To ask the Attorney-General what public interest immunity certificates he has signed in relation to documents provided by his Department for Sir John May's inquiry.

None.

To ask the Attorney-General what documents the Law Officers have supplied to Sir John May's inquiry into the Guildford Four convictions; and on what terms.

The Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers provided Sir John May with complete copies of the files relating to the prosecution of the Guildford Four and the Maguires. In addition, his inquiry was provided with a number of files relating to other cases arising at about the same time as the matters under consideration by Sir John May where decisions were taken whether to authorise proceedings under the Explosive Substances Act 1883.These documents were supplied to Sir John on a confidential basis and with an understanding that he would discuss with us any question of their further use which might arise in the course of his inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for recognising wider social benefits and making provision for through ticketing when financing new rail infrastructure, with particular regard to the west coast main line.

Under our privatisation proposals, ownership of the railway infrastructure will pass to Railtrack, a public sector track authority. Investment in infrastructure will largely be financed from charges to operators but, as stated in the White Paper "New Opportunities for the Railways", the Government may provide direct support for investment schemes not earning an adequate financial return but which have satisfactory cost-benefit returns when wider social and economic benefits are taken into account. No proposals for major investment in the west coast main line have been submitted to the Secretary of State. We have given a clear commitment in the White Paper to preserve through ticketing arrangements across the network.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many letters his Department has received commenting on his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15; and how many of these supported the proposals.

In total, 2,691 letters, some copied to other Ministers, and 7,405 pre-printed postcards have been received specifically commenting on the link road proposals between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25. A number of other letters have also been received raising wider M25 issues. Eight letters in support of the link road proposals have been received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the alternative routes considered when he was preparing his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15.

I am arranging for the list to be placed in the House Libraries.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish a list of those organisations that have submitted comments on his proposals to enlarge the M25 between junctions 12 and 15.

A range of possible measures to improve the M25 was outlined in a report by consultants, Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, published in July 1989. This was followed by the M25 action plan published in December 1990 which announced plans to deal with congestion on the M25 and to improve the operation of the motorway. More recently, a review report and a technical appraisal report outlining alternative options for providing additional capacity between junctions 12 and 15 of the M25 were placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what capacity he has invited Chris Green, head of InterCity, to attend the meeting of potential rail operators scheduled for 9 December.

The meeting on 9 December will discuss the procurement of rolling stock following privatisation, particularly through leasing. Those attending are therefore mainly representatives of financial institutions, together with a number of potential franchisees.British Rail will be represented by the board member for finance, Mr. James Jerram. Mr. Chris Green is not attending.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information his Department has about the extent, and the reasons for, the decline in freight on British Rail (a) in the two years preceeding 14 July and (b) since 14 July.

Total tonnage carried by rail fell from 143·1 million tonnes in 1989–90 to 135·8 million tonnes in 1991–92. Factors affecting changes in rail freight are discussed at pages 18 to 20 of the 1991–92 annual report and accounts of the British Railways Board, which is responsible for rail freight in Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he last met representatives of the rail freight group; and what discussions they had on the switch of freight moved by British Rail to road transport.

I last met the rail users group on 19 May 1992. During the discussion we exchanged views on how rail freight could best compete with other modes.

To ask the Secretary of state for Transport if it remains his policy to encourage a switch of freight from road to rail; and if he will make a statement.

It remains Government policy to encourage a switch of freight from road to rail where this makes commercial sense.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will consider the propriety of serving managers of InterCity, and other senior British Rail executives, being allowed to work with, and facilitate prospective franchises in the negotiation and preparation of franchising bids for InterCity which would involve them as shareholders if successful.

We wish to encourage bids for franchises from the management and employees of BR. The BR Board has issued appropriate guidance to its managers so that potential conflicts of interst can be identified. It will be a concern of the franchising authority to ensure equality of information and treatment for all prospective bidders at each stage of the tendering process for each franchise.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether British Rail executives may be considered for the advertised posts of rail regulator and head of franchising; and if he will make a statement.

We placed no restrictions on the field of application for candidates wishing to be considered for the posts of railway regulator or passenger railway franchising authority. British Rail employees, like any others, were free to apply. The public advertisement for the posts said that railway or public transport experience would be an advantage, though not essential; and it was one of several criteria on which we have been considering candidates.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out the operational conditions, in respect of catamarans operated by Advanced Channel Express Ltd, which his surveyor has identified as not currently meeting specified standards; and if he will make a statement.

The operational conditions for all high-speed craft are set out in a permit to operate, issued in accordance with a safety code developed by the International Maritime Organisation. The owners of the catamaran are aware of this, having been advised that the Department will have to be satisfied that the craft is suitable for the intended service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will review all aspects of catamaran safety; and if he will make a statement.

The United Kingdom has requested a formal review of the International Maritime Organisation safety code for high-speed craft. The United Kingdom is at the forefront of that review which will include all aspects of catamaran safety and is expected to be completed next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change the regulations that prevent a regional centre processing applications for heavy goods vehicle operators' licences from accepting objections from neighbouring regions.

There is nothing to prevent an owner or occupier making representations against the proposed use of a goods vehicle operating centre which is the subject of an application before a licensing authority, in circumstances where the operating centre and the owner or occupier's property are in different traffic areas. The only criteria are that the representor's property must be shown to be adversely affected and that it falls within what the licensing authority determines to be the vicinity of the operating centre in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimates he has made of the cost per annum of traffic congestion to (a) the Exchequer, (b) businesses and (c) the average household; and if he will make a statement.

Congestion is costly, but the cost can be measured usefully only against realistic alternatives such as more or less road building or policies for reducing or redirecting traffic. There is therefore no single figure which can be quoted. Much of the Department's roads and traffic expenditure and policies are, however, concerned with reducing congestion and making the best possible use of available road space.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he will be meeting the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority to discuss the authority's reaction to his announcement on 23 November about the future of local authority-owned bus companies; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to the chairman of the Greater Manchester passenger transport authority on behalf of my right hon. Friend agreeing to meet him to discuss the division of Greater Manchester Buses.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will place in the Library a copy of the health and safety policy of each of the agencies within his Department.

The Building Research Establishment, the planning inspectorate and the Queen Elizabeth conference centre all come under my Department's health and safety policy statement and I have placed a copy of the document in the Library.I have asked Professor David Rhind to place in the Library a copy of his health and safety policy for the Ordnance Survey, and Mr. Roger Powell for the Buying Agency.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he will give of the relative average net costs per tonne of disposal of municipal waste based upon projects handling 250,000 tonnes per year comparing landfill via road at a distance of 100 km and waste-to-energy incineration based on a rate of interest of 20 per cent. over 20 years showing the costs per tonne for incineration both with and without non-fossil fuel obligation subsidy.

The wide range of factors involved and the price variations that exist across the country make it very difficult to give general estimates for the cost of waste disposal. Recent work carried out for the Department suggests that the current disposal costs for waste destined for disposal to landfill vary from between £7·50 to £22·50 per tonne. These costs are likely to increase substantially over the next few years as the Government's improved waste management arrangements are brought into effect. Waste to energy incineration costs are thought to be about £20 to £25 per tonne at present. Without the non-fossil fuel obligation, these are thought likely to be nearer £30 to £35 per tonne. These prices are not expected to change significantly over the next few years.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in meeting the requirements of CITES, he intends to make changes to the system of monitoring timber imported into the United Kingdom.

We have already made the changes necessary to meet the latest CITES requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State For the Environment what labelling of timber species listed in the appendices of CITES is required prior to entry into the United Kingdom.

CITES-listed timber imported into the United Kingdom is not required to be labelled. It must, however, be accompanied by appropriate export and import permits identifying the species in each consignment. The Government are currently supporting schemes to develop effective labelling systems in producer countries.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next plans to meet the chairmen of the regional water companies; and what matters will be discussed.

Ministers have had a number of meetings in recent months with the chairman of British Waterways at which, among other things, matters of strategic policy and board appointments have been discussed. But the Secretary of State has at present no plans to meet him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how much funding was made available by Her Majesty's Government to fund research outside Government Departments on international environmental policy issues in the financial year 1991–92; and what expenditure is proposed for 1992–93.

This information is not readily available in the form requested and could be assembled only at disproportionate cost. However, the Cabinet Office annual review of Government-funded research and development gives a useful overview of the substantial research efforts devoted to diverse and important international policy issues across Government. In addition, considerable proportions of United Kingdom subscriptions to international bodies are devoted to relevant research.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the clean air grant will continue to be available to local authorities in England and Wales after 1 April 1993; what economic instruments will be made available to local authorities wishing to improve local air quality; and if he will make a statement.

The future of the clean air grant is under review, but the grant will certainly continue to be available to local authorities in 1993–94. Supplementary credit approval will also be available to local authorities in 1993–94 to assist the financing of their capital expenditure on smoke control which is not covered by clean air grant.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which month he expects the United Kingdom to meet the large combustion plant directive target of a 20 per cent. reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions; and if he will make a statement.

The directive requires the United Kingdom's total emissions of sulphur dioxide from our existing large combustion plants in 1993 to be at least 20 per cent. below those in 1980. Emissions from such plant in 1991, the latest available year, were 71 per cent. of the 1980 figure.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many urban programme proposals in the Rochdale metropolitan borough council were funded in 1992–93; and how many are likely to be funded in 1993–94.

In 1992–93, 102 proposals received urban programme funding. In 1993–94, it is likely that 34 proposals will receive funding.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Ribble Valley (Mr. Evans) of 27 October, Official Report, column 543 what steps he intends to take to implement the EC regulations agreed on the supervision and control of shipments of toxic waste; and when he will publish the regulations;

The regulation will be published in the Official Journal after adoption by the Council and is likely to apply 15 months after publication. We shall be giving careful consideration to the application of the regulation's provisions in relation to imports for final disposal. We expect no change as result of the regulation to existing practice within the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria he will adopt regarding stack emissions for waste incinerators approved by him;(2) what level of emission of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls he regards as

Prime responsibility for the control of stack emissions from incinerators rests with the appropriate enforcing authority under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990; either Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution or the relevant district or borough council. Several guidance notes have been published by the Secretary of State and by the chief inspector, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution concerning emission control standards for incinerators.In granting authorisations, the regulating body will have regard to the advice contained in the relevant

Table showing provisional 1993–94 SSAs by selected inner London boroughs (excludes the City of London)
Service	Relative Position	Authority	SSA per head or per child
All Other Services	Highest SSA	Westminster	£562 per head
	Lowest SSA	Greenwich	£191 per head
	Next Lowest SSA	Lewisham	£233 per head
Child Social Services	Highest SSA	Lambeth	£860 per child
	Lowest SSA	Greenwich	£311 per child
	Next Lowest SSA	Lewisham	£461 per child
Education Services	Highest SSA	Tower Hamlets	£700 per head
	Lowest SSA	Kensington	£236 per head
	Next Lowest SSA	Westminster	£275 per head

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in which inner-London boroughs standard spending assessments are below £950 a head; and which are above.

Within the provisional standard spending assessments for 1993–94 announced on 26 November, the SSA per head for Greenwich is £923. That for all other inner London boroughs is above £950 per head.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the last survey of housing conditions was made; and if he will publish the result of the survey.

The latest national survey of housing conditions was begun in September 1991 and completed in October this year. Results from the survey will be published next year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the highest, lowest and next lowest standard spending assessment elements for inner London boroughs for (a) other services, (b) child social services and (c) education expressed for each relevant person.

The information requested, in respect of the provisional standard spending assessments, is shown in the table below. The education SSA has been expressed in £s per head since this SSA covers services provided across the full age range.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what standard spending assessments would be allocated to Greenwich if it was the same for each person as the assessment for (a) Wandsworth and (b) Lewisham.

Combining the SSA per head for Wandsworth and for Lewisham with the latest resident population figure for Greenwich would produce SSA totals of £205 million and £206 million respectively. SSAs are intended to reflect the social characteristics of the area concerned. Greenwich's SSA is different from that of Wandsworth and Lewisham because, inter alia, its social characteristics are different.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the effects on the standard spending assessments for Greenwich of (a) population change and (b) the factors II (i) to (vi) in his Department's letter of 26 November to local authorities on local government finance (England).

No such estimates have been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the significant factors other than population affecting standard spending assessments and what effect each contributed to the difference between the standard spending assessments of Greenwich and Wandsworth.

All the factors on which standard spending assessments are based are listed in the draft Local Government Finance Report (England) 1993–94 which is in the Library. These are very similar to those used for 1992–93. The SSA Handbook for 1992–93, which is in the Library, shows the contribution of the main indicators to each authority's SSA in £per adult. Similar calculations have not been carried out for provisional 1993–94 SSAs.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state for each air pollutant monitored by his Department at what levels the Department classifies the pollution as good, average and below average; if he will list the guidelines or standards advised by the World Health Organisation in each case; and if he will make a statement.

For the purposes of the air quality bulletins issued by the Department to the media for public consumption, the quality of air, based on measured concentrations of ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide, is divided into four categories: very good, good, poor and very poor. The bandings are as follows:

Department of Environment guidelines (parts per billion/1 hour)
	Very good	Good	Poor	Very poor
OZONE	< 50	50–89	90–179	> = 180
NO2	< 50	50–99	100–299	> = 300
SO2	< 60	60–124	125–399	> = 400

World Health Organisation guidelines (parts per billion)
	1 hour	8 hour	24 hour
OZONE	76–100	50–60	33
NO2	210	—	80
SO2	122	—	35

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the environmental health regulations he is considering for modification or abolition; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is currently reviewing the Environmental Protection (Prescribed Processes and Substances) Regulations 1991, which prescribe the processes to be controlled by local authorities under part I of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.We have received representations about the enforcement of legislation concerning houses in multiple occupation and common lodging houses and these are being considered.Following a review of the house renovation grant system for private sector properties a number of changes have been proposed. These include amendments to:—

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of whether local authorities considering planning applications that will have a direct effect on a neighbouring authority pay sufficient care and attention to the needs, costs and infrastructure of that neighbouring authority.

Planning authorities are required to keep under review all matters that are expected to affect the planning of development in their area, and to take account, in consultation with the authorities concerned, of the effects for their areas of similar matters in neighbouring areas. In preparing development plans, all local planning authorities are required to consult the planning authorities for areas adjacent to the area covered by their plan proposals, and to take into account any representations made. We advise them to consult other authorities likely to be affected.Planning applications must be decided in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. A local planning authority is required by article 18 of the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 to consult the neighbouring planning authority about any application which affects land in its area.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his oral answer of 11 November, Official Report, column 862, if he will make a further statement on the Darwin initiative in the light of the autumn statement.

Subject to parliamentary approval, funding for projects which meet the objectives of the Darwin initiative will be £1 million for 1993–94, £2 million for 1994–95 and £3 million for 1995–96. We will be consulting widely on the priorities and programmes for the initiative. I am establishing a small advisory committee to consider the responses to that consultation. I am pleased to say that Sir Crispin Tuckell has agreed to chair it.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to publish the responses to the consultation paper on reform of the Caravan Sites Act 1968; and if he will make a statement.

Copies of the responses to the consultation paper, "Reform of the Caravan Sites Act 1968", will be placed in the Department's library shortly, and a list of the responses will be placed in the House of Commons Library. We are now considering over 1,200 responses we have received so far. We will make an announcement about the way forward in due course.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the risks to the global environment arising from the transfer of industrial processes from the United Kingdom and other countries with strict environmental legislation to countries with poor or non-existent controls.

The main risks to the global environment from industrial processes are from those which contribute to global warming and through the release of ozone depleting substances. The Government are committed to pursuing multilateral solutions to these problems.This year over 150 countries including the United Kingdom signed the United Nations framework convention on climate change. All partners will be committed to producing national programmes of measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions.The Montreal protocol provides controls on the production and consumption of ozone depleting substances and trade in them. At a recent meeting of the parties to the protocol it was agreed that CFC's should be phased out by the end of 1995 and halons by the end of 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has about the consistency of the application through the Community of EC environmental standards affecting the operations of manufacturing industry.

Ensuring consistent application of legislation throughout the EC is, in the first instance, a matter for the Commission. One of the priorities of our presidency has been to highlight the importance of consistent and effective implementation and enforcement of EC environmental legislation. To this end, Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution has, during our presidency, hosted the first meeting of a network of EC environmental regulatory authorities. Separately we are encouraging the Commission to bring forward proposals for an audit inspectorate to inspect the work of national enforcement agencies.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration is being given by his Department to the effect on United Kingdom industry's competitiveness of failure of overseas governments to enforce measures to protect the national and global environment; and if he will support the introduction of agreed and enforced environmental standards on an international basis.

The relationship between industrial competitiveness and environmental protection was the subject of a resolution agreed by the EC Council of Industry Ministers on 24 November, and of a communication from the Commission to that Council.High environmental standards can increase the competitiveness of industry, as well as providing major new market opportunities. However, where necessary to reduce poor standards overseas undermining the competitiveness of certain sectors of United Kingdom industry, we would support action on an international basis.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the number of dwellings which have been empty for more than six months for each London borough and the percentage which empty properties constitute of each council's housing stock; and if he will make a statement.

The latest information reported by the London boroughs in their annual housing investment programme (HIP1) returns relates to April 1992 and is as follows:—

Borough	London Authority dwellings empty more than six months		All empty London Authority dwellings
	Number	Percentage of stock	Percentage of stock
City of London	6	0·3	1·5
Barking and Dagenham	6	0·0	1·1
Barnet	26	0·2	1·0
Bexley	14	0·2	1·0
Brent	261	1·4	3·4
Bromley	9	0·1	0·9
Camden	135	0·4	1·8
Croydon	19	0·1	2·0
Ealing	90	0·5	2·1
Enfield	18	0·1	1·8
Greenwich	156	0·5	1·7
Hackney	1,776	4·4	6·0
Hammersmith and Fulham	85	0·5	2·3
Haringey	87	0·4	1·7
Harrow	20	0·3	1·4
Havering	14	0·1	1·6
Hillingdon	62	0·4	1·6
Hounslow	24	0·1	1·5
Islington	259	0·7	1·9
Kensington and Chelsea	32	0·4	1·8
Kingston upon Thames	4	0·1	1·9
Lambeth	633	1·4	3·1
Lewisham	301	0·8	2·0
Merton	5	0·1	0·9
Newham	555	2·1	3·4
Redbridge	130	1·5	4·2
Richmond upon Thames	34	0·4	1·8
Southwark	638	1·1	2·9
Sutton	12	0·1	1·0
Tower Hamlets	1,068	2·6	4·2
Waltham Forest	93	0·5	2·0
Wandsworth	67	0·3	1·8
Westminster	159	0·9	1·8

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the rent arrears for each London borough and indicate the percentage arrears constitute of each council's rent revenue; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 2 July 1992 at column 675 to the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mr. Robertson), which included the latest figures, relating to the end of March 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the community charge arrears for each London borough and indicate the percentage which arrears constitute of each council's community charge income; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer given on 5 November at columns 370–71 to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Jones).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if local authority councillors are permitted to claim travelling allowances in connection with their official duties in respect of travel by bicycle; and if he will make a statement.

The provisions governing the payment of travelling allowances to councillors do not currently permit the payment of a bicycle allowance.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if any termination payments will be made to members ceasing to be members of the London residuary body in January 1993.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make any new appointments or re-appointments to the board of the London residuary body in 1993.

It is the intention of my right hon. and learned Friend to reappoint Mr. Wallace Mackenzie, Mr. Michael Roberts and Mr. Jack Wolkind as members of the London residuary body when their present terms expire on 31 March 1993. Sir Godfrey Taylor was reappointed as chairman on 1 December this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 20 November, Official Report, column 426, if he will state the main points made by English Heritage following the inspection of Battersea power station on 7 October.

Following its inspection on 7 October, English Heritage concluded that there had been no

Number of council house sales and value by region
£ thousands
	July to September 1988			October to December 1988
DOE regions	Number of sales	Undiscounted value of sales	Value 1981 prices	Number of sales	Undiscounted value of sales	Value 1981 prices
Northern (excluding Cumbria)	1,987	36,709	25,028	2,034	38,297	25,614
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,633	52,054	35,490	3,780	79,233	52,993
East Midlands	3,310	83,791	57,128	3,998	99,758	66,721
Eastern	4,652	207,008	141,136	9,233	230,629	154,252

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce statutory water quality objectives; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have today published a consultation paper on river quality. This sets out the Government's proposals for safeguarding our rivers, including the introduction of statutory water quality objectives (WQOs) gradually from 1993, and initially for a limited number of objectives in order to test the new system. The paper proposes a new classification scheme as the framework within which individual WQOs would be set; and a revised basis for carrying out the regular overall assessments of river quality. The proposals are based on recommendations published by the National Rivers Authority in October, following wide consultation. I am grateful for the authority's work which underpins our proposals.Our strategy builds on the major programmes of water investment which are already planned or under way and takes account of the implications for consumers. We have set out proposals for maintaining river quality, for reversing recent deteriorations, and for targeting further resources on those improvements which can be achieved most quickly and cost-effectively. This represents a firm foundation for introducing WQOs.As discussed in "Using Water Wisely" last July and "This Common Inheritance: the Second Year Report" in October, I am developing proposals for water pollution charging which I believe can play a role as an alternative to further regulatory action as a way of achieving WQOs.I have placed copies of our paper in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number and value of council house sales by region for each of the last 16 quarters (a) at current prices and (b) at 1981 prices.

[holding answer 30 November 1990]: Information on sales in the period July 1988 to June 1992 is given in the table. The figures exclude dwellings transferred to housing associations and other registered bodies in large scale voluntary transfers. Such transfers accounted for some 94,000 dwellings valued at about £800 million during this period.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the standard spending assessment element for fire and civil defence for each county council and metropolitan fire and civil defence authority in England in each year since 1983–84; and what are the figures for 1993–94.

[holding answer 1 December 1992]: Standard spending assessments were first introduced for the settlement year 1990–91 as a replacement for grant related expenditure assessments. The SSA elements for fire and civil defence for each county council and metropolitan fire and civil defence authority in England are shown in table 2 of the SSA handbooks for 1990–91, 1991–92 and 1992–93, all of which are in the Library. The provisional figures for 1993–94 are given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the actual expenditure on fire and civil defence services by each county council and metropolitan fire and civil defence authority in England for each of the last 10 years.

[holding answer 1 December 1992]: I have arranged for the information to be placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many planning appeals for opencast coal sites his office has dealt with in each year since 1983–84 and from 1 April to 30 September 1992; how many were approved and refused each year; what extent of land and volume of coal were approved and disapproved each year; how many appeals are outstanding; and what extent of land and volume of coal these involve.

[holding answer 1 December 1992]: Information on planning appeals involving opencast coal extraction between 1983–84 and 1986–87 is not available. The outcome of appeals determined between 1987–88 and 30 September is given in the table.

Planning appeal decisions for opencast coal sites
	Appeals decided	Appeals allowed	Appeals dismissed
1987–88	15	7	8
1988–89	16	8	8
1989–90	16	8	8
1990–91	18	9	9
1991–92	8	7	1
To 30 September 1992	5	3	2

At 30 November 1992 there are 14 appeals involving opencast coal extraction before the Secretary of State.Information on the extent of land and the volume of coal approved and disapproved is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when he next expects to meet the chairman of British Waterways; and what matters will be discussed.

Ministers have had a number of meetings in recent months with the chairman of British Waterways, at which among other things matters of strategic policy and board appointments have been discussed. But the Secretary of State has at present no plans to meet him.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what contribution Her Majesty's Government has made to the interim multilateral fund to assist the developing nations to phase out CFCs; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply. We have paid the equivalent of US$3·443 million to the interim fund which meets the United Kingdom's full share of approved projects and support costs up to June 1992. We are firmly committed to providing the remainder of our share of the US$240 million fund.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the current value to the Legal Aid Board, at 1992 prices, of those statutory charges placed on homes as a consequence of civil legal aid proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

As at 31 March 1992—which is the most recent date for which a total figure is available—the value to the Legal Aid Board of charges placed on property as a consequence of civil legal aid proceedings was £86 million.