To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the drug addicts notified to the Home Office in 1991 were resident in Wales; and how many of those in Wales were (a) new addicts, (b) under 25 years and (c) new addicts under 25 years.

The information requested is contained in tables Al, A3, A9 and A10 of the area tables of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Statistics of drug addicts notified to the Home Office, United Kingdom, 1991", a copy of which is in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will conduct an immediate investigation into the activities of South African government security personnel in the United Kingdom.

No. Any such activities are subject to the normal process of law.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration was given to deporting Captain Pamela du Randt and Mr. Leon Flores under the prevention of terrorism Acts.

None. The exclusion powers under the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 may be used only in respect of people involved in terrorism connected with the affairs of Northern Ireland.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Sikhs have applied for political asylum since 1984; and how many have been successful.

The statistics on persons applying for asylum do not identify the ethnic origin of the applicant, but are analysed by citizenship. From January 1984 to September 1992 inclusive, some 5,900 Indian citizens, excluding dependants, applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. It is likely that the majority of these applications have been made by Sikhs. Since 1984, no applicants have been found to be genuine refugees and granted asylum. but nearly 800 of those refused asylum have been granted exceptional leave to remain.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from chief constables in Wales, police authorities in mid and south Wales and other bodies in Wales regarding the future of No. 8 regional crime squad.

My right hon. and learned Friend recently received a letter from Mr. Hugh Thomas, the clerk to the South Wales police authority, on behalf of the three police authorities—South Wales, Dyfed-Powys and Gwent—which make up No. 8 regional crime squad, asking whether I will receive a deputation on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people have been allowed to enter the United Kingdom from Somalia and the former Yugoslavia in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Provisional figures show that in the 12 months to the end of August 1992, some 3,600 nationals of Somalia and 50,800 nationals of the former state of Yugoslavia were given leave to enter at United Kingdom ports. The vast majority of these persons were visitors, students, transit passengers or passengers returning. In addition, during the same period, some 665 nationals of Somalia and 500 nationals of the former state of Yugoslavia applied for asylum at the ports and were given temporary admission.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to curtail or abolish the right of appeal for those refused a visa to visit the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: The Asylum and Immigration Appeals Bill, introduced on 22 October, contains provisions to amend part II of the Immigration Act 1971, to remove the right of appeal against certain immigration decisions, including the refusal of a visa to come to the United Kingdom as a visitor.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken on the findings of the Commission for Racial Equality that young black people, particularly in inner cities, were substantially more likely to be charged than whites for similar offences.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: I have recently received this report and will be looking closely at its findings. The report suggests that further data are needed to establish the reasons for differences in prosecution rates, and that these data can be obtained only through permanent ethnic monitoring. The Home Secretary now has a duty under section 95 of the Criminal Justice Act 1991 to publish information on race and the criminal justice system, and the first booklet containing such information was published in September this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people over the past year, to date, from former states of Yugoslavia, have applied to enter the United Kingdom; how many applied (a) to visit, (b) to study, (c) to settle as a dependent relative, (d) to join a relative, (e) for political asylum and (f) for other reasons; how many applications, in each category, have (i) been granted, (ii) been refused, (iii) are still being considered, (iv) are subject to appeal, or (v) the applicant has been removed from the United Kingdom to return to country of origin.

[holding answer 19 October 1992]: The available information relates to nationals of the former states of Yugoslavia admitted or refused at United Kingdom ports, and is given in the table.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stage has been reached in the discussions with the industry on the reform of agricultural tenancy legislation; and when he will lay new legislation before the House.

The consultations that I announced to the House on 12 February 1991, Official Report, column 391, have led to a wide measure of agreement within the industry on the principle of reform of the legislation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I remain convinced that new simpler and leaner legislation is needed to enable farmers and landowners to adapt to changing conditions in agriculture and the economy of the countryside. We have refined our proposals in the light of the consultations and we intend to complete discussions on the outstanding points by the end of the year with a view to introducing legislation as soon as parliamentary time becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing the latest figures on the take-up of school meals broken down into (a) all schools meals, (b) free school meals and (c) paid school meals, for (i) primary school children and (ii) secondary school children separately.

Provisional information about school meals take up in maintained nursery, primary and secondary schools in England in January 1992 is shown in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to ensure consistency in the application of new pay structures for university technicians in different parts of the United Kingdom.

The pay of university technicians, and the consistency of applications of any new pay structure, is entirely a matter for their employers. The Government have no intention of becoming involved in the negotiating arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many full-time 16 to 18-year-old students in England and Wales fail to complete A-level courses.

This information is not available in the form requested.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many 16 to 18-year-olds stay in full-time education; what proportion takes (a) A-levels, (b) vocational courses and (c) other courses; and what are the corresponding figures five years ago.

The information requested is given in the table for young people aged 16 and 17 at 31 August at the start of each academic year:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the schools' reorganisation proposals published in October 1991 and January 1992 by the Roman Catholic diocese of Arundel and the Brighton Schools Commission; and when he now expects to announce his decision on these proposals.

A substantial number of written objections to the proposals have been received and I have also listened to arguments put forward by deputations led by a number of my right hon. and hon. Friends.The proposals are complex and wide ranging but I hope that our decision can be announced very shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what organisations have been supported by his Environment Wales grant scheme; and what criteria he adopts in awarding grants.

The following organisations have been supported by Environment Wales:

• Association of Welsh Wildlife Trusts
• Amelia Trust Farm
• Brecknock Wildlife Trust
• British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
• Cardiff City Farm
• Centre for Alternative Technology
• Community Service Volunteers
• Field Studies Council
• Flat Holm Society
• Friends of the Earth
• Friends of Forest Farm and the Glamorgan Canal
• Greenfield Valley Heritage Trust
• Groundwork
• Gwent Wildlife Trust
• Harvest Trust
• Keep Wales Tidy Campaign
• Montgomery Wildlife Trust
• National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners
• National Trust
• North Wales Wildlife Trust
• Offa's Dyke Association
• Open Spaces Society
• Pengwern Hall
• Pentre Ifan Environmental Centre (Urdd Gobaith Cymru)
• Presteigne Recyling Scheme
• Prince of Wales Committee
• Prince of Wales Committee—Environmental Education Group
• Rambler's Association
• Royal Society for Nature Conservation
• South Glamorgan Play Resource Centre
• Track 2000
• Treescene
• Wales Wildlife and Countryside Link
• Welsh Historic Gardens Trust
• West Wales Energy Group
• Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress made with the Tir Cymen scheme for environmental friendly farming in Wales; and what resources have been committed to the scheme to date.

The Tir Cymen scheme was launched on 21 July 1992. The application period for entry to the scheme in 1992 ends on 30 October.The resources committed to the scheme are £500,000 in, 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional resources have been committed to establish the five new special protection areas to which reference is made in chapter 18, paragraph 18.5 of "Britain's Environmental Strategy", Cm 2068.

The Department has allocated no additional resources specifically related to the designation of the five special protection areas in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations resulted from the consultation on the proposed trust status for Singleton hospital; and how many of these supported the proposal and how many opposed it.

A total of 90 representations have been received in response to the public consultation on the application from the west unit, West Glamorgan health authority to become an NHS trust in April 1993. Where a clear view was expressed, 19 supported the proposal for trust status and with 49 did not.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give for the most recent date for which figures are available the number of employment action places proposed and filled for each region and for Great Britain.

Employment action plans to help 60,000 people in Britain in 1992–93. Figures for planned places are not available by region. Information from the Employment Service indicates that as at 10 September the number of employment action participants was as follows:

To ask the Prime Minister what were the reasons for Sir Peter Kemp's departure as Permanent Secretary at the Office of Public Service and Science.

When Sir Peter Kemp was appointed Second Permanent Secretary in 1988, the main responsibility of his post was to lead the "next steps" project, which he did with distinction. The formation of the Office of Public Service and Science after the general election created a new department with wider responsibilities, demanding different qualities in the Permanent Secretary. Since no suitable alternative post was available at Permanent Secretary level, the Head of the Civil Service decided to ask Sir Peter to take early retirement on the favourable terms available in those circumstances.

To ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will make a statement on the details and grounds of enhancement on pension and other departure terms afforded to Sir Peter Kemp, following his departure as Permanent Secretary at the Office of Public Service and Science;(2) how many years' service Sir Peter Kemp had left, before normal retirement age, prior to his departure as Permanent Secretary at the Office of Public Service and Science.

Sir Peter Kemp was asked to take early retirement, with effect from 14 September 1992, from his post as Second Permanent Secretary of the Office of Public Service and Science.The terms under which he left were those appropriate to a compulsory early retirement as set out in the civil service pay and conditions of service code. He received six months' pay in lieu of notice and a lump sum compensation payment; he will also receive payment of his pension and lump sum enhanced by two years and 25 days—the period between his date of leaving the service and the normal retirement age of 60.

To ask the Prime Minister what completion date was given by (a) Swan Hunter and (b) Harland and Wolff, in bidding for the contract to construct the Royal Navy supertanker Fort Victoria; and if he will make a statement.

The original acceptance date for Fort Victoria based on Harland and Wolff's tender was January 1990. The date offered by Swan Hunter Shipbuilders was later that year.

To ask the Prime Minister what representations he has received concerning the facilitating of the Thames path along the Albert embankment: and if he will make a statement.

Two—from Lambeth council and the Ramblers Association, in relation to part of the proposed Thames path to which the public do not enjoy access at present.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the non-Home Office police forces operating within Greater London, and their responsible Minister.

A full list of all such organisations operating within Greater London is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The forces concerned range from large organisations such as the British Transport police, the Ministry of Defence police and the Royal Parks constabulary to small groups of constables sworn in by local authorities for specific areas or undertakings. Responsibility for non-Home Office forces rests with the appropriate Government Minister, Department, local authority or the private company concerned.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy not to agree to an increase in the United Kingdom contribution to the EC budget under the treaty on European union.

The draft treaty on European union does not of itself provide for an increase in the European Community budget. In the review of Community future financing now in progress, the Commission has proposed significant increases in Community expenditure and in the own resources ceiling. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has indicated, these increases are not acceptable.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will invite Lord Mackenzie Stuart, the retired President of the EC Court of Justice, to discuss with him the effect of article 3b of the treaty on European union.

No. As I told the hon. Gentleman on 20 October, Official Report, column 326, I share the Lord Chancellor's view that subsidiarity is a principle enforceable by the European Court of Justice.

To ask the Prime Minister within what period it is his policy to achieve (a) full employment and (b) a sustainable rate of growth.

The Government's policies are designed to achieve sustained non-inflationary growth. This is the best means of promoting sustainable, long-term growth in employment.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his plans to return to member states some of the power which the EC institutions at present exercise over them; and if he will list the provisions of the Maastricht treaty which he will use for this purpose.

The Community exercises only those powers conferred on it by the Community treaties, signed and ratified by all member states. The principle of subsidiarity, as expressed in article 3b of the Maastricht treaty, is designed to ensure that the Community does not go beyond those powers, and that where the treaty allows a choice between Community level action and action at the level of the member state there will be presumption in favour of the latter.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will protest to the Prime Minister of Jamaica about the number of Jamaicans held on death row for long periods.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: We have told the Jamaican Government of our concern about the prisoners on death row. I understand the legislation on the death penalty is at present before the Jamaican parliament.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the next steps agencies established by this Government since 1979.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: The information requested is set out.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he will be making to the EC to curb the activities of speculators in the currency market.

I have no plans to propose controls aimed at curbing the activities of speculators in the currency market.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reduce value added tax to 15 per cent.

No. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no plans to do so.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to ensure that day care and domiciliary care services provided under contract to statutory bodies are not liable to value added tax charges.

No. My right hon. Friend has no plans to extend the current relevant exemption which is for supplies of welfare services if they are supplied by a charity or public body otherwise than for profit.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any officials from the Bank of England supervision department have been suspended pending investigations by the Serious Fraud Office into allegations of bribery in relation to the BCCI affair.

The allegations have, at the request of the Bank of England, been investigated by the Serious Fraud Office which announced on 20 October that its investigations had revealed no evidence to substantiate any of the claims made.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he has given to Senator John Kerry's report into the supervision of BCCI; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: My right hon. Friend has seen Senator John Kerry's subcommittee's report of its investigation of BCCI, which goes a good way beyond the supervision of the bank. He notes, that unlike Lord Justice Bingham, Senator Kerry's sub-committee had no access to the Bank of England's documents, took no evidence from the bank or BCCI's auditors, and failed to check any conclusions or findings with either of them.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the revenue lost from (a) income tax, (b) value-added tax and (c) other revenues to the Exchequer for a reduction in employment of 20,000 employees, for a range of different assumptions of average income of such employees.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: The effect of job losses on tax revenues will depend on a large number of factors in addition to the level of income of the employees affected and cannot therefore reliably be calculated.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans there are for the taxation of invalidity benefit; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 22 October 1992]: I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) on 19 October, Official Report, column 190.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the operation of catering, sanitary and medical facilities, and so on at bail hostels are subject to the normal inspection of health and safety officers.

Local authorities are responsible for normal inspection of hostels including sanitation facilities, and catering facilities where food is provided to bail hostel residents rather than self catering.Health and Safety Executive inspectors are responsible for enforcing provisions on the Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974 at bail hostels. These premises are subject to the same considerations as others for which HSE has enforcement responsibility and may be visited for a variety of purposes, including planned inspection and the investigation of incidents and complaints.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many women in the national health service have agreed to their names being put on a confidential list to be used by her Department to assist NHS managers in a drive to get more women into top positions; and if she will make a statement.

A total of 973 women have requested that their names be placed on the NHS women's national career development register.This programme is an innovation, not just for the NHS but for other public and private sector employers. In this respect the NHS is leading the field in women's employment and development by providing a programme of positive action and career development at this level of the organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of possible, probable and confirmed (a) new cases of and (b) deaths from Creuzfeld-Jakob disease in each year since 1986.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Torridge and Devon, West (Miss Nicholson) on 23 June at columns 155–56.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she has made a section 64 grant for the current year to the national incontinence helpline operated by the Newcastle Dene centre; and what similar grants were given in previous years.

A section 64 grant has not been paid to the Dene centre incontinence helpline for 1992–93. Previously £20,000 was awarded over two years from 1988–89. This service has now been secured with the help of the Continence Foundation, which also receives our financial support.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the number of dentists in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale health authority withdrawing national health service treatment from their existing patients; and if she will make a statement.

Since 3 July 1992, the Lancashire family health services authority, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, has not reported any dentists asking for their names to be removed from the family health services authority list. Over the same period, nine dentists in the Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale area have notified the family health services authority of their intention to remove 68 adult patients and one child from their patient lists. I am informed by Lancashire family health services authority that there are no patients who have contacted it for assistance in obtaining national health service dental treatment for whom such treatment could not be arranged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make available a summary of the funding and levels of activity agreed for 1992–93 with centres designated to provide supra-regional services.

A summary of this information has been placed in the Library as an addendum to the document "Supra regional services 1992–93: announcement by the Secretary of State for Health".

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she proposes to issue guidance on the development of services for people with learning disabilities.

I will be issuing guidance on 26 October to health and local authorities on the development of services to meet the health and social care needs of people with learning disabilities. Copies will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what criteria are used to decide whether a full-time student is eligible to receive full financial assistance with dental and other national health service charges;(2) if it is Government policy to include a national student loan in their calculations concerning full financial assistance to full-time students for health care.

Dental treatment and other national health service services are provided free to patients, including full-time students in higher education, who are eligible for charge exemption on grounds of health or status, or who qualify for full charge remission under the national health service low income scheme. Full or partial help from this scheme is income related taking account of all resources available to individual patients, including student loans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the retirement pension for a single person and a couple would be in April 1993 if it had continued to he uprated with earnings or prices, whichever was the higher, since the link was broken.

Figures for April 1993 are not yet available. The current—April 1992—rates of basic retirement pension would be £71 for a single person and £113.65 for a couple. This would cost a man on average earnings and his employer an extra £11.20 per week between them in national insurance contributions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the rules surrounding the treatment of therapeutic earnings in (a) the income support regulations and (b) the housing benefit regulations; and what discretion is available to DSS officers and housing benefit officers, respectively, when assessing income from therapeutic earnings.

Neither income support nor housing benefit has specific rules about therapeutic earnings.In income support, both disabled and able-bodied people may work part time—under 16 hours a week—and £5 or £15 a week of their earnings will be disregarded. In the case of a person who is entitled to, or has an underlying entitlement to, the disability premium, the higher, £15, disregard applies. In addition, certain disabled people—those whose earning capacity is reduced to 75 per cent. or less of what it would be but for their disability, and people in residential care—can work for more than 16 hours a week and still be entitled to claim income support.Unlike income support, housing benefit is payable irrespective of the number of hours worked. In housing benefit, a person who is entitled to, or has an underlying entitlement to, a disability premium will similarly receive the £15 earnings disregard. Otherwise, the amount of earnings disregarded will generally be £10 in the case of a couple, or £5 in the case of a single person.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many women were in receipt of the housewives non-contributory invalidity pension; how many men were in receipt of the non-contributory invalidity pension from the date of their introduction until 1983; and how many people were in receipt of severe disablement allowance broken down into men and women since 1983.

The information requested is given in the tables.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, North-East (Mr. Ainsworth), of 6 July, OfficialReport, columns 85–86, if he will make an estimate of the cumulative spending and savings made on the various national insurance benefits since 1979.

Reliable estimates are not possible because there have been significant changes in the number and characteristics of beneficiaries, and in general economic circumstances, since the measures were introduced.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures based on the households below average income statistics which show the numbers and proportions of people living below 50 per cent. of average income before and after housing costs in each region of the United Kingdom.

A reliable regional breakdown of the numbers and proportions living below half average income could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Statistics for the United Kingdom as a whole are available in "Households Below Average Income", copies of which are available in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made by his Department of the number of stations on the British Rail network that can be safely operated without staff during hours when the stations are open.

Staffing levels are a matter for British Rail and it is for BR to assess, on a station-by-station basis, which stations can be operated without staff. Before reaching a decision to operate a station without staff BR takes full account of any possible implications for safety. A code of practice for unstaffed stations has also been agreed between BR and the Central Transport Consultative Committee, which provides for prior consultation between BR and the relevant area committee before a station is destaffed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the locations of (a) the motorways and (b) the trunk roads on which his Department is inspecting bridges with tensioned steel reinforcing that may be suffering from corrosion from de-icing.

All bridges and other structures on the truck road and motorway network in England are inspected at least once every two years. In addition to these regular inspections, each of the post tensioned structures on the network, of which there are approximately 600, will be given a special, more detailed inspection in the course of the next five years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evaluation he has made of the employment implications for road haulage and rail freight of Her Majesty's Government's decision to contract the coal mining industry with pit closures.

The demand for haulage of coal by road and rail depends on the amounts, types and sources of coal required by power generators and other users. It is for British Rail to assess the impact of changes in the scale and pattern of demand on its operations and staff requirements. No comparable assessment can be made for the road haulage industry because of the great number of flows and operators concerned.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what guidance is given by his Department to local planning authorities about planning applications for the creation of accesses from trunk roads.

Circular Roads 4/88 "The Control of Development on Trunk Roads", dated November 1988, to chief executives of local authorities sets out the policy and principles which guide the Department in exercising its powers under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 and in offering views on planning applications. The guidance covers creation of accesses.The circular is also widely available to developers along with Circular Roads 6/91, "Development in the Vicinity of Trunk Roads, Agreements under Section 278 of the Highways Act 1980", dated October 1991. Copies of both circulars are in the Library.New proposals for developers' contributions to highway works were announced on 14 August and are currently the subject of public consultation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the expenditure which has been incurred to date (a) on planning and design work, (b) on preliminary works currently being undertaken in the vicinity of Westminster station and (c) on other preliminary works which have been undertaken to date, in preparation for the extension of the Jubilee line to Stratford.

To 10 October 1992, expenditure of (a) some £79 million has been incurred on planning and design; (b) some £2 million on the preliminary works at Westminster station; and (c) some £62 million on other preliminary works, in preparation for the extension of the Jubilee line to Stratford.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to be able to approve the construction of the Jubilee line extension.

Talks are continuing on the promised £400 million contribution from the private sector. I cannot speculate on the future of the Jubilee line extension in advance of the conclusion of those talks.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received concerning access to side roads from the north circular road.

A large number of representations concerning access to side roads from the north circular road are currently being considered by the Department in relation to proposed major road improvements.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee (1) what sum has been expended on the refurbishment on 6–7 Old Palace Yard since 9 April; (2) what is the present cost of the refurbishment and alterations at 6–7 Old Palace Yard.

The expenditure on refurbishment of 6–7 Old Palace Yard since 9 April 1992 was £4,700. In addition £7,200 was spent on replacement furniture and essential routine maintenance continued as necessary.As a consequence of the transfer of the buildings to the other place, the cost of any future conservation and restoration will be the responsibility of that House.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what is the estimated cost of refurbishment and alteration to the premises at 7 Millbank to receive the secretaries who presently work at Old Palace Yard.

As plans for the refurbishment of relevant accommodation at 7 Millbank have not yet been finalised, it is not possible to provide this information.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what sums were spent on the Palace of Westminster and its associated offices during the summer vacation.

The cost of the 1992 summer works programme in the Palace of Westminster and its associated buildings was some £5 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage when the report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, 1991–92, will be published.

The reviewing committee's annual report, 1991–92, has been published today, and copies have been laid in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to increase the funds available to local authorities for the maintenance of listed buildings owned by themselves; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be announcing details of the local government finance settlement in November, which will take into account the pressures falling on local authority expenditure in 1993–94.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the current position in respect of the listed crescent in Buxton, Derbyshire which his Department has ordered should be repaired or face compulsory purchase; and if he will make a statement.

Following the visit of my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to Buxton in September, there have been discussions between English Heritage and the owners of the former St. Ann's hotel. But the owners have not so far put forward convincing plans for carrying out restoration work to an acceptable timetable. Work is therefore in hand on the preparation of a repairs notice under section 48 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.On 19 October, I met a delegation from Buxton who handed me a petition signed by many local residents. I assured them of my determination to see the crescent restored.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the consultation paper on the future arrangement for the voluntary transfer of tenanted houses from local authorities to other landlords.

Soon.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will review the procedures whereby British Coal Opencast is given preferential treatment over other mineral operators, and bring British Coal into line with other operators; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. We are bringing British Coal's permitted development rights for opencast exploration into line with those available to other mineral operators by amendment to the General Development Order. Other matters are under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement clarifying the role of an inspector when presiding over an appeal against a decision by a local planning authority to refuse permission for the construction of an access from a trunk road to a side road in those cases where the authority concerned had been directed by the Department of Transport to refuse such an application.

The role of a planning inspector in such circumstances is to visit the site, review all the material considerations made in writing or in person at the public inquiry and produce a report with recommendations on whether the appeal may be allowed, subject to conditions, or dismissed. It is then for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment to decide the appeal in the light of that report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidance about the impact upon businesses is given by his Department to local planning authorities when considering applications to retain accesses to side roads from trunk roads.

The Department's planning policy guidance note 13 gives advice on highways considerations in development control, including the question of access to primary routes. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that note.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 19 October, to the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate (Ms. Jackson), Official Report, column 215, what plans he has to amend homelessness legislation to end the alleged practices of women becoming pregnant in order to obtain council house tenancies.

The Government have no immediate plans for further legislative change, although the operation of the homelessness legislation is monitored closely.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if it remains his policy to transfer the drinking water inspectorate to the proposed environmental protection agency.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. and learned Friend on 15 July 1992 to my hon. Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, West (Mr. Jones), Official Report, column 858.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements he is making to protect the security of defence establishment and royal palace records following the transfer of PSA Projects to Tarmac plc; and whether Tarmac employees will receive any security vetting.

Records on work completed by PSA Projects have been archived within government and will not be transferred with PSA Project Ltd. on sale to Tarmac plc. Classified records for current projects will be loaned to PSA Projects Ltd. but will be returned to Government once work is completed. Government Departments will continue to be responsible for security arrangements on their establishments and the same procedures will be followed in the future as has been followed in the past. The private sector, including Tarmac Construction Ltd., has worked on Government defence contacts for many years and is aware of the rules governing the control and access for classified documents. In general, existing PSA Projects staff will continue to work on the projects on which they are currently engaged. Security vetting of any new employees of PSA Projects Ltd. will be organised as necessary after completion of the sale. PSA Projects does not hold records on royal palaces.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what performance targets he has set for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre executive agency for 1992–93.

The key performance measure for the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre is the net balance on its operating account. The target for 1992–93 is an operating deficit of £1.49 million.The centre has also projected room occupancy levels for the year of 1,242 days usage and revenue from catering commission and presentational facilities, expressed as a percentage of room hire, of 15 per cent. and 18 per cent. The centre will be expected to meet or better these projections.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the exit plan of the Merseyside development corporation will include the transfer of land and assets to community development trusts; and whether the Merseyside development corporation will be allowed to negotiate during the current period of the transfer of land and assets to community development trusts.

The exit plans of Merseyside development corporation will, at the appropriate time, consider all options and assets will be transferred to the appropriate body. M DC is encouraged to dispose of land and assets throughout its lifetime, but is required to obtain market value in relation to the use proposed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will meet with the Institution of Environmental Health Officers and the National Society for Clean Air to discuss an effective framework for vehicle nuisance control that would include noise, smoke and gaseous pollution detection from road vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

As the matter falls within the remit of the Secretary of State for Transport, I have been asked to reply.Provisions for enhanced emission testing and control at annual testing and spot checks have already been implemented for petrol-powered cars and diesel-powered heavy vehicles as part of an already comprehensive and established framework for curbing nuisance from noise and emissions from vehicles in use. The provisions for emission control will be expanded to remaining diesel-powered cars and light vehicles from 1 January 1993, with further reductions planned in line with our obligations under the European Community roadworthiness directive, 92/55/EEC. Noise controls also form an integral part of current and planned future action, backed by appropriate research at the Transport Research Laboratory, to improve enforcement of this particularly intrusive nuisance. All interested parties, including EHOs and the NSCA, will be fully consulted prior to making new regulations.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if, following the conviction of Dr. Cox for attempted murder, he will carry out a review of the law regarding euthanasia.

I have been asked to reply.The Government have no plans to carry out a review of the law in this area.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of personnel accommodation are vacant awaiting sale, vacant for letting and vacant awaiting repair in Northern Ireland.

As at 30 September 1992, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 32 MOD-owned service married quarters vacant awaiting sale, 179 vacant for letting to entitled service personnel and 108 vacant awaiting works in Northern Ireland. This excludes barrack and mess accommodation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how his Department plans to maintain the safety of the United Kingdom's nuclear warheads following the withdrawal of underground nuclear testing facilities in September 1996.

If testing ends in 1996, we shall have to rely on alternative methods to ensure the safety of our weapons. Alternative technologies exist, but are not at present an adequate substitute for underground testing. Their development is a matter which we will now be considering.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the circumstances under which the United Kingdom would continue underground nuclear testing after September 1996.

Assuming the current United States legislation is not amended, the prohibition on testing at Nevada will be lifted if another country tests after September 1996.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies his Department is undertaking regarding the testing of nuclear weapons without resort to underground nuclear testing.

We have been involved with work on alternative technologies for proving nuclear warheads for many years. However, they are not at present an adequate substitute for underground testing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what are the implications of the United States energy appropriation legislation for (a) the United Kingdom's Trident warhead programme, (b) the WE177 replacement programme and (c) the ability of the United Kingdom to develop new nuclear warheads.

There are no implications for the Trident warhead programme, the tests for which have been completed. No decision has been taken on WE177 replacement, but development of a suitable warhead could be completed even assuming that we are unable to test beyond 1996. It remains our view that a minimum programme of testing is the best means of ensuring the continuing safety and credibility of our deterrent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs if the Government will exert their influence in the European Community and the United Nations Security Council to urge the imposition of concerted trade sanctions against Indonesia until such time as a United Nations monitored referendum for independence is held in East Timor.

The Government do not believe that the imposition of trade sanctions against Indonesia would be an appropriate or effective way of promoting a solution to the East Timor question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs what measures Her Majesty's Government have taken as current President of the European Community to advance Portugal's legal and political efforts to address the political and human rights situation in East Timor.

As current President of the Community, the United Kingdom has made representations and taken action with the Indonesians on the situation in East Timor on the basis of agreed Community views and policies. We have made clear continuing Community concerns about the human rights situation in East Timor and about disparity in the sentencing of those involved in last year's Dili incident. We have welcomed the recent resumption of a dialogue between Portugal and Indonesia, under the United Nations Secretary-General's auspices, about East Timor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to raise the problems of clandestine nuclear materials sales and the import of red mercury from the Commonwealth of Independent States into the European Community in the next meeting of European political co-operation under his presidency.

It is this Government's policy to take every appropriate opportunity to raise with other Governments the problem of sales of clandestine nuclear materials from the CIS and elsewhere. We discuss this issue both with our European partners and, in a wider context, with other nuclear suppliers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Government of India regarding abuse of human rights by security forces in Punjab and Kashmir; and what was their response.

Both bilaterally and with our European Community partners, we have regularly raised with the Indian Government our concerns about abuses by security forces in Punjab and Kashmir. They have told us of their determination to investigate allegations of abuses and to bring wrongdoers to justice, and that over 250 members of the security forces in Kashmir and Punjab have been punished.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals the United Kingdom has put to the European Council to make more transparent its decision-making processes in the European Communities.

As presidency, the United Kingdom proposed an initiative at the Birmingham European Council to increase transparency in the Community's decision-making processes. It was agreed that Foreign Ministers would come forward with suggestions before the Edinburgh European Council, including the possibility of some open Council discussion. The Commission also offered to consult more widely before proposing legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list (a) the existing and (b) the proposed legislative acts of the EC which he proposes to seek to have withdrawn as offending against the principle of subsidiarity.

It is too early to specify which items will pass or fail the subsidiarity test. We are working to put procedures in place in the Commission and Council to ensure all proposals for legislation in future comply with the principle of subsidiarity. The Birmingham declaration called for decisions on this at Edinburgh, where the Commission will also present the first results of its review of existing Community legislation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the General Affairs Council on 21 September.

I chaired an extraordinary session of the General Affairs Council in New York on 21 September. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones)—represented the United Kingdom.The Council met to consider the way forward after the French referendum on the treaty on European union. The Council noted that ratification procedures were well advanced in most member states and agreed the importance of a speedy and successful conclusion of the process, without reopening the present text, on the timing foreseen in article R of the treaty.The Council welcomed the statement issued on 20 September by Economic and Finance Ministers meeting in Washington. Ministers agreed that the preoccupations which had been expressed in the wider debate in all member states over recent months should be addressed in the future internal and external development of Europe. They welcomed the presidency's decision to convene a special European Council in October to consider these issues.The Council also welcomed the presidency's determination to make progress on other urgent business, including the completion of the single market and negotiations on the Community's finances.A copy of the declaration issued by the Council on 21 September has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the Official Report a statement on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 and 6 October.

I chaired the Foreign Affairs Council on 5 October with the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones)—representing the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend took the chair for the session on 6 October, attended by my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade.Foreign Ministers received a report from the Committee of Permanent Representatives on work in hand to follow up the remit from the Lisbon European Council to undertake urgent work on procedural and practical steps to implement the principle of subsidiarity. It was agreed that COREPER should press on with this work, including the adoption of new procedures for addressing subsidiarity in the Council, and report back to the Foreign Affairs Council on 9 November. I also briefed colleagues on the presidency's objectives for the Birmingham Special European Council.Ministers had a general discussion of the Commission's future financing proposals. I explained how the United Kingdom presidency intended to handle negotiations between now and the Edinburgh European Council.The Council welcomed the Commission's opinions on the applications from Austria and Sweden to join the Community, and instructed work on the Community's general negotiation framework for the European Free Trade Association applicants to continue. The Council recalled the importance of developing relations with Turkey, Cyprus and Malta in accordance with the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council.Ministers discussed recent developments in the former Yugoslavia. They expressed full support for the efforts of Lord Owen and Mr. Vance, and agreed that the Community should continue to increase pressure on the Serbs, who were failing to honour the commitments given at the London conference. Ministers agreed on the need for increased help for refugees and displaced persons and called for an end to atrocities and for the investigation of war crimes.The Council discussed the Uruguay round and agreed that a final effort was needed to conclude the negotiations by the end of the year. It urged the Commission to continue to negotiate constructively and to report to the Birmingham European Council. The Council approved the Commission's mandate for negotiations with third countries for extension of the multi-fibre arrangement. The Council noted with concern the large number of anti-dumping and countervailing duty cases filed by US industry against EC steel products, and called for an early resumption of talks on the multilateral steel arrangement. The Council discussed the establishment of the single market in bananas, and re-affirmed the aim to renew agreement by the end of this year.The Council agreed the negotiating directives for new partnership and co-operation agreements with the states of the former Soviet Union. The Council heard an account from my noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development on the visit of the troika of Development Ministers to Somalia. Ministers agreed a statement expressing sympathy for the victims of the air crash near Schiphol airport.Ministers met the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Hungary and the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council and issued a joint statement welcoming the process of strengthening dialogue and co-operation between them.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement in the Official Report on the outcome of the Foreign Affairs Council held on 20 July.

I chaired the first Foreign Affairs Council of the United Kingdom presidency in Brussels on 20 July. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs—my right hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Garel-Jones)—represented the United Kingdom.The main item on the Council's agenda was the follow-up to the Lisbon European Council. I explained how the United Kingdom presidency intended to handle negotiations on the Community's finances over the next six months, and there was broad support for our approach. On subsidiarity, President Delors reported on the Commission's planned new working procedures and on its review of existing Community rules. The Council instructed the Committee of Permanent Representatives to examine possible new Council procedures. On enlargement, the Council agreed to consider the available Commission opinions on the European Free Trade Association applicants on 5 October. Ministers discussed a presidency paper on developing EC relations with Turkey. I briefed EC partners about the presidency's plans to invite the Foreign Ministers of Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia to a meeting in the margins of the October Foreign Affairs Council and to host a meeting with Heads of State or Government of these countries in London on 28 October.Ministers had a full discussion on the former Yugoslavia and issued a statement reaffirming their commitment to Lord Carrington's conference. I reported on my visit to the region. Ministers decided that the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should not be regarded as the sole successor of the former Yugoslavia and that it should therefore be excluded from international bodies. Ministers agreed that an additional 120 mecu package of emergency EC aid should be made available immediately for use in the former Yugoslavia. They welcomed the decision of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to convene an international conference on refugees in and from the former Yugoslavia. The Council adopted a Commission proposal to amend the seventh directive on aid to shipbuilding. It had a preliminary discussion of the Commission's negotiating mandates for partnership and co-operation agreements with the former Soviet Union. It also discussed the Commission's mandate for a revised co-operation agreement with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a proposal by the European Court of Justice to transfer a range of cases from its jurisdiction to that of the court of first instance.Ministers agreed a statement marking the third anniversary of Aung San Suu Kyi's detention. I reported on plans to arrange a visit by the troika of Foreign Ministers to South Africa in early September.A Co-operation Council with Egypt was held in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy towards a moratorium on United Kingdom nuclear tests.

Rather than declare unilateral moratoria, we believe the right approach is to restrain testing to the minimum level necessary to ensure the safety and credibility of nuclear weapons. In our case, this has meant testing less than once a year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty on the United Kingdom's nuclear weapons arsenal.

We believe a limited programme of nuclear tests continues to be the best means of ensuring the safety and credibility of our nuclear deterrent.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the maximum number of underground nuclear tests that the United Kingdom is permitted to carry out under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.

Three.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what restrictions are placed on the purposes for which the United Kingdom may conduct underground nuclear tests under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy towards the negotiation of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty; and if he will make a statement.

We have always accepted the long-term goal of a comprehensive test ban, to be achieved on a step-by-step basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's assessment of the potential impact of a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty on the prospects for agreement at the non-proliferation treaty extension conference in 1995.

The case for extension of the non-proliferation treaty stands irrespective of the state of progress towards a comprehensive test ban.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the United Kingdom will resume direct negotiations towards a comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty.

When we believe it would be in the best interests of our security to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the conditions under which the United Kingdom may be entitled to conduct a nuclear test under the terms of the United States energy appropriation legislation.

The Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act requires the United States President to determine that nuclear tests conducted by the United Kingdom are in the interests of United States national security.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what alternative sites are being considered by his Department for conducting underground nuclear tests.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those topics which under the current treaties of the European Community, as amended by the treaty on European union, will be within the exclusive competence of the Community, with an authority for each item on the list.