To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will outline the specific training undertaken by staff of his Department in relation to compensation claims; and what steps are taken to ensure the fair treatment of claimants.

The Department issued guidance to its officials in 1990 on the principles to be taken into account when checking claims for compensation. Decisions are taken at a senior level, with legal advice being sought where appropriate.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his Department's criteria and guidelines in dealing with compensation claims.

The Department is prepared to consider claims for compensation where loss is sustained through maladministration by court officials in matters for which the Lord Chancellor is responsible.Staff dealing with the justification for and assessment of compensation claims are required to apply guidelines, the broad principles of which were reproduced in the

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department whether (a) the remuneration levels claimed and paid to solicitors and the Treasury Solicitor undertaking work for his Department in relation to compensation claims, (b) the work undertaken by claimants' solicitors to secure financial redress satisfactory to claimants and (c) delays between lodging and resolving claims reflect in compensation and costs paid.

Claims for compensation are considered on the individual merits of the case. The Department will consider payment of a solicitor's reasonable costs in pursuing a claim but inevitably the process of assessing the validity of claims takes time, particularly where it involves communication with other offices within the Department or, on occasions, with the Treasury.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when he expects to take decisions on the publication of guidelines as to the principles upon which his Department assesses ex gratia payments for compensation.

The broad principles upon which the Department assesses claims for ex gratia compensatory payments were outlined in an article in the Law Society Gazette in August 1990. Consideration is being given to further publication of these principles.

To ask the Attorney-General if the Serious Fraud Office will take steps to contact Dr. Werner Keicher of Vaduz with a view to obtaining his assistance in the investigations into the Maxwell group of companies.

It is the policy of the Serious Fraud Office not to divulge operational details relating to the proposed handling of its investigations. I am satisfied that all steps currently necessary properly to investigate the Maxwell group of companies are being taken.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will provide additional resources and instructions to the Serious Fraud Office in order that they can assist in the recovery of moneys belonging to the Maxwell pension funds.

The role of the Serious Fraud Office is to investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute alleged offences involving serious or complex fraud. Primary responsibility for the recovery of assets rests with the trustees of the Maxwell pension funds, the administrators and liquidators. The Serious Fraud Office assists those so engaged to the extent that it is lawfully able to do so and that such assistance does not detract from the discharge of its own duties.I am satisfied that the SFO is properly resourced for the discharge of its duties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the aircraft near-miss involving a Caledonian Airways Tristar and a glider at a height of 2,500 feet at approximately 14.10 hours on 1 June eight miles south-west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne over Currock hill gliding site.

The responsibility for the safety regulation of United Kingdom civil aviation rests with the Civil Aviation Authority.All air miss reports in United Kingdom airspace, involving civil or military aircraft, are investigated initially by the joint air miss section of the National Air Traffic Services, which is a joint CAA/Ministry of Defence organisation.They are then examined by the joint air miss working group (JAWG), an independent committee drawn from a wide cross-section of responsible civil and aviation bodies. The JAWG investigation is not a disciplinary procedure; its purpose is to serve the interests of flight safety by establishing the cause of the air miss in order to try to devise ways of preventing a similar occurrence.I have drawn the hon. Member's question to the attention of the Civil Aviation Authority and have asked it to write to him direct when the investigation into the air miss which is the subject of the question is complete.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to announce his proposals for the revision of the highway code.

My right hon. Friend has laid before Parliament a document setting out his proposed alterations to the highway code. These take into account the many responses received to the Department's consultation document issued last October.This has been the first major review of the highway code since 1978. The proposals contain forty two new rules and many other rules have been amended to reflect recent changes in the law and best road safety practice. We are taking the opportunity also to improve the format of the code in order to make it more attractive to the reader and so encourage further its regular use by all road users.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he intends to take to ensure that EC arrangements will not prevent the use of emergency action codes for the transportation and storage of hazardous chemicals.

My Department is working closely with the Home Office to promote the benefits of the emergency action codes in Europe with a view to incorporating them in the United Nations road transport agreement, "ADR", that is likely to form the basis of future commission proposals concerning the transport of dangerous goods. Commission officials have been involved in preliminary discussions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is currently granted by the Overseas Development Administration to help lower income signatory countries to implement action under (a) the Ramsar convention for the conservation of wetlands of international importance, (b) the convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage, (c) the convention on international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora and (d) the convention of the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

The ODA funds a number of projects to support wildlife (biodiversity) and habitat conservation in developing countries which would assist them to implement action under the wildlife conventions mentioned. Since 1990 the ODA has committed over £20 million to such projects. Lists of projects are available in the Library of the House.In addition, the Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to encourage the improvement in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.

It will continue to be our policy when considering the work programmes of those organisations of which we are members to encourage, as far as resources permit, improvements in the coverage, reliability, breakdown of data by sex, income group and area, and availability of international social statistics.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will indicate the total United Kingdom expenditure upon overseas aid in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available from (a) Government sources, (b) other public sector sources and (c) private and charitable sources; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 11 June 1992]: Gross public expenditure on overseas aid (£ million) in 1981 to 1990 was as follows:

	Total	of which CDC 1 project aid
1981	1,184	68
1982	1,085	51
1983	1,174	56
1984	1,316	108
1985	1,324	79
1986	1,350	64
1987	1,295	63
1988	1,667	112
1989	1,793	151
1990	1,725	137
1 Commonwealth Development Corporation resources include Government loans and income from investments in developing countries.

Grants by voluntary agencies (£ million) in 1981–1990 to developing countries, net of the grants given to these agencies by the Government, was as follows:
	£ million
1981	47
1982	58
1983	67
1984	105
1985	132
1986	119
1987	126
1988	132
1989	150
1990	184

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been contributed by Her Majesty's Government to the construction of a buffalo fence in Ngamiland; and what estimate he has made of the damage it will cause to wildlife in the area.

[holding answer 11 June 1992]: The British Government have made no contribution to the cost of this fence, nor have they been involved in any assessment of its likely impact.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on the European Community's timetable for meeting the United Nations aid target by the year 2000.

[holding answer 11 June 1992]: The European Community has not set a timetable for reaching the United Nations aid target. The Government's aid programme has been increasing in real terms and is planned to continue to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many landowners have benefited in respect of inheritance tax in return for public access to their estates; and if he will list footpaths to which public access has resulted from conditional exemption.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 399. Information about individual cases is covered by the normal rules of taxpayer confidentiality. However, heritage bodies are able to supply information about public access to heritage land including conditionally exempt land (although the land will not be identified as conditionally exempt). The main such bodies in England and Scotland are the Countryside Commission and the Countryside Commission for Scotland, and for land of scientific interest the respective Nature Conservancy Councils. In Wales and Northern Ireland the relevant bodies are the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment Service of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the Exchequer of inheritance tax benefit to landowners in return for public access to their estates.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Islington, South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 399.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to include environmental cost in measures used by his Department to measure economic performance.

Exploratory work on environmental accounts and indicators is under way at the Department of Environment and the Central Statistical Office. This work is still in its early stages.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees have received shares under case law employee share ownership plans; and what is the current total value of shares in such schemes.

I regret that the information is not available centrally.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to bring in legislation under which home owners will be able to let rooms to lodgers without liability to tax on the rent that they receive; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave to the hon. Members for Greenwich (Mr. Raynsford) and for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones) on 2 June 1992, Official Report, column 366.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the outcome of the meeting of the Council of Finance Ministers on 9 June; and if consideration was given to the harmonisation of value added tax levels.

[holding answer 10 June 1992]: The Economic and Finance Council of the European Community met in Luxembourg on 9 June and I represented the United Kingdom.The Council discussed the Spanish programme for economic convergence as part of its regular multilateral surveillance exercises. We welcomed the programme's objective of non-inflationary growth via macroeconomic stabilisation, including a tightened fiscal stance, and the undertaking of significant structural reforms. Particular attention was drawn to the importance of the Spanish regional governments in achieving fiscal consolidation.The removal of rigidities, particularly in the markets for labour and services, combined with a stable nominal exchange rate were welcomed as policies to reduce inflation and encourage wage moderation. The scale of Spanish proposals to improve the functioning of their labour market and to deregulate services was acknowledged. The Council urged the rapid introduction of these measures while stressing their importance to achieving sustainable non-inflationary growth. It was also agreed that the Council's multilateral surveillance exercises should be strengthened by paying more attention to structural measures in promoting economic convergence.Over lunch there was a brief discussion of Commission proposals for further loans to Bulgaria and Romania but no decisions were reached.The Council also discussed the Commission's future financing proposals. I argued that the Commission's proposals to increase Community spending in real terms between 1992 and 1997 by about 21 billion ecu (£14½ billion)—an increase of over 30 per cent.—were unacceptable and I was strongly supported by a majority of other member states. I pointed to the findings of the European Court of Auditors, demonstrating the poor value for money from Community spending. I argued against any increase in the own resources ceiling, stressing that the Community had to live within its means and that taxpayers should not be asked to accept substantial increases in Community spending at a time when there was a need for national budgetary restraint.On indirect taxes, the presidency tabled a global compromise covering the eight draft directives on excise duty rates and structures for tobacco products, mineral oils and alcoholic beverages and VAT.There was little substantive discussion on these issues. I recorded the various problems the current text posed. On the minimum rate for spirits, although the proposed figure of 600 ecu per hectolitre of pure alcohol was an improvement on its predecessor (1,000 ecu), it would still require at least one member state to increase its duty rate. I could see no case in logic for the minimum rate for wine to be set at zero, but for a high positive rate for spirits. I said that there would also need to be a commitment to review the rates in the light of a proper study on competition in the alcoholic drinks market.On alcohol structures, I argued that the revised text for intermediate products was still unacceptable since it would require products of 10 per cent. alcohol by volume to be taxed at a higher rate than a wine of 17 per cent. alcohol by volume. I noted that there were also a number of important technical points to be resolved including the treatment of strong wines, denatured alcohol and alcohol in foodstuffs.On tobacco rates, I stressed the importance the United Kingdom attaches to an underpinning cash minimum for cigarettes and other tobacco products.On VAT issues, I stated that the United Kingdom view had not changed, particularly on the minimum standard rate of VAT, our concerns with the proposed treatment of works of art and the need to safeguard our present exemption at import; and to ensure protection for donated goods sold in charity shops. I expect ECOFIN to return to this dossier on 29 June.A satisfactory political agreement was reached on a Presidency package consisting of the most contentious points in the draft Capital Adequacy Directive (which will provide a harmonized framework of capital requirements on banks' and securities firms' trading portfolios in support of the Second Banking Coordination Directive and the draft Investment Services Directive). This opens the way to further technical work on the rest of the Directive. An array of important points remain to be addressed before further discussion at ECOFIN on 29 June.I ensured that the draft directive would allow securities firms to continue to take on large tradeable positions ("large exposures"), that it should provide an appropriate treatment of reverse repurchase agreements, stock borrowing and similar arrangments, and that it should have a mechanism for convergence with wider international standards currently under development. I successfully secured all these objectives, which I made clear were vital to the international competitiveness of the United Kingdom financial services sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has of the number of mature students who have paid national insurance contributions and who are not entitled to claim social security benefits.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) on 9 June 1992, Official Report, columns 88-89.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what change has taken place in the average student-staff ratio in universities in the United Kingdom between 1979–80 and 1992–93.

Data for student-staff ratios in universities in Great Britain are shown below for 1979–80 to 1990–91:

	Universities
1979–80	9.3
1984–85	10.3
1989–90	11.8
1990–911	12.3
1 Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how he envisages provision being made within the London borough of Islington after 1 April 1993, for adult students with learning difficulties, for basic literacy and English, and for basic mathematics.

Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the duty to secure provision of all kinds of further education for adults, including those with learning difficulties, will from 1 April 1993 be divided between the new further education funding councils and local education authorities. Responsibility for securing adequate provision of literacy and numeracy teaching for adults will pass to the further education funding councils. Both the councils and local education authorities will have a duty to have regard to the requirements of adults with learning difficulties in respect of the types of education for which they will be responsible.Section 6(5) of the Act provides that colleges and centres which do not transfer to the new further education sector should be able to apply through FE colleges within the new sector for funds to support that part of their work which falls within the funding councils' remit. The FE college will forward the application to the funding council if facilities for the kind of courses in question are not adequate in the locality. If the FE college does not forward the application, its decision will be subject to review by the Secretary of State.My right hon. Friend will be making clear in guidance to the councils that he does not expect to see precipitate changes in the pattern of educational provision for adults. Such provision 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 Education (1) what provision will be made in the Liverpool area for teacher training; what schools will be used as training bases; what assessment he is making of the existing private studies in Liverpool developing between the Liverpool institute of higher education, Liverpool university and local comprehensive schools; if it is his intention to maintain those arrangements; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether new teacher training arrangements will be based entirely on opted-out schools.

Courses of initial teacher training are approved by my right hon. Friend against criteria laid down by him. The Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (CATE) advises him on whether courses meet these criteria.Following consultation earlier this year my right hon. Friend announced that changes would be made in the criteria and procedures for the accreditation of training for secondary school teachers. Details of the new criteria and procedures will be issued shortly.Under the new procedures it will be a matter for individual schools and higher education institutions in Liverpool, as elsewhere, to work together. Participating schools will be expected to meet explicit criteria, including performance indicators. All maintained and independent secondary schools will be eligible to be considered for selection as partner schools and it will be for the higher education institutions to justify their selection of schools, in the first instance to CATE.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

The extent of LEAs' delegation to schools (1991–92)
(1)	(2)		(3)
Local education authority	PSB delegated to schools		Central administration as proportion of PSB
	1991–92 (per cent.)	(1990–91) (per cent.)	1991–92 (per cent.)	(1990–91) (per cent.)
1. Stockport	88.69	(—)	3.15	(—)
2. Rochdale	88.46	(85.74)	2.37	(2.55)
3. Sunderland	88.40	(86.86)	2.15	(3.10)
4. Bolton	88.31	(89.10)	2.06	(2.02)
5. Northumberland	88.16	(86.54)	2.37	(3.10)
6. Manchester	88.03	(—)	3.54	(—)
7. Sefton	87.86	(87.44)	2.71	(4.45)
8. Berkshire	87.68	(87.68)	2.78	(2.71)
9. West Sussex	87.67	(87.49)	2.09	(1.95)
10. Suffolk	87.56	(85.66)	.78	(2.75)
11. Cambridgeshire	87.45	(80.75)	2.03	(4.82)
12. Cheshire	87.35	(84.31)	1.71	(5.15)
13. Devon	87.14	(83.11)	2.53	(3.06)
14. Warwickshire	86.72	(85.24)	3.19	(3.90)
15. Bradford	86.68	(86.04)	3.55	(3.87)
16. Buckinghamshire	86.58	(84.88)	3.55	(4.58)
17. Leeds	86.26	(86.12)	4.22	(3.87)
18. Hertfordshire	86.19	(—)	3.81	(—)
19. Hampshire	86.11	(85.78)	3.16	(3.34)
20. Shropshire	86.09	(84.60)	2.00	(2.48)

The Department has in the past consulted the Data Protection Registrar on guidelines for the holding of personal data on computer systems in educational establishments and agencies, about the student loans scheme, and in relation to the Department's internal systems.The Department's procedures are reviewed annually and I am satisfied that they are effective in safeguarding personal data and in ensuring subject access.Officials will continue to consult the Registrar where appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he received a copy of the Engineering Council's recent report on international comparisons of engineering graduate manpower output; and if he will make a statement.

Engineering has a vital part to play in our economy. Higher education institutions are important providers of qualified manpower, and our policies are aimed at increasing their ability to respond to the needs of industry and students. Those needs are usefully informed by a knowledge of the position in competitor countries. I welcome the Engineering Council's report, which I received on 4 June, as a contribution to such knowledge.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the proportion of the education budget retained centrally by each local education authority.

Information is not available in the form requested. The proportion of each LEA's potential schools budget (PSB) delegated to schools in 1990–91 and 1991–92 is contained in the table below, together with each LEA's central administration costs as a proportion of its PSB. Figures for 1992–93 are not yet available, but I will write to my hon. Friend when they are.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what powers an education authority has to prevent the governing body of a school increasing the number of places at that school above the standard number set by the education authority; and if he will make a statement.

Under the Education Reform Act 1988, schools now have to plan to admit to at least a number which reflects the capacity of the school—the standard number. Where the LEA controls admissions, a school governing body may propose that the admissions limit be raised beyond the standard number. If the proposal is rejected by the LEA, the governing body may apply to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for an increase in the school's standard number.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to his answer of 2 June, Official Report, column 446, if he will make a statement on the reasons for his Department's spending on advertising and promotion being expected to fall between 1991–92 and 1992–93.

Expenditure in 1991–92 includes spending on the teacher recruitment campaign and the parents charter. The reduction in 1992–93 is because there will not be a teacher recruitment campaign this year and there are no plans at present further to publicise the parents charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many partnerships have been established between the training and enterprise councils and the careers services.

Pump priming funding has been made available enabling the establishment in 1992–93 of 56 careers service partnerships between training and enterprise councils and local education authorities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many health and safety inspectors were employed in the northern region in each year since 1987.

The Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) field inspectors are based in a network of area offices, with the exception of mines inspectors who are organised by districts. The available information for the 1 April each year is given in the following tables:

Inspectors based in the Health and Safety Executive's north east area Office
Year	Number
1987	35
1988	28.5
1989	28.5
1990	34.5
1991	38
1992	37.5

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans her Department has for the future status and role of the electrical equipment certification service with the Health and Safety Executive.

There are at present no plans to change the existing role and status of the electrical equipment certification service. However, the Health and Safety Executive recently commissioned consultants to review the role and status of the service. The executive is currently consulting staff and other interested parties before considering whether to make any recommendation to the Health and Safety Commission and Ministers, in the light of the conclusions of the consultants, concerning the service's future role and status.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the statutory responsibilities currently placed on local authorities in Wales (a) at district council level and (b) at county council level;(2) if he will list the non-statutory and permissive powers available to local authorities in Wales

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial assistance his Department or the Welsh Development Agency have provided to Llanelli borough council for the purpose of transforming the land of the former Royal Ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli, into the Pembrey country park.

My Department made no direct contribution; but the Welsh Development Agency provided some £750,000 to Llanelli borough council under the derelict land programme for the reclamation of the former Royal Ordnance factory site at Pembrey.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the average cancer mortality rates in each of the past 10 years.

The information given in the following table to death rates per million population from malignant cancer (ICD140-208):

Cancer Death Rate per Million Population1
Year	Males	Females	Persons
1981	2,850.5	2,401.8	2,619.5
1982	2,882.8	2,459.2	2,664.4
1983	2,978.3	2,495.0	2,729.2
1984	3,066.9	2,588.9	2,820.6
1985	3,094.0	2,706.8	2,894.6
1986	3,170.0	2,609.0	2,881.3
1987	3,147.9	2,684.4	2,909.5
1988	3,189.4	2,810.5	2,994.4
1989	3,197.0	2,769.0	2,976.6
1990	3,199.5	2,673.8	2,928.7
1 Death rates unadjusted for changes in the age-sex structure of the population.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales ports and their fairways to be used in place of the sand and gravel dredged off the south Wales coast for use in the building industry, instead of being dumped at sea.

The majority of material dredged from harbours and ports is not suitable for use in the building industry and it would not, therefore be appropriate for Government policy to require it to be used in place of sand and gravel dredged off the coast.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from south Wales's ports and fairways to be used for combating coastal erosion on certain beaches and mudflats.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, issues licences under the Food and Environment Act 1985 for the disposal of dredged material at sea around the Welsh and English coastlines. I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my right hon. Friend, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. For my part, I am encouraging bodies with coastal defence responsibilities to liaise with port authorities to see whether acceptable arrangements can be made to use such dredged material for combating coastal erosion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish a table showing average water rates in Wales in each year since 1979 in cash and constant prices.

The most comprehensive information on water prices historically, including those in Wales, is contained in the Water Services Association's publication, "Water Facts", copies of which are available for inspection in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been submitted by health service units in Wales to become NHS trusts in April 1993; and if he will make a statement.

To date, formal applications have been received from 13 health service units seeking NHS trust status in 1993. In addition, a proposal to establish the South and East Wales Ambulance NHS Trust will be made formally within the next few days.Details on the applications, together with the date of commencement of three months public consultation are for each health authority:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what licences to control the numbers of saw-billed ducks have been issued in Scotland this year; and for what reasons.

Thirty four licences have been issued this year for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 8 June, Official Report, column 10, to which Minister each adviser is attached.

The information is as follows:

Name	Minister(s) served
K. Adams	Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
E. Bickham	Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
T. Burke	Secretary of State for the Environment
J. Caine	Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
D. W. D. Cameron	Financial Secretary
Dr. E. Cottrell	Secretary of State for Employment
Sir P. Cradock	Prime Minister
M. Fraser	Minister of State for Overseas Development
Sir C. Foster	Secretary of State for Transport
C. M. Grantham	Secretary of State for Education
J. Gray	Jointly to the Ministers for
	Local Government and Inner Cities;
	Environment and Countryside; and
	Housing and Planning
D. Green	Prime Minister
Ms. S. Hole	Chief Whip
Mrs. S. Hogg	Prime Minister
C. Hopson	Secretary of State for National Heritage
A. Kemp	President of the Board of Trade
Mrs. T. Keswick	Home Secretary
Mrs. E. Laing	Secretary of State for Transport
G. Mackay	Secretary of State for Scotland
R. Marsh	Secretary of State for Health
J. Mayhew	Secretary of State for Social Security
M. McManus	Secretary of State for Wales
P. J. E. Miller	Secretary of State for Defence
D. Poole	Prime Minister
Mrs. K. Ramsey	Prime Minister
Dr. W. Robinson	Chancellor of the Exchequer
P. Rock	Secretary of State for the Environment
A. Rosling	Prime Minister
D. Ruffley	Jointly to the three Ministers of State and the Under Secretary of State in the Home Office
I. Stewart	Lord President
Lady Strathnaver	President of the Board of Trade
N. True	Prime Minister
I. R. Wilton	Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
A. Young	Secretary of State for Scotland

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many applications for disability living allowance have been made by people covered by the Seaham and Peterlee DSS offices; how many have been (a) allowed and (b) disallowed; and how many are yet to be determined.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the cost to public funds of merging the social security and tax systems; and if he will make a statement.

There are many different options for merging the social security and tax systems; for example through a basic income guarantee, tax/credits and negative income tax schemes.We have made no assessment of the cost of detailed options, but it is clear that such schemes could be very expensive. For example, a basic income guarantee around the level of retirement pension, could easily cost in the region of £200 billion per annum and yet still be unlikely to eliminate all need for income-related benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what requirement there is on occupational pension funds to include pensioners of such funds on the board of trustees; and in what proportion.

There is no requirement in trust law that occupational pension schemes include pensioners on the board of trustees. The trust deed or scheme rules lays down who is eligible to be a trustee. The Occupational Pension Board considered the inclusion of pensioners in their 1989 report, "Protecting Pensions". They concluded that although this would be desirable, the statutory requirement of a pensioner from a scheme would not provide the most simple or effective means of ensuring that the interests of pensioners are considered.The committee to review pension law, announced on 8 June, includes in its terms of reference the consideration of the role of trustees and will be taking into account the rights and interests of pensioners, as well as scheme members and employers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the latest information available on the number of people in occupational pension schemes whose pensions are threatened because the assets of these schemes are not able to meet the pension payments and future commitments; how many schemes are involved; and what examination has been made of how far problems have arisen because of ineffective management, improper management or some other reason.

There are more than 17 million current members and pensioners of occupational pension schemes. We are satisfied that the vast majority of pensioners belong to schemes which are properly and securely operated. We are currently in close touch with the trustees of Maxwell pension schemes. At present, 240 Maxwell pensioners have not received payments for May and June, and a further 4,000 may face a reduction in their pensions in July. As part of an investigation of Maxwell companies, the Serious Fraud Office is looking into the reasons for the shortfall in their pension funds. However, it is too early to say exactly what happened.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many recipients of attendance allowance there are from the Seaham and Peterlee offices at the present time and for the years since 1988–89.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that information is not held about the number of such recipients for the years since 1988–89. Information about the number of current recipients is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many pensioners are receiving the state pension from the Seaham and Peterlee offices at the present time and in the years from 1988–89.

I understand from Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency, that the information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what account will be taken of the incidence of rural areas in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under community care proposals;(2) what account will be taken of levels of poverty in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under community care proposals;(3) what account will be taken of the proportionately larger long-term hospital population in Scotland in transfer of DSS funds to local authorities under the Government's community care proposals;(4) whether, under the Government's community care proposals, the transfer of DSS funds to English, Welsh and Scottish local authorities will be arranged under the Barnett formula.

The funds which are to be transferred to the Department of Health for distribution to local authorities for community care purposes are those which the Department would otherwise have expended from April 1993 on the higher levels of social security entitlement for people newly entering residential care and nursing homes.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when higher education students were entitled to receive housing benefit; and what was the maximum weekly rent for 37 weeks within one year, that a student receiving full grant and claiming the full student loan but with no additional income needed to pay before starting to receive housing benefit.

Before 1 September 1990 housing benefit was available on a limited basis to full-time higher education students provided they did not pay rent to their educational establishment. Full-time students have not generally been entitled to claim housing benefit since that date, although partners of students and students in vulnerable groups have retained eligibility.A student under age 25 in receipt of the standard maintenance grant and able to claim benefit in April 1990, may have received some help through housing benefits in respect of rent above a level of around £28.30 a week in London, and £17.80 a week outside London. Student loans were not available before 1 September 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the difference in guaranteed income per week between (a) non-final year student, under the age of 25 years receiving full grant and claiming full student loan but with no additional income and (b) a similarly aged unemployed person claiming income support and housing benefit and paying an annual rent of £1,480; and what would be the difference in the case of a person aged 25 years.

It is not possible to make the comparisons requested. The level of income support and housing benefit payable to a person satisfying the qualifying conditions for receipt of these benefits will vary according to the circumstances of the case.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make public the conclusions of the recent review of nuclear weapon safety carried out by his Department's scientists, with particular reference to accidents involving nuclear weapons road convoys;(2) if he will publish the conclusions of the review carried out by his Department's scientists into the safety of nuclear warheads in the wake of the US Drell report.

Yes, a statement of the review's conclusions will be made public at the appropriate time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the items of information that are intended to be included in the United Kingdom's contribution to the United Nations register of weapons sales; and if he will make a statement describing public access to the register.

The United Nations register of conventional arms transfers requires all participant states to record their imports and exports each year of tanks, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery, missiles and missile systems. The register came into effect in January 1992. The United Nations has not yet decided how the register will be published but a copy of the British contribution will be placed in the Library of the House in the early part of next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by aircraft type, the number of aircraft in the Royal Air Force that are currently surplus to requirements and their value.

The following aircraft have been declared to the Ministry of Defence disposal sales organisation as being surplus to RAF requirements, and are currently awaiting disposal.

Fixed-wing aircraft	Number
Andover C1	1
Buccaneer S2B	4
Buccaneer S2A	2

Fixed-wing aircraft	Number
Canberra TT18	1
Canberra B2	1
Gnat T1	1
Jet Provost T Mk 3A	3
Jet Provost T3	2
Jet Provost T4	6
Jet Provost T Mk 5A	11
Jaguar GR1	4
Jaguar T2	1
Lightning F3	1
Meteor NF(T)14	2
Meteor T7	1
Meteor F8	1
Phantom FGR2	10
Sea Harrier FRS1	1
Vampire T11	1
Venture Glider	3
Helicopters
Lynx WG13	1
Scout AH1	1
Wasp HAS1	1

The condition of the aircraft varies from scrap hulks to complete aircraft.Sales of surplus equipment are conducted on a competitive basis to maximise receipts. Information concerning prices achieved or anticipated is commercially confidential and cannot be released.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by (a) aircraft type and (b) participating country, the number of estimated hours of low flying that will take place during the NATO exercise Allegiance Exchange.

The aircraft type, participating country and hours flown at low level during the NATO exercise Allegiance Exchange/Ardent Ground, which ended on 6 June 1992, were as follows:

Aircraft type	Country	Number of hours flown at low level
A-10	USA	22
Alpha-Jet	Germany	72
F 16	Belgium	28
F 16	Netherlands	26
G 91	Italy	76
Jaguar	United Kingdom	16
Tornado F3	United Kingdom	15

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement in respect of the theft of two model Army tanks from a training area at Llanbister, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys; and what was their total value.

During the period 11 to 22 May 1992, 88 inflatable tanks were deployed in mid-Wales to add realism to exercises involving units of the Royal Air Force, the United States Air Force and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Of these three were not recovered from locations at Tregaron, Llanidloes and Crossgates, and are presumed to have been stolen. Local civil police are investigating. The total replacement value of the three items is £26,682.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how potentially fatal drugs used to combat the effects of chemical and biological weapons, stolen from the home of an airman at Carterton near RAF Brize Norton, came to be on the airman's property.

The stolen items were issued to all personnel who went to the Gulf during the Gulf conflict and were retained by the individual concerned as a training aid in support of his normal duties as an instructor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the military jet aircraft that overflew the village of Clayton, South Yorkshire at approximately 15.15 hours on 26 May at below permitted height.

We have no reason to believe any aircraft were flying below the permitted height of 1,000 ft at the time but if the hon. Member would care to write to my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence with further details he will consider them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's arrangements for consulting the Data Protection Registrar during the planning stage of any initiative involving the collection, use or disclosure of personal data; and if he will make a statement.

The Ministry of Defence is aware of its responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1984 and will ensure that it continues to consult the Data Protection Registrar where necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what action was taken by his Department to ensure that the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli, was before it was sold, free from any contamination caused by the production and testing of explosives and caused by the disposal of unused explosives;(2) what restrictions were placed by his Department upon the purchaser of the land of the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli. regarding the use or the further disposal of that land;(3) when he disposed of the land and buildings of the former royal ordnance factory of Pembrey, Llanelli; and to whom;(4) when the manufacture and production of explosives and all other related activities ceased at the former royal ordnance factory at Pembrey, Llanelli;(5) when his Department was consulted by Llanelli borough council as to the procedures to be adopted for the removal of any contamination from the land of the former royal ordnance factory, Pembrey, Llanelli.

The production of explosives at the Royal Ordnance factory at Pembrey ceased upon its closure towards the end of 1964. On 10 June 1965, 96.682 acres of freehold land there were sold to Westcol Construction. In the same year a further 516.5 acres of leasehold land reverted to the lessors, the Forestry Commission. We have no record that any restrictions were placed on the purchaser regarding the use of future disposal of the land. Due to the considerable lapse in time since the disposal of this site, we no longer have detailed records of the extent of clearance and decontamination work which was carried out on the land prior to its sale. However, our records indicate that action was taken, and that responsibility for clearance of the freehold site passed to Westcol Construction upon sale, in line with our normal policy. Following the site's sale, clearance of unexploded ordnance was carried out on two occasions: the first in 1977, the second in the period 1983–85, on each occasion following written approaches from the Llanelli borough council. We have no record of any approach from the council regarding procedures to be adopted for the removal of any chemical contamination. Responsibility for the land now rests with Llanelli borough council which I understand, has recently commissioned a contamination survey to be carried out on the site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the numbers of companies which now hold contracts for engineering, mechanical and communications work in the Royal Air Force and of those the number which have made significant training provision to ensure that adequate levels of skill will continue to be available.

There are currently in excess of 3,000 companies holding contracts for work in aid of the Royal Air Force, a high proportion of which companies are likely to be involved in engineering, mechanical and communications work. To isolate these would not be possible without disproportionate cost and effort. All companies are required to possess and to have demonstrated adequate levels of skills for the work in question before my Department is prepared to place contracts with them. The training provisions necessary are a matter for the companies concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to announce his decision on the location of the Naval Support Command.

We expect the new Naval Support Command to be located in the Bath area. A final decision should be announced before the end of the year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to support a ban on deliberate dolphin encirclement by EC nationals and within EC waters.

The deliberate encirclement of dolphins in order to catch the yellow fin tuna with which they shoal is a practice carried out by purse-seine fishermen in the eastern tropical Pacific. This method is not used by the United Kingdom fleet or, as far as is known, by the fleets of other member states, none of which fish for yellow fin tuna in that area.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will detail the difference between MAFF News release 177/92, "Imports of Milk and Milk Products by the Milk Marketing Boards", and 177/92 (amended version) both issued on 29 May 1992; and how many copies of each were issued.

MAFF news release 177/92 of 29 May 1992 stated in Notes to Editors that

"regulations have been issued for consultation"

etc. In MAFF news release 177/92 (amended version) of 29 May 1992 this phrase was replaced by

"regulations will be issued for consultation".

The first version was based on an early draft and issued inadvertently.In order to ensure that the correct position was widely understood the amended version was issued to the same list of recipients. This list consisted of 335 addressees on the MAFF press office specialist "milk" list and 337 addresses on the Maff press office general list. Both versions were also transmitted electronically to 200 media outlets.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy to review the system to monitor incidental catches of cetaceans and other mammal wildlife in United Kingdom fishing nets.

We are keeping the system under review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if caseous lymphadenitis of sheep and goats is a notifiable disease; and what is the number of cases recorded in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Since caseous lymphadenitis is not a notifiable disease, comprehensive data are not maintained.The disease was confirmed in six goat herds in 1990 and eight sheep flocks in 1991. Movement controls were applied on 28 March 1990 to the goat herds and in June and July 1991 to the sheep flocks under the Movement of Animals (Restrictions) Order 1990. Policy on caseous lymphadenitis was subsequently reviewed and in September 1991 all restrictions were lifted.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 21 May, Official Report, column 254, whether he intends to make swine influenza a notifiable disease.

I have no plans to do so.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the reforms of the common agricultural policy will have on the level of criminal fraud in the EC agricultural sector.

CAP reform will significantly reduce expenditure on export refunds and intervention and which will reduce the scope for fraud in these areas. The reform package will, however, introduce new measures. We will need to examine all the legislative proposals carefully to ensure that they contain control measures to minimise the risk of fraud. The United Kingdom will continue to keep up the pressure for action to reduce fraud in the EC agricultural sector.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what contact he has had with the Peak national park or local farmers and moorland owners following the recent fires which have destroyed hundreds of acres of environmentally sensitive areas; and if he will make a statement.

My officials have been in discussion with the owners and tenants to assess the effects of the fires on land under management agreements in the North Peak ESA.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make it his policy for the material dredged from ports and fairways in England to be used for combating coastal erosion on certain beaches and mudflats.

It is already the Government's policy to encourage such use wherever practicable.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the increase in staff required in (a) the United Kingdom and (b) the European Commission to implement and monitor the MacSharry proposals.

The staff numbers required to implement the CAP reform measures will depend on the precise terms of the detailed EC regulations which have yet to be agreed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, pursuant to his answer of 18 May, Official Report, column 26, if he will state (a) the numbers of mice, marmosets, goats, cattle, sheep and pigs that were infected, (b) the number that developed spongiform encephalopathy subsequently, (c) the ages of the animals at infection, (d) the ages of the animals at death, (e) the source of the infection material and its likely infective potency and (f) the mode of infection.

I shall write to the hon. Member shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much of the Sports Council's grant aid has been earmarked for the purposes of identifying and listing the current stock of school playing fields.