To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list the public appointments which are made by the Lord Chancellor giving (a) the name of the person appointed, (b) the period of office and (c) the salary.

The Lord Chancellor makes some 1,800 public appointments. Full details can be provided only at disproportionate cost but the table shows the public bodies to which he makes appointments and the current number of appointees.

The Lord Chancellor's Public Appointments
Body	Number of Appointments
Insolvency Rules Committee	7
County Court Rule Committee	10
Supreme Court Rule Committee	11
Land Registration Rule Committee	5
Family Proceedings Rule Committee	8
Crown Court Rule Committee	9
Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax	520
Advisory Committees on JPs in England (excluding the Duchy of Lancaster) and Wales	946
Magistrates' Courts Rule Committee	13
Judicial Studies Board	56
Advisory Council on Public Records	10
Agency Chief Executives	2
Advisory Committee on Legal Education and Conduct	17
Authorised Conveyancing Practitioners Board	6
Legal Services Ombudsman	1
Legal Aid Advisory Committee	10
Legal Aid Board	11
Advisory Committee on the Children Act	13
Council on Tribunals	15
Law Commission	5
Northern Ireland Court Service—Advisory Committees on General Commissioners of Income Tax (NI)	15
Advisory Committees on JPs in Northern Ireland	57
Advisory Committees on Juvenile Court Lay Panel	11
Legal Aid Advisory Committee (NI)	11
Insolvency Rules Advisory Committee	8
County Court Rules Committee	9
Supreme Court Rules Committee	9
Crown Court Rules Committee	11
Matrimonial Causes Rules Committee	11
Magistrates' Courts Rules Committee	9

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are the current levels of outstanding appeals for (a) the Immigration Tribunal and (b) the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

As at 31 May 1992, 27,879 cases were outstanding before immigration adjudicators and 552 before the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the average period from the time the explanation statement is received by the Immigration Tribunal to the date for the hearing.

The current period from the time the explanatory statement is received by the Immigration Appellate Authorities (IAA) to the date of the hearing before the adjudicator can be shown as follows:

(a) The time from the date the explanatory statement is received by the IAA to the date copies of the case papers are dispatched to the parties' representatives in this country is up to five days;

(b) the time taken for the parties to prepare their case before indicating to the IAA that they are ready to proceed to a hearing averages six months;

(c) the time for the hearing to take place once the parties have indicated readiness to proceed to a hearing is from four weeks to six months.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many county court oficers are employed; and, of these, how many are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

The number of county court officers employed by the Lord Chancellor's Department is 5,018 at 12 June 1992. Approximately 78 per cent. of these have responded to the Department's ethnic origin questionnaire. Of the officers who have an ethnic record, 94 are black and 91 are Asian. A total of 3,382 of the officers are women.Combined court centres deal with county and Crown court matters. A total of 2,484 officers work within the combined court centres. We are not able to distinguish the number who work solely on county court matters. Approximately 80 per cent. of combined court centre officers have responded to the Department's ethnic origin questionnaire. Of the offices who have an ethnic record, 13 are black and 35 are Asian. A total of 1,666 of the officers are women.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the number of district judges; and how many are (a) black, (b) Asian and (c) women.

On 1 June 1992 there were 266 district judges, including those in the principal registry of the Family Division of the High Court.The ethnic origin of members of the judiciary and of applicants for judicial posts was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991 and the formal records in respect of ethnic origin are therefore incomplete.It is, however, believed that there are at present no black district judges. There is one Asian—who is a woman—and 18 women holding this office.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current level of expenditure for the year 1991–92 in England and Wales on legal aid in respect of (a) civil litigation and (b) criminal litigation; and what proposals he has to reduce such expenditure levels.

The estimated outturn of gross expenditure on legal aid in England and Wales in 1991–92—excluding advice and assistance under the "green form" or duty solicitor schemes—is:

	£million
Civil legal aid	540
Criminal legal aid	400

These figures represent an increase of 28 per cent. overall on the equivalent figures for 1990–91. The Lord Chancellor has announced measures, including the introduction of standard fees in the magistrates courts, which will help to control the rate of increase in legal aid costs in future.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what are his proposals for establishing eligibility for legal aid within the framework of altered levels for legal aid expenditure.

The financial limits for legal aid are reviewed annually. Most limits were uprated by 7 per cent. in April. Financial eligibility is being considered more generally in the review of financial conditions.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proposals he has to limit admissibility of applications for legal aid for less serious charges; and what criteria he proposes to apply.

It is for the courts to decide whether to grant criminal legal aid in a particular case in accordance with the statutory criteria laid down by section 22 of the Legal Aid Act 1988.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what amounts he proposes to make alterations in the level of legal aid expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

Future plans for legal aid expenditure are set out in the report on the Government's expenditure plans 1992–93 to 1994–95 for the Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments (Cm 1910) published in February 1992. The Lord Chancellor will if necessary seek additional provision for legal aid in the current financial year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what guidelines are available for school governing bodies on the content and organisation of sex education; and whether they include information on tampon-related toxic shock syndrome.

The Department's circular 11/87 includes advice to school governing bodies on their responsibilities for determining their policy both on sex education and on the content and organisation of any sex education to be offered. The National Curriculum Council has issued guidance to all maintained schools in England, offering advice on how schools might incorporate topics about sex education and personal hygiene into their wider programmes of health education. Neither of the documents discusses the detailed content of the curriculum, which is for school governing bodies and teachers to decide.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many civil servants and educational advisers work for his Department.

The Department employs 2,471 civil servants. That figure includes 460 in Her Majesty's inspectorate, of whom the majority, together with their support staff, will transfer to the Office of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, which is to be constituted as a separate non-ministerial department from 1 September 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress has been made in implementing the parents charter commitments regarding the annual publication of comparative information about school performance; and if he will make a statement.

I am today publishing regulations and a circular that begin to implement our commitment in the parents charter to provide improved information for parents and the wider community about the performance of all local schools. In particular, they set out the arrangements under which I will publish this November comparative tables of public examination results for schools in the area of each local education authority.As a result, from autumn 1992, parents choosing among local secondary schools will be sent comparative tables showing school by school the latest public examination results and will find in each maintained school's prospectus, and in that of each city technology college, improved information on public examination results and truancy rates.Secondary schools are also being asked to include in their prospectuses and governors' annual reports details of the routes that their pupils take at ages 16, 17 and 18, showing staying-on rates and the destinations of those who leave school.Independent secondary schools are being asked to join in these arrangements voluntarily in 1992, and I expect that most will wish to do so.The new arrangements were the subject of consultation with local authorities and others in January this year. As a result of that consultation, I have decided not to impose the requirement to publish comparative tables on local education authorities this year, but to arrange central publication and distribution through primary schools myself.From 1993, further regulations to be made under the Education (Schools) Act 1992 will cover the complete parents charter commitments, securing by law the inclusion in comparative tables of all schools, including independent ones, and extending their scope to cover truancy rates, national curriculum assessment results and the routes taken by older pupils.Parents and the wider community have a right to know what is being achieved by our schools for our children. I hope that schools will make every effort to meet our requirements and requests this year. Informed choice by parents is a valuable force for good in education, and we should make sure that choice is based on the best possible information.Copies of the regulations and circular will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what draft sea fisheries byelaws are currently awaiting his approval; and when these were first submitted to his Department.

Twenty-three formally made sea fisheries committees' (SFCs) byelaws are awaiting ministerial confirmation, which cannot be given until the necessary legal, technical and EC Commission considerations have been completed. Eight concern shell fisheries, of which five were submitted this year and three in May 1991; six, received in the last six months, deal with the extension of sea fishery districts from three to six miles; three are concerned with fixed engines, two of which were submitted in the last month; two byelaws on minimum landing sizes of fish were submitted in May 1991 and January 1992 and two on length of vessels in May 1991 and April 1992; one byelaw on areas where fishing for bass is allowed was submitted in May 1991 and one on gear type in January 1992. A further seven made byelaws are awaiting SFC confirmation on certain technical points.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for licences to cull (a) cormorants and (b) goosanders and mergansers in England and Wales were submitted to his Department in each of the past five years; and how many of these were granted.

The agriculture Departments in England and Wales do not issue licences to cull the species of bird in question. Licences are issued only to shoot a limited number of birds as an aid to scaring.With regard to licences for the killing or taking of cormorants, the requested information on the number of applications received is not yet available for the Ministry's north-east regional service centre. Details for the rest of England and Wales are as follows:

Year	Applications received	Licences issued
1987	6	3
1988	4	2
1989	3	2
1990	9	4
1991	8	3

A completed table including the missing information will be provided as soon as possible.On mergansers and goosanders, only one application has been received for a licence to shoot these species in the last five years, in Wales in 1988, and no licence was granted.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that annual salmon catch statistics are collated and published more quickly.

The collation and publication of salmon catch statistics in England and Wales are the responsibility of the National Rivers Authority. It is already taking steps to publish these statistics more quickly, and this is welcome.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies he has made of the effect of the ban on the carriage and use of monofilament gill nets in Scottish waters under the Inshore Fishing (Salmon and Migratory Trout) (Prohibition of Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986 and the Inshore Fishing (Prohibition of Carriage of Monofilament Gill Nets) (Scotland) Order 1986; and if he will now use his powers under the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967 to apply similar restrictions in English and Welsh waters.

The ban in Scottish waters was primarily introduced to protect salmon. The Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act 1975, as amended by the Salmon Act 1986, provides for control of nets in English and Welsh inshore waters.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the figures on a county basis in England for 1991–92 of (a) the number of serious irregularities of the set-aside scheme, (b) the number of minor breaches of the scheme and (c) the number of cases where payments were withheld in full or in part; and if he will make a statement.

The 1991–92 set-aside year runs from 1 October 1991 to 30 September 1992, with payments being made in the last quarter of 1992. Consequently, it is not yet possible to provide this information for the current set-aside year.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the amount of payments under the set-aside scheme that have been recovered or withheld in each county in England in 1991–92; and if he will make a statement.

Set-aside payments for 1991–92 will be made in the last quarter of 1992. Consequently it is not yet possible to provide this information.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will outline the measures in force to stop the import of beef cattle fed with the drug clenbuterol.

[holding answer 11 June 1992]: Under European Community rules, primary responsibility for ensuring that beef cattle fed with clenbuterol do not move between member states rests with the member states of origin. Thereafter, animals imported into Great Britain from other member states are subject to surveillance at the port of entry and to ante mortem inspection at the slaughterhouse. All animals, including imported animals, are also subject to the routine Great Britain residue surveillance programme on farm and at slaughterhouses as required under Community rules.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which executive agencies have had their framework document amended since their establishment.

This is primarily a matter for departmental ministers and the chief executives of the agencies for which they are responsible. However, our records show that four agencies have had their framework documents amended since their establishment.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals he intends to publish concerning a statutory press complaints commission.

The Government have made it clear that they intend to review the effectiveness of press self-regulation over the period from 1 January 1991 to 30 June 1992. The proposals and the form of their publication will be decided in the light of that review. I shall make a further announcement about the nature of the review shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage whether he plans to review the British Library St. Pancras project.

Yes. I am commissioning consultants: to establish whether the current budget for stage 1A and the completion phase of the St. Pancras project is adequate and whether the strategy and organisation for procurement of the completion phase are likely to be the most effective means of ensuring the timely and successful conclusion of the project; to audit the status and quality of the design information for the completion phase; to review the status of the British library's projects for the occupation of the new building, including the reliability of cost estimates for the work; to formalise the role of the British library in relation to the building project; and subsequently to audit the status of documentation for the procurement of the completion phase to ensure that it is unambiguous, precise and comprehensive.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what progress is being made towards implementing the proposals in the fourth report from the Select Committee on House of Commons (Services) of Session 1989–90 on computer services for Members (HC 614).

The Services Committee report, which was generally welcomed in an Adjournment debate on 8 July last year, proposed the installation of a new broad-band cable system throughout the parliamentary estate capable of carrying television channels, the annunciator system, and data traffic, and recommended that appropriate studies be made to identify the specifications of such a system and the information technology services which might be provided for Members, their staff and staff of the House.In the light of the debate, the House of Commons Commission gave immediate authority for the initial studies proposed by the Services Committee to be undertaken by consultants. In December 1991. the Commission authorised further expenditure, of up to £200,000 in financial year 1991–92, and up to £180,000 in financial year 1992–93, for further investigative and exploratory work towards the possible introduction of two parallel networks—one to carry television communications, and the second to carry data traffic—as recommended in the consultants' initial report. The Commission also invited the newly appointed Information Committee to liaise with the consultants, the relevant Officers of the two Houses, and the appropriate committee in the House of Lords, in the further development of plans for such a system.The Commission is grateful to the former Information Committee, to the joint working party established by them, and to the Officers concerned, for the progress which has been made during the early part of this year.At its meeting on 18 May, the Commission approved expenditure of about £720,500 in the current financial year to facilitate the installation of a pilot network project, as recommended by the Information Committee, in the new temporary accommodation to be provided in the autumn of this year at No. 7 Millbank. The Commission understands that this pilot scheme will assist the Information Committee—and the appropriate committee of the House of Lords—in reaching final conclusions about the nature of any network which they would wish to see installed in the parliamentary estate as a whole.Any network for the House as a whole is likely to be expensive to install and thereafter to operate. For this reason, the Commission is concerned to ensure that no final decisions are taken until a clear picture of the likely commitments has emerged and the full costs have been carefully and expertly scrutinised. It therefore intends to invite the new Finance and Services Committee to assess and make recommendations to the Commission about the financial implications of any scheme which may be proposed by the Information Committee, in accordance with the consultative arrangements provided under Standing Orders Nos. 125 (Domestic Committees) and 125A (Finance and Services Committee).Finally, in accordance with long-established practice, the Commission will not feel able to seek estimate provision for a major new service of this kind until the service itself has been specifically approved by the House. This stage cannot be reached until the Information Committee has had an opportunity to evaluate and report on the complex issues involved, and until the Finance and Services Committee has had an opportunity fully to evaluate the financial implications of any proposed scheme.

To ask the Prime Minister when he next expects to visit India; and what matters he plans to discuss.

I look forward to visiting India when dates can be agreed. The issues for discussion would be decided nearer the time.

To ask the Prime Minister what has been the cost of the British pavilion at the Expo '92 Fair in Seville; which Minister was present at the opening ceremony; and what consideration in regard to the local ecology were taken into account in the preparation and construction of the United Kingdom pavilion.

The British pavilion at Expo '92 cost £14 million to construct. Its design is environmentally sensitive, using sails and water as shields from the sun, thus reducing its energy consumption substantially. Sir John Ure, United Kingdom Commissioner General, represented Britain at the Expo '92 opening ceremony.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will set out for each Government Department represented at the Earth summit in Rio de Janeiro, the number, grade and role of the 24 officials and eight junior support staff in the United Kingdom delegation; if he will list the title of each document submitted to the Rio de Janeiro conference; and what responses were made to each document.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my hon. Friend the Minister of State for the Environment and Countryside gave on 9 June 1992, column 147.The Government submitted the following documents to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development secretariat:

To ask the Prime Minister what level of peace dividend he expects the United Kingdom to achieve over the next five years on current Government policies.

The Government's expenditure plans for the next three years were set out by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Autumn Statement (Cm 1729). These show the underlying cost of the defence programme being reduced significantly in real terms. No decisions have yet been taken on expenditure in later years. The Government remain committed to the maintenance of a strong and effective defence for the United Kingdom and its interests.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the long-term target for public spending as a proportion of gross domestic product compared to present levels and those of 1982.

The Government's objective is that public spending should take a declining share of national income over time. The ratio of public spending to GDP is expected to be 43 per cent. this year. This compares with a ratio of 47½ per cent. in 1982–83.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will meet the chairman of the Securities and Investments Board to discuss publication of the Investment Management Regulatory Organisation report on the Maxwell affair.

I intend to meet the chairman soon to discuss a range of issues.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current cost to the Exchequer of mortgage interest tax relief.

The cost of mortgage interest tax relief for 1992–93 is provisionally estimated at £5.8 billion.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the reduction in income tax in 1992–93 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime broken down into the top 1 per cent., 5 per cent., 10 per cent. and bottom 50 per cent. of taxpayers showing the total reduction and the average gain.

[holding answer 18 June 1992]: Latest estimates of the annual change in income tax liability resulting from the changes in tax rates, allowances, and thresholds are in the table. The 1978–79 income tax regime has been indexed to 1992–93 levels by reference to the statutory formula, and allowing for independent taxation.For the purposes of these calculations, the indexed regime of 1978–79 has been applied directly to the income base of 1992–93. In practice, retention of the 1978–79 regime, indexed as appropriate, for the intervening years would have led to changes in the income base.

Reductions in income tax per individual1 in 1992–93 compared with the 1978–79 indexed regime
Quantile group of individual taxpayers	Total reduction at 1992–93 prices	Average reduction at 1992–93 prices £
	£ million	£
Top 1 per cent.	8,700	33,300
Top 5 per cent.	13,100	10,000
Top 10 per cent.	15,200	6,000
Bottom 50 per cent.	4,800	400
All taxpayers	31,400	1,200
1 Individuals liable to income tax under the 1978–79 indexed regime.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will require British Rail, when reporting on its compliance with the quality of service objectives for Network SouthEast, to specify the reasons for late running or cancellations of services.

I expect Network SouthEast to tell passengers the reasons for delays and cancellations as they happen.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review the criteria for eligibility for the orange badge scheme.

I have no plans to review the eligibility criteria. New regulations were introduced on 2 March following a major review which looked at all aspects of the scheme, including the eligibility criteria. It would be premature to contemplate any further changes until we see how the new regulations are working.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions his officials have had with officers of Oxfordshire county council about extending the east-west route beyond the Buckinghamshire-Oxfordshire border.

Since July 1989, my officials have had six formal meetings with officials of Oxfordshire county council about the strategy for extending the east-west route from west of Aylesbury to Oxford. In addition, they gave a presentation to the council's officers and members in July 1991, and my predecessor received a delegation of officers and members led by the hon. Member for Oxford, East (Mr. Smith) in December 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will publish the terms of reference he has set for the study of the need for a new east-west strategic route between Kent and Hampshire; and who has been commissioned to carry out the study.

We will not consider making a start on the Kent-Hampshire study until work now in progress on the construction of a regional traffic model is further advanced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on which occasions, in the past five years, he has offered 100 per cent. grants to highway authorities for the construction of particular roads; and what criteria he operates when determining whether to provide 100 per cent. grants for local road schemes.

In the past five years the Department has offered 100 per cent. grants to local highway authorities for the road schemes:

• A15 Brigg and Redbourne bypass, Humberside
• Al20 Stansted-Braintree, Essex
• A418 Leighton Linslade bypass, Bedfordshire
• A602 Little Wymondley bypass, Hertfordshire
• A418 Wing bypass, Buckinghamshire
• A134 Fornham St. Martin, Suffolk
• Black Country Spine road, West Midlands
• M56-A6 (M), Manchester airport link road (central section)
• A15-A16 Market Deeping-Deeping St. James bypass, Lincolnshire
• A158 Scremby, Lincolnshire

Our practice is to use this power sparingly for roads which will be trunked on completion, where the local highway authority has made such progress that significant delay would be caused if the scheme were promoted by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any plans to set up an inspectorate for public transport.

There are already a number of inspectorates and similar bodies responsible for overseeing various aspects of public transport. We have no plans to create any new inspectorate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will provide a list of the accountancy firms which are advising him for the privatisation of British Rail.

Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte is advising on liberalisation of access to the rail network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he plans to answer the letters sent to him by the hon. Member for Lewisham, Deptford on 13 January and 13 February regarding the east London river crossing; what recent communications he has had with the European Commission about the proposal; and what steps he now plans to take in respect of the proposal.

I am sorry that the hon. Member did not receive a reply to her letters. The United Kingdom sent its response to the European Commission's article 169 letter on 17 December. There have since been informal discussions with the Commission. Its formal response has not yet been received. In the meantime, preparatory work towards the construction of the east London river crossing continues but no contracts for the construction of this important and urgently needed scheme have yet been let.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made in implementing (a) recommendations 5, 15 and 17, (b) 20 and 24, (c) 4 and (d) 19 of the marine accident investigation branch report into the Marchioness disaster.

Recommendation 5 is to be given legislative force by regulations. A consultative document was issued in January 1992, and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992.On recommendation 15, a consultative document was issued in September 1991 and it is planned to bring these regulations into force in Autumn 1992.A consultative document on recommendation 17 was issued in September 1991. It is planned to bring regulations in respect of river craft into force in Autumn 1992.A revised consultative document on recommendations 20 and 24 was issued in November 1991, and it is planned to bring the two sets of regulations into force in Autumn 1992.On recommendation 4, action in respect of United Kingdom ships has been completed; the longer-term development of internationally applicable requirements depends upon the success of our proposals at the International Maritime Organisation, which will be considered in December 1992.Action on recommendation 19 was completed in February 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he intends to give his decision on the Coventry north-south road, phase 1; and what assessment he has made of the effect of this scheme on the economy and the environment in Coventry, North-East.

Decisions on the Coventry city council north-south orders and scheme are expected in early July. The responsibility for the assessment of the effect of the scheme on Coventry, North-East is essentially one for the local authority that sponsored the scheme. However, these issues were covered at the inquiries and have been reported on by the inspector. The Secretary of State will give full consideration to the report before making his decision.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the role, responsibilities and powers of the Office of Water Services to ensure effective limitation of charges to the consumer; and if he will make a statement.

Present legislation gives the Director General of Water Services the powers he needs to fulfil his role of controlling increases in charges and protecting consumers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost so far of carrying out valuations in preparation for the introduction of council tax; what is his estimate of the total cost; and when he expects the completion of valuations in preparation for the introduction of the council tax.

The cost of valuing 19 million properties in England for council tax and producing valuation lists is expected to be £70 million. To date, payments of some £30 million have been made by my Department to the Valuation Office Agency, which is responsible for supervising the valuation exercise. Private sector valuers have now, subject to quality control procedures, completed their work. The Valuation Office Agency expects to complete its own valuation work in the near future and to schedule.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the planning inspectorate; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

The first degree of the chief executive is Master of Arts—having read geography—of Cambridge university.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the maximum salary payable, including performance-related element, and the length of time of the contract of the chief executive of the planning inspectorate.

The maximum salary payable to the chief executive is £55,700 per annum. His term of appointment ends with his retirement in September 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much was spent on events and publicity surrounding the launch of the planning inspectorate as an agency; and whether the cost was borne by the parent department or the new agency.

The total amount spent was £12,300, all borne by the agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total sum received from the sale of council houses by the Harrogate borough council in 1991–92.

During 1991–92 Harrogate borough council received £1.642 million from the sale of 73 council dwellings.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what receipts have been received by Carlisle city council in each year since 1987 through the sale of council houses, land and other buildings.

The information is given in the table

Carlisle DC: Total Sales of Fixed Assets
	£000
1987–88	5,926
1988–89	6,619
1989–90	9,413
1990–91	4,402
1991–92	12,268
1 Provisional

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what air quality tests have been carried out in the county of Durham since 1987; and if he will publish the results.

Airborne concentrations of smoke and sulphur dioxide and acid deposition have been measured at Government monitoring sites in the county since 1987—and for some years before. A survey of nitrogen dioxide concentrations was undertaken last year as part of our national study to compare results of an earlier survey in 1986. All the monitoring results have been published in reports by Warren Spring laboratory and copies have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if his Department will make arrangements to obtain the annual environmental reports produced by companies registered in the United Kingdom.

There is no statutory requirement on companies registered in the United Kingdom to produce annual environmental reports. However, I very much welcome the increasing trend for companies to report on their environmental performance, and my Department is glad to receive such reports.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what report he has received from the National Rivers Authority on the progress of the campaign to combat low flows in 20 designated English rivers; and if he will make a statement.

The National Rivers Authority programme for ameliorating low flows in certain rivers is being discussed with the relevant water companies. There is continuing discussion of the programme between the NRA and the Department in the context of the annual corporate plan on which grant-in-aid decisions are based.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish a consultation paper on caravan sites.

We are working with all practicable speed, and hope to issue shortly a consultation paper to fulfil our manifesto undertaking to review the Caravan Sites Act 1968 with the aim of reducing the nuisance of illegal camping by travellers.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to progress the sale or redevelopment of the site at 2 Marsham street.

The Department has appointed Montagu Evans in association with St. Quintin to advise on the planning and development potential of the site at 2 Marsham street. This advice is a necessary precursor to any decisions on sale or redevelopment. Decisions will be taken in due course in the light of this advice and the Government's need for accommodation in the Westminster area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions he has made following recent consultations on the Government's proposal to ban the import and supply to the United Kingdom market of refrigerant in disposable containers; and if he will make a statement.

In view of the clear environmental benefits, and with the support expressed by the refrigeration industry, we have decided to proceed with a ban on disposable containers. The use of such containers leads to emissions of ozone-depleting substances causing damage to the ozone layer, because the heel of chlorofluorocarbons that remains is usually vented to the atmosphere before disposal of the cylinder. Furthermore, containers that are designed to be thrown away rather than reused act are a disincentive to good practice in the industry and particularly to the recovery and recycling of CFCs. In the light of the views expressed in the consultation, we have now decided that the ban should apply to all sizes of disposable container, with an exemption for research and development. The legislation. which will be introduced as soon as possible, will require EC approval.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all those functions and areas in his Department and associated agencies that have been identified for market testing in the wake of the White Paper "Competing for Quality".

Proposals for market testing relating to the Departments for which I am responsible are being considered, together with those relating to other Government Departments, and an announcement will be made shortly.

To ask the Attorney-General what consideration has been given by the Director of Public Prosecutions to the prosecution of those alleged by the "World in Action" television programme of 15 June to be trading in anabolic steroids; and if he will make a statement.

I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what departments or agencies of the Scottish Office used the services of the Communication Scotland advertising agency prior to its collapse.

[holding answer 17 June 1992]: There is no record of any Scottish Office department or agency having used the services of the Communication Scotland advertising agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the Overseas Development Administration has made with the establishment of a model farm in the Leningrad Oblast.

A mission, sponsored by the joint assistance unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, visited the Agrarian university and Pushkinskoye training farm near St. Petersburg from 29 March to 3 April 1992 to carry out a feasibility study on the establishment of a private farming company.The mission's main recommendation was that a detailed business development plan for the Pushkinskoye farm should be prepared as a precursor to implementing a project expected to last between 18 and 36 months. This recommendation has been accepted and we hope that work on the business development plan will begin shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Overseas Development Administration's review of aid and trade provision, mentioned in the Foreign Affairs Committee fourth special report, Session 1991–92, on Foreign and Commonwealth Office/Overseas Development Administration expenditure 1992, annex 4 will be completed; and whether he will publish the results.

This review by officials has now been completed and is under consideration by Ministers. No decision on publication has been taken.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussion of untying EC aid at the last Council of Ministers meeting; and what proposals Her Majesty's Government have to raise the issue further.

At the Council of EC Development Ministers on 4 May, there was a wide-ranging but inconclusive discussion of a Commission paper which considered possible ways to untie member states' bilateral development aid at Community level. The Council asked the Commission to submit a new document for its next meeting in November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how much aid the Government have committed so far for the current emergency situation in southern Africa on a country-by-country basis;(2) whether he is prepared to give more aid to southern Africa in response to the recent appeals of Governments in the region.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development has so far committed more than £38 million in response to the drought in southern Africa as follows:

Country	Allocation £000	Description
Lesotho	25	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Malawi	6,000	Humanitarian assistance to be allocated
	1,000	Emergency feeding programme
	67	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Mozambique	3,000	Food aid
	1,420	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Namibia	45	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
South Africa	215	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Swaziland	42	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Tanzania	28	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Zambia	10,000	Balance of payments support
	237	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
Zimbabwe	7,500	Balance of payments support
	124	Support for non-governmental organisation activities
	791	Other drought-related assistance
Unallocated	1,925	Non-governmental organisation support/TC assistance
	5,000	Food aid (intended mainly for Mozambique)
Total	38,319

In addition to the above, Britain is contributing a further £12.5 million to the cost of food aid (364,300 tonnes) allocated to the countries of southern Africa under the European Community's special food aid programme.The Government will continue to monitor the situation closely and are considering what additional assistance they can make available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what aid is planned for refugees and displaced people in southern Africa; what assistance is being considered by the United Kingdom to displaced people in Khartoum; and if he will seek action by the United Nations to protect displaced people in Khartoum and to provide access to those in need in Mogadishu.

We are providing assistance, both directly and through the World Food Programme and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and our share of EC actions, to Mozambican refugees and displaced people. We recently made a donation of 5,000 tonnes of food aid for Mozambican refugees in Malawi. We have also made an initial allocation of £2£5 million for emergency and rehabilitation projects in Mozambique which will benefit displaced, as well as drought and war-affected, people. In Angola we have contributed £100,000 to help the United Nations Development Programme to co-ordinate relief operations in that country.We recently donated 2,000 tonnes of food worth £530,000 to displaced people in Khartoum, bringing the total of our assistance to this group since 1991 to £1.09 million. We continue to give close support to United Nations-led efforts to negotiate better treatment for the displaced and secure access for relief supplies and non-governmental organisation personnel.We fully support current United Nations efforts to provide relief to the needy in Mogadishu. In 1992, we have donated humanitarian aid worth £3.6 million, including 12,100 tonnes of bilateral food aid. Following the ceasefire agreed by the rival factions in March, food is now being delivered to Mogadishu by the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance is being offered for recovery and rehabilitation in (a) Somalia, (b) Ethiopia, (c) Eritrea, (d) Namibia and (e) Angola.

The United Kingdom is providing assistance for recovery and rehabilitation as follows:

Somalia: Our emergency aid, valued at some £10 million since January 1991—including our share of EC assistance—includes finance for projects addressing rehabilitation needs.

Ethiopia and Eritrea: Under the bilateral programme, we are continuing to support rehabilitation projects in the natural resources sector through non-governmental organisations. We shall also be making a significant contribution to the process of recovery through our share of actions planned by the World bank and the European Community. Our humanitarian aid, valued at over £53 million since January 1991, including our share of EC assistance, also includes finance for emergency projects with a rehabilitation element.

Namibia: The bilateral aid programme, totalling some £2.4 million in 1991–92 covers activities in a number of key sectors, including education, public administration and the police.

Youth training leavers in Wearside (per cent.)
	Leaving early/ transferring between schemes	Completing planned training	Not stated/not known	Completing training and in full-time employment1
Leavers in:
1990–91	53	31	16	61
April-August 19912	42	35	23	65
1 This relates to respondents to the national follow-up survey and not to all completers.
2 Latest period for which information available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have been assessed as needing training in (1) word power and (2) number power in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

The information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment, pursuant to the answer on 22 May to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Burden), Official Report, columns 339-46, concerning wages councils, if she will give details as to the two prosecutions for underpayment of wages in Scotland in 1991; which employers were prosecuted; and if she will publish details of the offences.

The information requested is shown:

Employer	Details of offences
Allardyce Cafe (Stonehaven) Ltd. Stonehaven	Failure to pay statutory minimum remuneration to two workers
Snooker Masters Ltd. Wishaw Lanarkshire	Failure to pay statutory minimum remuneration to four workers. The keeping of wage records known to be false in a material particular.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have left their youth training scheme placements prematurely in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what are the latest figures for 1992.(2) how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland completed their YTS placements in

Information is not available in the precise form requested. Information is, however, available on the percentages of all YT leavers in the Wearside training and enterprise council area, which includes Sunderland, as follows:Youth training entrants' needs are assessed by training providers. If trainees need to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and word power/number power is appropriate, the training provider will make it available as a matter of course.The results of these assessments are not separately collated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland have been assessed as needing special needs youth training scheme placements in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

The number of school leavers assessed by the Careers Service as special needs in the Wearside training and enterprise council area in 1990–91 was 1,100. The figure for 1991–92 was 900. Figures for 1992–93 will not be available until late summer when all the young people concerned have left school and registered with the Careers Service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places are available on youth training schemes in Sunderland for (a) number power and (b) word power in (1) 1990 and (2) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

The year 1992–93 is the first in which targets have been set by the Department for word power and number power. Wearside training and enterprise council has contracted to achieve 200 word power/number power certificates this financial year.Figures for earlier years are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many places were available for 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland on youth training schemes in (1) 1990, (2) 1991; and what is the latest figure for 1992.

The Department of Employment contracts with training and enterprise councils for provision of training weeks in youth training. The actual contracted training weeks figures for the years requested are:

	Numbers
1990–91	143,599
1991–92	157,790
1992–93	1142,150
1 Profile.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many youth training scheme places there were for 16 and 17-year-olds in Sunderland for individuals with special needs in (a) 1990 and (b) 1991; and what is the latest available figure for 1992.

Unemployed young people are guaranteed an appropriate training opportunity in youth training. It follows that the number of special needs training places provided is consistent with demand. To date, Wearside training and enterprise council has met the guarantee to unemployed young people in its area.The proportion of youth training entrants with special needs is approximately 30 per cent. In numerical terms provision of special needs training is estimated as:

	Number
1990–91	1,100
1991–92	1,070
1992–93	1,000

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many certificates have been issued under section 27 of the Data Protection Act 1984.

I am aware of none so far as the Home Office is concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the first degree obtained by the chief executive of the Fire Service College; and from which university or polytechnic it was awarded.

The chief executive holds no degree.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the guidelines relating to the reduction of an award by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board because of previous criminal convictions of the claimant.

The guide to the criminal injuries compensation scheme, a copy of which is sent to every applicant with the application form, sets out at paragraphs 37 to 39 the grounds on which an application may be rejected or an award abated because of the applicant's conduct or past criminal convictions. A copy of the guide is in the Library of the House. Decisions in individual cases are determined by the board in the light of all relevant circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Wireless and Telegraphy Act 1949 to ensure that television sets can be used in prison cells without individual television licences being required.

The White Paper "Custody, Care and Justice, The Way Ahead for the Prison Service in England and Wales" announced that carefully monitored experiments would be held in a small number of prisons to help determine whether and under what conditions there might be opportunities for televisions in cells.The television licensing requirements is one of the issues currently being considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to delay the extradition of Mr. Lorrain Osman until he has met a delegation of hon. Members to discuss his case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will suspend execution of his extradition warrant on Mr. Lorrain Osman until he has heard representations from a delegation of hon. Members who have expressed an interest in the case.

The Secretary of State signed the warrant ordering Mr. Osman's return on 15 June. Matters must now take their course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the terms of reference for C3 division of the Home Office.

The principal functions of C3 division are:

1. To assist Ministers in discharging the Home Secretary's duties and powers under the Mental Health Act 1983 and the Criminal Procedure (Insanity) Acts 1964 and 1991 in relation to offenders detained in psychiatric hospitals whose leave, transfer or discharge is subject to Home Office consent. To co-ordinate the development of policies designed to improve the response of the criminal justice system to mentally disordered offenders.

2. To assist Ministers in discharging the Home Secretary's responsibilities in relation to the royal prerogative of mercy and references to the Court of Appeal under section 17 of the Criminal Appeal Act 1968 and the payment of compensation to persons wrongfully convicted; and to keep the law and practice relating to the investigation and correction of wrongful convictions under review.

3. To co-ordinate the Department's response to recent major miscarriage of justice cases, including the provision of evidence on these issues to the Royal Commission on criminal justice and the May inquiry and to advise on any further response which may be necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list, by fire service authority, the percentage of hoax fire calls attended during the last 12 months; and what the corresponding figures were for (a) 24 months, (b) 36 months and (c) 48 months ago.

[holding answer 18 June 1992]: The latest available information is for the years 1987 to 1990 and is shown in the table. It gives the percentage of total fire calls attended by local authority fire brigades which the brigades believed to be malicious false alarms.

The percentage of total fire calls that were malicious false alarms 1987 to 1990
Fire Brigade	1987	1988	1989	1990
UNITED KINGDOM	18.45	18.72	15.80	15.85
ENGLAND	18.86	18.89	15.78	15.55
Non-Metropolitan	14.50	14.31	12.01	12.10
Avon	12.94	13.81	12.08	11.97
Bedfordshire	15.16	14.17	11.82	10.76
Berkshire	10.19	9.97	8.91	8.94
Buckinghamshire	13.40	13.96	11.73	11.86
Cambridgeshire	14.84	14.47	12.53	11.28
Cheshire	15.75	12.96	12.00	11.81
Cleveland	34.97	35.96	30.76	28.45
Cornwall	6.41	7.49	4.74	5.53
Cumbria	13.56	13.19	12.42	12.54
Derbyshire	17.69	19.42	15.14	14.69
Devon	10.23	11.67	9.89	12.25
Dorset	7.51	8.48	6.17	7.77
Durham	22.69	23.76	19.63	22.64
East Sussex	9.89	10.62	9.32	8.96
Essex	15.15	15.16	12.33	11.24
Gloucestershire	11.22	11.79	11.30	13.70
Hampshire	7.44	7.13	5.35	5.53
Hereford and Worcester	12.10	13.97	12.05	13.02
Hertfordshire	10.70	10.23	9.07	8.54
Humberside	20.05	18.74	16.67	19.68
Isle of Wight	4.49	4.95	4.88	4.95
Kent	17.79	17.68	14.19	11.71
Lancashire	17.66	17.03	15.33	15.68
Leicestershire	19.66	19.66	17.27	16.40
Lincolnshire	18.06	16.11	14.69	14.74
Norfolk	11.68	9.59	8.90	7.91
North Yorkshire	10.75	11.30	8.62	8.99

Fire Brigade	1987	1988	1989	1990
Northamptonshire	12.03	13.00	9.11	8.15
Northumberland	13.79	12.82	8.64	11.35
Nottinghamshire	20.33	16.28	12.22	11.62
Oxfordshire	12.53	13.83	10.72	12.03
Shropshire	5.58	4.74	5.78	10.09
Somerset	5.27	7.31	5.80	6.82
Staffordshire	17.14	16.23	12.83	13.20
Suffolk	7.79	7.23	5.54	5.16
Surrey	12.44	10.76	8.85	8.51
Warwickshire	16.58	14.30	9.66	9.79
West Sussex	8.94	9.72	8.42	8.10
Wiltshire	9.31	8.96	8.21	7.86
Metropolitan	23.61	23.63	19.82	19.29
Greater Manchester	24.37	24.00	22.09	21.27
Merseyside	22.27	23.39	18.45	16.41
South Yorkshire	22.54	24.30	19.22	18.08
Tyne and Wear	21.89	25.22	21.18	21.49
West Midlands	28.44	26.97	21.06	19.95
West Yorkshire	24.92	26.59	21.78	19.87
Greater London	22.08	21.10	17.95	18.54
WALES	19.72	21.12	17.86	17.64
Clwyd	16.18	14.70	12.16	14.65
Dyfed	11.96	12.20	13.59	13.50
Gwent	22.81	23.89	20.78	20.79
Gwynedd	10.90	11.06	11.93	8.47
Mid Glamorgan	23.20	26.60	20.29	19.63
Powys	6.97	7.90	6.91	5.31
South Glamorgan	25.12	24.50	22.20	19.88
West Glamorgan	20.63	25.35	19.23	21.60
NORTHERN IRELAND	15.75	17.37	14.49	17.67
SCOTLAND	15.85	16.84	15.47	16.83
Strathclyde	17.17	18.98	17.36	18.14
Highland and Islands	4.70	5.90	4.96	6.43
Grampian	9.44	10.41	7.47	8.81
Tayside	8.62	9.26	11.13	13.10
Lothian and Borders	20.39	19.01	16.93	21.53
Fife	19.22	17.65	16.76	13.91
Central	14.87	18.46	17.13	16.05
Dumfries and Galloway	10.46	12.19	13.10	13.93

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute a full departmental inquiry into the serious crimes committed by persons on bail, following the case of Andrew Hagans, convicted at Bristol Crown court on 10 June.

[holding answer 17 June 1992]: Although I fully understand and share the concern that has been widely expressed about the implications of this case, I have no plans to institute any formal inquiry. I can assure the hon. Member, however, that lessons learnt from cases such as this are always taken into account in developing policy. Steps have already been taken and others are in train to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring again. They include, but are not limited to, the measures to which my right hon. Friend the Member for Mole Valley (Mr. Baker) referred in his statement on 25 February, Official Report, columns 813-14.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what were the social fund allocations to individual DSS offices in Cumbria for each year since 1988;(2) how many applications were made to the Barrow-in-Furness DSS office for

The information requested is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims for war pension on the basis, or partly on the basis, of psychiatric disability made between 1962 and 1980 were disallowed for the reason that the disability was not regarded as attributable to war service by virtue of its nature being a medical diagnosis of psychosis schizophrenia; in how many of such claims the refusal of pension or reduction in award has been reviewed in the light of his Department's acceptance of post-traumatic stress disorder as an accepted diagnosis leading to psychiatric disability; how many such reviews have led to war pension being paid in respect of such disability; and in how many such cases of successful review arrears of war pension, on the basis of such disability, have been paid for periods of disability prior to 1980.

The information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what would be the total cost of paying full arrears of war pension to those claimants now regarded as entitled by virtue of a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder calculating those arrears as from the date of their disability instead of from 1980.

Awards of war pension in respect of conditions accepted as attributable to service which could be described as "post-traumatic stress disorders"—for instance, conditions formerly diagnosed as "anxiety state" or neurasthenia—have normally been made from the date of claim. The date of 1980 for the payment of arrears of war pension is of significance only in so far as claims in respect of schizophrenia are concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will amend the social security regulations to ensure that young people aged 16 and 17 years who cannot find a place on youth training schemes can have their entitlement to child benefit restored for that period during which they do not receive unemployment benefit or income support and that parents be allowed increased benefits geared to child benefits where appropriate.

No. The Government believe that the current provisions for young people provide appropriate support to those waiting for a youth training place. Parents of such young people can already get child benefit for up to 16 weeks after their children leave school. Young people who are seeking a YT place whose parents are themselves dependent on income support may be entitled to income support in their own right under the severe hardship provision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he has set a target date for the return of Maxwell funds held in institutions abroad; and what action he is taking to bring this about.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 16 June at column 489.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) if he will make a statement on the conference held in Liechtenstein on 17 June on the Maxwell funds;(2) if his Department was represented at the conference held in Liechtenstein on 19 June on the Maxwell funds; and if he will make a statement.

The Department was not represented at the conference on Maxwell trusts which was held in Liechtenstein on 17 June, but which has been widely reported subsequently. It is primarily for the liquidators of the Maxwell investment management companies to establish the extent to which funds may have been transferred to Liechtenstein. However, where the special unit which we have established can make a useful contribution, it will do all it can to assist the liquidators, the trustees and others in securing the maximum return of assets to Maxwell pension funds.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he intends to meet ministers in Switzerland and Liechtenstein to discuss the return of Maxwell funds to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

We have no plans at present to meet Ministers in Liechtenstein or Switzerland to discuss disputed Maxwell pension fund assets.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will set out the funding procedures for the emergency, short-term help for Maxwell pensioners he announced on 8 June.

I announced on 8 June that the Government were making available temporary funding of £2.5 million, in the form of repayable grants to help ease the short-term pressures faced by Maxwell pensioners. Parliamentary approval of this new service will be sought in a supplementary estimate for class XIV Department of Social Security, vote 3. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £2.5 million will be met by repayable advances from the contingency fund.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the average proportion of the 10 years prior to attaining state pension age spent in paid work by (a) and (b) women.

The 1991 labour force survey (GB) showed that 61.7 per cent. of men between the ages of 55 and 64, and 58.6 per cent. of women between the ages of 50 and 59, were in paid employment—paid employment is defined as a minimum of one hour per week. Further information in the form requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many care of the elderly beds were available in the Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool health authorities each year since 1988.

The information is given in the table.The fall in number of elderly care beds during this period is due to the provision of better alternative community-based services provided by Sunderland, Durham and Hartlepool health authorities, in accordance with the initiatives outlined in the White Paper "Caring for People".

Northern Region
Average available beds for elderly patients (KHO3 Statistics)
		Mental illness elderly
	General elderly	Short stay	Long stay
1987–88
Durham	236	17	—
Sunderland	409	146	187
Hartlepool	158	3	21
1988–89
Durham	184	35	—
Sunderland	380	59	304
Hartlepool	167	9	3
1989–90
Durham	188	35	—
Sunderland	389	59	286
Hartlepool	155	9	3
1990–91
Durham	182	18	17
Sunderland	384	59	193
Hartlepool	155	9	3
1991–92
Durham	145	18	17
Sunderland	371	60	161
Hartlepool	153	9	3

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will ring-fence the money allocated to communities under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and what criteria she will use to determine allocations.

The Government have made it clear that if necessary they will use their powers in full to ensure that authorities do not misuse funds intended for community care. We are continuing to discuss with the local authority associations the funding of new community care arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will provide the current average cost to public funds of a normal birth at (a) hospital and (b) home.

The information is not available in the form requested.The average cost of care during pregnancy and childbirth in the hospital and community health services in 1990–91 was £1,217 per birth. This includes obstetric in-patient and out-patient services and community midwifery but excludes services provided by general practitioners.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the percentage of the population who will develop cancer; and if she will make a statement.

Statistical analysis of data relating to the period 1985 to 1987 suggests that approximately one third of the population of England and Wales will, at some point in their lives, be registered with a malignant cancer. More detailed data are published in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys publication "Cancer statistics: registrations 1986", series MB1 No. 19, a copy of which is available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action her Department is taking against those found or believed to be engaged in fraudulent import and trading of anabolic steroids; and if she will make a statement.

Any reports of illegal importation or suspected illegal importation of anabolic steroids into the United Kingdom are urgently investigated by the enforcement unit of the Medicines Control Agency, as are reports of illegal trading in anabolic steroids.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many of the abortions performed under the new grounds and conditions created by the amendments to the Abortion Act 1967 by section 37 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1991 were performed after (a) 24 weeks and (b) 28 weeks.

In the period 1 April 1991 to 30 September 1991, the latest date for which figures are available, a total of 32 abortions were performed in Great Britain after 24 weeks' gestation. Of these, seven were performed after 28 weeks' gestation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports of inspections carried out by local health authority inspectors of private clinics providing abortions are received by her Department; and if she will publish them.