To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the number of road traffic accidents involving agricultural vehicles between the hours of sunset and sunrise in each of the past five years.

During 1991, there were 92 reported injury road accidents during the hours of darkness involving vehicles whose body type could be identified from registration details as being an agricultural machine. During 1990, there were 100 such accidents. Comparable data for earlier years are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies that were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies that submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

This information is not held centrally and could only be given at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, as part of his quality service objectives, he will require the publication of the findings of each new car model test commissioned since 1988 using public money.

All mass-produced new cars have to be type-approval tested against a range of standards before they can be registered. Although testing is supervised by the Vehicle Certification Agency, it is paid for by manufacturers, which are at liberty to make test results available voluntarily if they wish. Our principal concern is to confirm that type-approved vehicles meet key safety standards, rather than to record the extent by which they exceed those standards.We are nevertheless currently considering whether basic data about exhaust and noise emissions could be made available in future. Precise figures are recorded for these aspects of type-approval testing, and it may be possible to publish information like the official list on car fuel consumption, which has been published twice a year since 1983. Such a list may have to be compiled on an EC-wide basis as much type-approval testing of United Kingdom registered cars is undertaken elsewhere in the Community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport on how many occasions his Department has recently directed local planning authorities to refuse planning permission for the creation of access to side roads from trunk roads.

[holding answer 23 October 1992]: Ninety-seven since 1 April 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will put an end to the export of toxic wastes to third world countries by ensuring a complete EC ban on the export of all forms of toxic waste;(2) if he will ensure that the right to ban toxic waste trade is enshrined in new EC regulations;(3) if he will set a date for an end to the import and export of toxic waste into and out of the United Kingdom.

[holding answer 26 October 1992]: The EC waste shipments regulation was agreed at the meeting of the Council of Environment Ministers on 20 October, chaired by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State. I represented the United Kingdom.The regulation will enable member states to ban imports for final disposal from other member states unless they produce hazardous waste in such a small quantity that it would be uneconomic to provide new specialised disposal facilities. Imports for disposal will also be permitted from developing countries which do not have and cannot acquire the technical capacity and necessary facilities in order to dispose of waste in an environmentally sound manner.Exports for disposal will only be permitted to European Free Trade Association countries which are parties to the Basel convention.Movements of waste for recovery, which provide valuable substitutes for raw materials, will continue between Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, subject to the environmental controls set out in an OECD decision. There will be strict controls on exports of hazardous wastes for recovery outside the OECD area. Exports will have to accord with the environmental safeguards included in the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Exports will be prohibited where a third country refuses to accept them or if the exporting member state has reason to believe that the waste will not be managed on arrival in an environmentally sound way.The regulation is likely to come into operation in 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy at the meeting under his presidency on 20 October to (a) ensure that the clause which will allow EC member states to bar waste imports is inserted into the final regulations, (b) set a date for an end to the import and export of toxic wastes and (c) ensure that the regulation will stop the export of all toxic wastes to non-Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave earlier today.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the additional cost to the water industry in meeting European Community legislation on drinking and bathing water standards since 1980.

There are no separate records for the whole period. However, of the £30 billion programme of improvements for the decade beginning in 1989, £12.1 billion is for water treatment and supply. This includes investment to meet our national requirements for drinking water which takes account of EC directives. The £30 billion also includes a £2 billion programme to meet EC standards for bathing waters.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to invite in European Commission inspectors to evaluate radiation monitoring standards under article 35 of the Euratom treaty, at British Nuclear Fuels plants at Sellafield, Springfields, Capenhurst and Chapelcross.

United Kingdom officials have agreed with officials of the European Commission the procedures to be followed in carrying out under article 35 of the Euratom treaty verifications of the operation and efficiency of environmental monitoring facilities in the United Kingdom. It is for the Commission to indicate in which areas it would like to undertake such a verification visit. The United Kingdom has not yet received a formal request from the Commission in respect of any specific area.

	Smoke		SO2
Year commencing	Median	98th percentile	Median	98th percentile
April 1980	20 (29 per cent.)	104 (49 percent.)	52 (43 per cent.)	163 (47 per cent.)
April 1981	20 (34 per cent.)	86 (40 per cent.)	57 (48 per cent.)	195 (56 per cent.)
April 1982	9 (13 per cent.)	43 (20 per cent.)	65 (54 per cent.)	141 (40 per cent.)
April 1983	8 (12 per cent.)	58 (27 per cent.)	50 (42 per cent.)	180 (51 per cent.)
April 1984	15 (22 per cent.)	38 (18 per cent.)	44 (37 per cent.)	140 (40 per cent.)
April 1985	16 (24 per cent.)	57 (27 per cent.)	55 (46 per cent.)	125 (36 per cent.)
April 1986	13 (19 per cent.)	44 (21 per cent.)	50 (42 per cent.)	110 (31 per cent.)
April 1987	18 (26 per cent.)	73 (34 per cent.)	46 (38 per cent.)	94 (27 per cent.)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many copies of his Department's publication entitled "The UK Environment" have been published; and what steps have been taken to promote its widespread distribution.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office published "The UK Environment" on 14 October on behalf of the Department of the Environment. The initial print run was 4,500 copies. A press notice went to all correspondents dealing with environment, water, pollution, education and the House of Commons in the national media. The report will feature in HMSO's catalogues and bibliographic listings and in a mailing to educational establishments scheduled for November. Copies are available by mail order directly from HMSO books, as well as from HMSO bookshops and HMSO agents both in the United Kingdom and overseas and the general book trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken by his Department to measure the extent of atmospheric pollution in the London borough of Newham; and what information is available on it.

Continuously operated sulphur dioxide, SO₂, and smoke monitoring was carried out at 383 Stratford high street, Newham between 1963 and 1988. The data for the past eight years of operation are given. The data were discontinued thereafter because the values recorded were consistently well below the air quality limit values for SO, and smoke prescribed in EC directive 80/779/EEC.

To ask the Secretary of state for the Environment what recent initiatives he has taken to improve public education on energy saving and energy efficiency.

The Government seek to promote the teaching of energy efficiency in primary and secondary schools through its involvement with CREATE—the Centre for Research, Education and Training in Energy —and is discussing with CREATE a number of new projects and improved funding arrangements.As part of its "Helping the Earth Begins at Home" Campaign, the Government are developing an education strategy to encourage school children and teachers to understand the link between the efficient use of energy, CO

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent objections he has received over the environmental implications of the operation of the new thermal oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield.

My Department has received a number of representations from members of the public objecting to the proposals for discharges of radioactive waste resulting from the proposals to operate the new thermal. oxide reprocessing plant at Sellafield. I understand that the chief inspector of Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will shortly be consulting on the revised draft authorisations for the discharge of radioactive waste from Sellafield.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has regarding progress made by UK Nirex in locating a site to dispose of low and intermediate-level radioactive wastes.

UK Nirex is continuing to carry out site investigation studies in the Sellafield area. The company announced its intention to construct a rock characterisation facility at Sellafield as part of these studies, and issued a consultation document setting out these proposals on 21 October.

:, To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department participated in the special scientific programme on radioactive waste held at the International Atomic Energy Agency's annual general conference on 22 September.

[holding answer 26 October 1992]: No Department of the Environment officials attended the meeting on 22 September. However, some officials from the Health and Safety Executive did do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the affordability of new housing association homes to households on low incomes if current presumptions continue to prevail; and if he will make a statement on what action the Government intend to take.

Grant rates for housing associations are proposed by the Housing Corporation and approved by the Secretary of State in the light of all relevant factors, including outturn rents on completed schemes. We are currently considering the rates of housing association grant for 1993–94. Outturn rent levels are for associations to determine. The Government do not publish the underlying factors and assumptions implicit in the grant rate model, nor any general definition of affordability, since they do not wish to imply a view as to what constitutes an affordable rent in any particular case.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what change he expects to make in housing association grant rates for housing association developments, and what will be the average housing association grant rate in 1993–94;(2) what percentage change he expects to make in the total cost indicator levels applicable to housing association developments In 1993–94;

Final decisions on grant rates and total cost indicators are not yet available but will be communicated to associations as soon as they are announced.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 16 July, Official Report, column 1044, whether his Department has received any further evidence from the Housing Corporation on the affordability of new homes provided by housing associations; and if he will place in the Library reports of the main findings and supporting research which the Housing Corporation has made available to his Department in the past six months.

The Housing Corporation has made available to the Department some of the results of its continuous monitoring of rents set for new housing association tenants. Information on these rents, contained in the National Federation of Housing Associations' continuous recording—CORE—quarterly bulletins, is already in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the output of (a) newly built and (b) rehabilitated housing associations homes in England, over the years 1975 to 1991, and his estimates of their expected output in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

Estimates of housebuilding completions, and of renovations of dwellings, by housing associations in England are shown in tables 6.1(a) and 7.1 respectively of the annual publication "Housing and Construction Statistics". Figures for the years 1981 to 1991 will shortly be published in the 1981 to 1991 edition, and those for earlier years are shown in previous editions: viz for 1980 in the 1980 to 1990 edition, for 1979 in the 1979 to 1989 edition, etcetera. Copies of these publications are in the Library.The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding completions, nor of conversions and renovations.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many (a) tenants and (b) organisations representative of tenants were consulted by (i) his Department and (ii) the consultants engaged by his Department in the course of preparing the proposals for the extension of compulsory competitive tendering by housing management services, as outlined in his Department's White Paper, "Competing for Quality".

None. Tenants and tenants' organisations were given the opportunity to consider and respond to the consultation paper. Over 100 tenants organisations have responded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the continuation and development of the Green House programme to promote energy conservation in local authority housing; and if he will make a statement.

An announcement on this will be made shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the number of new council homes which will be (a) started and (b) completed in 1992, 1993 and 1994.

The Department does not prepare forecasts of housebuilding activity. Estimates of actual housebuilding starts and completions by local authorities are published in the annual and quarterly versions of "Housing and Construction Statistics". Copies of these publications are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 17 June, Official Report, column 562, to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), if he will deposit two copies of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development Agenda 21 provisional document in the Library, pending the availability of official copies.

Two copies of the provisional Agenda 21 document were deposited in the Library in July.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that where a house is sold or let with a water meter installed, the purchaser or tenant is informed of this fact at the time of the purchase or letting.

We have no intention of doing so. It is for the prospective purchaser or tenant to make the appropriate inquiries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what decisions on waste reduction and packaging have been taken in recent meetings of the Environment Council.

Waste reduction and packaging have not been on the agenda for recent meetings of the Environment Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how long former Department of Trade and Industry premises in Victoria street have been empty; how long he expects them to remain unoccupied; what proposals he has for the future use of these premises; and what is the weekly cost of keeping the premises unoccupied, including maintenance, insurance and security liabilities.

The property was vacated in September 1991 because it needed major works to render it suitable for continued occupation. Some time beforehand, negotiations were opened with the landlords to agree to a package whereby the property would be refurbished at their expense and the Secretary of State would enter into a new lease at a modern rent.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how his Department was represented at the Auto Emissions 2000 conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission on 20 and 21 September; and if he will deposit in the Library the papers prepared and presented to the conference.

My Department was represented at this conference. I am arranging for a set of the papers to be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the statement for climate change at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development will be submitted for ratification within the United Kingdom Parliament.

The United Kingdom was party to the Munich summit communique of July 1992 which urged other countries to join the Group of Seven countries in a commitment to seek to ratify the United Nations framework convention on climate change by the end of 1993. We will continue to press for early ratification by a wide range of countries to ensure effective action to tackle this global problem.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what additional resources he intends to make available to the Rural Development Commission to support mining communities.

The Rural Development Commission's resources for future years are currently the subject of discussion in the public expenditure round. The commission already operates a range of economic and social programmes in two rural east midlands coalfield areas and has recently increased the range of assistance available in the more southerly area. The commission is examining urgently what further assistance it might provide in coalfield areas of rural England.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to encourage the establishment of an EC-wide inventory of natural resources during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

The United Kingdom presidency is working for the early establishment of the European environment agency which will have as one of its priorities the development of a EC-wide inventory of sources of environmental data and information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will put out for consultation draft legislation on his Department's proposals for leasehold enfranchisement, before a Bill is presented to Parliament, in view of their complex and radical nature.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek the establishment of an EC directive on coastal zone planning and management during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

At present, the Commission has not published a proposed directive on coastal zone planning. Therefore, the United Kingdom cannot take this forward during the presidency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions he has had with English Heritage on its views on the impact of enfranchisement on historic parts of London.

My officials have discussed the proposals, including in particular the arrangements for estate management schemes, with English Heritage.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to encourage the establishment of a sustainable development commission for Europe during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC.

The United Kingdom presidency is taking the lead in encouraging the early establishment of the sustainable development commission which will have world-wide responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy during the United Kingdom's presidency of the EC to secure that the implementation of subsidiarity will not lead to (a) weakening of member states' obligations on environmental policy, (b) loss of redress for EC citizens relating to environmental policy, or (c) diminution of the Commission's powers to intervene in environmental issues where member states do not meet obligations.

Yes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he plans to bring forward proposals to change building regulations in light of the construction products and workplace directives; and if he will make a statement.

The Building Regulations 1991. which came into force on 1 June 1992, contain appropriate references to the construction products directive, which was implemented in the United Kingdom through the Construction Products Regulations 1991. We are currently considering what further changes may be needed in the Building Regulations to make them consistent with regulations made to implement the workplace directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any plans to bring forward proposals to bring United Kingdom standards for lead pollution of drinking water into line with the World Health Organisation guideline level of 10 migrograms per litre; and if he will make a statement.

We are continuing urgent consideration of what more should be done by the Government and water companies in the light of the World Health Organisation's guideline, which we expect to be promulgated early next year. The World Health Organisation recognises that it will take time and money for countries to meet the new guideline.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many pregnant women were successfully prosecuted in each of the last five years for fraudulent attempts to gain priority status on housing waiting lists in Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Hull, Salford and Bristol.

Such information is not held centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authority councillors were prosecuted in each of the last five years for fraudulently obtaining benefits while in receipt of council attendance allowances; and if he will give the political party which they represented.

My Department does not collect this information.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration he has given to making the promotion of home safety a statutory responsibility of local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

None. It is for local authorities to decide whether they wish to promote home safety, taking into account local circumstances.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will help those local authorities which have established home safety committees.

No. Local authorities who have chosen to establish such committees will no doubt first have taken into account the resource implications of doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the outcome of the Environment Council on 20 October.

I chaired the Environment Council which met in Luxembourg on 20 October. My hon. Friend the Minister for the Environment and Countryside represented the United Kingdom.The Council agreed a common position on a new regulation on the supervision and control of shipments of waste within, into and out of the European Community. The Council has invited the European Parliament to co-operate in expediting the adoption of this regulation so that the next meeting of the Council in December can settle the date when the EC and the United Kingdom can ratify the Basel convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The regulation could therefore come into operation in 1994. The Government will have powers under the regulation to ban imports for final disposal from all countries including member states of the EC unless they produce hazardous waste in such a small quantity that it would be uneconomic for them to provide their own disposal facilities. The regulation also contains strict controls on the international movement of recoverable wastes and will give legal effect to an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development decision on the movement of recoverables.The Council agreed to press for methyl bromide to be added to the list of controlled substances covered by the Montreal protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer at next month's meeting of the parties in Copenhagen, with an initial control involving a freeze at 1991 levels by 1995. My hon. Friend indicated that the United Kingdom would have been willing to go further and accept a 25 per cent. cut in methyl bromide production and consumption by the year 2000 if other member states had been willing to do likewise. The Council also exchanged views on the controls on chlorofluorocarbons and other ozone-depleting substances that the Community should press for in Copenhagen and on other issues likely to arise there.The Council held a discussion on the fifth environmental action programme—"Towards Sustainability"—and gave initial consideration to a draft Council resolution endorsing the programme. Ministers envisaged the adoption of the resolution in December when the European Parliament's opinion has been received.The Council held a discussion about the European Environment Agency. Ministers expressed regret at the lack of a decision on the location of the agency which continues to prevent it from beginning its work. They expressed the hope that the European Council would, as a matter of urgency, reach a decision on this issue.The Council discussed informally climate change and follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. On the former, they agreed that the climate change convention should be ratified by the end of 1993; that member states should produce the national plans required under the convention by the same time; that member states' own plans for reducing CO

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines his Department issues to local authorities on highway signs in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

I have been asked to reply.The visual appearance of traffic signs is required to comply with the traffic signs regulations and general directions 1981. Circular roads 7/75 gives advice on the ways of minimising the intrusion of traffic signs on highways in rural areas. Guidance on the provision of signs to tourists attractions is given in circular roads 1/91.Copies of these circulars are in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators are currently being considered by planning authorities in England and Wales; and if he will name those which he has called in for public inquiry.

[pursuant to his reply 22 October 1922, c. 351]: The Secretaries of State are not automatically informed of all planning applications for sewage sludge incinerators. However, the Town and Country Planning (Development Plans and Consultation) Direction 1992 requires local planning authorities to notify them of development proposals which would significantly prejudice implementation of a development plan. Through this mechanism, we are aware of two applications currently before local planning authorities—Crossness in the London borough of Bexley and at Beckton in the London borough of Newham. Neither of these applications has been called in.In addition to these current applications, Northumbrian Water and Internal Technology Europe Ltd. have appealed to the Secretary of State in respect of their incinerator proposals at East Howden in north Tyneside and at Portrack in Stockton-on-Tees; a public inquiry has been held and the Secretary of State is considering the inspector's report.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will relax the compulsory competitive tendering rules governing purchasing by local authorities to allow local authorities in England and Wales to identify the country of origin of fuel supplies.

The purchase of supplies by local authorities is not subject to the compulsory competitive tendering legislation. The Government have no plans to repeal part II of the Local Government Act 1988 which prohibits local authorities from introducing noncommercial considerations into the purchasing of supplies.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if it is his intention to apply the same criteria to grant-maintained schools as to local education authority schools when considering the rationalisation of school places.

We are determined to reduce wasteful surplus capacity and will apply similar criteria to all proposals for the rationalisation of school places.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which grant-maintained schools were visited by Her Majesty's inspectors during the period January 1992 to July 1992 and what was the total costs of these inspections; in the case of each school, (a) how many visits have taken place, (b) what is the number of inspectors involved, (c) what is the total number of days involved and (d) what is the cost; and whether it is proposed to publish any report arising from these visits.

HMI visited 50 GM schools in the period mentioned. None of the visits was a formal inspection intended to lead to a published report. The information available is given in the table.

School	Number of Days	Cost (£)
Hendon	2.0	780
Queen Elizabeth	2.0	780
Queensbury	4.0	1,560
Baverstock	2.0	780
Small Heath	4.0	1,560
St. James CE	2.0	780
Old Swinford Hospital	2.0	780
London Oratory	4.0	1,560
Heckmondwike GS	4.0	1,560
Kings School, Lincoln	3.0	1,170
Wilson's School	2.0	780
Audenshaw	2.0	780
Bankfield HS	2.0	780
St. Francis Xavier	4.0	1,560

School	Number of Days	Cost (£)
Southlands	1.0	390
Claremont HS	2.0	780
Ribston Hall	1.5	585
London Nautical	21.0	8,190
Bridgewater Hall	1.0	390
Ecclesbourne	5.5	2,145
Marling	1.0	390
Stroud HS	1.0	390
Watford Boys' GS	2.0	780
Longfield HS	4.0	1,560
Wolverhampton HS for Girls	2.0	780
Bullers Wood	2.0	780
Handsworth GS	5.5	2,145
Great Barr	2.0	780
Crossley Heath	2.0	780
North Halifax HS	1.0	390
Wilmington Boys' GS	2.0	780
Lancaster Girls' GS	2.0	780
King Edward VI, Lincoln	1.0	390
Stratford	3.0	1,170
Watford Girls' GS	1.0	390
Vyners	1.0	390
Haydon	1.0	390
Homewood	1.5	585
Southlands	1.0	390
Bourne County Primary	2.0	780
Moulton Primary	2.0	780
Kingswood	1.0	390
Manor High	1.5	585
Avon Valley	1.0	390
Christs Hospital	2.0	780
The Gartree Tattershal	1.0	390
Salterlee Primary	0.5	195
Bassingbown Village College	1.0	390
Minster College	1.0	390
Myton	2.0	780
Total	122.0	47,580

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many assisted places remained unfilled in 1992 in each standard region.

At the end of the academic year 1991–92, the numbers of assisted places available, the numbers taken up and the numbers unfilled in each region are as shown in the table:

		Assisted places
Region	Available	Taken-up	Vacant
North-east	1,477	873	604
North-west	7,214	6,408	806
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,267	1,794	473
East Midlands	2,063	1,846	217
West Midlands	3,146	2,721	425
East Anglia	1,578	1,340	238
South-west	3,580	3,246	334
South-east	5,873	4,403	1,470
Greater London	6,114	5,010	1,104

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the total number of assisted places; and how it has increased since the inception of the scheme.

The total number of assisted places available and the total number taken up since the scheme's inception in 1981 are given in the table:

Academic Year	Places Available	Places Taken Up
1981–82	5,446	4,185
1982–83	11,058	8,616
1983–84	15,866	13,102
1984–85	20,699	17,386
1985–86	25,210	21,412
1986–87	29,295	24,478
1987–88	33,228	26,899
1988–89	33,217	27,083
1989–90	33,280	27,008
1990–91	33,302	26,740
1991–92	33,312	27,641
The figures are for England only

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out the basis for the assumption in his departmental White Paper, "Choice and Diversity: A New Framework for Schools," that problem schools will be in the local education authority sector rather than the grant maintained sector.

No such assumption has been made. Chapter 11 of the White Paper sets out the steps that will be taken to tackle failing schools in the local education authority sector. Chapter 3 includes details of the powers which my right hon. Friend will have to ensure that remedial action is taken where grant-maintained schools are failing to provide an adequate standard of education for their pupils.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the level of education underspend for the Birmingham local education authority for each of the past three years.

It is for the Birmingham local authority to determine its spending on education in the light of local circumstances and priorities. The Government do not set targets for spending on individual services. The Government do, however, calculate for each service what an authority would need to spend to provide a standard level of service—its standard spending assessment (SAA).The latest available figures showing the difference between Birmingham's estimated spending on education and the education component of its standard spending assessment are given in the table.

	Education SSA	Estimated spending on education	Difference
Year	£ million (rounded)	£ million (rounded)	£million (rounded)
1990–91	399	352	48
1991–92	457	392	64
1992–93	485	428	57

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will consider increasing the access funds by an amount that takes into account the increase in the number of students since the inception of the funds.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 12 May, Official Report, column 63. The money allocated to access funds is not specifically related to the number of students overall but is intended to be targeted at those in real need.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what consideration his Department has given to the criticisms of the Education Act 1981 made in the report, "A Hard Act to Follow", published by the Spastics Society, if there is any action he will be taking; and if he will make a statement.

"A Hard Act to Follow" has been given very careful consideration. I met representatives of the Spastics Society and discussed the findings of the report on 24 September 1992. I have already publicly welcomed the document as a useful piece of research, and have noted that the findings will add stimulus to the current debate on special educational needs. In many respects, the report confirmed the need for the Government's new measures, which had already been announced in chapter 9 of the White Paper, "Choice and Diversity", and elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what study his Department has made of the city of Manchester's needs for capital expenditure for its education service in the financial year 1993–94, including basic need in schools; what help he expects to be available, in particular for the replacement of school premises which are in an unsafe condition; and if he will make a statement.

I discussed Manchester's capital plans briefly on a visit to the authority in July. Officials met representatives from Manchester local education authority to discuss their plans in more detail, prior ito preparation of their bid.I am meeting a delegation of officers and members from Manchester in early November to discuss their future needs, with particular reference to basic need in primary schools and surplus place removal projects in the secondary sector.I cannot yet say what resources will be available, but Manchester's needs will be carefully considered in accordance with the normal criteria, along with those from all other LEAs. Their capital allocation will be announced in December.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received from graduates of the university of London concerning the proposed break-up of the federal status of the university.

Generally, the future development of the federal university and the constitutional position of its colleges are internal matters for the university and its constituent colleges. However, we have received some representations from the society "Graduate with Honours" about the future of the federal graduation ceremony.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

The information requested is set out. In addition to these, there have been four single-tender procurements for enhancements to existing systems—for which competitive tendering was inappropriate—with a total value of £110,250.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will list all the names of public appointments that he has made, giving the period for which the appointment was made, relevant qualifications of the appointees and what remuneration each currently receives.

I have not myself made any appointment to a public body, as yet.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list by (a) county and (b) location, the revenues received by the honours of the Duchy by year for the last five years.

The ancient possessions of the duchy of Lancaster include the honour and county of Lancaster, the honours of Leicester, Tutbury, Bolingbroke, Pickering, Tickhill, Halton, Knaresborough. However, receipt of duchy revenues is not restricted to possessions within these honours and accounting records by honour are not maintained.The hon. Member was given a list of all land holdings on 16 June 1992,

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

This information is not held centrally and can only be supplied at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee what has been the cost of the recent refurbishment of 7 Old Palace Yard.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Perth and Kinross (Sir N. Fairbairn) on 23 October, Official Report, column 399.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many magistrates have resigned or retired since 1 October; and how many magistrates have resigned or retired in October in each year since 1987.

The figures including those for the area within the responsibility of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster are:

	Number
To 23 October 1992	119
October 1991	156
October 1990	121
October 1989	145
October 1988	1104
October 1987	194
1 Approximate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assistance has been granted by her Department to (a) the victims of the Chernobyl disaster and (b) areas affected by the disaster; and how much money has been allocated to (a) purchase non-contaminated food and (b) purchase medical equipment for hospitals.

The know-how fund is financing two Chernobyl-related projects. We have allocated £400,000 to advise how to measure radiation concentration in foodstuffs produced in Kiev region and £220,000 to prioritise clean-up requirements and prepare follow-up project proposals.In 1991, we provided £2 million emergency medical aid —essential drugs and equipment—to the former Soviet Union—FSU—of which Ukraine received more than a third.The European Community has agreed a food and medical aid loan to the FSU. Ukraine's share is 130 mecu. We understand Ukraine intends to use 104 mecu on food and 26 mecu for medical products.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the know-how fund for central and eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union; and if he will give details on specific projects so far approved this year for each eligible country.

Further to my written answer of 29 June 1992, Official Report, column 371, the know-how fund is continuing well. The amount spent or committed has increased to £95 million to cover more than 650 projects.An updated list of the activities has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further assistance has been provided to alleviate the plight of the people of Somalia.

Our total humanitarian aid for Somalia in 1992 is almost £27 million, including our share of EC aid.It includes £1.5 million in response to the appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross on 9 July. This is for the ICRC's food programme under which hot meals are provided via some 600 communal kitchens to over half a million beneficiaries. We also provided £1 million for the British Red Cross to use for its medical/health care programme in Somalia, as a national contribution towards ICRC's operations.On 15 September, my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister for Overseas Development announced a further £7.5 million to support British and international non-governmental organisations and United Nations relief operations in Somalia. Priority is being given to providing seeds and tools, helping with transport and medical supplies, and rehabilitation services.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deployment of observers to South Africa in accordance with the terms of United Nations Security Council resolution 772.

The United Nations, the EC, the Commonwealth and the Organisation of African Unity are all sending groups of observers to South Africa. Their role will be to seek, by their presence in situations of potential conflict, to prevent violence, defuse tension and promote peace. They will be operating in close co-operation with each other, and with the National Peace Secretariat—as well as with the United Nations and observer teams from other international organisations.There will be 15 EC observers drawn from throughout the Community. The majority of participants have a police background. Two of them are British. They will arrive in South Africa on 29 October.The EC is also providing six police experts to be attached to Judge Goldstone's recently-established investigative task forces. A senior British police officer will act as the co-ordinator of the team. This officer arrived in South Africa on 7 October.The Commonwealth has recruited 20 observers to play a similar role to that of the EC group. One of the group is a United Kingdom police officer.The 50 United Nations observers are drawn from the staff of the United Nations secretariat. The composition of the OA U group is still under discussion.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make it his policy that there should be a level playing field for pools and a national lottery.

The Government are considering a number of representations from the pools industry.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many books were purchased for public libraries in (a) 1981, (b) 1985 and (c) 1991; how much money was allocated in each of those years; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 26 October 1992]: Public libraries in England added 10.8 million, 11.1 million and 11.0 million books to their stock in 1980–81, 1984–85 and 1990–91 respectively. These figures include donations and free publications, as well as purchases. Their actual expenditure on books for the same years was £41.0 million, £56.8 million and £84.8 million. This represents an expenditure increase in real terms of almost 13 per cent. between 1980–81 and 1990–91.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much money has been saved by the British Government following the closure of the British Council library in Bandung.

There was no net saving to the Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on whose recommendation the British Council library in Bandung was closed.

The British Council recommended and made this closure in order to release resources to meet new, high priority requirements elsewhere.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the supply of arms or direct military support to the Serbian, Croat and Muslim forces in Bosnia in contravention of the arms embargo; and if he will make a statement.

There are a number of unconfirmed reports of arms supplies to Bosnia. An Iranian aircraft carrying arms was seized at Zagreb airport recently. The Western European Union/North Atlantic Treaty Organisation surveillance operation in the Adriatic has reported a number of ships suspected of violating the United Nation's trade and arms embargoes. But it is not clear whether these vessels are carrying goods destined for Bosnia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on whether the Bosnian-Serbs are continuing to receive arms and military supplies from the rump Yugoslavia; and whether any form of monitoring is proposed of the border between Serbia and the Serbian-controlled area of Bosnia.

We have no firm evidence of whether Serbia is continuing to supply arms to the Bosnian Serbs. The Yugoslav authorities deny this. Moreover, the Bosnian Serbs are already well-equipped; further supplies from Serbia would be unlikely to have a significant effect on their military capability. The monitoring of Serbia's and Montenegro's borders with Bosnia-Herzegovina was agreed in principle at the London conference. But these borders run through mountainous terrain, and are highly permeable. Effective monitoring would absorb much personnel and equipment. The United Nations is thus according higher priority to using the resources available to ensure that the safe and rapid delivery of emergency relief supplies to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs prior to the full deployment of British forces to Bosnia-Herzegovina, what assessment he has made of the number of foreign mercenaries active in the field, their origin and the factions they are fighting with; how confident he is that British forces will be at no risk from attack by mercenaries; and if he will make a statement.

There have been repeated reports of mercenaries fighting in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and some are clearly well-founded. No reliable estimate of the numbers involved has been made. Our assessment at present is that mercenaries do not as such increase the threat posed to British troops by the various armed groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has now secured agreement from the Bosnian-Muslim, Bosnian-Serb and Bosnian-Croat communities to allow free passage for British forces deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and to guarantee their safety from attack.

All parties to the conflict in Bosnia-Herzegovina have confirmed their willingness to co-operate with United Nations Protection Forces—UNPROFOR—personnel deployed to that region in accordance with Security Council resolution 776 of 14 September.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will seek Security Council approval to identify and name forces who attack United Nations military and humanitarian personnel in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Security Council resolution 776 of 14 September reaffirms the determination of the Council to ensure the protection and security of UNPROFOR and United Nations personnel: there is no need to seek an explicit resolution on these lines. Furthermore, United Nations personnel deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina to facilitate and escort convoys of humanitarian aid will proceed only on the basis of negotiated safe passage.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list those countries which have given diplomatic recognition to the independence of Macedonia.

Bulgaria, Croatia, Lithuania, Philippines, Russia, Slovenia and Turkey have been notified to us as having recognised the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia as an independent state.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the speech by Lord Owen representing the presidency of the EC in the debate on the former Yugoslavia in the plenary session of the Council of Europe on 3 October in which he excluded any possibility of independence for Kosovo represents Government policy; and if he will make a statement.

We share Lord Owen's views. The Serbian authorities should grant the Kosovars genuine autonomy with full human rights, and the Kosovars should accept this. A special group on Kosovo is working intensively within the international conference.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the agreement within the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe on 18 September to send missions to Vojvodina, Kosovo and Sanjak have been implemented; how many persons are being deployed and from which countries; and if he will make a statement.

CSCE long-term missions have been in place since the end of September in Kosovo, Vojvodina and Sanjak under the leadership of Ambassador Bogh of Norway. Apart from Ambassador Bogh, there are eight mission participants involved from Norway, United States, Austria, Canada, France, Sweden and Switzerland.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list showing those countries which have contingents as part of the United Nations protection forces—UNPROFOR—in the territory of the former Yugoslavia, indicating their numbers and function and where they are based.

The following countries have contributed contingents to UNPROFOR. Numbers, function and location where known are also indicated. The table is divided into two parts to reflect countries commitments to UNPROFOR—first phase—and those agreed for UNPROFOR—second phase.

UNPROFOR (1st Phase)
Nationality	Strength/Type	Location
Argentina	900 Infantry Battalion
Belgium	620 Infantry Battalion
Canada	900 Infantry Battalion
	350 Engineer Battalion
Czechoslovakia	500 Infantry Battalion
Denmark	900 Infantry Battalion
Egypt	400 Infantry Battalion	Sarajevo
France	410 Infantry Battalion	Sarajevo
	143 HQ Company	Sarajevo
	66 Airport Company	Sarajeco
	600 Logistic Base	Zagreb
	900 Infantry Battalion
Finland	300 Construction Battalion	Zagreb
Jordan	900 Infantry Battalion
Kenya	900 Infantry Battalion
Nepal	900 Infantry Battalion
Netherlands	360 Signals Battalion	Zagreb
Nigeria	900 Infantry Battalion
Norway	100 Movement Control Unit	Zagreb
Poland	900 Infantry Battalion
Russian Fed.	900 Infantry Battalion
Sweden	100 HQ Company	Zagreb
Ukraine	400 Infantry Battalion	Sarajevo
United Kingdom	260 Medical Battalion	Zagreb
Various	60 Military observers	Sarajevo
Various	40 Civilian Police/Monitors	Sarajevo
Various	100 Military Police Company	Zagreb
Luxembourg/ Belgium	Composite Infantry Battalion (40 and 620 respectively)

In addition to the above, UNPROFOR (1st phase) includes: 160 military observers from 29 countries; 650 civilian police monitors from 16 countries: deployed evenly to various sectors within Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

UNPROFOR (2nd Phase)
Nationality	Strength/ Type	Location
Belgium	100 Transport	Vitez
	16 HQ	Kiseljach
	2 Support Unit	Vitez
Canada	800 Infantry	Banja Luka-Doboj
	20 HQ	Kiseljach
	380 Support Unit	Banja Luka-Doboj
Denmark	8HQ	Kiseljach
	143 Support Unit	Kiseljach
France	1382 Infantry	Bihac
	199 Engineer Unit	Bihac
	200 Helicopter Unit	Bihac
	33HQ	Kiseljach

Nationality	Strength/Type	Location
Netherlands	388 Transport	Vitez
	99 Signals	Vitez
	32 HQ	Kiseljach
	8 Support Unit	Vitez
	50 Engineer Unit	Vitez
Norway	2 Engineer Unit
	33 HQ	Kiseljach
Portugal	20 Surgical Team
Spain	710 Infantry	Mostar
	16 HQ	Kiseljach
	25 Support Unit	Mostar
United Kingdom	883 Infantry	Jajce-Vitez
	508 Engineer Unit	Jajce-Vitez
	19 Support Element	Jajce-Vitez
	42 HQ	Kiseljach
	1206 Support Unit	Jajce-Vitez
United States	400 Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
	15 HQ	Kiseljach

Headquarters will be based in three areas but with the main one in Kiseljach near Sarajevo.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 19 October, Official Report, columns 34–35, what information the United Kingdom authorities have received over the political responsibility for war crimes by Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic.

United Nations Security Council resolution 771 calls for the submission of substantiated information about violations of international humanitarian law in the former Yugoslavia. We have so far received no information relating to any named individual.Any substantiated information we receive will be submitted to the Security Council in line with UNSCR 771.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list, for the last 12 months, the titles of papers published by the chief executive of each executive agency for which he is responsible.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to both Wilton Park under its chief executive, Geoffrey Denton, and to the Natural Resources Institute under its chief executive, Anthony Beattie. I have asked them to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he has given to the impact on the Romanian economy and on the progress of change of the implementation by Romania of sanctions against Yugoslavia; if he has discussed this with his European opposite numbers; and if he will make a statement.

The implementation of sanctions against Serbia and Montenegro presents problems for all neighbouring states. Romania has, however, been able to pursue its programme of reform with support from the international financial institutions, including the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the World bank, as well as with G24 balance of payments support.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is in frequent consultation with European partners and with other interested governments on all aspects of the current crisis in former Yugoslavia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the dates, programme and composition of the forthcoming delegation to visit the People's Republic of China to discuss human rights led by Lord Howe of Aberavon.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Norwich, North (Mr. Thompson) on 23 October, Official Report, column 409, and to the response I made in the Adjournment debate on the same date, Official Report, columns 754–58.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table setting out for the period since 9 April (a) each tender issued by his Department for projects requiring the supply of (i) computer hardware and (ii) computer software, (b) a description of the services required, (c) the number of companies which were invited to tender, (d) the number of companies which submitted a bid without prior invitation by his Department, (e) which company was awarded the contract, (f) the value of each contract and (g) the length of period over which the contract will run.

The table sets out the requested information.

Tenders issued by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office since 9 April 1992 for the supply of computer hardware and software:

(i) Computer Hardware:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answers of 12 June, Official Report, column 326, and 30 June, Official Report, column 507, whether a decision has been taken on the future of the United Kingdom's participation in the multinational force and observers in Sinai.

Having carefully considered the views of the signatories of the 1981 protocol establishing the multinational force and observers, we confirmed our decision to withdraw. The United Kingdom contingent left on 21 October 1992. This decision reflects the fact that over 13 years after the signature of a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel their border is stable and internationally recognised.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what attempts have been made by Her Majesty's Government to ameliorate the shortfall in payments to the International Atomic Energy Agency for nuclear safety research and safeguards implementation.

I have been asked to reply. The United Kingdom has played an active part in ensuring that priority programmes in the areas of safety research and safeguards implementation are excluded from the effects of any shortfall in contributions. The Government have also made extra-budgetary contributions to meet particular needs for the acquisition of safeguards equipment and to assist the agency's programme on the safety of aging reactors.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the United Kingdom permanent representative to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency voted for Libya to be elevated to the board.

I have been asked to reply.Elections to the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency are held by secret ballot. It is not Her Majesty's Government's practice to divulge its voting intentions or actions after the event on such matters.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what meetings he has held with (a) the National Union of Mineworkers and (b) the Union of Democratic Mineworkers since 10 April.

Since 10 April, my right hon. Friend has met with the Union of Democratic Mineworkers (UDM) on 4 June and addressed its annual conference on 9 June. I have met with it on 13 May and 22 July and also when it met with the Prime Minister on 30 September. Both my right hon. Friend and I also met the UDM on 19 October. I met with the National Union of Mineworkers on 7 July.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what matters were decided in the meeting he held with the chairman of British Coal on 3 June.

My right hon. Friend and the chairman of British Coal discussed a wide range of issues affecting the future of the coal industry.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what evaluation has been made by his Department of the implications of water pollution from closed coal mines.

It is an offence for a mine owner to cause pollution of watercourses. The body with statutory responsibility for regulation of water pollution is the National Rivers Authority. I understand that the NRA has been reviewing data on water pollution from abandoned mines of all kinds and intends to publish its assessment in the next few months.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of companies (a) created, (b) expanded or (c) helped, by his industrial strategy in each principal category of industry.

This Government's industrial strategy is designed to benefit the long-term competitiveness of business generally.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what reserves of coal were estimated to be in each of British Coal's mines that were in operation in September; and how long those reserves of coal would have taken to be exhausted at the rate of extraction achieved in each mine over the last 12 months.

The scale and potential duration of coal reserves at individual British Coal mines are matters for the corporation.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many of his staff have work experience (a) outside Government service, (b) of science and technology in industry or commerce and (c) of law and accountancy in industry or commerce.

This answer can only be given at disproportionate cost.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had regarding the increase in electricity prices for large-scale manufacturing industry.

My Department is in regular contact with large electricity users concerning electricity prices.