To ask the Attorney-General if the Lord Chancellor will raise the level at which criminal legal fees are referred to the central taxation units from £4,000 to £8,000 for a trial period.

No. The central taxing teams were established only 10 months ago for the purpose of determining claims over £4,000. They are still settling into their role and it would be premature to consider changing it.When a number of claims for less than £4,000 are linked to claims for between £4,000 and £8,000, circuit taxing directors have authority to release these claims to the court for determination and this is done wherever possible. This enables the teams to concentrate on those cases which properly require their expertise. The Lord Chancellor keeps the progress of the teams under close review.

To ask the Attorney-General when he received an invitation from Hull city council for him to join them in an enforcement action against illegal Sunday trading; and what was his response.

The town clerk and chief executive of Hull city council wrote to me on 11 September 1991 and 29 November 1991 and invited me to co-operate with local authorities in enforcing the provisions of the Shops Act 1950. He was informed on both occasions that I did not consider that it was appropriate for me at present to intervene. I explained my views in the answer which I gave to the private notice question from my hon. Friend the Member for Orpington (Mr. Stanbrook) on 27 November 1991 at column 913.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made to ensure that copies of the consolidated treaty of Rome, as amended at Maastricht, are available (a) to Members of Parliament and (b) to members of the general public; and when these arrangements will be put in place.

A total of 838 copies of the draft treaty on European union agreed at Maastricht were made available to Members of Parliament on 16 December 1991. The text is now being prepared for signature, provisionally scheduled for 7 February. The final text of the treaty will then be published as a Command Paper. Once this has been laid before I he House, it will be available to the public through HMSO.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Saudi Arabia about financing the military training of young muslims in Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Since the US/Soviet agreement of last September to halt arms supplies to both sides in Afghanistan we have urged the Saudis, both bilaterally and with our EC partners, to provide only humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. The Saudi Government have told us that they fully support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to find a political solution to the conflict.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present number and current waiting time for interviews of (a) men and (b) women in (i) Bombay, (ii) New Delhi, (iii) Karachi and (iv) Islamabad, who are seeking entry visas to join either their wife or husband in the United Kingdom, as of 14 January.

As at 14 January, the numbers of husbands and wives waiting for a first interview for an entry clearance to join their spouses in the United Kingdom, together with the estimated waiting times in months, are:

	(a) Husbands	((b)Wives	Waiting time
(i) Bombay	73	238	3
(ii) New Delhi	80	158	3
(iii) Karachi	40	41	2
(iv) Islamabad	978	690	3

There is no difference in the waiting times for husbands and wives.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out the provisions of treaty and other international law underlying Her Majesty's Government's assessment that the Government of Libya is not a competent authority to investigate and try the two Libyan nationals named in the warrant issued by the Lord Advocate.

It is not international law which has led us to the conclusion that it would be wholly inappropriate for Libya to try the accused. The reasons for our conclusion are contained in the written reply I gave the hon. Gentleman on 17 January 1991, at column 713.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will supply a copy of the prosecution evidence against the Libyan citizens alleged to be responsible for the murders at Lockerbie to the Libyan court inquiring into the case.

No. As the Lord Advocate said in his statement on 14 November 1991, proceedings became active for the purpose of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 when the sheriff granted warrants for arrest and he could not therefore comment on the evidence on which the charges are based. The statement made by the Lord Advocate contains details of the allegations against the accused. Copies of the statement are available in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to start issuing the full range of British visas in Teheran.

As I said to my hon. Friend on 17 January, at column 712, visas for some categories of visitors from Iran are already issued by our embassy in Tehran. We expect to expand the operation in stages as circumstances allow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for Ministers or officials of the Iranian Government to meet their British opposite numbers in London and Teheran.

We are in regular contact with the Iranians through diplomatic channels in both London and Tehran. There have been occasional contacts at ministerial level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to reorganise his Department following the break-up of the former Soviet Union and establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Over the past five months the FCO department that deals with political questions in the former Soviet Union has been reorganised and reinforced to take account of the independence of former Soviet republics. Departments dealing with economic aspects, including the know-how fund, are devoting increased time and resources to the member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States; and the redeployment of further resources in the area is now being considered. Interdepartmental co-ordination has also been strengthened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will obtain for his Departmental library a copy of the Yorkshire Television's "First Tuesday" programme broadcast on 7 January on the massacre of civilians at the Santa Cruz cemetery in East Timor in November last year; and what recent representations he has made to the Indonesian Government over these murders.

We have a copy of the broadcast. The Indonesian authorities have been made fully aware of our views and those of the European Community on the incident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the continuing occupation of East Timor by Indonesia.

The Indonesian authorities are well aware that we do not recognise their annexation of East Timor. We continue to support the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to bring about a solution.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about how North Korea was able to build a military grade plutonium production reactor outside international safeguards based on blueprints of the United Kingdom military magnox plants at Calder hall, Sellafield.

Technical information about the Magnox reactors at Calder hall, Sellafield has been in the public domain for over 25 years. We continue to urge the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to fulfil her obligations under the non-proliferation treaty and sign an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency which would place all of her nuclear facilities under safeguards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Kingdom as a depository state for the nuclear non-proliferation treaty was consulted by the respective Governments of North and South Korea during their recent successful negotiations to establish a full nuclear safeguards inspection regime at nuclear facilities in North Korea.

The recent joint declaration between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea which provides, inter alia, for mutual inspection of each other's nuclear facilities is a wholly bilateral agreement which does not fall within the remit of the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons—NPT. While we naturally welcome the conclusion of the agreement, we still look to the DPRK to fulfil her obligations under the NPT and sign a fullscope safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Governments of the Baltic states on the continuing presence of Soviet troops in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia; and if he will make a statement.

President Landsbergis of Lithuania raised the matter of former Soviet troops in the Baltic states with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and me when he visited the United Kingdom in October 1991. The President asked Her Majesty's Government for their support in demanding the complete withdrawal of the former Soviet forces. We were happy to give our support.Although we have not received any direct formal representations from the Baltic states on this matter since October, the Baltic states have raised it since at bilateral and multilateral meetings.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the relevant authorities on the continuing presence of Soviet troops in the Baltic states; and if he will make a statement.

HM ambassador to Russia has raised our concerns over the presence of former Soviet troops in the Baltic states with the authorities of the Commonwealth of Independent States. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs also discussed this matter with the President of the Russian Federation on 20 January. We have expressed the hope that early agreement will be reached on a timetable for the withdrawal of these forces.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will take steps to ensure that the continued conflict and instability in southern Somalia is on the agenda for the current month's New York summit on the role of the United Nations.

We do not expect the Heads of Government Security Council summit to address regional issues in detail.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Kenyan Government about the recent detention of Professor Wangari Maathai by the Kenyan authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Professor Wangari Maathai is one of a number of Kenyan citizens arrested for alleged participation in a press conference held on 10 January at which President Moi was accused of planning an imminent military coup.Professor Maathai has been charged with publishing false rumours under section 66 of the Kenyan penal code and has been released on bail. Her case will be heard on 27 January. She has categorically denied that she was ill-treated while in police custody.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals against the 1990 rating assessments in the Bournemouth area are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Appeals against 1990 rating assessments in the Bournemouth area are dealt with by the Dorset valuation and community charge tribunal. At the end of 1991 the tribunal had outstanding some 9,100 such appeals in respect of the whole of Dorset.Valuation and community charge tribunals are independent bodies. The prioritisation and timing of cases is primarily a matter for them. However, the Department wrote to all English tribunals in June 1991 urging them to progress 1990 list appeals as quickly as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what measures exist to protect single women listed in the community charge register from being trageted by mail order firms, telephone canvassers and door-to-door salesmen; and if he will make a statement.

The extract of the community charges register which each charging authority must hold available for public inspection may show only property addresses and chargepayers' surnames and initial letters of any other names. It may not provide any indication of sex. Registration officers may not supply the extract to any other person except so far as it is necessary to permit inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the areas where the Boundary Commission is carrying out reviews in the county of Essex.

The Local Government Boundary Commission is carrying out reviews on the Greater London-Essex boundary and also on the parish boundaries of Rochford district council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were owned by each district council in Northamptonshire at the time that the right to buy was introduced; how many are owned at the latest date; what percentage that is of the original figure; and how many uncompleted applications there are at the latest date.

The information available from local authorities' annual housing investment programme returns is as follows.

Number of dwellings owned by the authority at 1 April
	1980	1991	(2) as percentage of (1)
	(1)	(2)
Corby	13,628	8,143	60
Daventry	6,082	4,133	68
East Northamptonshire	6,047	4,849	80
Kettering	6,626	5,016	76
Northampton	12,925	16,350	126
South Northamptonshire	5,745	3,859	67
Wellingborough	7,750	6,009	78

Right to buy was introduced in October 1980. Changes in local authorities' dwellings stocks include other losses and gains apart from sales through the right to buy. In the case of Northampton district council, the 1991 stock reflects the acquisition of some 6,400 dwellings from the Commission for New Towns in April 1985.Information on uncompleted applications to these authorities is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to relieve householders whose property has been repossessed from the liability to pay either the community charge or the council tax on more than one property.

Since 1 April 1991 no standard community charge has been payable where the person subject to the charge is the mortgagor and the lender is in possession under the mortgage. We intend to continue this provision under the council tax.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now in a position to announce his decision on the planning appeal regarding Burley-on-the-Hill, Rutland, a grade one listed building.

The Secretary of State is in receipt of the inspector's report and will announce his decision soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the failures of security in the privatised Property Services Agency that permitted unauthorised individuals access to Government safes and cabinets.

PSA Services has not yet been privatised and is still a Government Department. The accounting officer will be giving evidence to the Public Accounts Committee on 27 January on the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which comments on the accounting problems relating to security furniture. The Government will, of course, consider any report the committee makes on this issue.The computer recording the accounting material had no data on it which would facilitate access to Government safes and cabinets. Unauthorised access to it would not have created any threat to security.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to announce his decision on the application by Bassetlaw district council to build a permanent site for gipsy travelllers at Fox Covert, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

My right hon. Friend expects to reach a decision shortly, and I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to review the present system of payment of allowances to members serving on local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

The new system took effect in April 1991. It will be reviewed after a year's operation, in consultation with the local authority associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the extent to which private landlords reduce the rent charged to their tenants after a rent officer has assessed a market rent for housing benefit subsidy purposes which is substantially lower than the initial rent charged.

We have no evidence as to whether the rents asked by private sector landlords reflect the assessments of market rents provided by rent officers to local authorities for housing benefit purposes. Rent officers interpret the rental market, which is influenced by many factors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Countryside Commission's review of national parks.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Secretary of State for Wales have today published the Government's response to the national parks review. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The Government are grateful to the Countryside Commission for initiating a review of the policies and practices of the national parks in England and Wales. The review was undertaken by an independent panel under the chairmanship of Professor Ron Edwards. He and his team are to be congratulated on their work, which was wide ranging and thorough.The Government reiterate in the strongest terms their commitment to the national parks. We have addressed those recommendations, drawn from the review, which were commended to us by the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales. Our response is a positive one which reflects our concern to ensure the future of the parks into the next century and strikes a balance between the park purposes of conservation and public enjoyment on the one hand and the needs of those who live and work in them on the other. We are confident that our response is the firmest assurance to all those who cherish the parks that their future is secure and that the proper protection and management of Britain's finest landscapes is assured.The response confirms our intention to create all national park authorities as independent bodies, as the Lake District and Peak District already are, though still within the local government framework. We propose further detailed consultation on the membership of national park authorities designed to secure, among other things, truly local representation and to explore the establishment of local consultative bodies for each park to ensure that the views of those who live and work in the parks are fully taken into account in the policies and practices of park authorities.The Government intend to restate national park purposes to refer expressly to quiet enjoyment and understanding and to conservation of the wildlife and cultural heritage; to take steps to ensure that responsibility for detailed planning in their areas should rest with national park authorities; and to invite local highway authorities, where they have not already done so, to delegate rights of way responsibilities to national park authorities.The Government's objective is that major development should not take place in the national parks save in exceptional circumstances, but, if it is, the work should be done to high environmental standards. Because of the serious impact that major developments may have on the natural beauty of the parks, applications for such development must be subject to the most rigorous examination. In our response, we have developed a single test against which all major proposals should be considered.We also intend to consider further the countryside agencies' recommendations that there should be a statutory duty on Ministers and public agencies in the exercise of their responsibilities as they affect national parks. In considering the wording of such a duty, it will be necessary to recognise that it cannot simply override the purposes or objectives of individual Ministers or public bodies but should be designed to ensure that they take national parks' purposes into account in any situation where there is a potential conflict.The Countryside Commission endorsed the review panel's conclusion that the New Forest should be formally recognised as a national park with a tailor-made constitution. The New Forest is a uniquely valuable area in landscape and nature conservation terms and it deserves the strongest protection in keeping with its national and international importance, while accepting the review panel's conclusion that it would not be appropriate to establish the New Forest as a national park under the 1949 legislation. We believe, however, that the recommendations put forward by the New Forest committee—on which the national and local government bodies with interests in the forest are represented—provide a sound basis for achieving improved protection. The Government therefore intend to take steps to designate the New Forest area as one of national significance within which the strongest protection of landscape and scenic beauty should apply. With this would be linked a mechanism for funding and statutory status for the committee to reflect its role in co-ordinating the management of the area. The position would be essentially analogous to that of the Broads which enjoys the same degree of protection as a national park but has its own institutional arrangements tailored to the local situation. Following local consultation legislation will be needed to implement these proposals.The Government look to the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Council for Wales to work closely with the national park authorities in carrying forward those recommendations of the review panel which do not call for direct Government action.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local residents and preservation societies at the prospect of substantial extensions to Watch Tower house in the site zoned as green belt on the Ridgeway at Mill Hill; and if he will give an assurance that he has no plans to alter Government policy in a way that would facilitate further developments on this site; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 20 January 1992]: No representations have been received about proposed extensions to Watch Tower house on the Ridgeway at Mill Hill in the London borough of Barnet.It is for the local planning authority to consider any applications for planning permission, having regard to their recently adopted unitary development plan arid to determine applications in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.The Government's policy on green belts remains as set out in planning policy guidance note 2 and circular 12/91. There are no proposals to alter the policy that:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newport, West, 13 December, Official Report, column 554, he will list the energy organisations to which he sent the policy planning guidance notes on renewable energy, to which he makes reference.

[holding answer 20 January 1992]: The energy organisations to which the draft planning policy guidance notes were sent are as follows:

• Association of Independent Electricity Producers
• Mersey Barrage Company Ltd.
• British Wind Energy Association
• Severn Tidal Power Group
• Office of Electricity Regulation
• Combined Heat and Power Association
• Water Power Users' Association
• Non-Fossil Purchasing Agency
• Electricity Association Ltd.
• Centre for Alternative Technology
• Adaprojects Ltd. (Ecogen Ltd.)
• Anglesey Mining plc
• Wind Power Systems Ltd.
• Northumbrian Water Ltd.
• South Wales Electricity
• Abbey Produce (Ramsey) Ltd.
• Cambridge Health Authority
• Oiltools Offshore Services Ltd.
• James Paget Hospital
• West Beacon Farm Power
• UK Wind Farms Ltd.
• Resource Conservation plc
• Blyth Harbour Wind Farm
• J. Stobart & Sons Ltd.
• Ren Energy Sys Ltd.
• Carters Wind Turbines Ltd.
• Windcluster Ltd.
• Whitendale Generation Ltd.
• Taff-Ely Windfarm Ltd.
• Windstar Turbines Ltd.
• Cornwall Light and Power Co. Ltd.
• West Coast Wind Farms
• Aylescott Driers
• Cold Northcott Wind Farm Ltd.
• Wind Energy Group Ltd.
• Yorkshire WT Ltd.
• D. Gillson & Son Ltd.
• Century Steels Ltd.
• Mr. Hector Buckley
• Y. W. Enterprises Ltd.
• Sutcliffe Hockenhull
• Severn Trent Water
• Low Wood Products Ltd.
• Miss Cooke and Miss Newton
• National Power
• R. J. Armstrong Evans
• Arc Ltd.
• Thomas Graveson Ltd.
• Blue Circle WM
• Aveley Methane Ltd.
• Landfill Gas Ltd.
• EME Generation Ltd.
• Tarmac Econowaste Ltd.
• BFI Packington Ltd.
• Bidston Methane Ltd.
• WWM Mainsprint
• NORWEB Generation
• Wimpey WM
• O'Brien Energy Europe Ltd.
• Merseyside Power Trading Ltd.
• Summerleaze Ltd.
• Darrington Quarries Ltd.
• Broom Energy Ltd.
• W. Yorks Waste Management
• British Coal Corporation
• S. E. London CHP Ltd.
• Cory Environmental Ltd.
• Energy Supplies Ltd.
• Northfleet Waste to Energy
• Babcock Power Investments Ltd.
• Southampton Geothermal Heating Co. Ltd.
• Wessex Waste Management
• Yorkshire Renewable Energy
• Thames Water Utilities
• Biogas Generation Ltd
• North West Water Ltd.
• Arigen Ltd.
• Adams Integrated Waste Ltd.
• Northumbrian Environmental Management Ltd.
• Slough Estates
• MANWEB plc
• Midlands Electricity plc
• Northern Electric plc
• South Western Electricity plc
• Southern Electricity plc
• SEEBOARD plc
• London Electricity plc
• Yorkshire Electricity Group plc
• East Midlands Electricity plc
• Eastern Electricity plc
• OFFER
• Vestas Danish Wind Technology
• Renewable Energy Systems Ltd.
• UK Atomic Energy Authority
• Liquefied Petroleum Gas Industry
• Petroleum Industry Association
• Onshore Oil Operators' Group
• British Nuclear Fuels Ltd.
• The National Grid (CEGB)
• British Gas plc

In addition to the 100 energy organisations mentioned, comments were also invited from more than 200 other organisations and individuals including local authority associations, professional and planning bodies, and conservation organisations.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps Her Majesty's Government intend to take in the current year to achieve full compliance with United Kingdom obligations under article VI of the United Nations nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The Government's policy continues to be to work for secure defence at the lowest possible level of armaments, both conventional and nuclear, building on the arms reductions announced by us and others in 1991. The immediate priority is to ensure full compliance in the Commonwealth of Independent States with the arms control undertakings of the former Soviet Union.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out the plans Her Majesty's Government have to promote the role of the United Nations in (a) disarmament and (b) environmental protection, during the United Kingdom presidency of the United Nations Security Council in 1992.

We hope that the high-level meeting of the United Nations Security Council which I shall be chairing on 31 January, will stress the importance the council attaches to arms control, to the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, and to responsibility in the export of conventional arms. We are also playing a full part in the preparations for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in June.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will raise at the next meeting of the European Council the size of the net contribution made by the United Kingdom to the EC; and if he will make a statement.

I have at present no plans to do so. The Fontainebleau mechanism negotiated in 1984 continues to provide a significant abatement to our contributions, with a cumulative benefit of some £12.5 billion by the end of 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Indonesian Government with regard to President Suharto's accelerated transmigration programme.

We have not had any recent discussions with the Indonesian Government on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to increase the amount of aid to Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

The know-how fund was extended to Bulgaria in February 1991 to provide British advice, skills and training in assisting the transition to democracy and a market economy. In this first year an initial range of projects has been developed involving some £1.3 million of commitments mainly in the financial, management, employment and public administration sectors. I expect the programme to expand as more know-how fund projects are identified.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will meet his EC counterparts to increase the amount of food aid to Bulgaria; and if he will make a statement.

The need for food aid for central and eastern European countries is kept under close review by the Council and Commission. Aid to these countries will be considered by the Council on 3 February. Neither Her Majesty's Government nor the Commission is aware of any Bulgarian requests for food aid this winter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will specify the information to be made available to parents and the general public concerning a school's performance; and if he will make a statement.

We issued on 10 January a consultation document covering our proposals for the publication of performance information in 1992. Copies of the document were placed in the Library.We shall extend the content and coverage of our proposals from 1993 using the powers to be made available under the Education (Schools) Bill.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if Her Majesty's inspectorate will continue to employ inspectors with a specific responsibility for and experience in special educational provision; and if he will make a statement;(2) what measures he proposes to ensure that the proposed local school inspection teams take account of provision of special education; and if he will make a statement;(3) what plans he has to ensure that the Department continues to receive information and independent advice on special education from Her Majesty's inspectorate.

Under the Education (Schools) Bill. Her Majesty's chief inspector of schools will be under a duty to keep the Secretary of State informed about the quality, standards and efficiency of education in schools, and to advise the Secretary of State on specific issues either on request or as the chief inspector sees fit. The provision of information and advice on special educational needs will therefore form part of the chief inspector's duties. The arrangements made to meet this responsibility will be a matter for the chief inspector.The Bill will also place a general duty on registered inspectors to report on quality, standards and efficiency when carrying out inspections under the new arrangements. Provision made for pupils with special educational needs will fall to be considered under each of these headings. I am confident that the chief inspector's guidance to registered inspectors will deal with the need to cover this aspect in every school inspection.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money his Department has spent on producing its citizens charter proposals, arising from production, distribution and publicity costs.

The citizens charter promised publication of a charter for parents and an updated Guide to the national curriculum. The total cost as at 31 December 1991 of producing, distributing and publicising the parents charter was £1.853 million. The estimated cost to date of producing and distributing the guide to the national curriculum is £0.423 million; no publicity costs have been incurred.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why it was decided to abandon the undertaking to local education authorities that the tests for seven-year-old children would not be published.

Parents and others involved in education have every right to see the results nationally and at local level: the assurance given when collecting the results was that neither individual schools' nor individual pupils' results would be identified. This assurance has been honoured by my Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science why it was decided not to moderate the tests for seven-year-old school children undertaken in 1991 to ensure consistency of testing between local education authorities.

Consistency of testing seven-year-olds was secured through the use by all schools of standard tests against the clear criteria of the national curriculum; the guidance to all schools provided by the School Examinations and Assessment Council—SEAC—and the duty on local education authorities, under the oversight of SEAC, to monitor and ensure the consistency of their schools' assessments in relation to national standards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many boys and girls passed one of more A-level subject for each year from 1985–86; and how many pupils gained one or more O-levels from 1985–86 both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the 17-year-old population for A-level subjects and as a percentage of all maintained school leavers for O-level subjects.

For the academic years 1985–86 to 1989–90, the latest year for which information is available, the numbers and percentages of pupils gaining one or more A-level or O-level passes in maintained schools were as are shown in the following table.

School leavers with one or more A/AS passes Maintained schools—England
	Number of leavers (thousands)			As a percentage of the 17-year-old population
	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
1985–86	46.42	45.45	91.87	12.2	12.5	12.3
1986–87	46.84	46.18	93.02	12.5	12.9	12.7
1987–88	47.19	45.97	93.16	12.9	13.2	13.0
1988–89	46.92	48.68	95.59	12.7	13.8	13.2
1989–90	51.00	54.31	105.31	14.7	16.5	15.6

School leavers with no passes at A-level but with one or more passes at O-level at grade C or better (including passes at GCSE grade A-C and CSE grade 1) Maintained schools—England
	Number of leavers (thousands)			As a percentage of leavers from maintained schools
	Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
1985–86	119.90	139.64	259.55	35.1	42.0	38.5
1986–87	119.10	139.27	258.37	34.9	42.2	38.5
1987–88	112.95	134.44	247.40	36.0	44.7	40.2
1988–89	114.25	129.72	243.96	39.2	46.4	42.8
1989–90	106.57	122.35	228.92	39.1	46.6	42.8

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science for each of the financial years 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94, whether it is Government policy that any surplus of revenue over expenditure should be at the disposal of the governors of East Devon college of further education at Tiverton or that it should be paid over to the local education authority.

For 1991–92 the treatment of any surplus of revenue over expenditure is determined by the provisions of the scheme for local management of further education colleges in Devon.The position in 1992–93 and thereafter will be subject to the passage of the Further and Higher Education Bill currently before Parliament. It is proposed that the balance of a college's income and expenditure in local authority accounts for 1992–93 will transfer to the new corporate body to be established under the legislation. Regulations will be drawn up under which such balances can be determined and attributed to colleges. Wherever possible, that will be by reference to the arrangements set out in the local management scheme for the local authority concerned.Subject to the financial memoranda agreed between individual colleges and the Further Education Funding Council (England), which, from April 1993, will fund institutions, it is intended that any surplus of revenue over expenditure after that date will be at the disposal of the new corporate bodies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students in advanced education now and in 1979.

There were 1,103,700 higher education students in Great Britain institutions in the academic year 1990–91 compared with 777,800 in 1979–8.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students attending polytechnics this year; and what was the corresponding figure for 1987.

There were 317,500 students attending polytechnics in England in the academic year 1990–91, compared with 242,200 in 1987.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students currently in higher and university education; and what were the numbers in 1979, 1983 and 1987.

The numbers of students in higher education in Great Britain universities, polytechnics and colleges, including the Open university and the centrally funded colleges in Scotland in the years 1979, 1983 and 1987 were 777,800, 871,300 and 1,066,700 respectively. Numbers of students in academic year 1990–91, the latest for which information is available, were 1,103,700.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assessments his Department makes of the comparative level of achievement of British universities relative to those in other countries.

Comparisons between education systems are notoriously difficult. However, statistical comparisons based on internationally accepted definitions show that the proportion of the relevant age group gaining higher education qualifications in the United Kingdom is among the highest in Europe. Her Majesty's inspectorate, as part of its foreign travel programme, compares and contrasts the quality of provision in higher education institutions at home and abroad.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of foreign students with places at universities, and the approximate revenue generated.

In the academic year 1990–91, there were 56,409 students from overseas attending full-time courses at universities in Great Britain. Universities received a total of approximately £232 million in tuition fee income from these students.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of adult illiteracy in the United Kingdom; what definition he uses of illiteracy; and if he will make a statement.

There are very few adults in the United Kingdom who cannot read or write at all, but there are substantial numbers who cannot cope with the demands of everyday life. They cannot, for example, fill in forms, check pay-slips or give the correct change. Such people are often described as being "functionally illiterate".The adult literacy and basic skills unit—ALBSU—which advises the Government, estimates that 5.5 million people in England and Wales have some difficulty with reading, writing, spelling and basic mathematics. That cannot be a precise figure, but there is no doubt that there are still many people requiring help.The Government give high priority to basic skills—that is literacy and numeracy—education for adults. Local education authorities are currently the main providers of this, but central government also gives support, to ALBSU, and through a number of central initiatives. Grants to ALBSU have increased more than six-fold over the past decade, to over £3 million in 1991–92.The Further and Higher Education Bill, which is currently before Parliament, will strengthen the position of basic skills. The further education funding councils will be under a specific duty to secure adequate provision of basic skills education for adults.Such provisions should make the best use of whatever facilities and expertise are available and should be readily accessible to local communities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy when he expects the renewable energy advisory group strategy review to be reported to him; and what arrangements he proposes to make to publish its contents.

The report of the renewable energy advisory group is expected by April and it will be published shortly after that.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy, pursuant to his oral statement to the House on 5 November, Official Report, columns 329–31, on the 1991 Renewable Energy Order, what is his most up-to-date estimate of the amount of up-and-running installed capacity measured on a declared net capacity basis, on I January 1993, 1994 1995, 1996 and 1997, based on an equivalent basis to the 472 MW of capacity to be installed by 1 January 1998.

Orders setting a non-fossil fuel obligation specify the amounts of non-fossil sourced generating capacity that the regional electricity companies must have available during the periods covered by the order, and the regional electricity companies must satisfy the Office of Electricity Regulation that they have made arrangements to secure that capacity. However, the amount of such capacity that is actually available to the regional electricity companies at any particular time will largely depend on the extent to which new projects are able to obtain planning permission, and any other necessary consents, and to go forward to commissioning.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what date he has set for his meeting with the Major Energy Users Council; what is the proposed agenda for the meeting; and if he will make a statement.

I have offered to meet the Major Energy Users Council to discuss electricity prices; a meeting has been arranged for next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list those advanced gas-cooled reactors belonging to Nuclear Electric which have their main steam and hot reheat steam pipework manufactured from 0.5 per cent. chrome, 0.5 per cent. molybdenum and 0.25 per cent. vanadium (CMV) alloy steel.

This is an operational matter for Nuclear Electric plc.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on what date he was first advised of the recorded disappearance of 10.1 kg of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay.

My Department was advised of the nuclear materials discrepancy at Dounreay on 3 December 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what estimate he has made of loss of revenue to Dounreay reprocessing plant following its closure after the recorded disappearance of 10.1 kg of highly enriched uranium.

None. This is a commercial matter for the management of the Atomic Energy Authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what aspects of the accounting procedures at Dounreay are to be re-assessed following the recorded disappearance of 10.1 kg of highly enriched uranium from Dounreay.

The inquiry report into the nuclear materials discrepancy at Dounreay has just been received and is being studied by officials of my Department. I will consider what information may be provided when examination of the report and its findings have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy on how many occasions in the past three months he has had (a) written and (b) telephone communication with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority about the operations of Dounreay nuclear reprocessing plant.

We have regular contact with the UKAEA regarding all aspects of their activities, including those carried out at Dounreay.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on the arrangements for disposal of Sudbury House by Nuclear Electric; and what proportion of the proceeds will be taken by the Exchequer.

The arrangements for any disposal of Sudbury House are a commercial matter for Nuclear Electric plc. Any proceeds from disposal would remain in the public sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy what is the process whereby gas pipelines are granted planning permission; what provisions exist regarding public inquiries in relation to gas pipelines; and if he will make a statement.

The following procedures apply.Gas pipelines over 10 miles long which are authorised by the Secretary of State for Energy under section 1 of the Pipelines Act 1962 receive deemed planning permission under section 5 of the Act except in those cases where a local planning authority maintains an objection. In these circumstances a planning inquiry is held.Gas pipelines 10 miles long or less are covered by section 2 of the Act and must have planning permission from the relevant local planning authority.British Gas has permitted development rights under the General Development Order 1988 which gives it a general grant of planning permission.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list the items for which the issuing of export licences was withheld on the recommendation of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art during the half-year ended 31 December 1991, specifying in each case the valuation and whether an item was eventually exported

Description of item	Valuation £	outcome
The Bromley Davenport Altarpiece, by Taddeo Gaddi	2,011,500.00	Export licence granted
A documentary urbino dish of Cardinal's hat form	189,975.00	Export licence granted
A drawing, 'A wooded landscape with low hills: a view of the Tiber',by Nicholas Poussin	156,450.00	Purchased jointly by the Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam museums
A drawing, 'A wooded landscape with a River God gathering fruit', by Nicholas Poussin	134, 100.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'St. George and the Dragon', by Francesco Di Rossi il Salviati	104,97500	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'The head of the Oriental in profile to the left', by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione	201,15000	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'The head of a women looking up', by Guido Reni	145,27500	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'A reclining nude women lifting a curtain',' by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri il Guercino	106,162–50	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'A wooded upland landscape with figures outside the gate of a castle', by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri il Guercino	61,462–25	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'Saint Ivo intervening on behalf of the poor, Christ with Saint Jerome and three saints above', by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona	72,637–50	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'A wooded river landscape with fishermen in a boat', by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona	72,637–50	Export licence refused
A drawing, 'A wooded rover landscape with cascades and three men dragging a net', by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona	268,200.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'The Sacrifice of Isaac' by Giovanni Battista Gaulli il Baciccio	111,750.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'Two women and a baby with a cat', by Francessco Vanni	78,225.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'An allegory of the labours of Hercules', by Ciro Fern	35,760.00	Purchased by the Fitzwilliam Museum
A drawing, 'Design for a tomb slab of Cardinal Carlo Emanuele Pio Da Carpi', by Gian Lorenzo Bermini	40,230.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'A philosopher pointing to the ground, a youth beside him', by Salvatore Rosa	50,287–50	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'The head of a young boy looking up to the left', by Jan Cossiers	44,700.00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'The adoration of the shepherds', by Jusepe de Ribera	83,812–50	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
A drawing, 'A squirrel', by Giovanni da Udine	85,000–00	Decision deferred until after 15 March 1992
An inlaid bronze pyxis	33,525–00	Purchased by the British Museum Society
The Clarence Book of Hours	510,000.00	Export licence granted
A French 19th Century silvered and bronze mirror, 1867, by Barbedienne	110,00000	Decision deferred until after 16 April 1992
A portrait of Pope Clement VII by Sebastiano del Piombo	6,314,581–00	Decision deferred until after 16 February 1992
The 'Middleham Ring'	45,980–00	Decision deferred until after 16 April 1992
Two paintings of the allegorical tombs of Cadogan and Godolphin by Francesco Monti, Pietro Paltronieri and Nunzio Ferraiuoli	450,000.00	Decision deferred until after 16 February 1992

or retained, with particulars in the latter event of the acquiring institution; if he will list any items for which licences have been withheld but the final disposal of which is not yet decided, specifying in each case (a) the valuation and (b) the relevant time limit; and whether a press notice will be issued from the Office of Arts and Libraries covering the information given in his reply, including that relating to the outcome in individual cases.

The information is as follows:

Description of item	Valuation £	outcome
A George III silver-gilt dinner service, designed by Robert Adam	251,445.00	Decision deferred until after 16 April 1992

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will list the allocations made to public institutions in the United Kingdom during the half-year ended 31 December 1991 of individual works of art and museum objects pre-eminent for national, scientific, historic or artistic interest which have been accepted in satisfaction of inheritance tax, together with information, where applicable, as to conditions or wishes expressed in the

Item	To whom allocated	Conditions/wishes expressed
Painting by Lucas de Heere	National Museum of Wales	Conditional
Portrait of Professor Hill by Raeburn	University of Edinburgh	Wish to go to Edinburgh
Harpsichord by Burkat Shudi	University of Edinburgh	Wish to go to Edinburgh
Collection of musical instruments	University of Edinburgh	Wish to go to Edinburgh
Starhemberg Dinner Service	National Trust	Wish to go to National Trust
Louis XV Bas D'armoire	National Trust	Wish to go to National Trust
Collection of English Porcelain	Fitzwilliam Museum	Conditional
Watercolour by Rex Whistler	Museum of London	Wish to go to Museum of London
Portrait of Lady Caroline Morrell by Augustus John	National Portrait Gallery	Wish to go to National Portrait Gallery
Collection of papers by George Bellas Greenough	University College, London	Wish to go to Cambridge University
Two portraits by Gainsborough, one by Rubens and a landscape by Seghers	Royal Scottish Academy	Conditional

Items awaiting allocation	Date of acceptance
Portrait of Beechy	20 April 1990
Collection of drawings by Runciman	26 April 1991
A vintage motor car and two vintage motor cycles	28 November 1991

Press notices have already been issued announcing the acceptance of all of these items and the allocations that have been made to date.

To ask the Minister for the Arts if he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1991 reported by the national museums and galleries in England for which he is responsible, broken down into the individual institutions, but including their outstations, with figures in each case of the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1990.

The estimated number of visitors during 1991 to the 11 national museums and galleries for which I am responsible are as follows: matter of allocation by testators or executors; if he will list the works of art and museum objects which are still awaiting allocation with the respective dates of their acceptance in satisfaction of inheritance tax; and whether a press notice will be issued from the Office of Arts and Libraries in the event of any information being given in his reply which has not previously been announced.

The information the hon. Gentleman requests is as follows:

	Estimated attendance in 1991	Percentage change from 1990
British Museum	5,410,422	+6.5
Imperial War Museum	1,045,144	-16.9
National Gallery	4,300,000	+16.8
National Maritime Museum	579,015	-2.7
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside	1,242,422	-3.9
National Portrait Gallery	867,361	+44.1
Natural History Museum	1,500,000	+2.8
Science Museum	2,525,128	-5.9
Tate Gallery	2,436,370	+10.2
Victoria and Albert Museum	1,389,057	+2.4
Wallace Collection	140,143	+3.1
Total	21,435,062	+5.3

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) when he expects to make a decision on the future of his Department's regional office in Truro;(2) how many jobs will be lost if his Department's Truro office is closed.

The location of the Ministry's regional service centre for Devon and Cornwall has been the subject of a further study, the results of which are currently being assessed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many jobs will be lost in total as a result of his Department's regional reorganisation; and what are the net financial savings expected.

It is projected that the regional reorganisation will result in a net loss of about 150 posts across the country as a whole and a net annual financial saving of about £3 million. The saving will be fully realised in 1993–94, by which time the restructuring, which will improve the cost effectiveness and efficiency of the Ministry's services, will have been completed. Where posts are to be lost, every effort is being made to find staff alternative jobs. We are doing all we can to avoid compulsory redundancies.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated cost to the industry of the disposal of fallen stock; and what measures he proposes to take to limit the impact of this cost.

The costs of disposing of fallen stock will vary according to the method, location, nature of the carcase, including species, size and condition and the current market prices for animal by-products. It is for the livestock sector, as with other industries, to find ways of disposing of its waste, and to meet the costs involved.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assistance he proposes to give to farmers to offset the costs of ear-tagging livestock.

Farmers meet the cost of statutory cattle and deer identification, and of other identification measures for commercial purposes. I have no plans to alter this.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make an announcement about the review of the Sea Fish Industry Authority carried out by fisheries departments.

[pursuant to his reply, 20 November 1991, c. 189]: The Government have carefully considered the additional comments received from the fishing industry and other interested parties about our proposals for action arising from the review of the Sea Fish Industry Authority —SFIA.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales who are the members of the monitoring committee of the industrial south Wales integrated development operation; what are their occupations and who appoints them.

There are 72 members of the industrial south Wales integrated development operation monitoring committee, comprising officers representing central and local government, other public and private sector bodies, and the European Commission, under the chairmanship of the Welsh Office, which is responsible for appointing members to the committee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will review the mineral policy guidance notes of January 1988 to take into account the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and the Planning and Compensation Act 1991.

Minerals planning guidance notes—MPGs—are kept continuously under review in order to take account of legislative and other changes. Two MPGs were issued in January 1988—MPGI "General Considerations and the Development Plan System" and MPG2 "Applications, Provisions and Conditions"—and we intend to review MPG! to reflect recent changes in the development plans system. A draft is expected to issue for consultation later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he has any plans to review mineral planning guidance note 3 on opencast coal mining and mineral planning guidance note 6 on guidelines for aggregates provision.

Although its operation is continuously monitored, there are no current plans to revise minerals planning guidance note 3. Minerals planning guidance note 6 on aggregates provision is currently being revised and a draft is expected to issue for consultation later this year.If the hon. Gentleman has any representations he wishes to make on these notes I would, of course, be happy to consider them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total annual coal tonnage currently produced in the coalfield areas of Wales and used in power stations outside Wales.

Between 350,000 and 400,000 tonnes of Welsh coal are used annually in power stations outside Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment has been made by his Department on the impact of the changes in public sector waste disposal upon the number of waste disposal sites in Wales.

None. Local authorities have yet to finalise their new arrangements for waste disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all disused mineral excavation sites used as general waste disposal sites in Wales.

This information is not maintained centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will meet Shotton town council to discuss his plans to build the third Dee crossing;(2) if he will meet Queensferry town council to discuss plans to alleviate traffic congestion;(3) if he will meet the community council of Sealand to discuss the impact of traffic congestion upon the environment;(4) if he will meet Connahs Quay town council to discuss the impact of traffic congestion upon the environment.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the replies I gave him on 20 December 1991, at column 361, and 14 January 1992, at columns 547–48.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on his response to the Adams report on the future of Her Majesty's inspectorate of schools service in Wales.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 13 January 1992, at column 506.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish in the Official Report the attendance figures for 1991 reported by the National Museum of Wales, including its outstations, with the percentage increase or decrease on the attendance figures for 1990.

A total of 683,743 people visited the National Museum of Wales during 1991, an increase of nearly 2 per cent. on the attendance reported by 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when it is now expected that the first contract will be entered into for the building of the new Neath and Port Talbot general hospital; and how much money has been allocated for its construction in each year.

Subject to availability of funds, I understand that West Glamorgan health authority anticipates work commencing towards the end of 1992. Details of the all-Wales capital building programme for 1992-93, and the funds to be allocated for each constituent scheme will be announced by my right hon. Friend in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his parliamentary answer to the hon. Member for Cardiff, North, 15 January, Official Report, column 587–88, what will be the remuneration of the chairman of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales, the chairman of the Higher Education Council for Wales and the chief executive of the two councils; and if he will state their expected hours of work, terms of secondment and length of term of appointment.

The Chairman of the Further Education Funding Council for Wales will be paid £18,500 on the basis of two days commitment a week. The chairman of the Higher Education Funding Council will be paid £10,000 on the basis of one day a week. The chief executive will be paid £50,000 per annum. The appointments will not be made until the Further and Higher Education Bill receives Royal Assent. The chairman will be appointed for a three-year term and the chief executive for five years. The individuals will be engaged as chairmen and chief executive-designate from dates still to be determined.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what policy considerations will govern his choice of chairman or chairwoman for the Development Board for Rural Wales for the three years commencing 1 April; and when he expects to make an announcement.

I always give the very fullest consideration to all relevant factors relating to each public appointment for which I have responsibility. I will announce this appointment at the appropriate time in the light of these considerations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to protect the United Kingdom spirits industry against the effect of EC proposals in relation to taxation of spirits.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Moray (Mrs. Ewing) on 13 January, at columns 444–45.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 13 January, Official Report, column 445, what percentage of the adult population own shares in (a) privatisation issues and Abbey National combined only, (b) privatisation issues and TSB combined only and (c) privatisation, Abbey National and TSB combined only.

The 1991 Treasury-stock exchange survey showed that 1 per cent. of the adult population in Great Britain had combined shareholdings in Abbey National and privatisation issues only. Figures for combined shareholdings in TSB and privatisation issues only and combined shareholdings in Abbey National, TSB and privatisation issues only are not available.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place in the Library a copy of the latest corporate plan of the Central Office of Information.

The Central Office of Information's corporate plan is commercially sensitive and contains information that would weaken COI's negotiating position if it were disclosed. I do not therefore propose placing a copy of the corporate plan in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to reply to the hon. Member for Rugby and Kenilworth's letter of 29 August 1991 about Mr. A. Wiles of Rugby.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 21 January. I apologise for the delay in replying.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in a full year in (a) 1991–92 and (b) 1992–93 of introducing an upper limit on all income tax allowances and reliefs of (i) £10,000, (ii) £15,000 and (iii) £20,000 a year, (1) with the current tax allowances and reliefs, (2) limiting all personal tax allowances except the single person's allowance to the basic rate, (3) limiting relief on contributions to personal pensions to the basic rate and (4) limiting relief on employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes to the basic rate, giving the total revenue in each case and the numbers of people affected;(2) if he will estimate the effect on Treasury revenues in a full year in

It is estimated that imposition of the specified limits for allowances and reliefs within the current income tax system would yield the following amounts in a full year at 1991-92 levels of income:

Limit £	Yield £
10,000	590
15,000	240
20,000	140

After restriction of the relevant allowances and reliefs to the basic rate, the estimated further yield from imposing the specified limits would be as follows:

Full year yield at 1991–92 incomes levels
£ million
Limit for total allowances and reliefs
After restriction to the basic rate of:	£10,000	£15,000	£20,000
(a) All personal allowances
except the basic personal
allowance	510	230	130
(b) Relief for personal pension
contributions	490	190	110
(b) Relief for personal pension
Contributions	490	190	110
(c) Relief for employees'
contribution to
occupational pension
schemes	520	230	130
(d) Allowances and reliefs in
(a) and (b)	440	190	110
(e) Allowances and reliefs in
(a) and (c)	480	220	130
(f) Reliefs in (b) and (c)	430	180	110
(g) Allowances and reliefs in
(a) and (b)(c)	420	180	110

The number of people with total allowances and reliefs in excess of £10,000 is about 635,000. The corresponding figures for £15,000 and £20,000 are about 75,000 and 35,000 respectively. The estimates of revenue yield do not take account of any behavioural effects which might result from the introduction of the changes. It is not possible to provide detailed information for 1992–93.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the life expectancy rates for each year between 1985–86 and 1990–91 for males and females for (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland, (e) Great Britain and (f) each of the member states of the European Community; and what information he has on (i) Finland, (ii) Norway, (iii) Sweden and (iv) Switzerland for the same period.

Expectation of life at birth (years) in the calendar years 1985–90
	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
Males
Scotland	69.9	70.0	70.4	70.4	70.5	71.1
England	71.9	72.1	72.5	72.6	72.9	73.2
Wales	71.0	71.3	71.8	72.3	72.3	72.7
Northern Ireland	70.2	70.3	70.9	70.7	71.3	71.8
Great Britain	71.7	71.9	72.3	72.4	72.6	72.9
Belgium	—	—	—	—	72.4	—
Denmark	71.6	71.7	—	—	72.0	—
France	71.3	71.5	72.0	—	72.5	—
Germany	71.5	—	—	—	72.6	—
Greece	—	—	—	74.2	—	—
Ireland	70.4	—	—	—	71.0	—
Italy	—	—	—	73.2	—	—
Luxembourg	70.6	70.6	—	—	—	—
Netherlands	73.0	—	—	—	73.7	—
Portugal	—	70.2	70.7	—	70.9	—
Spain	72.5	—	73.4	—	—	—
United Kingdom	71.7	71.9	72.3	72.4	72.6	72.9
Finland	—	70.5	—	—	—	—
Norway	—	—	72.8	—	—	—
Sweden	—	—	74.2	—	—	—
Switzerland	—	—	—	73.9	—	—
Females
Scotland	75.7	76.1	76.4	76.6	76.1	76.8
England	77.5	77.8	78.1	78.1	78.2	78.6
Wales	77.0	77.4	77.7	78.0	77.8	78.6
Northern Ireland	76.3	76.5	770	76.7	77.1	77.4
Great Britain	77.3	77.6	77.9	78.0	78.0	78.4
Belgium	—	—	—	—	79.0	—
Denmark	77.5	77.6	—	—	77.7	—
France	79.5	79.7	80.3	—	80.7	—
Germany	78.1	—	—	—	79.0	—
Greece	—	—	—	79.3	—	—
Ireland	76.0	—	—	79.7	—	—
Italy	77.3	—	—	79.7	—	—
Luxembourg	—	77.9	—	—	—	—
Netherlands	79.6	—	—	—	79.9	—
Portugal	—	77.1	77.5	—	77.9	—
Spain	78.6	—	80.1	—	—	—
United Kingdom	77.3	77.6	77.9	78.0	78.0	78.4
Finland	—	78.7	—	—	—	—
Norway	—	—	79.6	—	—	—
Sweden	—	—	80.2	—	—	—
Switzerland	—	—	—	80.7	—	—

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking following the adoption by the European Parliament of a budget for 1992 in excess of that permitted by Community legislation.

In view of doubts about the legality of the budget adopted by the European Parliament, the Council is considering the basis for legal action later this month.In the mean time the Government do not consider that they should treat the budget as agreed; or that contributions by the United Kingdom, in excess of the amounts required under Community legislation in the event of a budget not having been adopted, may be paid

The information that is currently available is given in the table. Expectations of life are normally calculated for calendar years, but for some of the countries outside the United Kingdom the expectations are the average for three or more years centred on the year in the heading to the column.directly out of the Consolidated Fund under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1992, but will instead have to be paid out of moneys voted by Parliament in estimates. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a new estimate for the budget of the European Communities—class XX, vote 1. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £150 million monthly will be met from repayable advances from the Contingencies Fund. An advance was made on 3 January 1992 in respect of the first instalment.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 October 1991.

On 1 October 1991 there were 561,903 staff in post in central Government. Of those, 498,735 were non-industrials and 63,168 were classified as being in industrial work.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress is being made on the implementation of the EC directive on small and medium-sized company accounts.

My Department has today issued a consultation document inviting comments on draft regulations to implement the EC directive on small and medium-sized company accounts.These draft regulations, and our decision to bring the directive into force well in advance of the required date, give a clear indication of the Government's commitment to continue to reduce the regulatory burden on small companies.The directive enables EC member states to reduce accounting requirements, and to increase the maximum financial limits defining small and medium-sized companies by 25 per cent.In addition to implementing the directive, the regulations would exempt small companies from a number of existing accounting requirements, as foreshadowed in the current programme of work under the deregulation initiative, which I announced on 18 December 1990.Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library. Views are invited by 19 March.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government intends to take additional powers to require companies to provide information on environmental matters.

I have been asked to reply.The Environmental Protection Act 1990 contains requirements for companies carrying out prescribed processes to provide information on environmental matters to enforcing authorities and inspectors, and for enforcing authorities to maintain public registers. The Government do not see any need for additional powers at present.

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the results in increased trade that resulted from visits made by Ministers within his Department to Iraq in the past four years.

[holding answer 20 January 1991]: Only one DTI Minister has visited Iraq in the past four years. The visit was to attend the meeting of the UK-Iraq joint commission in 1988. It is impossible to gauge its effect on bilateral trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money his Department has spent on producing its citizens charter proposals, arising from production, distribution and publicity costs.

Since the launch of the citizens charter the Home Office has not incurred any production, distribution or publicity costs in taking the initiative forward.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him over the past year about staffing levels at Her Majesty's prison, Armley; and what concern has been expressed about the number of staff available to search visitors with hand-held metal-detecting equipment.