recreation unit to prepare a booklet on playground safety for distribution to local authorities. The Department is also producing a booklet on safety in school playgrounds and related matters. Both will include advice on the safety of surfaces and will be published as soon as possible. I regard it as essential that playgrounds should be as safe as possible. Playground operators are required to consider actively how best to discharge their duties of care under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. In addition, non-statutory guidance exists in the form of British standards, BS 5696—play equipment intended for permanent installation outdoors—and BS 7188—methods of test for impact absorbing playground surfaces.

Her Majesty's inspectorate visits to grant-maintained schools from September 1989 to June 1991
Grant-maintained school	Her Majesty's inspectorate visits
Audenshaw	December 1989	February 1990	February 1991
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar		January 1990	November 1990
Baverstock	February 1990	October 1990	February 1991
Heckmondwike	November 1989	January/June 1990	November 1990
London Oratory	September 1989	February 1990	February/March 1991
Old Swinford Hospital	November 1989	March 1990	November 1990
Queen Elizabeth's Grant-Maintained Grammar	November 1989	June 1990	March 1991
Queensbury	November 1989	May 1990	February 1991

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when his review of the future role and functions of Her Majesty's inspectorate is to be completed; and when, and in what form, it will be published.

I have now received the report from the review team and am considering its recommendations. I shall announce my decisions in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy for the publication of reports of inspections and other visits by Her Majesty's inspectors to grant-maintained schools.

The policy for the publication of reports on schools which have GM status is the same as for all other institutions. Only a proportion of the inspection visits made to schools by Her Majesty's inspectors are planned and carried out with the intention of producing a report for publication. Those that do not come within that category conclude with HMI providing an oral report of the findings to the head and chairman of governors, where he or she is able to attend. This policy is applied consistently to all schools, whether GM, LEA maintained or independent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list (a) the inspections and (b) other visits made by Her Majesty's inspectors to grant-maintained schools since September 1989 giving details of the schools concerned and dates, and whether reports of the inspections or visits have been issued to the governors, or made public.

The table lists details of HMI visits to grant-maintained schools between September 1989 and June 1991. At the end of this period, there were 62 schools operating with GM status. The frequency of HMI visiting reflects the newness of the status of these schools.All visits to schools by HMI are for the purpose of inspection. However, only a proportion of these visits are intended to produce a report for publication. None of the visits listed in the table came into that category and I will not therefore be publishing reports of any of the visits. In all cases HMI's findings were reported orally to the head and to the chairman of the governors where he or she was able to be present.