To ask the Attorney-General what action he has taken following the report of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry to the effect that criminal offences may have been committed by persons interested in the outcome of that Committee's report into the takeover of House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

On 13 September I informed the Chairman of the Select Committee on Trade and Industry that some further inquiries would be necessary before a firm view could be reached about possible criminality of those mentioned by the hon. Member. On the same day the Director of Public Prosecutions asked the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to undertake those inquiries. The police report is awaited.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Crown prosecution service has received a report from the Metropolitan police concerning possible criminal offences by persons interested in the outcome of the report by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry into the takeover of House of Fraser; and if he will make a statement.

A report has not yet been received by the Crown Prosecution Service; the Metropolitan police are conducting their inquiries as quickly as the circumstances allow and will submit a report as soon as possible.

To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the class X, vote 3 cash limit and running costs limit for the Northern Ireland court service.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 3 has been increased by £560,000 from £17,996,000 to £18,556,000 and the running costs limit by £120,000 from £13,498,000 to £13,618,000. The increase is within the forecast out turn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today. The increases arises because of additional costs incurred in respect of bomb damage to a court building, a judicial removal and computer costs for a fixed penalty/penalty points scheme. Additional appropriations-in-aid of £725,000 will offset the increase in the provision.

To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the class X, vote 12 cash limit and running costs limit for the Public Record Office.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 12 will be increased by £254,000 from £21,997,000 to £22,251,000. This includes £169,000 for part take up of the £880,000 capital end year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991; and £85,000 towards the pay and associated expenses of the additional staff recommended in the recent Efficiency Scrutiny report. The running costs limit for the Public Record Office will as a result be increased by £85,000 from £19,207,000 to £19,292,000.These increases are within the forecast out turn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes will be made to the Lord Chancellor's Department's running costs limit for 1991–92.

Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the running costs limit for the Lord Chancellor's Department, class X, vote 1 will be increased by £7,413,000 from £347,899,000 to £355,312,000.The Supplementary Estimate gives effect to an increase of £1,419,000 in running costs under end year flexibility arrangements.It is also required to increase the running costs provision for certain tribunals by £391,000 and to regularise arrangements for management charges in respect of the common investment funds scheme by an increase to provision of £300,000.The Supplementary Estimate is required to increase provision in running costs by £5,125,000 to meet the cost of PSA bills carried over from 1990–91 that have been paid in 1991–92 or that remain outstanding.Finally the Supplementary Estimate gives effect to a running costs transfer of £18,000 from Her Majesty's Stationery Office for work by the Statutory Publications Office and a running costs transfer of £160,000 from the Home Office for training material to be provided through the Judicial Studies Board.The increase is within the forecast out turn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.

To ask the Attorney-General whether he proposes any changes to the Serious Fraud Office's cash and running costs limit for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class X vote 7 will be increased by £1,070,000 from £7,792,000 to £8,862,000. Within this total the Department's running costs limit will be increased by £793,000 from £7,339,000 to £8,132,000.This increase will enable the Serious Fraud Office to meet the additional costs arising from the investigation into the affairs of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. The increase is within the forecast out turn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information is in his possession which would indicate whether any naval ships from countries other than the United Kingdom were in the proximity of the Ocean Hound when it sank off the Kent coast on 10–11 August; and if he will make a statement.

Records of the movements of non-United Kingdom naval ships in and around United Kingdom waters are not maintained unless they are operating in conjunction with Royal Navy vessels. There were no such joint operations in the vicinity of the Ocean Hound on 10–11 August.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he has arranged for all records held by his Department with regard to the location of naval vessels in the area where the Ocean Hound sank on 10–11 August, to be made available to the marine accident investigation branch of the Department of Transport;(2) if he will make available all records indicating which naval vessels were in the area off the Kent coast in which the Ocean Hound sank on 10–11 August; and what evidence there is that none of the naval ships in the area collided with the Ocean Hound.

There were no Royal Navy ships or submarines at sea within 300 nautical miles of the area at the estimated time of the loss of the Ocean Hound. The marine accident investigation branch has been advised accordingly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the hectarage, number of holdings and numbers of tenants of agricultural land owned by his Department in each county or Scottish region in (a) 1980 and (b) 1991.

This information could be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce the identity of the next chief executive of the Meteorological Office.

My right hon. Friend has decided, following an open competition, to appoint Professor Julian Hunt as the chief executive of the Meteorological Office Executive Agency. He is currently the professor of fluid mechanics at the university of Cambridge. He will take up the appointment on 2 January 1992, in succession to Sir John Houghton.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all the locations which British Rail has identified at which enhanced protection arrangements, to which he referred in his answer of 22 October, Official Report, column 477, are being introduced; and if he will set out for each location what specific measures are being adopted.

British Rail have identified the following 10 locations as requiring changes to the protection: Ashford (junction with Appledore line), Bellgrove, Doncaster (junction with Sheffield line), Dorchester, West, Hanwell, Hydem, Newton, Paddock Wood, Shipley and Wimbledon (junction with Merton line).At present, BR has amended the signalman's instructions in eight cases, so that if it is not possible to permit a train to leave a station platform, trains will be held at the previous signal (ie will not be allowed to enter the station). In the other two cases, that instruction is not applicable, as the train starts from a dead-end platform. The instructions given to platform staff on the starting of trains from those platforms have been reinforced by special instructions and monitoring.Other options under consideration include modifying the signal inter-locking to achieve that precaution automatically, and modifying the track layouts to reduce the effect on services of these precautions. BR is evaluating the options in each case, and will discuss proposals with the Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate before taking further action.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which other countries of the European Community fit seat belts to all seats in coaches and minibuses.

None. EC legislation does not require seat belts or anchorages to be fitted other than on front seats or exposed seats.The Government have been seeking to have the EC directives on seat belts and anchorages amended so that fitment to all seats in minibuses and coaches can be required.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact of the fitting of seat belts to all seats in coaches and minibuses on the incidence of death and injury in coaches in the event of an accident.

The number of injuries to seated bus and coach passengers in Great Britain in 1990 was 4,670, of which 289 were serious and nine fatal. The average annual total of injuries in the years 1986–1990 was 4,202.It is believed that the fitting of seat belts could significantly reduce the minority of injuries which are due to passenger ejection or vehicle rollover. The benefit of seat belts in the case of frontal impact accidents is less clear, since the nature of the seat or surface in front of the occupant has to be taken into account. Research into this problem is continuing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about the provision of seat belts in coaches and minibuses.

We have received a great many letters from individuals, schools and other organisations on this question, the vast majority of whom are in favour of the provision of seat belts in these vehicles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions have taken place between his Department and coach manufacturers and operators about the fitting of seat belts.

The Department meets representatives of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and the Bus and Coach Council on a regular basis. Whenever the question of seat belts is raised, we emphasise the importance of making seat belts in coaches more readily available to the travelling public. Seat belts can already be fitted in most large coaches.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the likely additional cost of fitting seat belts to all seats in coaches and minibuses.

The estimated cost of fitting lap belts to every seat in a new coach is about £1,000, approximately £20 per seat.Comparable figures for minibuses are not available but would probably be higher because of the additional floor strengthening work necessary to secure the seat belt anchorages.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will quantify the savings expected this year in the road construction budget; what percentage of these savings has been reallocated to (i) road building and (ii) rail investment; and if he will make a statement.

The Government always seek to secure best value for money from its road construction budget. Estimated provision for new construction and renewal of national roads systems in England is £1,842 million gross (£1,755 million net) in the current financial year. We expect to start more than 150 miles of new roads this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects emergency telephones to be installed on the A12 Chelmsford by-pass; and if he will make a statement.

During 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what powers British Rail has to run bus services to link in with and complement its rail services.

Section 118 of the Transport Act 1985 gives the British Railways Board powers to secure the provision by other persons of services for the carriage of passengers by road where a railway service has been temporarily interrupted, or has been discontinued. The board has no power to run bus services themselves.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make in updating COEIA 9 to COBA 10 to be used in evaluating possible road schemes on a cost benefit analysis basis.

The basic parameters, assumptions and methodologies incorporated in COBA are continually reviewed and researched. Since COBA 9 was released, there have been several parameter changes which have been considered necessary, and users have accordingly been notified of changes they need to make when running COBA 9. COBA 10 will incorporate these changes in to the default parameter set, thus simplifying the task of running the program. These changes include revised national road traffic forecasts (1989), values of time, accident rates, discount rate, GDP and petrol price forecasts.Occasionally research may indicate the need for change to parameters or methodologies which cannot be incorporated by the user, and which therefore require a revised version of the program to be released. COBA 10 will incorporate some changes of this kind.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what basis his Department uses in cost benefit analysis terms on the valuation of time savings in relation to different methods of commuting to work when considering possible road schemes; and if he will make a statement.

In cost-benefit analyses of road schemes, time savings for commuting to work are given the same value, whatever the method of commuting. Commuting time is valued at the standard appraisal value for non-work time, which is based on research into what people are willing to pay to save time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce possible routes for the proposed A27 Polegate-Lewes dual carriageway; how many options he intends to publish; and if he will make a statement.

I hope to consult the public on a number of possible options for improving the A27 Lewes-Polegate route around the end of the year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much British Rail has invested, and is planning to invest, in Scotland's railway infrastructure in preparation for the opening of the channel tunnel.

British Rail plans to invest, with the private sector, in a channel tunnel freight terminal in Strathclyde. It considers the existing infrastructure is otherwise adequate for the channel tunnel services it plans to run to and from Scotland. Its substantial investment in passenger and freight rolling stock for these services will benefit Scotland as well as other parts of Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those countries in Europe whose publicly-owned railway undertakings operate bus services to complement their railway services.

The information requested is not available within the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what will be the public service obligation grant ceiling for 1991–92.

The cash ceiling on public service obligation grant for 1991–92 will be £900 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the cash limit and running costs limit for his Department.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit in class VII will be changed as follows:

Class and vote	Current cash limit	Changes	Revised cash limit
			£'000s
VII, 1	1,968,824	1—15,160	1,953,664
2	232,444	21,994	234,438
1 There is a reduction of £15,000,000 in the cash limit on this Vote to cover part of a shortfall on class VII, vote 3 and additionally £160,000 running costs has been transferred to class VII, vote 2 in respect of certain relocation costs.
2 Take up of entitlement to end year flexibility announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991, Official Report, columns 186–89. There are additions in respect of repayment services of £80,000 from Department of Trade and Industry (class IV, vote 2) and £15,000 running costs from Civil Service Commission (class XIX, vote 1) together with an addition of £1,000,000 for consultancy work connected with the sale of the Trust Ports. There is a reduction of £325,000 in Appropriations on Aid as a consequence of the transfer of Offshore Safety responsibilities to Department of Employment. There are reductions on this Vote in respect of the transfer of running costs to Department of Employment for Offshore Safety (£300,000) and to the Lord Chancellor's Department (class XIX, vote 1) for pensions (£21,000).

The running costs limit of the Department of Transport has been reduced by £306,000 from £379,290,000 to £378,984,000 as a consequence of the above.The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will release the video film taken last week by agents acting on behalf of the Marine Accident Investigation Bureau, and in particular the shots of the damage primarily to the starboard and portside of the Ocean Hound which is currently lying on the sea bed off the Kent coast; and if he will make a statement.

Marine accident investigation branch inspectors are examining the video film. The nature of the damage to the vessel is such that very thorough analysis is required.To release the film to be viewed generally would be inappropriate both because it is an important item of evidence for the inquiry in progress and because general release might be offensive to the feelings of the bereaved. It has already been shown to near family of those lost.The hon. Gentleman and I have exchanged letters, and we are to meet soon to discuss the Ocean Hound.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will give the hectarage, number of holdings and numbers of tenants of holdings of agricultural land owned by (a) his Department and (b) British Rail in each county or region in the United Kingdom in (a) 1980 and (b) 1990.

The information is not held in the format mentioned by the hon. Member and records of the 1980 holdings would not exist. The latest information on the Department's holdings is shown in our Register of Unused and Underused Land for 1990–91 in the Library. Details of individual tenancies are not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.The Department does not hold information on agricultural land owned by British Rail and the hon. Member is advised to contact the British Rail Property Board for this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of drivers breath-tested for alcohol in 1989–90; how many tests proved positive; and what was the comparable position in each of the last five years.

I have been asked to reply.Statistics of breath tests for England and Wales are published in Home Office statistical bulletins. The most recent annual statistics, for the calendar year 1990, were published in issue 16/91 on 23 July 1991. A copy of this bulletin is in the Library.The following table shows for England and Wales the number of screening breath tests reported and the number of these with positive results for the financial years 1984–85 to 1989–90.

Number of screening breath tests and those with positive results—England and Wales
	Screening breath tests
	Total tests	Number positive
	Thousands	Thousands
1984–85	203·0	174·0
1985–86	263·3	180·0
1986–872	321·1	186·0
1987–88	420·0	103·3
1988–89	455·0	99·9
1989–90	557·6	98·3
1 Estimate using monthly figures for total tests and percentage negative.
2 Improvements in the comprehensiveness of reporting were made from 1 January 1987 so that figures for earlier years are not comparable.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that local authorities issuing taxi and hire care licences are aware of any criminal record of the applicants.

Section 47 of the Road Traffic Act 1991 makes provision for this. It is due to come into effect on 1 April 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne can expect replies to his letters of 10 July, 24 July and 24 September regarding the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 29 October.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne can expect a reply to his letter of 2 September on behalf of Mr. W. M. Dewdney, of Cairngorm Cottage, Treluswell, Penryn, Cornwall.

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 1 November 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions for murder in the last 10 years have been terminated before or during court proceedings as a result of failure of material witnesses to attend;(2) how many proceedings for malicious wounding and grievous bodily harm have been terminated during the last 10 years as a result of failure of material witnesses to attend.

Information collected centrally does not identify the number of court cases which are terminated because of a failure of material witnesses to attend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in the United Kingdom are receiving psychiatric care; how many of these were previously in long-term psychiatric hospitals; how many of those who receive psychiatric care or were previously in long term psychiatric hospitals have been imprisoned for crimes of violence; and what percentage of the prison population received psychiatric care in each of the last five years.

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 will make a statement on the recent proposal by the governor, medical officers and staff at Lewes prison that suicidal prisoners should be kept with others and supervised on a 24-hour basis by prison staff.

It is the general policy of the prison service that, where prisoners are identified as being at risk of suicide, they should wherever possible be kept in shared accommodation to reduce feelings of isolation, facilitate support and ensure more effective monitoring and supervision. The options include location in a multi-cell or in a dormitory or hospital ward. Some prisoners, however, cannot always be held with others because of their difficult or violent behaviour. It is a matter for governors and their staff to decide where individual prisoners should be located, taking into account the needs and behaviour of the prisoner, the degree of suicide risk (which will vary from time to time), and the facilities and staffing which are available. It is desirable for local prisons and remand centres to have the option of holding acutely suicidal prisoners in a ward with 24-hour supervision by staff. This is not yet feasible at a number of establishments, including Lewes, but it is the prison service's intention to work towards the introduction of such wards as the necessary resources become available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Commissioner on the progress of inquiries by the Metropolitan police into possible criminal offences by persons interested in the outcome of the report by the Select Committee on Trade and Industry into the takeover of House of Fraser.

No. Any question of possible criminal offences arising out of the Department of Trade and Industry's report into the takeover of House of Fraser would be a matter for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the Director of Public Prosecutions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to give additional powers to the police to curb illegal camping by itinerants.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the hectarage, number of holdings and numbers of tenants of holdings of agricultural land owned by his Department in each county or Scottish region in (a) 1980 and (b) 1990.

The Home Office has the following agricultural land holdings in England and Wales:

Hectarage of agricultural land owned and managed by the prison service
County	Number of Holdings	1980	1990
Cambridge	1	51	28
Devon	3	751	559
Dorset	3	146	146
Buckinghamshire	1	4	4
Essex	1	6	6
Gloucestershire	1	10	10
Greater Manchester	2	46	46
Gwent	1	86	86
Hampshire	1	79	79
Hereford and Worcestershire	1	43	43
Humberside	1	102	102
Kent	3	101	85
Leicestershire	1	34	34
Lancashire	2	189	189
Lincolnshire	2	518	518
Nottinghamshire	3	353	353

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the 1991–92 cash limits within his responsibilities.

The cash limit for class IX, vote 3 will be reduced by £365,000 from £891,317,000 to £890,952,000 to reflect transfers of provision to the Department of Education and Science for additional resource units for probation students at universities (£205,000) and to the Lord Chancellor's Department for training material for magistrates on the Criminal Justice Act 1991 (£160,000).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the Government's spending on aid in 1990, expressed both in actual sum spent and as a percentage of gross national product; and if he will make a statement.

Official development assistance in 1990 was £1,490 million, which was 0·27 per cent. of gross national product. We plan the aid programme on financial years, so that figures based on calendar years may not reflect the planned level of expenditure. Our planning figure for 1991–92 as a proportion of estimated GNP is 0·31 per cent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in the 1991–92 cash limit for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit on the Overseas Aid Vote (class II vote 5) will be increased by £65,225,000 from £1,573,117,000 to £1,638,342,000. The increase provides for humanitarian relief responses in respect of Iraqi refugees, the African famine and the Bangladesh cyclone, and balance of payments support for India. It also takes account of two small transfers of resources in respect of eastern Europe involving the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health. The running costs cash limit for the ODA has also been increased by £50,000 from £44,843,000 to £44,893,000. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the new obligations and undertakings contained in the recently agreed memorandum of understanding between the United Kingdom and Chinese Governments.

The details of the memorandum of understanding were placed in the Library of the House on the same day as my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made a statement to the House on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the autonomy of Hong Kong before and after 1997.

Hong Kong has in practice long enjoyed substantial autonomy in most areas, particularly in economic, commercial and financial matters. Under the joint declaration, from 1 July 1997 the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People's Republic of China will enjoy a high degree of autonomy except for foreign and defence affairs. It will be vested with executive, legislative and independent judicial power.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress in Cambodia arising from the Paris peace agreement of 23 October.

I refer the honourable Member to the answer that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Exeter (Mr. Hannam) on 22 October. Since then, on 31 October, the UN Security Council has adopted resolution 718 authorising the UN Secretary General to designate a special representative for Cambodia and carry out preparatory work for the establishment of UN transitional authority in Cambodia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Mariusz Kuziak, a Polish citizen, was denied an entry visa to spend a fortnight with his relatives in Bury St. Edmunds.

I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration the intergovernmental conferences have given to increasing the membership of the Community; and what adjustment, if any, has been made to draft treaties on environment and political union to accommodate future new members.

The agenda of the intergovernmental conference includes consideration of extended Community action on environment, but enlargement of the Community is not formally under discussion. It is expected to be debated after the conclusion of the conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what negotiations Her Majesty's Government are engaged in with the Republic of Ukraine to reduce or eliminate nuclear weapons.

None. In addition to President Kravchuk's earlier assurances to the United Nations General Assembly, the Ukrainian Supreme Soviet recently adopted a declaration affirming its commitment to observing the provisions of START and achieving eventual non-nuclear status, including accession to the non-proliferation treaty. We have, however, had contacts with Ukrainian representatives and are urging them to adhere to these commitments.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement concerning government policy towards Albania, its economy and the establishment of democratic institutions there.

We warmly welcome the progress towards full democratisation and the establishment of a free market economy in Albania. In pursuit of this, the Government support the help being given by international institutions and maintains contact with members of the Government and opposition in Tirana.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to establish a British embassy in Albania; and if he will make a statement.

This matter is currently under review. I will inform the hon. and learned Member when a decision is taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to make any changes in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for class II, vote 2 (Other External Relations) will be increased by £8,500,000 from £156,931,000 to £165,431,000 to reflect increased costs due to our contributions to the United Nations Iraq/Kuwait observer mission, United Nations observer mission in Western Sahara, United Nations human rights verification unit in El Salvador and the United Nations special commission in Iraq.This increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total as announced in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the representations he has received from the footwear industry concerning footwear imports from China; whether he has replied; and what measures he plans to take to address their concerns.

I have received a number of letters, including an application from the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation for my Department to ask the European Commission for the suspension, under article 115 of the treaty of Rome, of free circulation of imported footwear originating in the People's Republic of China. After careful consideration of the industry's case I decided that the facts were not sufficient to warrant such a step. The federation has been informed and I have agreed to meet their representatives on 13 December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has been consulted by the European Commission on proposals for a RETEXT scheme to encourage economic development of areas of textile and clothing concentration; and whether the United Kingdom will be eligible for EC assistance under such a scheme.

I have not yet been consulted. If such a scheme proceeds, however, I would expect textile areas of the United Kingdom to be eligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on progress in the GATT Uruguay round, with particular reference to the textile and clothing trade.

The Government are continuing to work with our European Community partners for an early successful conclusion to the Uruguay round. This would involve, among other things, an agreement to reduce barriers to world trade in textiles and to integrate this sector into GATT on the basis of strengthened rules and disciplines.

To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1991–92 cash limit for the office of the Minister for the Civil Service.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £4,173,000 from £37,548,000 to £41,721,000.The increase is required to cover the increased cost of the London economic summit; the cost of launching the citizens charter and the take up of capital expenditure provision under end year flexibility arrangements. In addition certain capital expenditure provision has been reallocated to current expenditure to cover reimbursing former Prime Ministers for the cost of maintaining an additional office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for each year since their inception, the proportion that index-linked gilts represented of the total amount of gilt-edged stock in the hands of the public, that is, all holdings other than official.

The proportion of market holdings of gilts in indexed form is as follows:

End-March
1981	1·3
1982	3·1
1983	6·5
1984	7·0
1985	8·4
1986	9·1
1987	11·3
1988	11·3
1989	13·7
1990	16·0
1991	17·7

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people are currently repaying a mortgage.

According to figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders, 9,628,000 mortgages were outstanding at the end of June 1991. A figure for the number of people repaying a mortgage is not available because a proportion of mortgages are joint or second mortgages.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what substantial differences Her Majesty's Government have identified between the model set out by the Dutch EC Presidency for an independent European central bank and the Bundesbank.

The model to which the hon. Gentleman refers is set out in a document produced by the EC Presidency as a basis for further negotiation at the Inter-Governmental Conference on Economic and Monetary Union. The United Kingdom and other member states are not committed to any particular part of its contents.The Government have not sought to draw comparisons between the institution proposed in that document and the German Bundesbank.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bankruptcy petitions have been brought by Customs and Excise this year.

In the calendar year to 1 November 1991 Customs and Excise have presented 5,486 bankruptcy petitions in England and Wales, 255 in Scotland and a further 178 in Northern Ireland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many bankruptcy petitions have been brought by the Inland Revenue this year.

The number of bankruptcy (individuals) and winding-up (Companies) petitions filed by the Inland Revenue in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the period 1 January 1991 to 30 September 1991 is:

	Number
Bankruptcy petitions	2,013
Winding-up petitions	592

The precise equivalent figures for Scotland cannot be ascertained without disproportionate cost but do not exceed 74 individuals and 20 companies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the average rate of economic growth of the six founder members of the EC from 1964 to 1973 and since 1979.

Table RI in "National Accounts ESA Aggregates 1970–1989 Theme 2 Series C" published by Eurostat gives annual growth rates for gross domestic product at market prices for 1970 to 1989. Data for earlier years can be calculated from Table 25 in "National Accounts Main Aggregates Volume 1 1960–1989" published by OECD or can be obtained from the Statistical Office of the European Communities.Copies of these publications are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the differences between the 1986 taxpayers charter and the 1991 taxpayers charter represent changes in Government policy; and if he will make a statement.

The new charter seeks to convey the aims of the 1986 charter more clearly, by expressing them in a fresh and more focused way.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what alteration to the statutes governing the Bank of England's relationship with the Government would be required to comply with the Dutch Government's proposed draft treaty on economic and monetary union and the independence of member states' central banks.

The model to which the hon. Gentleman refers is set out in a document produced by the EC Presidency as a basis for further negotiation at the Inter-Governmental Conference on Economic and Monetary Union. The UK and other member states are not committed to any particular part of its contents. The issues raised by the hon. Gentleman are still under discussion and no conclusion has yet been reached.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration was given by participants in the intergovernmental conference on economic and monetary union to including among the convergence measurement criteria the levels of unemployment and investment.

The Inter-Governmental Conference on economic and monetary union has considered a range of criteria. The Dutch Presidency text reflects the view that convergence of inflation and interest rates, successful membership of the narrow band of the ERM, and the avoidance of excessive budget deficits are the appropriate tests.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the lastest available index figures for real output in manufacturing industry together with figures for the time period or periods since 1973 for the United Kingdom, France, Italy and the Federal Republic of Germany.

The latest available information of manufacturing output at 1985 prices, seasonally adjusted is as follows:

	United Kingdom	France	Italy	Germany
1973	110·5	93·7	85·5	87·9
1991
Q2	112·6	110·9	114·2	124·3
July	113·4		not available
August	112·2

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing manufacturing output less food, drink, tobacco, paper, printing and publishing in 1973, 1979, 1989 and the second quarter of 1991.

The information requested on manufacturing output less food, drink, tobacco, paper, printing and publishing cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing for each year since 1970 imports and exports of semi-finished and finished manufactures, less erratics, at 1990 prices.

Information from which trade in semi-manufactures and finished manufactures less erratics at 1990 prices may be derived is available on the Central Statistical Office database which may be accessed through the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the balance of payments on current account in terms of £ billion of an increase of 1 million in the number of unemployed.

There is no straightforward relationship between unemployment and the current account.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing for each of the years 1961 to 1990 the percentage increase in the supply of money plus quasi-money as defined by the International Monetary Fund in its International Financial Statistics Yearbook.

The information is given in the IMF's International Financial Statistics Yearbook for 1991 (pages 94 and 95) and for 1989 (also pages 94 and 95), copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the increase in the real price of houses since 1979 has had on the level of economic activity.

Increases in real house prices raise real personal sector wealth and hence probably consumer spending. But both real house prices and economic activity will to some extent be influenced by the same underlying factors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasons a majority of member states in the intergovernmental conference has given for preferring a consultative and not a legislative role for the European Parliament, as set out in the letter to him of 25 October from the Dutch Minister of Finance.

The views of the member states expressed in the Inter-Governmental Conference on Economic and Monetary Union are a matter for their respective Governments. The Treaty provisions on EMU as presently under discussion in the IGC will encompass relatively little legislation. Instead, they will develop the coordination of national economic policies between the member states, and will establish a European central bank to be responsible for monetary policy.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has any plans to give Inland Revenue officials the power to carry out spot checks on premises not registered for uniform business rate which can accommodate six or more paying guests.

Inland Revenue valuation officers and their staff have powers to enter premises in pursuance of their statutory duties, provided at least 24 hours notice in writing is given, and the authorised person produces his other authority on request. There are no plans to extend these powers.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the aggregate amount of bank guarantees currently provided by registered traders to Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in respect of VAT on imports and the proportion thereof that relates to imports from other EC member states.

Under the duty deferment scheme Her Majesty's Customs and Excise hold guarantees given by banks and insurance companies in respect of combined import VAT, customs and excise duties and levies. The total value of these guarantees fluctuates daily but the element attributable to import VAT is currently estimated to be about £2,600 million, of which some £1,600 million can be attributed to imports from other EC Member States.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of membership of the exchange rate mechanism of the European monetary system on economic growth.

Membership of the exchange rate mechanism helps to secure lower inflation, thereby providing the necessary climate for healthy sustainable growth.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his citizens charter includes measures taken by Government Departments prior to the publication of the document; and if he will make statement.

The citizens charter builds on the earlier successes of the financial management initiative and, more recently, the Next Steps programme of management reform which has led to the creation of 56 agencies. It draws on the efforts of individual Departments and agencies to improve the services they offer to their customers. The charter aims to raise the quality of public services and make them more responsive to their users through increased choice, the extension of competition and accountability, and the provision of more information on the standards of service that they can expect to receive. The citizens charter contains a wide range of new proposals for this.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes will be made to the Department for National Savings' cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 9 (expenditure of the Department for National Savings on administration, publicity costs and certain other expenses) will be increased by £2,082,000 from £181,732,000 to £183,814,000. The running costs limit for the Department for National Savings will be increased by £2,082,000 from £175,118,000 to £177,200,000. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.£582,000 of the increase is in respect of the take-up of end-year-flexibility on running costs as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991 at columns 186–190. The remaining £1,500,000 of the increase is in respect of additional expenditure on marketing activities to support the Government's funding objectives.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Statistical Office's cash or running costs limits for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 13 will be increased by £2,126,000 from £31,741,000 to £33,867,000 and the running costs limit by £1,336,000 from £31,101,000 to £32,437,000. These increases reflect measures to improve the quality of economic statistics including the redevelopment of computer systems following a review of the Department's information systems strategy, the take up of both capital and running costs end year flexibility entitlements, and transfers from Property Holdings (£78,000), class VIII, vote 7, the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (£65,000), class XIX, vote 1, the Department of Trade and Industry (£11,000), class IV, vote 2 and Her Majesty's Treasury (£9,000), class XVIII, vote 1. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planned total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed to the cash limit and running cost limit for 1991–92 for the Inland Revenue.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 6 will be increased by £6,509,000 from £1,543,608,000 to £1,550,117,000 and the Department's running cost limit by £82,574,000 from £1,521,011,000 to £1,603,585,000. The change in both the cash limit and the running costs limit arises because of the work being undertaken by the valuation office in setting up the valuation lists for the council tax.This increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost cash limit for 1991–92 for Customs and Excise.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 5 will be increased by £8,656,000 from £729,600,000 to £738,256,000 and the running cost limit for Customs and Excise by £3,096,000 from £629,800,000 to £632,896,000. The increase in the running costs limit arises from the take up of full end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991 at columns 185–90 and the costs associated with a programme for the training of overseas customs officers, the costs of which are being met by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (class II, vote 1), the Home Office (class IX, vote 3) and the Overseas Development Administration (class II, vote 5). The increase in the cash limit otherwise includes take up of the full end-year flexibility entitlement for capital expenditure; the need to pay interest on refunds of VAT being made as a result of legal decisions prior to Royal Assent to the 1991 Finance Act (from which date payments can be made from revenue); and increased expenditure on legal fees and payments to the civil superannuation vote. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Office of Information cash limit for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 14, will be increased by £7,400,000 from £20,709,000 to £28,109,000.The increase is made necessary as a result of the difference between the actual value of assets and liabilities transferred to the Central Office of Information (trading fund) and those anticipated at the time the Trading Fund Order was passed by the House. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any member of the Treasury's press and publicity staff accompanied him in Blackpool during the Conservative party conference.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: No.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public opinion surveys carried out by Her Majesty's Treasury since 12 July 1991.

[holding answer 5 November 1991]: The following public opinion surveys have been carried out on behalf of HM Treasury in connection with the forthcoming sale of shares in BT:

• August 1991, surveys covering public attitudes to BT, privatisation and awareness of the forthcoming BT sale;
• October 1991, Survey covering public expectations about level of incentives in BT sale;
• October and November 1991, further surveys covering awareness of and interest in participation in BT sale.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give the hectarage, number of holdings and numbers of tenants of holdings of agricultural land owned by (a) his Department and (b) British Coal in each county or region in the United Kingdom in (a) 1980 and (b) 1990.

My Department has no holdings of agricultural land; holdings by British Coal are a matter for the corporation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limits for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary winter supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class V, vote 9 will be increased by £4,000,000 to £5,000,000. This extra provision is sought to meet further expenditure on advisers' fees in connection with the privatisation of the coal industry.The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the hon. Member for Falmouth and Camborne can expect replies to his letters of 18 January, 29 March and 24 September regarding funding for the Falmouth school of art and design.

My hon. Friend has received interim replies. I will write again to him as soon as possible and no later than the end of November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether development education falls within the remit of Her Majesty's inspectorate for schools; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's inspectorate inspects all aspects of pupils' learning within and across the national curriculum. The national curriculum offers pupils considerable opportunity to develop ideas, knowledge arid understanding about development education particularly within the study of geography, but also in their study of cross-curricular themes and issues.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities which were more than seven days late in sending cheques for mandatory grants to students in higher education.

This information is not available centrally. Most local education authorities are coping with the record numbers of students seeking grants for higher education. I am, however, most concerned by reports that some students may be in difficulty because their grant cheques have not arrived from certain authorities. My officials are following up such reports and seeking assurances that the authorities concerned are taking action, including making provisional payments where necessary, to ensure that students do not suffer hardship.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how his Department utilises the resources and information from the Foreign Office to teach British schoolchildren about world affairs.

It is for schools to determine how best to deliver the statutory requirements of the national curriculum so as to meet the needs of all pupils. It is they who are therefore charged with selecting the most effective teaching methods and the resources and information necessary to support them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what scope there is within the national curriculum for world development issues to be studied in British schools.

The national curriculum allows ample scope for world development issues to be studied. National curriculum geography is the main vehicle for this, although other subjects may play a part. The attainment targets and programmes of study in geography afford a balanced perspective of development—its causes, constraints and effects—in a wide range of countries at different levels of economic development.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to protect school children from exploitation by commercial groups sending teaching materials into schools by setting up a national accreditation scheme for health education materials.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend believes that judgments about the use of such materials are best left to individual schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask for all of the views expressed by parents of children attending Hearnville school, Balham, London SW12 before approving any decision made by Wandsworth council to close this school; and if he will make a statement.

Wandsworth council has not published proposals relating to the closure of Hearnville school. If it does so, parents of children attending the school will have the opportunity to make their views known during the two-month objection period following publication. My right hon. Friend will take those views into account in determining any proposals which come before him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps his Department is taking to review the Education (School Buildings) Regulations 1981; which bodies are being consulted; and when new draft regulations will be proposed.

Work is currently in progress on a range of topics as part of the review of the School Premises Regulations. The following organisations were sent a consultation letter by DES. Others were consulted by the Welsh Office.Local Authority Associations

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he conducted and what evidence he assembled for his appraisal of the function of course work as a part of the GCSE; and if he will place the material in the Library.

I refer the honourable Member to my reply of 21 October to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett), Official Report, column 362.My right honourable and learned Friend is currently considering advice on GCSE coursework from the School Examinations and Assessment Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will make a statement on the reasons for the differences in the form and substance of the parents charter commitments on the publication of examination and test results in England, Wales and Scotland;(2) whether performance tables on school examination results will be published in the same way throughout Great Britain if the parents charter is enacted.

The parents charters for England, Scotland and Wales all contained a commitment that performance information about schools would be published in order to help parents choose a school for their child and monitor the school's performance. The necessary new powers are included in the Education (Schools) Bill which was introduced today. Detailed arrangements for implementing the commitment will be set out in regulations in due course; these may vary according to the particular circumstances in each country, but will all be subject to parliamentary scrutiny.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about his Department's expenditure plans for the financial years 1992–93 to 1994–95.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his statement today, the provision for the Department of Education and Science's own spending programme in 1992–93 will be £7,947 million, which is £627 million or 8·6 per cent. higher than the estimated outturn for 1991–92. This figure includes central Government expenditure on higher education, science, schools, and sport; it also includes specific grants to local authorities and credit approvals for capital expenditure by LEAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he received the annual report of the Economic and Social Research Council for 1990–91; and if he will make a statement.

The annual report of the Economic and Social Research Council has been submitted to me under the requirements of the Science and Technology Act 1965 and a copy is being laid before the House today.I was most interested to read about the council's achievements during its 25th anniversary year. I would note in particular its publication of new "Postgraduate Training Guidelines" issued after widespread consultation to help establish higher standards of training for research students in the social sciences; and the launch of the ESRC's largest-ever research initiative to examine the causes and consequences of global environmental change.I congratulate the council on these and its other achievements during its silver jubilee year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any changes to announce to cash limits on votes within his responsibility for 1991–92.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limits for class XI, vote 1, schools, research and miscellaneous services, class XI, vote 2, higher and further education, and class XI, vote 4, administration will be changed. The cash limit changes are as follows:

Class and vote	Current cash limit	Change	Revised/cash limit
	£	£	£
Class XI, vote 1	712,863,000	+5,607,000	718,470,000
Class XI, vote 2	2,916,285,000	+518,000	2,916,803,000
Class XI, vote 4	98,692,000	+7,925,000	106,617,000

The increase on class XI, vote 1 includes the full take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement of £6,085,000 announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991, columns