To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of defendants appearing in a Crown court changed their plea from not guilty to guilty for each of the court circuits in England and Wales in each year since 1989.

This information is not collected.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary. Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of defendants pleaded guilty in the Crown court for each of the court circuits in England and Wales in each year since 1989.

The information is set out in the table. The figures given are for those defendants who pleaded guilty to all counts. Data for 1992 are provisional and liable to revision to account for any late amendments.

Committals for trial: guilty pleas (per cent, of all1 defendants)
	1989	1990	1991	1992
Midland and Oxford	82	83	79	77
North Eastern	86	86	84	83
Northern	80	80	78	77
South Eastern:
London	50	50	48	50
Provinces	64	64	61	60
Wales and Chester	73	72	73	70
Western	72	74	72	74
ENGLAND AND WALES	72	72	70	70
1 Excluding those defendants for whom bench warrants issued, no pleas recorded, indictment to lie on file, found unfit to plead and other results.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what percentage of defendants were found not guilty in Crown court cases for each of the court circuits in England and Wales in each year since 1989.

The table shows the percentage of defendants acquitted against the number of defendants who pleaded not guilty to all counts during each year since 1989. The 1992 figures are provisional and liable to revision to account for any late amendments.

Crown court trials: Per cent, of defendants who have pleaded not guilty to all counts acquitted
	1989	1990	1991	1992
Midland and Oxford	52	58	60	51
North Eastern	54	62	54	55
Northern	55	56	59	63
South Eastern:
London	59	60	61	59
Provinces	55	55	57	56
Wales and Chester	53	51	47	50

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average time a defendant had to wait between being charged with an offence and having his or her case heard in the Crown court for each of the court circuits in England and Wales in each year since 1989.

Figures for waiting times from date of charge are not available. The table shows the average waiting time in weeks between the date of committal for trial and the start of hearing. Data for 1992 are provisional and liable to revision to account for any late amendments.

Waiting Times: Committals for Trial (Weeks)
	1989	1990	1991	1992
Midland and Oxford	9·04	8·30	9·21	12·66
North Eastern	12·06	12·64	13·55	15·86
Northern	11·76	12·09	11·05	12·04
South Eastern:
London	15·98	15·49	15·91	16·40
Provinces	13·07	13·23	14·30	13·31
Wales and Chester	7·93	8·31	8·06	9·36
Western	13·04	12·73	13·71	16·30
ENGLAND AND WALES	12·44	12·07	12·58	13·95

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will arrange for the Bradford combined court centre to be designated as a care centre for the hearing of care cases brought under the Children Act 1989.

Bradford county court currently enjoys some Children Act jurisdiction as a family hearing centre. A national review of the designation of care centres has always been part of the Lord Chancellor's arrangements for the monitoring of the Children Act. This review will begin in the summer and will involve extensive consultation at local level. Consideration of any recommendations to my Department will take place during the autumn with a view to implementing any changes in the spring of 1994.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have resigned since the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; and of these how many have given as their reason for resigning concern about the effect of that Act.

The number of resignations during 1992, other than on grounds of age, for the Lord Chancellor's area of responsibility was 1,034. No information is collected centrally on how many magistrates gave concern about the effects of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 as a reason for resignation.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the annual cost of monitoring the religious affiliation of the employees of the Northern Ireland court service.

The equal opportunities unit of the Northern Ireland court service is responsible for the full range of equal opportunities issues within the service which includes monitoring by religious affiliation, gender and disability. It is not possible to separate the cost of monitoring by religious affiliation. The annual staff costs for the unit are £21,378.03.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been given in grants from her Department to the London East training and enterprise council in each year since 1988.

This Department has funded London East Training and Enterprise Council since 1 April 1991.Details of funding for each financial year since then are:

Financial year	£ million
1991–92	26.415
1992–93	32.958

Funding is split into five blocks and allocated to specific areas. The blocks are youth training and education, adult training, enterprise, local initiative fund and management fee.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how expenditure by training and enterprise councils is monitored.

Training and enterprise councils (TECs) are paid sums specified in their business plan and claimed in accordance with the provisions of the TEC operating agreement. This is renewed annually and signed on behalf of my right hon. Friend by the Department's regional directors. A copy of the operating agreement is in the Library.Invoices submitted by TECs are subject to regular appraisal and monitoring by finance control staff in ED regional offices. Departmental procedures are designed to ensure that public and parliamentary accountability is maintained.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the names of all members of the board of the London East training and enterprise council since its establishment and their period of office.

Details of board membership are available from London East training and enterprise council's corporate plans or direct from the acting chief executive, Steve Crow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much money has been given in grants by her Department to the London East training and enterprise council for business education partnerships and to which organisations, and for what amounts, in each year since 1988.

This Department has funded London East training and enterprise council since 1 April 1991.Details of funding for each financial year since then are:

Education business partnerships payments to TECs
Financial year	£ million
1991–92	0·075,300
1992–93	0·046,175

Information on who the TEC contracts with and how much it pays them is commercial in confidence between the TEC and the organisations concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many staff are employed by the London East training and enterprise council; and how many staff have left in the last year.

Direct employment of staff by training and enterprise councils is entirely a matter for the TECs themselves. The hon. Gentleman may wish to contact the acting chief executive of London East TEC, Steve Crow.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what arrangements are made in those boroughs and local authorities which do not have a business-education partnership for finance to be made available from training and enterprise councils for the work which would be carried out by such a business-education partnership;(2) how many local authorities have business-education partnerships.

Education business partnerships are operating in all training and enterprise council and local education authority areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment when and where the figures for unemployment benefit disqualifications for the quarter to December 1992 will be published.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service Agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will instruct all police authorities to use forensic archaeologists at excavation sites where a body or bodies are believed to have been buried; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will ensure that all police authorities use physical anthropologists at crime scene investigations as soon as they commence; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will list the police authorities who currently use forensic anthropologists in their investigations; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will list by police authority those who use archaeologists for their forensic investigations; and if he will make a statement.

The use of forensic archaeologists, forensic anthropologists arid other specialists to assist with the investigation of crime is a matter for individual chief officers.The information requested about the use of forensic archaeologists and forensic anthropologists is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute all-party talks on a more effective legal mechanism to combat terrorism than the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.

No. I believe that the Prevention of Terrorism Act provides the powers which are needed for the prevention and investigation of terrorist crime. I am not prepared to weaken those powers while the threat of terrorism remains. However, I am ready to consider any proposals which might improve the effectiveness of the existing powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the number of prosecutions during the last 10 years for offences relating to illegal approaches to trial judges; and what plans the Government have to provide for stiffer sentences to deal with such offences.

It is not possible from the information held centrally to identify offences relating to illegal approaches to trial judges from other common law offences of attempting to pervert the course of public justice.The table shows the number of prosecutions in England and Wales from 1981 to 1991 for attempting to pervert the course of public justice. 1992 data will not be available until autumn 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he has completed his re-examination and re-drafting of the proposed new fire safety regulations; and if he will make a statement.(2) what is the estimated cost to British industry of the implementation of the proposed new fire safety regulations.

My right hon. and learned Friend expects to publish proposals for revised regulations and the associated guidance in the early summer. An estimate of the compliance costs for industry will be included in the consultative document.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons no (a) police advisers or (b) persons with special knowledge of policing in Scotland have been appointed to the Sheehy inquiry team; and if he will consider extending its membership to incorporate police officers.

My right hon. and learned Friend considered it important for the inquiry to be conducted by a fully independent team with expertise in a number of disciplines. The inquiry is, however, working very closely with the police service. My right hon. and learned Friend does not propose to change the composition of the inquiry team.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment criteria his Department used in the recent shortlisting for the police national network; and what weight was given to the technical expertise and experience in providing communications to Her Majesty's Government of each company expressing an interest in this project.

Each company was assessed on the basis of (1) whether any circumtances of article 29 of the Services Directive (which relates to financial probity) apply to the company in question; (2) its audited accounts for the last three years; (3) its overall turnover and its turnover from operating managed telecommunications services; (4) the managed networks which it provides; (5) the technical expertise within the organisations; (6) its total manpower and managerial staffing; (7) its technical infrastructure, equipment and facilities; and (8) the level of professional expertise in its operation of managed networks. The technical expertise of potential suppliers and their experience in providing communications to Her Majesty's Government and other users were therefore fully taken into account.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has included special requirements for pregnant women, nursing mothers and very young children in the tender documents for the court escort services; and if he will make a statement.

Tender documents for the court escort service in the London area have not yet been finalised, but a copy of the operational specification for the court escort service in the east midlands and Humberside area has been placed in the library of the House. It outlines the general principles concerning the welfare of prisoners. The contractor has a contractual responsibility for the welfare of prisoners, for their humane treatment and for their medical needs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many names are currently contained in the animal rights national index.

The animal rights national index (ARNI) holds about 13,300 names.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many posts in the public services are exempt from the requirements of the Race Relations Act; and in what occupations these exemptions occur.

Section 75(5) of the Race Relations Act 1976 states that nothing in the Act invalidates rules made for restricting employment in the public service to persons of particular birth, nationality, descent or residence. Information on the particular posts or occupations concerned is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what were the levels of enrolments for adult education in London for this year.

Data for academic year 1992–93 are not yet complete. In 1991–92 there were 280,000 enrolments in adult education centres in London at the 1 November census date.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what fees were charged in the academic year 1991–92 in each school taking part in the assisted places scheme.

The information requested is given in the following table:

Assisted places scheme
School Name	Average Fee charged in A Y 1991–92 £
Abbey School, Reading	3,183
Abingdon	3,936
Ackworth	3,633
Aldenham	6,290
Alice Ottley	3,582
Alleyns, Dulwich	4,905
Ardingly College	7,575
Arnold School, Blackpool	2,964
Ashford	4,189
Ashville College	3,999
Austin Friars	3,435
Bancrofts	3,930
Barnard Castle	3,732
Bath High GPDST	2,967
Batley Grammar	2,766
Bedales	7,251
Bedford	5,235
Bedford High	3,969
Bedford Modern	3,489
Belvedere GPDST	2,967
Berkhamsted Girls	3,936
Berkhamsted	4,929
Birkenhead	2,820
Birkenhead High GPDST	2,967
Bishop's Stortford College	6,600
Blackheath High GPDST	3,357
Bloxham, Banbury	6,003
Bolton School Boys	3,585
Bolton School Girls	3,585
Bootham, York	4,923
Bradfield College	7,762
Bradford Girls Grammar	3,261
Bradford Grammar School	3,174
Brentwood School	4,100
Brighton College	5,856
Brighton/Hove High GPDST	2,967
Bristol Cathedral	3,357
Bristol Grammar	3,189
Bromley High GPDST	3,357
Bromsgrove	4,761
Bruton Girls	2,881
Burgess Hill Girls	4,230
Bury Grammar Boys	2,790
Bury Grammar Girls	2,790
Canford	7,056
Carmel College	6,750
Casterton	4,257
Caterham	4,302
Central Newcastle High GPDST	2,967
Charterhouse	8,595
Cheadle Hulme	3,324
Cheltenham Ladies College	6,249
Chigwell	5,154
Christ's Hospital	5,826
Churchers College	4,125
City of London	4,734
City of London Freemans	4,779
City of London Girls	4,086
Clifton College, Bristol	4,710
Clifton High, Bristol	3,780
Colfes	3,705
Colston's Girls	2,946
Colston's, Bristol	2,945
Coventry, Bablake	2,883
Cranleigh	4,206
Croham Hurst	3,480
Croydon High GPDST	3,357
Culford	5,001
Dame Alice Harpur	3,261
Dame Allans Boys	2,868
Dame Allans Girls	2,868

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when his officials asked the Birmingham city council for more information to justify its bid for capital expenditure in 1993–94 to deal with substandard places; when his officials received this information from Birmingham city council; and when he expects to take a decision on this bid for the financial year 1993–94.

The Department wrote to Birmingham city council on 22 December 1992 and the authority responded on 8 January 1993. Twenty-five other LEAs were asked to provide information on the same issue and not all have yet done so. Nevertheless, I expect to announce my decisions shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total amount of college fees in respect of students in higher education which is funded by his Department; and if he will make a statement on how such funding is distributed on behalf of the Department.

The total amount of college fees funded by the Department in respect of undergraduate students at collegiate unversities was£46 million in the academic year 1990–91, the latest year for which full information is available. These fees are payable by local education authorities on behalf of students holding mandatory awards and are reimbursed in full by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study he has made of the benefits in kind to the families of those participating in higher education away from home by various household income levels.

The Department commissioned surveys of undergraduates' income and expenditure in 1986–87 and 1988–89 academic years and of mature students' income and expenditure in the 1987–88 academic year. The Department has commissioned a further survey of undergraduate students' income and expenditure which is currently being undertaken. All of these surveys have sought information on the circumstances of students who study either while living in the parental home or away from it.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) how much grant from his Department was paid to London East training and enterprise council for business education partnerships and to which organisations, and for what amounts, in each year since 1988;(2) how much grant has been given by his Department to the London East training and enterprise council in each year since 1988.

This Department has made no such grants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the average annual cost met from public funds of (a) a nursery school place, (b) a primary school place, (c) a secondary school place and (d) a full-time undergraduate place in bands 1, 2 and 3.

Figures for spending on nursery and primary school pupils are not collected separately. For 1990–91, the la test year for which information on actual spending is available, the average cost per pupil at LEA-maintained schools was £1,339 per nursery and primary pupil and £2,019 per secondary pupil.Public funding for higher education is provided through grant to the higher education funding councils and publicly funded tuition fees. The assumed average total recurrent grant per student through the Higher Education Funding Council for England in 1993–94 is £2,927. The maximum tuition fees reimbursable through mandatory awards for undergraduate courses in the academic year 1993–94 are £1,300 for classroom-based courses; £2,770 for laboratory and workshop-based courses; and £4,985 for the clinical elements of medical, dental and veterinary courses.

Project name	Start date	Public funding (£million cash)			Private sector funding
		1993–94	1994–95	1995–96
Jubilee line extension	Construction is expected to start when the current negotiations on the private sector contribution are completed.	385	460	405	£100 million cash developer contribution during construction period and a stream of payments adding upto £300 million cash over time after extension is opened.
CrossRail	Bill currently in Parliament.	80	64	65	Re-examination to assess ways of involving private sector announced in Budget statement. Results of re-examination will determine relative involvement of public and private sectors.
Channel tunnel rail link	Construction could start in 1995.	44	—	—	Private sector interest needs to be tested before decisions can be taken on the timing and amounts of public and private funding.
Docklands light railway—Lewisham extension	Construction could start this financial year.	—	—	—	The cost, of £140 million, must be met by the private sector.
Heathrow express	Main works expected to start during 1993–94.	—	—	—	The project is a joint venture with BAA as private majority partner. The total cost is estimated at £250–300 million.
The proposed Croydon tramlink project would proceed on the basis of private funding though the Government is prepared to consider an element of grant.
The possibility of securing private sector contributions to other projects will be considered at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what moneys are allocated for the Lower road widening scheme, London SE16, for each financial year from 1992–93 onwards; when he intends work on the scheme will commence; and when it will finish.

This is a London Borough of Southwark scheme that is jointly funded by the Department of Transport and London Docklands Development Corporation. Funds are allocated by the Department as and when necessary and as laid down by a tripartite agreement. No moneys have been allocated to date for construction works. The timing of the scheme is a matter for LB Southwark in consultation with the Department and the LDDC.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to issue guidance to London Transport on the handling of the privatisation of London Buses Ltd.

My right hon. Friend has recently written to the chairman of London Transport to give guidance on this issue. Copies of the letter have been placed in the library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list all railway, light railway or underground schemes in London currently supported or proposed to be supported by public funds, which he intends should have a private sector contribution; when they commenced or will commence; in each case and for each relevant financial year, how much public funding is already allocated; and how much private sector funding he estimates will be required.

The information requested is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will now make a statement on the arrangements, funding and commencement date of the Jubilee line extension.

No. Negotiations are continuing on the private sector contribution and it would not be sensible for me to speculate when they might be concluded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received about proposals for state aid to Aer Lingus; and what has been his response.

Concern has been expressed to me from a number of sources about reports of an injection of state aid to Aer Lingus, and the serious distortion of competition which might result from this on many routes, including London-Dublin. The Minister for Aviation and Shipping has written to Commissioner Matutes, seeking assurance that any formal application for state aid by the Irish authorities will be very fully scrutinised in the light of the market economy investor principle and the need to avoid distortion of competition, and that member states will be given the opportunity to comment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has made to the European Commission about recent state assistance to Air France.

We are aware of reports of further state assistance to Air France, following the support allowed by the European Commission in 1992. Since there has been no formal notification of further support by the French authorities, we have made no formal representations to the European Commission: but on many occasions we have made clear to the Commission that all applications for state aid should be very fully scrutinised in the light of the market economy investor principle and the need to avoid distortion of competition, and that member states should be given the opportunity to comment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the extent to which state aid to airlines of the European Community has continued after 31 December 1992.

The responsibility for approving state aids under the treaty of Rome rests with the European Commission. The Government have consistently urged the Commission to take a tough line to combat aids which distort free fair and open competition in the air transport market. So far this year, the only state aid which has been approved by the Commission is the settling by the Portuguese Government of the deficit accumulated by the carrier TAP in operating service between the Portuguese mainland and the Atlantic islands over the 13 years to 1991. We are generally aware of other forthcoming cases and will continue to monitor the situation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has had from the north of England regional consortium about the channel tunnel rail link; what reply he is sending; what action he is taking; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State recently received a letter from the North of England regional consortium to which he has replied. My right hon. Friend and I have no objection to the contents of the reply being made public but any inquiries about the correspondence should be directed to the consortium to whom the letter was sent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what resources will be made available to local community groups in Islington for them to make representations on the channel tunnel route to St. Pancras.

The Government have asked Union Railways to take the lead in the public consultation on the rail link. They will be devoting engineering and environmental resources to examining worthwhile suggestions put forward for any improvements to the proposals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if customs, immigration and security checks for international rail services will be handled on board international train services using the channel tunnel line.

Immigration controls will be carried out on board channel tunnel day passenger services using Waterloo. Customs and security checks will be carried out in the station. All three controls on night trains using Waterloo will be carried out at the station. All three controls for channel tunnel passenger services running beyond London will be carried out on board the trains.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effect on traffic congestion of increasing use of smaller midibuses.

Midibuses are more manoeuvrable and smaller than traditional buses. They have proved to be popular with passengers. I have seen no evidence that bus size has any significant impact on traffic congestion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with British Rail about expenditure on maintenance and rolling stock on the Barking to Gospel Oak railway line necessary to maintain safety.

None. Expenditure priorities are a matter for British Rail, which has a statutory duty to operate safely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the transportation of plutonium nitrate is being considered under the auspices of the Braer inquiry; and if he will make a statement.

Lord Donaldson's inquiry is to advise on whether any further measures are appropriate and feasible to protect the United Kingdom coastline from pollution from merchant shipping, giving due consideration to the international and economic implications of any new measures. These terms of reference are wide enough to allow Lord Donaldson to consider the matter raised, should he decide to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what considerations underlay the timing of the decision to put a further 30 London bus routes out to tender; and what assessment was made of the results of previous tendering.

The decision on which routes to put to tender could not be taken until the completion of the negotiations to put all London Buses Ltd. bus routes on to a contractual basis.Since its introduction in 1985 London Transport's route tendering programme has delivered substantial quality of service improvements and reductions in costs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list for each year since 1983 the capital and revenue support given to public transport in London by central and local Government at constant prices.

Grants to London Transport are as follows at 1993–94 prices: (for 1984–85, they were made by the GLC; since that year, they have been made by the Department of Transport).

£ million
Year	Capital	Revenue
1984–85	192	236
1985–86	297	187
1986–87	333	94
1987–88	269	65
1988–89	222	28
1989–90	291	58
1990–91	502	94
1991–92	557	130
1992–93	579	241

Amounts up to 1991–92 include grant for the Docklands light railway. In 1992–93 the Department of the Environment paid grant of £149 million for the Docklands light railway.Public service obligation grant allocated by British Rail to Network SouthEast was as follows, in 1993–94 prices:

	£ million
1986–87	288
1987–88	290
1988–89	168
1989–90	97
1990–91	162
1991–92	367

No separate figures are available for London services. No comparable figures are available for pre-1986. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available.These figures exclude financial support by local authorities for concessionary fares in London.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those local authorities in England that provide concessionary fares for people of or above the age of retirement on (a) buses and (b) any other form of local public transport; and if he will list the extent of the subsidy in each case.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of "Concessionary Fare Schemes in Great Britain in 1992", which was produced by the Department's directorate of statistics on the basis of returns by local authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if the senior citizen railcard scheme will be retained to ensure concessionary fares for pensioners over the entire railway network after privatisation.

The senior railcard is a commercial initiative designed by British Rail to attract passengers and to maximise revenue by filling seats which might otherwise by empty; BR is not under any legal obligation to provide it. We believe that in a competitive environment it will be in the interests of the rail operators to continue to offer such discounts. We therefore see no need to impose requirements on operators to offer this particular discount facility. Transitional arrangements will be made to ensure that franchisees continue to honour existing railcards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidelines his Department sets for classifying the quality of cycle routes implemented by the London boroughs; and what discussions he has had with cycling organisations and representatives in setting them.

The Department has provided advice and guidance on the design and construction of cycling facilities in Local Transport Note 1/89 "Making Way for Cyclists". We consulted widely on the document before publication and were grateful for the contribution made by cycling organisations. We also hold regular meetings with the borough cycle officer group and the London Cycling Forum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many British Rail stations in Greater London are unstaffed after 6 pm; and what discussions he has had with the Transport police about the effect on crime and fear of crime at stations as a result.

I understand that statistics are not maintained in the form requested. However, of some 500 stations within the London regional passenger committee's area 56 are totally unstaffed and a further 145 are staffed on the basis of less than two full shifts on any week day. The British transport police are, of course, employed by the British Railways Board and the Secretary of State regularly meets the BR chairman and board members to discuss a wide' range of matters relating to the railways, including policing and crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the existing targets for acceptable noise levels of traffic in London; who is responsible for setting them; and if he will list those monitoring areas where they are being exceeded.

There are no such targets. However, the United Kingdom has recently secured EC agreement to lower limits for the noise standards to which individual vehicles are built; tighter standards for vehicles have reduced noise levels by up to 10 dB(A) over the last 10 years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the Travelcard in London will be retained after his Department's proposed deregulation of buses and privatisation of British Rail.

The Government believe that, in the light of travelcard's popularity, private sector bus and rail operators will be keen to offer such a facility.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish a table showing the acreage of each variety of seed potatoes planted in each of the last four years; what is his estimate of the average yield per acre of seed and the total yield of seed of each variety,

Area of seed potatoes planted (hectares)
Variety (Immune)	1989	1990	1991	1992
Alcmaria	—	0·040	0·276	1·471
Alhamra	0·270	1·229	—	—
Anosta	—	2·420	1·100	—
Antar	0·025	—	—	—
Arkula	2·240	1·500	—	—
Arma	3·940	2·694	1·000	—
Arran Banner	265·694	385·679	310·756	254·253
Arran Comet	24·993	32·584	14·780	13·969
Arran Consul	102·666	107·357	72·378	108·380
Arran Victory	5·800	9·694	6·260	7·188
Avalanche	0·400	40·20	25·907	30·231
Ballydoon	0·840	0·706	0·704	1·448
Balmoral	—	2·193	11·304	11·470
Blanka	—	—	—	0·030
Cara	71·102	—	—	—
Carlingford	8·169	10·800	10·700	10·600
Costella	—	—	—	0·020
Craig's Alliance	3·650	10·643	7·861	5·797
Cultra	5·020	19·519	35·828	16·930
Desiree	617·440	859·448	730·528	982·922
Dunbar Rover	2·200	1·917	0·750	3·086
Dunbar Standard	73·733	88·864	78·123	88·723
Dundrod	44·590	56·150	79·041	120·884
Dundrum	2·748	2·300	3·198	—
Dunluce	23·285	22·388	19·170	15·965
Estima	163·518	172·001	83·838	84·917
Famosa	2·410	1·200	1·80	—
Fianna	—	—	0·370	1·740
Foxton	6·846	10·690	3·092	1·419
Golden Wonder	2·000	1·000	—	0·955
Home Guard	139·551	155·551	120·687	122·191
Kerr's Pink	202·551	195·883	209·975	324·882
Kestrel	—	—	—	0·400
Kingston	2·400	1·490	1·230	—
Kondor	7·700	11·030	3·400	0·310
Majestic	5·330	12·550	7·950	8·048
Marfona	12·100	2·700	2·739	3·350
Maris Bard	42·687	59·210	68·644	33·430
Maris Peer	37·863	42·760	40·016	23·526
Maris Piper	11·932	13·148	18·443	9·921
Nadine	9·835	34·501	19·915	9·650
Naven	2·214	1·509	2·418	13·627
Nieta	1·120	3·800	3·400	2·510
Penta	17·139	22·083	23·290	10·870
Pentland Crown	54·862	44·525	38·309	21·582
Pentland Dell	696·540	654·810	628·796	637·177
Pentland Hawk	30·320	23·134	12·100	10·126
Pentland Ivory	8·575	13·000	7·740	10·040
Pentland Javelin	65·570	94·105	65·288	32·529
Pentland Squire	74·054	60·125	32·720	13·489
Record	134·037	248·851	168·189	207·199
Romano	52·357	64·748	53·400	19·441
Russet Burbank	0·350	2·500	8·050	0·350
Sante	6·282	22·820	23·210	10·100
Seaforde	0·930	—	—	—
Skirza	0·290	—	—	—
Sperrin	1·101	2·900	5·800	0·600
Stemster	1·720	2·851	2·400	4·320
Stroma	0·065	0·432	1·450	1·735
Toledo	0·700	2·900	—	—
Ulster Prince	9·545	15·111	9·385	7·759
Ulster Sceptre	88·627	97·071	75·352	26·718

The available information is set in the tables. Those relating to yields and exports have been limited to the main varieties not subject to plant breeder's rights. This information cannot be disaggregated further for reasons of commercial confidentiality.