To ask the Attorney-General how many people have been granted legal aid to assist them in taking legal action against drug companies in relation to the effects of tranquilisers.

As at 5 July 1991 5,337 people had been granted full civil legal aid certificates by the Legal Aid Board to enable them to take legal action in relation to the effects of tranquilisers.

To ask the Attorney-General what will be the annual spending reduction as a result of the abolition of green form assistance for political asylum cases; and what consultations will take place about this change in the legal aid scheme.

The annual reduction in the legal aid costs will depend on the final details of the new arrangements with the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service for the economic and effective provision of advice and assistance in immigration and political asylum cases. Consultation will take place on the detailed implementation of the proposals.

To ask the Attorney-General what are the recommendations from the Serious Fraud Office that have been put to the chairman or chief executive of Lloyd's, following the completion of the preliminary investigations into syndicates 317–661.

I regret that I do not think it appropriate to give information about any communications between the Serious Fraud Office and any regulatory bodies.

To ask the Attorney-General how many women there are in each class of judicial appointments; and what change there has been in the numbers over the last year.

The numbers of women currently in post as judges or stipendiry magistrates, and those in post a year ago, together with the net change, are as follows:

	July 1990	July 1991	Net change
Lords Justices of Appeal	1	1	—
High Court Judges	1	2	+1
Circuit Judges	19	20	+1

	July 1990	July 1991	Net change
District Judges	7	9	+2
Metropolitan Stipendary Magistrates	8	8	—
Provincial Stipendary Magistrates	—	1	+1

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport further to his written answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West of 21 June, Official Report, columns 335–36, if he will provide the basis for the statement that total motorcycle traffic rose by an estimated 53 per cent. between 1970 and 1989.

In the answer to my hon. Friend of 21 June, I stated that

"Total motorcycle traffic rose by an estimated 53 per cent. between 1970 and 1989".

The information on the use of motorcycles comes from the national traffic census and is published in "Transport Statistics Great Britain 1979–1989", tables 2.1 and 7.4. Revisions to the traffic estimates were made in 1989 and included a revision of all figures from 1966.The answer of 21 June used the previous estimate for 1970 which estimated growth at 53 per cent. The 1989 revision estimated motorcycle traffic at 4 billion vehicle kilometres in 1970 compared with 6·3 billion vehicle kilometres in 1989—a growth of 58 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the awarding of the design consultancy contract in relation to the dualling of the A2 between Lydden and Dover.

The design commission for the proposed dualling of the A2 between Lydden and Dover was awarded on 15 July to Bullen and Partners, consulting engineers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that the Lichfield to Walsall rail formation will not be obstructed by the construction of the northern relief road and to ensure the railway's continued use for freight and the future use of its double-track formation for passenger traffic.

It was a condition of the competition to design, build, finance and operate the Birmingham northern relief road that tenderers should obtain the agreement of British Rail for any railway possessions or operating restrictions required in connection with their proposals. It is hoped to announce the result of the competition as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental benefits he will consider when judging the case for re-opening the Lichfield to Walsall line to passenger and freight traffic.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such case. It would be for British Rail to put forward one. If the case did not meet the required rate of return on financial grounds alone it would be open to BR, the Passenger Transport Authority and local authorities to take account of external benefits. Grants are available under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968. Criteria for these grants are set out in departmental circular 3/89, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what environmental benefits he will consider when judging the case for opening the Rugeley to Walsall line to passenger traffic.

My right hon. and learned Friend has received no such case. It would be for British Rail to put forward one. If the case did not meet the required rate of return on financial grounds alone it would be open to BR and local authorities, to take account of external benefits. Grants are available under section 56 of the Transport Act 1968. Criteria for these grants are set out in departmental circular 3/89, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the final report of the M4/A4 corridor study from his consultants; what are the reasons for its delay; and when it will be published.

The final report has been received from the consultants and will be published shortly. Its completion has been delayed by the need to update the traffic data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in the light of the recent amendment in the Road Traffic Bill that facilitates the vetting of those applying for a taxi driver's licence, he will issue advice to local authorities covering (a) how to determine what offences makes a person not a fit and proper person to hold a taxi licence, (b) the case for establishing an independent appeals procedure should a licence be refused and (c) the need to ensure that the criminal record is accurate, is relevant to the issuing of the licence and relates to the licence applicant; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government will be consulting the police and licensing authorities prior to issuing a circular detailing the checking arrangements for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers' licences. The circular will include advice on how to interpret the criminal record and on procedures for dealing with disputed information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will announce the conclusions of the review of the black country spine road.

I have today invited the Black Country development corporation, in co-operation with the metropolitan borough of Sandwell, to take forward a modified scheme for a spine road in the black country.A halt was called to the previous proposals when the costs escalated last year and a review was carried out. That review showed that any scheme in this part of the black country would be very expensive and the original scheme had to be scaled down in order to get a scheme that was affordable and a worthwhile investment.The scheme now proposed will be a dual carriageway road from Carters green to Sandwell 2000 with junctions at ground level at an estimated cost of £93 million. It will open up access to the key development sites in the area of the Black Country development corporation. In particular it will provide access from the south to Sandwell 2000 and creates the potential for bringing £540 million of new investment and 17,000 jobs to the black country.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now place the management of London Transport out for competitive tender; and if he will make a statement.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what access to competitors' tenders was allowed to existing operators in the London Transport bus route tendering process; and if he will make a statement.

None. London Transport's tendered bus division treats all tenders for London Transport bus routes in the strictest confidence.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage salary increase has been requested by the chairman and board members of London Transport with effect from April 1991; and when he expects to announce the level of board salaries for 1991–92.

Recommendations for salary increases for members of the board of London Transport come to us in confidence and should not be known even to the board members concerned. My right hon. and learned Friend expects to determine board salaries for 1991–92 fairly shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list what (a) measures and (b) standards to mitigate the environmental impact of the M11 link road through Leyton and Leytonstone were applied.

A fundamental objective during the development of the design of the A12 Hackney-M11 link road has been to mitigate the environmental impact of the road. The selection of a route which runs alongside the railway line and below ground level and in places in tunnel show how this has been achieved. Retaining walls have been used to minimise land take. Provision will be made for noise insulation to houses nearby, shrubs and trees will be planted, and land is to be made available for public use in exchange for areas of open space to be acquired in connection with the scheme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the requirement by the Department of Transport that platforms at railway stations should be extended to the length of trains using the platforms, and on the amount of grant aid given to British Rail for this work.

The requirement that platforms should be as long as the trains regularly booked to call at them has been in existence since the turn of the century. Her Majesty's inspectorate issued fresh guidance on this matter last year, in connection with the greater use of trains with crew-controlled doors. British Rail is surveying its stations to identify any which do not meet the requirements. It will then discuss with the inspectorate and the Department what action should be taken. Safety expenditure by the subsidised railway sectors will continue to be supported by means of the PSO grant in the normal way.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of fatalities on British Rail and London Transport for each year from 1975, giving their nature and cause.

The number of fatalities (excluding suicides and trespassers) on all railways in the period 1975–89 is as follows. An analysis of the nature and causes of accidents is given in the report on the safety record of the railways in Great Britain which is issued annually by Her Majesty's chief inspector of railways. Copies are available from the Library of the House.

Year	Passengers	Staff	Others	Total
1975	69	46	12	127
1976	30	46	21	97
1977	30	34	20	84
1978	47	45	22	114
1979	52	43	12	107
1980	26	32	11	69
1981	39	27	10	76
1982	20	27	10	57
1983	29	28	12	69
1984	39	25	12	76
1985	33	25	16	74
1986	32	16	24	97
1987	68	16	20	104
1988	69	16	12	97
1989	33	18	18	69

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information on the environmental benefits of walking and cycling was made available at his Department's exhibition stand at the environment, wildlife and conservation exhibition at Olympia on 6 to 11 July.

Information on the environmental benefits of walking and cycling was included in displays and in leaflets and booklets available at the stand.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list (a) the number of youth training places in his Department and (b) the number of places occupied in May for each of the years 1989, 1990 and the current year.

The Department of Transport currenty has the equivalent of 31 contracted places for youth trainees at Bristol and Swansea (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre). The numbers of trainees at the dates referred to are:

	Bristol	Swansea
May 1989	4	8
May 1990	3	20
May 1991	5	28

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 2 July Official Report, column 86, if he will list the commencement date and duration of each publicity campaign to which he refers.

The commencement dates and duration of publicity campaigns referred to in my answer of 2 July are as follows:For television advertising campaigns

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 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 2 July, Official Report, column 86.

The Department's advertising on the child road safety and drink drive campaigns is handled by D'Arcy Masius Benton and Bowles.No promotional or public relations companies are currently employed by my Department in respect of these and the other campaigns referred to.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all roadworks currently being undertaken on the A303 trunk road.

[holding answer 17 July 1991]: Two improvement schemes are in progress on the A303; between Stockton wood and Chicklade bottom in Wiltshire and between Mere in Wiltshire and Wincanton in Somerset. Other minor repair works take place as necessary and vary from day to day.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many prosecutions have been undertaken on drivers and passengers in coaches and large minibuses for failure to wear seat belts since October 1988; and with what results.

I have been asked to reply.The statistics collected centrally on prosecutions for not wearing a seat belt do not record the type of vehicle involved.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid has been supplied to developing countries for (i) family planning activities, (ii) projects aimed at alleviating poverty and promoting economic and social development and (iii) projects to improve the health and education of women and to reduce infant mortality, since September 1990.

Promoting sustainable economic and social development and alleviating poverty are the basic objectives of the whole aid programme. British aid, bilateral and through multilateral channels, providing direct support to family planning services was just over £17 million in 1989 (final 1990 figures are not yet available but there was a significant increase to about £24 million). Improving the health and education of women and reducing infant mortality are part of a number of the activities that we finance. Bilateral activities which include these objectives as identifiably substantial aspects of the work, involved expenditure of about £29 million in 1989. In addition a good part of our contributions to WHO, UNICEF and UNHCR activities totalling £43·5 million in 1989 would have been devoted to such activities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the number of youth training places in his Department and (b) the number of places occupied in May for each of the years 1989, 1990 and the current year.

Neither the diplomatic wing nor the aid wing participates in the youth training scheme. But both Departments run regular work experience schemes. Twice a year, the FCO takes on about 10 schoolchildren for two weeks in London. The ODA takes about 40 schoolchildren and students altogether, annually, in London, East Kilbride and at its Scientific Executive Agency in Chatham.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are for starting direct teaching of English in central Europe; and what the approximate start-up costs are estimated to be.

Numerous private and independent English language teaching organisations are developing programmes in central Europe.The British Council plans open a teaching centre in Hungary in 1992 and is evaluating the scope in Czechoslovakia. Start-up costs will depend on the need to adapt premises.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the capital cost for the proposed new eight-bedded ward at Blairgowrie cottage hospital.

Tayside health board is consulting on its proposals which have not yet come forward to be considered by Ministers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will use his powers under the Children Act 1989 to ensure that registration and inspection fees under part X of the Act are waived for non-profit making playgroups with charitable status when the provisions of the Act come into force later this year.

Registration and inspection fees for playgroups and other childcare services will be prescribed in regulations which the Government will bring forward for coming into force on 14 October. No decisions have yet been taken on the level of the fees to be prescribed but in fixing them I will take account of the non-profit making and charitable status of playgroups which, I believe, provide a valuable experience for very many young children and for their families.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to support Will Aid 1992; and if he will make a statement.

No. This is a project initiated by lawyers and it will be for individual solicitors to decide whether or not to support it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for changes to the organisation and management of the Scottish prison service.

In February 1991, I authorised the director of the Scottish prison service to enter into consultations with staff and trade unions on proposals for changes to the organisation of the Scottish prison service, contained in the report "Organising for Excellence", prepared by a prison service review team. Comments were invited by the end of April.I have now had an opportunity to consider the responses to the consultation period. In the light of the comments received, I have now authorised the director of the Scottish prison service to implement the broad structure recommended by the review team. In particular, the reorganisation will involve:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he intends to undertake separate Scottish consultations on the current review of financial conditions for legal aid.

The Scottish Office is today publishing a consultation paper entitled "Eligibility for Civil Legal Aid in Scotland" which will be circulated to a wide range of interested parties. The paper, which covers non-matrimonial civil legal aid, reflects the Government's commitment to maintaining an effective legal aid system in Scotland. It presents a number of options for the future funding of civil cases, paying particular attention to the importance of targeting resources where need is greatest. It also proposes that legal aid would continue to be available free to those who could not reasonably be expected to make any contribution towards the costs of their case.The paper is the first stage of a review covering all aspects of financial conditions for legal aid. Further stages will deal with legal aid in criminal and family cases.Copies of the paper have been laid in the Libraries in both Houses of Parliament. Comments are invited before the end of October and no decisions will be taken before then.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps will be taken to enable planners and developers to know whether a site is sensitive to development or change in use if the sites of special scientific interest label is removed.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: Under current procedures for the denotification of a site of special scientific interest (SSSI), the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland advises local planning authorities that a former SSSI may well retain features of wildlife, geological or physiographical importance which deserve protection. Local planning authorities are, therefore, able to identify such sites as being sensitive, within their published local and structure plans. It is expected that these arrangements will continue under Scottish Natural Heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of the Nature Conservancy Council review of existing sites of special scientific interest; how many sites of special scientific interest were denotified, and how many objections to sites of special scientific interest he is currently considering.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: The precise cost of reviewing existing sites of special scientific interest is not known. Since 1981, 109 sites in Scotland have been denotified, including sites first notified under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 but not re-notified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. My right hon. Friend has no role in the consideration of objections to the notification of sites of special scientific interest; this is a matter for the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated average cost of reviewing the case against a single site of special scientific interest.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: It is not possible to produce an estimate as no information is available to distinguish between the costs of various stages of the site notification process including responding to objections.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland to whom in Scotland, outside Government, details of companies carrying out work on Government contracts have been passed; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 9 July 1991]: The information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.Commercially confidential information is not made available outside Government. Details of other information in the form requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the pregnant women who have been tested for AIDS over the past five years had positive test results; and how many were informed of the result of their individual test by the appropriate medical authority.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: The information requested is not reported on a routine basis to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit and is, therefore, unavailable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tests for HIV and AIDS have been carried out in each of the health board areas during (a) 1986, (b) 1987, (c) 1988, (d) 1989 and (e) 1990.

[holding answer 11 July 1991]: Information about the number of HIV tests carried out in 1986, 1987 and 1988 is unavailable. The table shows the number of HIV tests reported to the communicable diseases (Scotland) unit by source health board area for 1989 and 1990.

Health Board	1989	1990
Argyll and Clyde	342	244
Ayrshire and Arran	197	257
Borders	57	60
Dumfries and Galloway	132	160
Fife	104	102
Forth Valley	331	395
Grampian	1,201	1,433
Greater Glasgow	4,015	3,869
Highland	220	395
Lanarkshire	339	263

Health Board	1989	1990
Lothian	3,898	3,579
Orkney	8	15
Shetland	17	19
Tayside	986	1,301
Western Isles	2	Nil
	11,849	12,092

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of extra funding which has seen provided to each health board in Scotland to meet the cost of publicity for national health service reforms; and what criteria is applied to the expenditure of these funds.

[holding answer 17 July 1991]: Each health board has been provided with additional assistance to meet the cost of implementation of the NHS reforms. There is no separate allocation for publicity. The deployment of these resources is a matter for individual boards but I regard the use of funds to provide information about the reforms as entirely appropriate and necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what factors he considered when he decided to transfer Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution local authority unit to Department of Environment control; what functions the unit will undertake in the future; how long he intends to maintain the unit at its current staffing levels; and whether there are any plans to wind up the unit.

The local authority unit was transferred from Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution to the air quality division of my Department on 1 April this year, the date on which part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 came into force. This was because the air quality division oversees implementation by local authorities of their new air pollution controls under part I of the Act, whereas HMIP is the central enforcing authority for integrated pollution control. There is close liaison between air quality division and HMIP.The unit will continue to work on the preparation of guidance notes for processes prescribed for local authority air pollution control and will be responsible for regular review of the guidance. The unit will also continue to act as a pool of technical expertise and general advice in relation to the air pollution controls of part I of the Act. Staffing levels will be reviewed at the end of this year when the 78 process guidance notes have been completed. There are no plans to wind up the unit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the names of any persons or organisations appointed by him, or the National Rivers Authority, to provide information and advice to its Thames division on matters relating to navigation.

Some members of the Thames Regional Rivers Advisory Committee have a particular interest or expertise in matters relating to navigation. Neither my right hon. Friend nor the National Rivers Authority have appointed any other persons or organisations to provide information or advice on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what relative weight he attaches in coming to decisions about local plans to local district and county councils as against outside bodies.

In fulfilling his responsibilities in relation to development plans, the Secretary of State considers each issue on its merits, irrespective of the nature of the body that brings it to his attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what examples there are over the last 10 years of decisions to change green belt status; and if he will list them.

We remain fully committed to the purposes of the green belt in checking unrestricted urban sprawl, safeguarding the surrounding countryside, preventing neighbouring towns from merging, preserving the special character of historic towns, and assisting urban regeneration. Since 1979 the extent of green belts in England has more than doubled, to approximately 12 per cent. of the country. The Environment White Paper "This Common Inheritance" (Cm 1200) compares approved green belts in 1979 and 1989. My Department does not maintain a central record of individual additions or deletions from the green belt.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance has been made available to planning authorities concerning the siting of wind farms.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Housing and Planning, to my hon. Friend the Member for Norfolk, North-West (Mr. Bellingham) on 28 March, Official Report, columns 543–44.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning permission is required for the establishment of wind farms; and if he will make a statement.

The establishment of a wind farm requires planning permission under section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in what percentage of cases he has overruled the recommendations of his panel when decisions on local plans have been considered.

Panels are appointed by the Secretary of State to conduct examinations in public in connection with structure plans proposals. No comprehensive statistics are available covering the Secretary of State's decisions on panel recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what account he took of the fact that Chester enjoys development area status when coming to his decision on the Chester local plan.

The decision by the Secretary of State, in March 1990, to direct the City of Chester not to adopt the Greater Chester local plan was taken to allow full consideration of all the issues it raised, including Chester's development area status, in relation to the Cheshire county replacement structure plan now before him for approval.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether Cheshire county council had in their possession his proposals for the Chester local plan in May of this year; to what extent his recent announcement corresponds to those proposals; and what were the considerations which led to the changes.

The City of Chester has prepared proposals for the Greater Chester local plan which are currently subject to a "holding" direction pending approval of the Cheshire county replacement structure plan.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment's proposed modifications to the structure plan were announced on 10 July 1991, and he has asked Cheshire county council to carry out a consultation on them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of the inevitably necessary development which will occur in the rural areas and villages surrounding Chester as a result of his latest proposals relating to the Chester local plan.

The Cheshire county replacement structure plan will set the pattern of development for the county as a whole to 2001. It will be for the local authorities, including the City of Chester, to formulate detailed proposals in local plans for their areas, within the framework of the structure plan, once it is approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources he is making available to local authorities to enable them to respond to the growth in mortgage arrears and reprossessions as revealed in recent Bank of England-sponsored research.

The Government have already helped all borrowers by cutting base rates by 4 per cent. in the last nine months, reducing the cost of the average mortgage by over £60 a month. In addition, income support amounting to over £350 million was given to some borrowers in 1989–90 to enable them to maintain interest payments. This assistance remains available at a higher level this year. Local authorities can help by debt counselling and in some cases by offering shared ownership schemes in cooperation with housing associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to issue the planning policy guidance note on outdoor advertisement control as promised in the Environment White Paper, "This Common Heritage."

Yes. We have considered the comments made by the local authority associations and my right hon. Friend has decided to go ahead. The requirement is being issued to all local authorities today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will require local authorities, under section 230 of the Local Government Act 1972, to supply his Department with aggregate information about their registers as proposed on 7 May 1991, Official Report, column 401.

My Department and the Welsh Office have today jointly issued a consultative draft planning policy guidance note about control over the display of outdoor advertisement in England and Wales. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to reply to the Fifth Report of the Environment Committee, Session 1990–91, on London zoo.

I would like to thank the Committee for its report on London zoo. I am today placing copies of our response in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the royal parks.

I am pleased to able to announce today two major initiatives aimed at improving the quality of the royal parks for those who use them.The first is a review, to be carried out by a group under the chairmanship of Dame Jennifer Jenkins, which will concentrate in the first place on Hyde park and Kensington gardens. The second is the contracting out, from February next year, of the ground maintenance and related work in eight of the royal parks.Hyde park and Kensington gardens are enjoyed by millions of people—Londoners and tourists alike. But we need to be sure they are really providing what people want today. London's royal parks should fully reflect the city's status as a major world capital. Quality and excellence should be on display for all to see.I believe we need to take an open minded and imaginative look at what the parks are for and what they should provide. I have therefore asked Dame Jennifer Jenkins to chair a review group whose task will be to consider the role and use of Hyde park and Kensington gardens in the present, in the past and in the future.The members of the review group bring a wealth of experience and expertise. They will produce a report for a conference under ministerial chairmanship early in 1992, following which new policy guidance will be drawn up.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action has been taken to develop tougher controls over vehicle emissions within the European Community, including smoke and oxides of nitrogen from heavy diesel vehicles and carbon dioxide from internal combustion engines.

I have been asked to reply.On 26 June the EC Council of Ministers adopted an amending directive setting tighter limits on emissions of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) by new cars and light vans. Among other things, the directive will require almost all new petrol-engined cars from the end of 1992 to use three-way catalytic converters and to run on unleaded petrol. Apart from meeting the same limits for gaseous emissions, diesel cars and light vans will need to comply with a strict limit on paticulates (smoke). The directive will be introduced into United Kingdom law by regulations to be laid later this year.On 18 March the EC Council of Ministers reached a common position on an amending directive prescribing stricter limits on the same gaseous emissions from diesel-engined trucks and buses over 3·5 tonnes. Limits on emissions of particulates are also set for the first time.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against assessment of uniform business rates for 1990–91 in each county in England have been (a) lodged and (b) heard; and how many are still awaiting decision.

The information requested cannot be provided on a county basis at a reasonable cost.Nationally, some 705,000 appeals against valuation matters had been received by 31 May 1991. About 45,000 of these have been settled and 660,000 await decision. The arrangements and timing of appeal hearings is the responsibility of valuation and community charge tribunals which are independent bodies.The table shows the numbers of 1990 rating appeals which at the end of May 1991 were outstanding at valuation and community charge tribunals in England.

1990 Rating appeals outstanding at the end of May 1991 at Valuation and Community Charge tribunals in England
	Number
Avon	8,892
Bedfordshire	4,442
Berkshire	7,904
Birmingham	13,328
Buckinghamshire	16,075
Cambridgeshire	6,876
Cheshire	9,719
Cleveland	17,651
Cornwall	5,177
Coventry/Solihull	4,573
Cumbria	6,506
Derbyshire	8,971
Devon	10,139
Dorset	8,484
Durham	17,406
East Sussex	6,484
Essex North	5,761
Essex South	7,242
Gloucestershire	5,359
Hampshire North	5,074
Hampshire South	8,472
Hereford/Worcester	8,136
Hertfordshire	10,887
Humberside	8,002
Isles of Scilly	59
Isle of Wight	1,214
Kent	13,850
Lancashire	15,588
Leicestershire	7,879

	Number
Lincolnshire	6,374
London Central	29,935
London North East	17,964
London North West	25,706
London South East	17,711
London South West	19,911
Manchester North	12,052
Manchester South	16,364
Merseyside	14,175
Norfolk	7,945
North Yorkshire	9,471
Northamptonshire	5,956
Northumberland	3,779
Nottinghamshire	8,356
Oxfordshire	6,924
Shropshire	4,289
Somerset	4,784
South Yorkshire	13,122
Staffordshire	9,877
Suffolk	15,924
Surrey	11,526
Tyne and Wear	15,790
Warwickshire	5,395
West Midlands West	14,135
West Sussex	7,160
West Yorkshire	24,455
Wiltshire	4,365
1 At end April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will provide figures for the assistance that the Government have so far provided to India to help in its plans to phase out CFCs since September 1990.

I have been asked to reply.We financed a consultancy to advise the Government of India on a strategy for phasing out the use of CFCs. The consultancy's second phase, completed in December 1990, cost £176,000. We have since confirmed our willingness to help implement the consultancy's findings, once the Government of India have signed the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will state the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of the Civil Service college, including any performance-related element, and the length of time of the chief executive's contract.

The chief executive of the Civil Service college is on the standard civil service grade 3 pay range and is eligible for the performance-related element appropriate to that grade. Her contract is for three years.

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

The Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS) Agency was established on 1 April 1991. Its first annual report, covering the financial year 1991–92, will be published in July 1992.On its inception, RAS took over the executive functions of the former Civil Service Commission. The commissioners' report, covering the period January 1990 to March 1991, is due to be published shortly.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service (1) if he will list the new forms of alternative working patterns introduced into the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency since its establishment as an executive agency; and if he will give a break-down by grade of the numbers of staff taking up each new working pattern;(2) if he will list those new facilities for staff including nurseries and health care schemes which have been introduced in the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency since its establishment as an executive agency;(3) what appointments from the private sector have been made to the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency 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;(4) what group bonus schemes are in operation in the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency; 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;(5) how many staff were in post on the date that the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency was established as an executive agency; and how many staff are in post now;(6) how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency as an executive agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

This is a matter for the chief executive of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency and I have asked him to write to the hon. Member direct.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will state the maximum salary payable to the chief executive of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency including any performance-related element; and the length of time of the chief executive's contract.

The chief executive of the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency is on the standard civil service grade 3 pay range and is eligible for the performance-related elements appropriate to that grade. His contract is for five years.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the quality of service performance indicators adopted by the Recruitment and Assessment Services Agency since its establishment as an executive agency identifying separately those quality of service performance indicators already operative prior to agency status.

I have either set, or made specific plans to introduce, demanding quality of service performance targets for the Recruitment and Assessment Services (RAS) Agency in the following areas:

• Customer departments' and agencies' satisfaction with overall service
• administration (including timeliness)
• outcome of recruitment scheme

Growth in

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish indices of the Welsh Office, Scottish Office and the United Kingdom planning total, excluding privatisation receipts and the reserve, with 1978–79 = 100 in (a) cash and (b) constant prices.

The information requested for the years 1984–85 to 1993–94 is set out as follows. Much of the higher growth for the Welsh Office reflects changes in the coverage of the Welsh programme. In 1990–91, for example, the Welsh Office took over from the Department of Social Security responsibility for the payment of rent rebate subsidy to local authorities, to form part of the housing revenue account subsidy to authorities in Wales. The figures given are consistent with data published in the statistical supplement to the 1990 Autumn Statement (Cm. 1520); they do not take account of the community charge related changes announced on 17 January and in the Budget. Corresponding figures for earlier years are not available.

	Welsh Office	Scottish Office	Planning total (excluding privatisation proceeds and the Reserve)
Cash
1984–85	100·0	100·0	100·0
1985–86	104·5	102·5	103·3

	Welsh Office	Scottish Office	Planning total (excluding privatisation proceeds and the Reserve)
1986–87	114·2	107·4	108·8
1987–88	123·3	111·6	114·5
1988–89	134·9	120·9	118·3
1989–90	143·3	127·5	129·4
1990–91	168·8	139·1	144·5
1991–92	186·2	158·0	156·8
1992–93	192·2	163·9	165·4
1993–94	198·6	168·4	171·3
Real terms1
1984–85	100·0	100·0	100·0
1985–86	99·1	97·2	98·0
1986–87	104·7	98·5	99·8
1987–88	107·3	97·0	99·6
1988–89	109·3	98·0	95·9
1989–90	109·2	97·2	98·6
1990–91	119·1	98·1	101·9
1991–92	123·9	105·2	104·3
1992–93	122·1	104·1	105·1
1993–94	121·9	103·4	105·1
1 Figures adjusted to remove the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP market price deflator adjusted to remove the distortion caused by the abolition of domestic rates.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the amounts of sovereign debt still owed by Bangladesh, Brazil, Jamaica, Bolivia, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, Philippines, India and Argentina to the United Kingdom Export Credits Guarantee Department, the Overseas Development Administration, or any other agency of Her Majesty's Government.

Total outstanding sovereign debts of the countries listed to the United Kingdom Overseas Development Administration are as set out in the table, to the nearest million pounds sterling as at 1 August 1990, the latest date at which figures are readily available.The United Kingdom Export Credits Guarantee Department treats details of exposure levels to individual countries as confidential for commercial reasons. The total exposure to the countries listed, including previously rescheduled debts, is £2·13 billion.

	ODA £ million
Bangladesh	0
Brazil	4
Jamaica	87
Bolivia	0
Honduras	4
Nicaragua	1
Peru	5
Philippines	6
India1	158
Argentina	0
Total	265
1 Note India receives an amount of local cost aid equivalent to payments in respect of old aid loans.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how it is proposed that, pursuant to article 102(d) of the draft treaty on economic and monetary union, the Commission shall ensure that the specific recommendations on the budget balance and the control of production costs of a member state are identified;(2) whether he will list those methods of monitoring financing of public sector deficits which will be presented in the United Kingdom, pursuant to article 109(b) of the draft treaty on economic and monetary union;(3) whether he will set out the appropriate measures which the Council may adopt for the avoidance of excessive deficits by a member state, pursuant to article 104

The draft treaty to which the right hon. Gentleman refers is that submitted by the European Commission in December 1990 to the intergovernmental conference and is only one of a large number of submissions to the IGC. The issues raised by the right hon. Gentleman are still under discussion and no conclusion has yet been reached.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether under the proposed rules for establishing economic and monetary union certain of the Scottish banks will continue to be able to issue bank notes.

The issue raised by the right hon. Gentleman is part of a wider question on the issuance of bank notes, which is still under discussion in the intergovernmental conference of economic and monetary union.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what will be the United Kingdom's percentage of the subscribed capital of the proposed European central bank;(2) whether it is intended that the votes cast in the proposed European central bank shall be weighted according to proportions of the capital of the bank and foreign exchange reserves subscribed by each member state;(3) what proportion of foreign reserve assets of the United Kingdom will be called up by the proposed European central bank;(4) whether it is envisaged that the decisions of the proposed Council of the European central bank will be made by weighted voting;(5) by means of what mechanism it is proposed that a directly-elected body such as the Council of Economic and Finance Ministers should control the execution of monetary policies by the Council and the executive board of the proposed European central bank.

The issue raised by the right hon. Gentleman is still under discussion in the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is expected that the Committee of Governors of the proposed central bank of member states will present provisions concerning income distribution as indicated in the chairman's report of 27 November 1990 to the President of the Council.

The Committee of Governors presented a draft statute covering the issue the right hon. Gentleman refers to on 26 April 1991.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 18 June, Official Report, columns 114–16, on mortgage payments, if he will update the table and give the information on a monthly basis.

Monthly interest payment1
Region	Average new building society mortgages Quarter 2 1988	June 19882	Current3	Increase
	£	£	£	£
Northern region	22,200	135·98	172·74	36·77
Yorkshire and Humberside	23,000	140·88	178·97	38·09
East Midlands	27,000	165·38	210·09	44·72
East Anglia	34,800	222·95	283·24	60·29
Greater London	54,900	387·10	491·78	104·68
South East	44,500	302·17	383·88	81·71
South West	34,900	223·77	284·28	60·51
West Midlands	28,100	172·11	218·65	46·54
North West	24,300	148·84	189·08	40·25
Wales	23,900	146·39	185·97	39·58
Scotland	24,200	148·23	188·31	40·08
Northern Ireland	24,300	148·84	189·08	40·25
United Kingdom	32,900	207·43	263·53	56·09
1 Assuming endowment mortgage, net of basic rate tax relief.
2 At an interest rate of 9·8 per cent.
3 At an interest rate of 12·45 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether he will alter the regulations so as to permit a mature student married with children, to claim additional benefits during vacations to supplement the full grant to which he or she is currently restricted and which is their sole income.

We have no plans to do so. The regulations already provide for students with dependent children or their non-student partners to claim housing benefit or family credit in the long vacation, subject to the normal conditions of entitlement. These rules also apply in term-time and the short vacations. Income support is available to student couples with children in the long vacation and to the non-student partner of a student throughout the year subject to the normal conditions of entitlement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) which local offices in Scotland had to apply budgetary control measures in 1990–91; and to which budgets the restrictions applied;(2) how many claimants, partners and dependants were reliant on income support in Scotland in 1990; and how many of these were children under 15 years;(3) how many income support deductions are currently being made in Scotland for

Information for average new building society mortgages in the second quarter of 1988 is in the table. Details of average amounts outstanding on all mortgages by region are not available.(5) how many, and what percentage of income support claimants in Scotland

The information requested 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 was the total sum spent in Scotland in social security payments in 1989–90 and 1990–91 broken down by major benefits.

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 (1) what goods and services the trustees may not pay for, on behalf of a victim of violent crime in receipt of a criminal injuries compensation award, without affecting his or her income-related benefits;(2) what restrictions are applied to the way in which criminal injuries compensation awards may be spent by

Compensation payments from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board are normally made directly to the injured person. There are no restrictions on how he or she may spend these payments. However, if a person disposes of an award for the purpose of becoming entitled to, or increasing entitlement to, an income-related benefit, the independent adjudicating authority may decide to treat the person as if he or she still has the capital.Where a compensation payment is placed on trust, the value of the fund is disregarded indefinitely in the income-related benefits. The first £10 a week of any regular discretionary payment made by the trustees is completely ignored, provided that this disregard has not already been allowed on another income, such as a war disablement pension. The injured person can spend the disregarded income in any way he or she chooses without affecting entitlement to benefit.In addition, regular discretionary payments made by the trustees to an injured person or to a third party for goods and services are normally disregarded unless they are intended or used for accommodation charges already met by benefit, food, ordinary clothing or footwear, household fuel, the community charge or water charges. Any payment which is so intended or used will be taken into account, subject to a disregard of £10 a week if the disregard has not already been used up elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list (a) the number of youth training places in his Department and (b) the number of places occupied in May for each of the years 1989, 1990 and the current year.

In 1989 we contracted centrally on behalf of the Departments of Health and Social Security to offer 161 places on our youth training scheme. In May 1989, 60 of those places were filled.In 1990 the scheme changed to youth training and was offered in training weeks. The contract for both Departments for 1990 was 3,976. In May 1990, 64 trainees were in place. In 1991 the contract is for the Department of Social Security only and for 2,250 training weeks. In May 1991, 43 trainees were in place.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish a table showing how many people are now in receipt of (a) full community charge benefit and (b) partial community charge benefit in the light of the £140 reduction in headline poll tax, also giving these figures as a percentage of the total number of poll tax payers for (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland; and if he will make a statement on his estimates of the number of people who are eligible but are not claiming community charge benefit for all poll tax payers and for all those aged under 25 years.

The latest available estimates are as follows:

Number of community charge benefit recipients, 1991–92 (also expressed as a percentage of total number of people liable for community charge in 1991–92)
Thousands
	Income support recipients	Non-income support recipients
England Percentage	3,500	3,250
Percentage	10	9
Wales	270	130
Percentage	12	6
Scotland	500	400
Percentage	13	11

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the information that his Department holds on those schools in Wales which show a high incidence of dental caries.

Standardised small district data are not held centrally. However, data are held by DHAs for assessing local health needs and it is intended that these should be published by districts as part of the report by their director of dental public health. The first reports are due to be prepared by September 1991 to inform the annual review meetings of each DHA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of effect of the new capitation system on the treatment of children by general dental practitioners.

It is still too early to assess the effect of the capitation arrangements on the treatment of children. By the beginning of June about 308,000 children in Wales had been registered under the capitation arrangements. This compares well with the amount of treatment given under the old arrangements.Health departments are carefully monitoring the new contract. The main principles, such as capitation, are established but a number of detailed changes have been made in response to representations from dentists and such fine tuning will continue where necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many local dental committees in Wales he has met since his appointment; and if he will make a statement.

None. The local dental committee is a statutory committee created to provide advice principally to the family health services authority for its locality and also to its district health authority via the district dental committee. However, our officials are in regular touch with dentists' representatives in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will consider asking the family health service authorities to conduct a survey of all dental premises to enable a quality index to be published of the quality and standards of the premises and equipment and which can be made available to patients.

As from 1 October 1991 general dental practitioners will be obliged to compile and make available a patient information leaflet about the provision of general dental services at their practice premises. Dentists are already obliged to provide information to family health service authorities and a survey of the kind suggested is not necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library the data collected by the Dental Practitioners Board on the number of patients cared for by local dental practitioners.

At the end of June 1991 there were 1,058,548 patients registered with general dental practitioners in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of local directories of dental practices produced by the family health services authorities in Wales.

No. By regulation FHSAs are obliged to make a copy of the local dental list available for inspection at their offices and such other places as appears to be convenient. In practice most FHSAs also arrange for copies to be placed in main libraries and post offices where they may be inspected by members of the public.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each family health services authority in Wales (a) the number of grants paid to dentists to set up a new practice or expand an existing one in an area identified by the FHSA as in need of more dentists and (b) the total value of those grants.

The Clwyd family health services authority is the only authority in Wales to have awarded a location incentive scheme grant to a dentist in its locality. The total value of the grant is £7,500.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to introduce regulations to empower family health services authorities to inspect dental surgeries.

Action is being taken to consolidate the NHS (General Dental Services) Regulations and a regulation to empower family health services authorities to inspect dental surgeries will be included when these consolidated regulations are introduced next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many currently in employment in Wales are (i) male full-time employees, (ii) female full-time employees, (iii) male part-time employees, (iv) female part-time employees, (v) male self-employed and (vi) female self-employed; and what estimate he has of the average wage or salary under each of these categories.

The information requested is given in the following tables:

Numbers in Employment (thousands)
	March 1991
	1Male	Female
Full-time employees in employment	501	247
Part-time employees in employment		212
Self-employed	144	40

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list those sites so far designated or identified for designation in Wales as special protection areas under EC directive 79/409 on the conservation of wild birds or wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar convention on wetlands of international importance, especially on waterfowl habitat.

The designation of SPA and Ramsar sites is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. Welsh sites are designated in consultation with me.In Wales three SPAs, Skomer (part), Dee estuary and Grassholm, and two Ramsar sites, Dee estuary and Cors Fochno, have been designated.A further 20 areas have been identified for possible designation as SPAs and Ramsar sites. Four of these areas have been identified as being suitable for designation as both SPAs and Ramsar sites. The details are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list (a) the number of people in Wales who receive water from suppliers granted relaxations to the aluminium standard under section 20(5) (b) of the Water Act 1989, (b) the location of each supply, by county and (c) the number of people served by each of those suppliers.

Under section 20(5)(b) of the Water Act 1989, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has accepted undertakings relating to the aluminium parameter from these companies appointed by him in respect of the water treatment works shown in the following table:Location and water treatment works. Estimated population served.

	Numbers
Clwyd
Bylchau	2,150
Cynwyd	3,120
Glascoed	50,110
Meifod	1,580
Trecastell	7,610
Alwen	89,780
Bretton	36,080
Cilcain	8,850
Dyfed
Bontgoch	18,240
Bolton Hill	52,420
Hotwells	2,620
Preseli	36,960
Valley Court	9,700
Bryncoch	13,370
Dyfed and West Glamorgan
Bryngwyn	73,920
Felindre	322,410
Powys
Llanwrtyd Wells	2,280
Llandeilo Graban	5,500
Portis High Level	790
Hereford and Worcester
Byton	2,620
Broomy Hill	96,990
Gwent
Cwmtillery	25,160
Nantybwch	5,500
Georgetown	7,340
Craig Ddu	8,120

	Numbers
Rhymney Bridge	3,060
Gwent and Mid Glamorgan
Ponsticill	131,060
South and Mid Glamorgan
Cantref	91,749
Llwynon	86,500
Mid Glamorgan
Hendre Bailey	Not in use
Penderyn Borehole	5,500
Maerdy High-Level and Low Level	2,857
Wrexham and East Denbighshire Water Company
Penycae (Clwyd)	7,500
TOTAL POPOULATION	1,237,150

Population figures have been derived from the average daily output of the works when in use and therefore represent the potential number of customers. In addition, undertakings have been accepted covering all water supply zones supplied by Dwr Cymru Cyf and Wrexham and East Denbighshire water company where there is a risk that maximum concentrations or values prescribed in the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 1989 may be exceeded, because of deficiences in the distribution system. The parameters covered include aluminium.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the number of people undertaking courses in non-vocational adult education;(2)what percentage of the population of the United Kingdom participated in non-vocational adult education.

The information requested is not available centrally. Adult education enrolment data does not distinguish between vocational and non-vocational study.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish for each family health services authority in Wales for the financial year 1991–92 (a) the budget of the authority, (b) the number of full-time staff employed and (c) the number of part-time staff employed.

Family health services authorities have received three separate cash limited allocations for 1991–92. These are in respect of their administration revenue expenditure, their contributions towards general practitioners' expenditure on practice premises and practice staff and their contributions towards GPs' expenditure on practice computer systems. The cash limits for individual FHSAs are shown in tables 1 to 3.The number of full-time and part-time staff employed by FHSAs in Wales are shown in table 4.

Table 1
FHSA administration revenue
FHSA	Cash allocation1 (net) £'000s
Clwyd	975
Dyfed	883
Gwent	1,062

FHSA	Cash allocation1 (net) £'000s
Gwynedd	733
Mid Glamorgan	1,251
Powys	534
South Glamorgan	1,191
West Glamorgan	874
TOTAL	7,503
1 These allocations are provisional and include a delegated capital cash limit for small capital purchases.

Table 2
GP practice premises and staff
FHSA	Cash allocation £'000s
Clwyd	4,042
Dyfed	4,521
Gwent	5,453
Gwynedd	3,506
Mid Glamorgan	5,458
Powys	1,953
South Glamorgan	4,754
West Glamorgan	3,519
Total	33,206

Table 3
GP practice computers
FHSA	Cash allocation £'000s
Clwyd	288
Dyfed	172
Gwent	148
Gwynedd	52
Mid Glamorgan	131
Powys	52
South Glamorgan	104
West Glamorgan	154
TOTAL	1,101

Table 4
Number of staff employed by FHSAs in Wales (June 1991)
FHSA	Full-time	Part-time	Total
Clwyd	51	3	54
Dyfed	43	1	44
Gwent	52	0	52
Gwynedd	38	2	40
Mid Glamorgan	66	2	68
Powys	23	0	23
South Glamorgan	56	3	59
West Glamorgan	41	2	43
TOTALS	370	13	383