To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many grants were (a) received and (b) approved in the last financial year for portable ramps to enable church and other authorities to adapt polling stations to meet the needs of disabled voters.

Grants towards the purchase of temporary ramps to provide access to polling stations for disabled voters are paid to returning officers. About 25 grants for the purchase of temporary ramps were paid in the financial year 1991–92. No applications for grants were refused. In addition, a few applications which were received in the last financial year will be paid during the current year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to allow grant aid for church and other authorities providing polling stations for local and national elections to meet the needs of disabled voters; and if he will make a statement.

Councils are required, so far as is reasonable and practicable, to designate as polling places only places which are accessible to the disabled. Where this is not possible, grants are available to returning officers towards the purchase of temporary ramps. Permanent adaptations to improve access for disabled people to buildings used by the public are the responsibility of the owners of the buildings. Returning officers' fees are not a suitable means of providing assistance towards such adaptations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many men were sent to prison in each of the last five years for convictions involving consenting sex with men aged over 16 years and under 21 years; and how many such convicted prisoners there are at present;(2) how many prosecutions have taken place in each of the last five years for offences involving consenting sex with men aged over 16 years but under 21 years; and how many convictions there were.

The table gives information on consensual acts of buggery or attempted buggery of a male of, or over 21, with another male under the age of 21, with consent—Sexual Offences Act 1956, section 12 as amended by the Sexual Offences Act 1967, section 3(1).Information on the numbers currently serving a custodial sentence in a prison service establishment in England and Wales for these offences, is not presently available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if specific guidelines exist for prioritising education bids for section 11 funding.

No specific guidelines have been issued about how local authorities should exercise their own judgment in prioritising their applications for section 11 funding, either within or between education and other service areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate total spending by his Department for section 11 grants, at current prices, for each year since 1987, and projected allocation for section 11 funding in 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95 and 1995–96.

The total amount of section 11 grant paid in each financial year since 1987–88 at current prices was as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will indicate for each year since 1987, in both net figures at current prices and as a proportion of total section 11 funding, the amount of section 11 money allocated to non-education bids.

Under arrangements operating until 31 March 1992, precise figures for the amount of grant paid for non-education expenditure are not available. It is estimated, however, that non-education provision has accounted for approximately 20 per cent. of total grant in the past.For new projects starting in 1992–93, the provisional allocation in respect of the potential grant cost of non-education projects in 1992–93 is some £11.5 million representing some 11 per cent. of the total grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for 1991–92, what proportion of section 11 bids which were given high priority by local authorities were not approved by his Department.

As a result of the consideration of bids submitted in 1991 for funding under the new arrangements for section 11 grant to take effect from 1 April 1992, 17 per cent. of project bids listed in the top 20 per cent. of local authorities' priority lists were not approved.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans Her Majesty's Government have to ratify the convention determining the states responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the member states of the European Community signed in Dublin on 15 June 1990.

We plan to ratify the Dublin convention shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many husbands have applied from Pakistan for settlement visas to join their wives in Britain in each of the last three years; how many have been granted; and how many have been refused.

The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many wives have applied from Pakistan for settlement visas to join their husbands in Britain in each of the last three years; how many have been granted; and how many have been refused.

The information requested is given in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) when the adjudicators' decision was received by his Department in the case of NB, date of birth 1 June 1966, and fiance of ABH, date of birth 8 October 1968; and if he will give reasons for the delay in issuing entry clearance;(2) if he will seek to improve the length of time it takes to issue entry clearance after a decision by the adjudicator;

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the Essex constabulary into the safety of the convictions of Sam Kulasingham and Prem Siuchasinghan; and if he will make a statement.

The Essex police are actively proceeding with their inquiries into this case, but the extent of their remaining inquiries make it difficult, at this stage, to give a precise timing for its conclusions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct an urgent review of the powers available to the police to prevent assemblies such as that at Castlemorton common taking place where they are a threat to public order, safety and health and consider bringing forward measures, similar to those affecting marches, to enable chief constables to ban such events if unauthorised.

We have called for a full report from the chief constable of West Mercia on the policing of the event at Castlemorton. Senior officials will very shortly be considering with chief constables the powers available to the police service, the intelligence and liaison arrangements between forces and their tactics for handling such large gatherings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are employed in C3 division of the Home Office.

On 1 June 1992, a total of 55 staff were employed in C3 division.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what are the hours of opening for each of the royal parks; and what are the hours for their lighting.

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total cost of providing street and path lighting in royal parks for each of the last five years; and how many employees are engaged in providing and maintaining this service.

The total cost for the provision of street and path lighting was £221,000 in 1990–91 and £271,000 in 1991–92. Separate records of expenditure on these services were not kept for previous years.The royal parks do not directly employ any staff to carry out these services.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will set out the cost of maintaining the railings around the royal parks for each of the last five years.

The total cost of maintaining and repairing the railings and gates around the royal parks was £86,000 in 1990–91 and £252,000 in 1991–92. Separate records of expenditure on these items were not kept for previous years.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the progress of contracting ground maintenance in the royal parks and the royal parks police force and the effects on cost and efficiency.

Contracts for the gardening and landscape maintenance work and for urgent tree work have all been let and came into operation on 1 March 1992. The nursery contract will come into effect on 4 July. An additional contract for tree maintenance will be awarded shortly. None of the new arrangements affect the royal parks constabulary.The primary objective of contracting out was to maintain and improve standards both in the royal parks and in the industry and I am confident that this will be achieved. Current projections are for an actual cost saving through contracting out of £200,000 in 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many commercially sponsored litter bins and park benches there are in the royal parks; and what is his estimate of the consequent cost saving.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the direct labour departments by number of employees for each royal park and depot and list their functions.

The details are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has for reforestation of royal parks.

The royal parks tree replanting programme is based on the traditional tree planting patterns in each park.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total cost for each of the last five years of providing (a) refuse and litter bins and (b) park benches and their maintenance in royal parks.

The details are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the total income earned in royal parks for each of the last five years by (a) ice cream refreshment concessions, (b) deck chair concessions and (c) boating lake concessions.

The figures are:

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when management consultants last looked at the royal parks management structure.

1985.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many park keepers in royal parks are provided by private contractors.

This is a matter for the contractors. The numbers fluctuate with the amount of work required.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on arrangements made to establish a new library for his Department.

My Department is actively working towards setting up the full range of services necessary to a department of state. Divisions are currently using the library facilities provided by their former parent Departments, but it is likely to be the case that we will be instituting our own library services in due course. Full consideration will be given to the provision of these services and it may be that there will be scope for contracting them out.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the imposition of value added tax on passenger transport; and what would be the increase in (a) fares or (b) public sector grant in a full year to recover the net cost of value added tax charged at a rate of (i) 15 per cent. and (ii) 17.5 per cent.

I have made no detailed assessment of the effects of the imposition of value added tax on passenger transport. Agreement reached by Finance Ministers enables us to retain our existing zero rates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the findings of the inquiry into the sinking of the vessel Antares from Carradale; and if he will make a statement.

The report of the chief inspector of marine accidents into the collision between the fishing vessel Antares and HMS Trenchant is expected to be published by HMSO on 9 July 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the level of Government financial support for British Rail provided in (a) million pounds, (b) the amount needed to equal the 1979 allocation in real terms and (c) the percentage excess or shortfall compared to the 1979 allocation in real terms; and if he will provide a breakdown by the following (i) public sector obligation, (ii) external financing limit and (iii) external financing requirement for each year since 1979.

British Rail's external financing limit—EFL—for 1992–93 has been set at £2,096 million. British Rail's external financing requirement—EFR—for 1979 was £1,735 million in 1992–93 prices. British Rail's EFL for 1992–93 therefore shows an increase of 21 per cent. over the figure for 1979 in real terms.The annual breakdown by public service obligation, EFL and EFR is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what is the level of freight carried by rail expressed (a) in million tonnes and (b) as a percentage of total freight for (i) each of the EC member states, (ii) Sweden and (iii) Norway and Finland for each year since 1979;(2) what is the total amount of freight carried by British Rail expressed in million tonnes; and if he will provide a breakdown by

Such data as are available are contained in the following publications:

Transport Statistics Great Britain (TSGB) 1991: Table 6.9;

Transport Statistics Report. International Comparisons of Transport Statistics 1970–1988 Part 1: Intermodal—Annex, Table B;

TSGB 1979–1989 and TSGB 1991—Table 3.4;

International Railway Statistics 1990: Table 72.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of (a) rail routes and (b) running tracks are electrified in the following (i) Scotland, (ii) England, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland, (v) each of the EC member states, (vi) Sweden, (vii) Norway and (viii) Finland.

Information regarding the electrification of running tracks is not available. The percentage of rail routes electrified appears in the table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if his Department has considered an application for an exhibition relating to the 10th anniversary of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety to be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall.

I am pleased to say that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State supported this application and has agreed to open the exhibition on Monday 29 June.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the funding of future light rail schemes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the funding of future light rail schemes.

Light rail schemes are assessed for grant in accordance with the procedures and criteria set out in circular 3/89. Credit approvals are provided if required for the balance of resources, taking account of any contribution from the private sector. The fact that a scheme has qualified for funding does not however mean that the resources will be available. The Government are determined to keep tight control over public expenditure. We have funded the £135 million Manchester Metro, and are currently funding the £230 million South Yorkshire Supertram but it will not be possible to provide funds for construction of line one of the Midland Metro in the current spending round. However, we intend to continue supporting measures taken by local authorities to improve bus services, including traffic management measures. Such measures involve less call for capital expenditure and do have an immediate benefit for public transport. We have invited local authorities to submit further schemes for resource allocation next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department authorised the sale of British Airways helicopters to Robert Maxwell; and what conditions were applied.

The sale did not require the Secretary of State's approval or authorisation.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the special advisers appointed to Government Ministers in this Parliament and their previous occupations.

I have been asked to reply.The names and pre-election occupations of special advisers appointed in this Parliament are as follows:

To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy on the confidentiality of proposed recommendations by him for honours until they are formally announced; what steps are taken when such confidence is breached; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister treats such recommendations in strict confidence until they are announced and asks others to treat them similarly.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what recent discussions his Department has had with the National Rivers Authority concerning the phasing out of the north-east drift net fishery; and if he will make a statement.

Following the report to Parliament on 17 October prepared by my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland, the National Rivers Authority was asked how the regulation of this fishery could be changed, inter alia, to phase out the drift net fisheries. Officials have remained in close touch with the NRA. We expect to receive the NRA's response in the summer.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps have been taken to instigate a permanent ban on commercial whaling.

A moratorium on commercial whaling has been agreed by the International Whaling Commission and has operated since 1985. The United Kingdom strongly supports the moratorium. Its future will be a key issue for discussion at the commission's 44th annual meeting in Glasgow this month.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to promote at the International Whaling Commission meeting in Glasgow in June (a) a total and permanent ban on commercial whaling and (b) the declaration of Antartic waters as a whale sanctuary; and if he will make a statement.

A moratorium on commercial whaling, promoted by the IWC, has operated since 1985. The moratorium has been supported by the United Kingdom which has banned whaling within British fishery limits since 1976. A proposal to establish a whale sanctuary in the southern hemisphere, south of 40°S, has been put forward by the French Government for discussion at the next IWC meeting. Details of this proposal have only just been received and will require careful study. The proposals address a number of questions to the International Whaling Commission's scientific committee whose advice we shall also need to evaluate.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to press the European Commission to draw up proposals for a permanent ban on whaling in EC waters.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 4 June, Official Report, column 642.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to respond to the milk marketing board's proposals to turn itself into a single voluntary co-operative with pooled prices.

The Government have welcomed the board's proposals which represent a major step forward, and is currently considering them, together with equivalent proposals from the other four United Kingdom boards. We intend to introduce legislation this season to facilitate the conversion of the boards into non-statutory organisations.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has for phasing out industrial fishing; and whether he will make it his policy for decomissioning grants to be concentrated on this area to reduce effort.

There is as yet insufficient evidence to win an argument in the Council of Ministers that industrial fishing harms human consumption fisheries and should be phased out. In the United Kingdom industrial fishery the Shetland sandeel fishery was closed in 1990 and remains shut. Access to the west coast of Scotland sandeel fishery is restricted by licence. The bycatch of human consumption species in industrial fisheries is considerably smaller than the discards of juvenile fish from the white fish fisheries. Very few United Kingdom vessels are involved in industrial fishing. Decommissioning funds will be used to target effort in order to maximise the value for money of the public funds available. All applications for decommissioning grants will be evaluated using the same criteria. Decommissioning funds will be used to target effort in order to maximise the value for money of the public funds available. All applications for decommissioning grants will be evaluated using the same criteria.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now in a position to make an announcement about the future of sheep scab controls.

Sheep scab is a disease which can be readily controlled at the individual farm level and sheep farmers are well aware of the preventative measures and procedures needed to deal with the disease in their flocks. Compulsory national dipping arrangements required all flocks to be dipped, whether or not infected or at risk of infection. In 1991 the disease was recorded by the State Veterinary Service in 116 flocks out of 105,000 sheep holdings in Great Britain.The Government decided that responsibility for action to deal with sheep scab should rest with farmers. The dipping of sheep will no longer be compulsory and shortly legislation will he put before Parliament proposing that the disease will cease to be notifiable or subject to statutory control measures when it is discovered.Legislation is already in place to protect the welfare of animals. We shall not hesitate to press for the prosecution of those who do not deal promptly and satisfactorily with outbreaks of sheep scab in their flocks. Field staff of the State Veterinary Service will, as in other cases where the welfare of animals may be at risk, look for evidence of sheep scab during their visits to markets and farms and will investigate all cases reported to them, where there is a potential welfare problem. Every sheep farmer will be contacted, in writing, to remind farmers of their responsibilities for controlling sheep scab and of the procedures they should follow should their flocks become infected.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an announcement will be made on the choice of the site in York to which 600 headquarters posts from his Department will be relocating in 1994.

I hope to make an announcement in due course.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect he expects the recent agreement on CAP reform to have on the price, over the next three years, of (a) 1 lb of bacon, (b) a standard loaf and (c) ½lb of butter.

It is not possible to give precise estimates. The reform process will be spread over a number of years, and during this period retail food prices will be affected by a number of factors. However, at the end of the reform period the retail food price index could be some 2 per cent. lower on average than it would otherwise have been.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what response he has made to the Mail Order Fine Food Association's "Proposals for Improving Safety Standards in Mail Order Foods", a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently written to the Mail Order Fine Foods Association outlining my response to that organisation's paper entitled "Proposals for Improving Safety Standards in Mail Order Foods". I welcome the formation of the association and applaud its primary objective of introducing and maintaining improved standards of food quality and hygiene throughout the mail order trade. Moreover, the association's initiative in drawing up a code of good hygiene practice for the mail order food industry is to be commended. Given the importance of temperature control and of scrupulous attention to hygiene at the production and packing stages of all foods, I shall be interested to follow the progress of this code and the extent to which, though voluntary, it commands general acceptance in the mail order sector.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, columns 322-23, if he will list the locations of incinerators approved by his Ministry for the disposal of BSE cows; and what is the weekly capacity for each one.

The Ministry uses eight incineration plants in England and Wales for the incineration of suspect BSE carcases. They are located in Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Somerset, Nottinghamshire, Avon, Cornwall, Dyfed and Clywd. One of these is at a Ministry veterinary investigation centre located in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire and has the capacity to incinerate 22 carcases per week. The others are privately owned and operate on a commercial basis. The Ministry cannot therefore disclose details, such as individual capacity, for these plants.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will convene a working party of independent scientists to produce an updated report on bovine spongiform encephalopathy; and if he will make a statement.

I did so in 1990 and this committee, chaired by Dr. Tyrrell, has produced advice to Ministers on a number of occasions. In each case the recommendations have been made public and implemented in full.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will show the number of confirmed cases of BSE in each county of England and Wales from May.

The number of cases confirmed for England and Wales from I May 1992 to 29 May 1992 is as follows. These cases will have a date of clinical onset of disease, and indeed date of report, before 1 May.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when stocks of myxomatosis vaccine for pet rabbits will be exhausted; what assessment he has made of the likely consequences for domestic pets; how this situation has arisen; and if he will take steps to secure immediate production of this vaccine.

Discussions between licence holders and the licensing authority are confidential matters on which I am unable to comment under the terms of section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968. 1 can confirm however that a licence for myxomatosis vaccine was recently surrendered by the licence holder. Information on the stocks available is not held centrally but there will be no further supplies once those currently held by veterinarians have been exhausted.Informal discussions have taken place with representatives of the veterinary pharmaceutical industry about the possibility that other companies might wish to make applications for a licence but so far no applications have been forthcoming. This is a commercial decision for the companies concerned and will clearly be influenced by the perceived level of demand for such a product.Any application would need to be considered against the scientific criteria of safety, quality and efficacy as required by the Medicines Act and would be assessed as speedily as possible.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken on the recommendation by the Agriculture Committee that his Department should develop a monitoring system at key food outlets to give an indication of day-to-day levels of radiocativity in major foodstuffs.

The Ministry's priority remains the monitoring of sheep at the point of production to ensure that contaminated animals or produce are identified and prevented from entering the food chain.To supplement these live monitoring arrangements, the Department operates a programme of monitoring at a number of slaughterhouses which take sheep from the Cumbria restricted area. In addition, our terrestrial radioactivity monitoring programme involves the monitoring of milk at dairies covering 27 counties in England and Wales. The results of this monitoring are published regularly and copies are placed in the Libraries of the House.Also, monitoring programmes for radioactivity in food operated by various bodies have been published in a compendium "Programmes to Monitor Radioactivity in Food: Food Surveillance Paper No. 28, HMSO, 1990". This report gives an indication of the further extensive monitoring of food that currently takes place.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the rate of suckler cow premium for the 1992 scheme year.

At its meeting on 18 to 21 May, the Council of Agriculture Ministers agreed that the Community-funded element of the suckler cow premium for the 1992 scheme year should be 50 ecu—£39.77—per head. There will continue to be provision for an optional national top-up to the Community-funded premium. I expect the Commission to produce a draft implementing regulation shortly. An announcement on the rate of premium to apply in the United Kingdom for the 1992 scheme will be made in due course. In the meantime, I have laid an amendment to the relevant statutory instrument—SI 1992/1210, the Suckler Cow Premium (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1992—to make it clear that the rates currently set out apply only to applications in respect of the 1991 scheme year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now concluded the review of meat inspection charges which he announced on 9 March; and if he will make a statement.

I am today making available in the Library of the House copies of summary statistics collected by the review team, and of recommendations by the agriculture departments to interested local authorities and members of the meat industry. These are directed at clarifying the basis on which charges are calculated, and enabling co-operation between plant operators and local authorities to facilitate consistent and cost-effective inspection throughout Great Britain. I hope that they will help local authorities discharge their statutory responsibilities efficiently, in the period of transition until the new national meat hygiene service takes over these responsibilities. We wish to thank those local authorities and members of the industry who provided information to the review team.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to review the impact of excise duty on smaller brewers.

The position of smaller brewers was considered during the pre-Budget review of indirect taxation, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer decided to make no change. However, small brewers should benefit from the forthcoming change in the method of taxing beer. The present wastage allowance, which often does not cover all their production losses, will be abolished, and they will pay duty only on the beer they actually despatch for sale. The Government have no present plans for a further review.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the subject of VAT charges on home care services; and if he will place the text of such representations and his reply to them in the Library.

Treasury Ministers have received a number of representations about VAT on the provision of domiciliary care. I have arranged for the text of a typical reply to such representations to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of gross domestic product manufacturing investment, including leased assets, represented in 1979 and 1991.

Estimates of manufacturing investment and gross domestic product may be obtained from the CSO database accessible through the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out for each month the variation of the pound sterling inside or outside the 2½ per cent. and 6 per cent. bands since its entry into the European exchange rate mechanism.

Sterling does not participate in the narrow band of the ERM. The table lists the average monthly percentage variation of sterling from its central rates against other ERM currencies since joining the exchange rate mechanism.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement outlining Her Majesty's Government's policy on commercial loans to Malawi.

Her Majesty's Government's policy on commercial bank loans to Malawi is that such loans are a matter to be decided by the banks and the Government of Malawi.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees participated in live registered profit-related pay schemes in the last period for which figures are available; how many schemes are in operation; and what is the estimated total value of those schemes.

There were 736,000 participating employees in 2,895 live registered profit-related pay schemes at the end of April 1992. On the basis of the latest information provided by participating employers, the total annual value of the distributable profit-related pay pool for these schemes is tentatively estimated at about £500 million.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees have received shares under qualifying employee share option trusts; and what is the current total value of shares in such trusts.

The Inland Revenue may not learn of the establishment of employee share ownership trusts of the kind defined in the Finance Act 1989 until claims for the tax relief provided by the legislation are received. Such claims may be made up to two years after the end of the period of account in which the relevant contributions are made. A return seeking information on the operation of the trust will not be sent out for completion until confirmation that a claim has been allowed has been received centrally. No such confirmations have yet been received.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new lettings from investments under the business expansion scheme in 1990–91 there were in (a) the United Kingdom, (b) north-west England and (c) St. Helens; and what percentage these figures represent of (i) all privately rented property and (ii) all rented property.

Provisional estimates for new lettings from investments under the business expansion scheme in 1990–91 are as follows. Separate figures for St. Helens could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the progress made towards achieving the economic objectives listed in article 109 of the EC treaty as proposed in the Maastricht treaty.

While the United Kingdom has reserved the right to choose whether or not to participate in the final stage of EMU the Government's policies are designed to ensure that the United Kingdom meets the convergence criteria as listed in article 109 of the Maastricht treaty.The Government are committed to membership of the exchange rate mechanism and will in due course move to narrow bands at the current central parity of DM2.95. Maintaining sterling within its ERM bands will ensure that United Kingdom inflation will move progressively into line with the best inflation performance of the ERM countries. Long-term interest rates can also be expected to converge with the best ERM countries' performance. Fiscal policy is designed to avoid running deficits that might be judged excessive.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the threshold on PI 1Ds was last increased; and what representations he has had to increase them.

The earnings threshold above which employers must report employees' benefits and expenses payments to the Inland Revenue on form P11D was last increased, to £8,500, from 1979–;80. A number of representations have been received suggesting an increase in the P11D threshold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated number of tax-payers above the current threshold for P11Ds and below the current threshold for the last available figures.

It is estimated that in 1992–93 there are some 15.4 million tax-paying employees earning above the £8,500 P11D threshold. There are also 0.8 million tax-paying directors who are subject to the special provisions for taxation of benefits-in-kind whatever the level of their earnings. There are 3.1 million tax-paying employees earning less than the P11D threshold.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date he expects to bring into effect pay and file.

On present plans pay and file will start on 1 October 1993. The new rules will apply to accounting periods ending on or after that date.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 400, why neither the Members with constituencies affected, nor the local authority concerned, were consulted prior to or informed subsequent to the closure of the Wakefield valuation office.

The former Wakefield valuation office covered the local authorities of City of Wakefield metropolitan district council and Barnsley metropolitan borough council. The end of domestic rating caused a reduction of about one fifth of the work of the VO and a reduced network was necessary in order to protect costs.Both authorities were advised in advance of the closure and arrangements made for the transfer of work to Doncaster valuation office with effect from 30 September 1991.While the respective Members of Parliament were not directly informed of the closure, a copy of the "Valuation Office Address Book", held in the House of Commons Library, was updated in October 1991 and indicated the transfer of the above local authorities to the Doncaster valuation office.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the transfer of responsibility for financial services from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Treasury.

Responsibility for financial services was transferred to the Treasury on 7 June by the Transfer of Functions (Financial Services) Order 1992 which was laid before Parliament on 5 June.The transfer involves the functions and staff of the DTI's financial services division. In essence, these cover responsibility for policy and legislation, and overseeing regulation, in the areas of investment business, collective investment schemes, the issue of securities to the public and investor protection.The functions transferred include responsibility for the regulatory system under the Financial Services Act 1986 and oversight of the Securities and Investments Board, the Companies Securities (Insider Dealing) Act 1985, and part VII—(financial markets and insolvency)—and part IX—TAURUS—of the Companies Act 1989; EC directives in the financial services sector, (including the draft investment services and capital adequacy directives); arrangements with overseas regulators for exchanging information; encouraging international liberalisation in financial services through the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the organisation for economic co-operation and development; and for litigation to recover the cost of the Government's ex gratia payments scheme to Barlow Clowes investors.The DTI will continue to be responsible for the generality of company law; insolvency matters including the disqualification of directors; investigations and prosecutions under the Financial Services, Insolvency and Companies Acts; and for prudential supervision of insurance undertakings, EC insurance directives, insurance interests in the OECD and GATT, and for general questions affecting the insurance industry.Banking and financial services have become increasingly closely linked, at home and abroad, and this will now be reflected by bringing policy responsibility together in a single Department. No changes are proposed in the way financial services are regulated as a result of the transfer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total sum paid out in fees by his Department to management consultants in 1979–80 and in each following year up to and including 1991–92; and what is his estimate for 1992–93.

Information relating to the financial years between 1979–80 and 1984–85 inclusive is not readily available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost. Following is the information relating to the remaining financial years:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what capital allocations will be made to the Waltham Forest housing action trust; and by what mechanisms capital spending by the trust will be determined and controlled.

The Waltham Forest housing action trust will be provided with sufficient funding to cover the cost of capital expenditure on its agreed programme. Until its first corporate plan has been produced and agreed with the Department no overall allocation can be made and funding will be provided on a monthly basis against need. In common with other non-departmental public bodies the trust will be financially responsible via its accounting officer acting in accordance with a financial memorandum, management statement and corporate plan, and subject to external audit.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will issue a circular to local authorities to encourage them to introduce smoke alarms into homes for elderly people;(2) whether he will introduce legislation to require local authorities to install smoke alarms in all local authority and housing association homes occupied by pensioners.

My Department has no plans to do so, but building regulations now call for the installation of smoke detectors in new dwellings, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health is responsible for legislation on types of accommodation for elderly people which, among other things, provides for fire precautions.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much his Department has expended on the promotion or installation of smoke alarms in homes for elderly people in each of the last five years for which records are available.

I have been asked to reply.Since 1987 the Home Office has conducted a regional and national television advertising campaign promoting smoke alarms. The campaign has sought to increase ownership among all households in England and Wales. In 1990–91 and 1991–92 the Home Office targeted its national television advertising campaign primarily at elderly people.Four million copies of leaflets promoting smoke alarms have been issued by the Home Office. In addition, a leaflet and video promoting general fire safety for elderly people also encourage the installation of smoke alarms.Costs cannot be apportioned to specific target groups.There is legislation in place in respect of types of accommodation housing elderly people which, among other things, makes provision for fire precautions. Such legislation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 22 May, Official Report, column 269, further to 0273/92/93/(27), if he will list those organisations and individuals who have contributed to his consultation exercise relating to minerals planning guidance 3 as it affects opencast coal mining operators.

My Department has received 58 responses to the consultation exercise. I am placing a list of those who have responded in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those planning decisions relating to opencast mining applications which have been called in by his Department in each of the last five years for the Secretary of State's ruling; and, in each case, whether permission was given or refused, or whether the case has still to be determined.

My Department has called in one planning decision relating to an opencast mining application in the last five years. The application was by the British Coal Corporation for the Smotherfly—revised—opencast coal site in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. It was called in on 8 December 1987, and permission for the development was given on 17 March 1989.

To ask the Secretary for the Environment if it is a prerequisite for accepting any private sector bid for the Canary Wharf project for there to be an agreement from the firm to give financial assistance to the Jubilee line extension.

The terms on which Canary Wharf may be offered for sale are entirely a matter for the administrator appointed to manage Olympia and York's affairs in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, when considering any possible move to Canary Wharf he will take into account the cost of London weighting allowance and compare total costs of such a move to those of dispersing to other regions of the United Kingdom.

The 2,000 posts in my Department which are to move to docklands, subject to securing accommodation on suitable terms, need to remain within London because they need to have regular contacts with Ministers. The question of the comparative costs of dispersal to other parts of the United Kingdom does not therefore arise. I shall, however, continue to look for further opportunities to relocate posts to other parts of the country, bearing in mind the point which the right hon. Member makes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance his Department will make available over the next two years to agencies which provide shelter to single homeless people in (a) the north-west of England and (b) St. Helens.

For 1992–93 the Department has offered financial assistance under section 73 of the Housing Act 1985 to 17 voluntary organisations in north-west England, all of which provide direct practical help to homeless people in finding and keeping suitable accommodation. One organisation, Merseyside accommodation project, is receiving support for its work in St. Helens. Funding for future years is subject to negotiation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has for national assessment of direct access accommodation available to single homeless people.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be in a position to announce his decision on the planning application to construct a toxic waste plant at Howdon on Tyneside; and what account he will take of the strength of public opposition to the proposal in reaching his decision.

My right hon. and learned Friend will issue his decision on the Howdon and linked incinerator inquiries on Teesside as soon as it is practicable to do so.In reaching his decision, my right hon. Friend will take into account all the representations made about the proposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy that the part of Surrey between the M25 and the old Greater London boundary should remain part of Surrey not London.

The Local Government Boundary Commission has been looking at the local government boundary in this area. Its final proposals for changing the boundaries between Bromley/Tandridge, Croydon/Tandridge, Croydon/Reigate and Banstead and Richmond/Elmbridge/Spelthorne are presently being considered by the Secretary of State. The commission is still examining the remainder of the Surrey/London boundary and will report in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to determine planning appeal number T/APP/M4320/A/91/189223/P8, relating to 93/93A High Park road, Southport; when the appeal was first submitted; and when the appeal was submitted for re-determination; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Planning Inspectorate Agency and I have asked the chief executive to write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has to review the system of standard spending assessments for the financing of local government in 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with the local authority associations about a few possible methodological changes to SSAs for 1993–94 have been under way since February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the operation of section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Councillors who are two or more months in arrears with payment of their community charge or council tax are required by section 106 to declare the fact and to abstain from voting on matters concerning charge or tax.Compliance with the law is the responsibility of individual councillors.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total level of revenue expenditure by local authorities in 1991–92.

Total net revenue expenditure by English local authorities in 1991–92 is estimated to have been £36.4 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that the Buying Agency does not discriminate against British suppliers or operate restrictive practices in its trading activities.

The Buying Agency—TBA—is a public procurement organisation which is bound by the EC supplies directive and the GATT agreement on Government procurement. The Buying Agency has no policies which could be interpreted as restrictive practices.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy that central London weighting will continue to apply in full to staff relocated in docklands and whether allowances will be made for longer travelling time.

I have assured staff in my Department that I am committed to securing the best terms available on transfer to docklands, but details have yet to be settled. Two of the properties under consideration—Harbour Exchange and Canary Wharf—are in any case within the inner-London weighting area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimates he has made of employment opportunities for local people in the east end arising from relocation of his staff to docklands.

Through the normal process of staff turnover, substantial opportunities will in due course arise for employment in my department in docklands, for which local people will be encouraged to apply. There will also be an indirect benefit to the economy of the area from the needs of 2,000 extra workers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what response the trade unions have made to him arising from his propoals to relocate staff in docklands.

I have received no response from the trades unions to my announcement in the House on 2 June. The First Division Association had already written to me reporting a conference resolution on the matter. In addition, my officials have had a number of discussions with union representatives.