To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to ensure that the probation service can respond to the employment needs of offenders under its supervision.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to him on 11 January, at column 600.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has conducted into the economic benefits to the United Kingdom of the arrival of the migrant communities in the last 20 years.

The Home Department has not undertaken any research on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to commission research into the economic effects of the migrant communities on the United Kingdom economy.

I have no proposals to commission research on this subject.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when instructions were sent to the post in Islamabad to issue entry clearance to Mr. Jahir Mahmood—Ref. TH/41452/91—to join his wife in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 17 December 1992]: Following the immigration appeal tribunal's refusal on 24 November 1992 of an application for leave to appeal against the adjudicator's decision to allow Mr. Mahmood's appeal, instructions to issue an entry clearance were sent on 10 December 1992 to the entry clearance officer in Islamabad. These instructions were repeated on 7 January 1993 when it was discovered that the earlier papers had not then reached the entry clearance officer.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about preliminary passport checks conducted on the tarmac as passengers step off the plane at Heathrow airport; (a) how long this system has been in operation and (b) how extensive it is; and to what extent he proposes to institute the scheme at other airports.

Heathrow and Gatwick airport immigration officers attend some arriving aircraft to check for any passengers who may seek entry without proper documents. This is to ensure that the flight on which such a passenger arrives is identified and that any charge which may arise under the Immigration (Carriers' Liability) Act 1987 is correctly attributed. Such checks are conducted only infrequently at other airports. They have been conducted for this purpose since 1987, although it has long been the practice for immigration officers to observe the arrival of selected flights.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many adults appear on the electoral register in each of the London boroughs.

The information requested is shown in the table.

Local Government Electors on the 1992 Electoral Register
Area	Total electors excluding attainers (ie persons aged 18 and over on 16 February 1992)
Greater London	4,863,555
London boroughs
City of London	3,847
Barking and Dagenham	109,885
Barnet	209,331
Bexley	165,901
Brent	167,922
Bromley	227,032
Camden	122,302
Croydon	241,617
Ealing	187,206
Enfield	194,367
Greenwich	155,363
Hackney	112,400
Hammersmith and Fulham	99,579
Haringey	141,445
Harrow	143,953
Havering	178,188
Hillingdon	169,955
Hounslow	151,859
Islington	111,510
Kensington and Chelsea	84,262
Kingston upon Thames	93,173
Lambeth	171,364
Lewisham	173,700
Merton	125,246
Newham	156,919
Redbridge	169,793
Richmond upon Thames	115,593
Southwark	173,377
Sutton	125,781
Tower Hamlets	112,166
Waltham Forest	161,467
Wandsworth	197,799
City of Westminster	109,253

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Royal College of Psychiatrists about new legal provisions for mentally ill people in the community; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to seek to amend the Mental Health Act 1983; and if she will make a statement.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has recommended that the Mental Health Act 1983 should be amended to incorporate a community supervision order. The college proposes that this should apply to a small group of patients who are repeatedly admitted to hospital under sections 3 or 37 of the Mental Health Act 1983 and who require long-term support and supervision in the community, but are known to have a history of failing to cooperate with treatment.I welcome the college's proposals as a constructive contribution to the debate about how mentally ill people can most effectively be helped and looked after in the community. Services for the mentally ill in the community have expanded rapidly in recent years and they represent an increasing proportion of the £2 billion budget annually spent on the mentally ill by health and social services departments. But we do need to address, as a priority, whether we are doing enough to ensure that these vulnerable people keep in contact with the services available.I have recently had discussions on this subject with the college and with a number of other professional and voluntary organisations. I have asked my officials to consider urgently, in the light of the college's proposals, whether new legal powers are needed to ensure that mentally ill people in the community get the care they need, whether the present legal powers in the 1983 Mental Health Act are being used as effectively as they can be, and what action could be taken in advance of any new legislation to ensure that they are.This work will be taken forward urgently by a small departmental team. It will take full account of the views which outside interests have expressed to me. They and others concerned with services for mentally ill people will be consulted about the work as it develops. My officials will be keeping in close touch with the other Departments concerned including those in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The team will be reporting regularly to Ministers and I am asking them to complete their work within six months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations she has had with, and what representations from, the British Medical Association concerning hospital bed closures and cancelling operating sessions; and if she will make a statement.

The Department holds regular meetings with professional representative bodies, including the British Medical Association and the royal colleges. The problems being experienced by a minority of hospitals in scheduling their contracted work evenly over the financial year have been raised recently. Where such problems are occurring they are being resolved by local managers with help, where necessary, from their regional health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will institute a research programme into photosensitive epilepsy in children and the effects of computer games as trigger mechanisms.

We have no plans for a research programme into photosensitive epilepsy in children. There is a well-established association between certain types of flashing light and epileptic seizures in children known to have photosensitive epilepsy or potential sufferers who for a variety of reasons have not yet been identified. The need for specific action in relation to the information and advice available to users of computer games is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for making tree preservation orders more effective; and what consultations he has had to consider tougher penalties for those who flout tree preservation orders.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: The system of tree preservation legislation has proved its value over the years. However, we are reviewing its general effectiveness and last year introduced substantially increased penalties for contravention of tree preservation orders. On summary conviction, the maximum fine for felling, uprooting or destroying a protected tree is now £20,000, and in determining the fine to be imposed magistrates are required to have regard to the financial benefits which may accrue to the offender in consequence of the offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the sites of special scientific interest damaged by acid rain in the latest year for which figures are available and give the hectarage of each site of special scientific interest affected.

[holding answer 12 January 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. However, a recent study identified 46 sites of special scientific interest in England as being affected to some degree by acid rain. Details of freshwaters affected by acid rain are set out in the report Rimes C. (1992), "Freshwater acidification on SSSIs in Great Britain. I Overview and II England"—English nature science volumes 1 and 2. A copy of this report has been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many kilometres of coast in England have been designated as heritage coasts; and what proportion this is of the total coastline.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Since 1973, some 1,450 km of the English and Welsh coastline has been defined as heritage coast. This is approximately one third of the coastline of England and Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his review of the criteria for setting speed limits; and when he expects to publish his policy document on speed.

We have today published a new circular—roads l/93—on the criteria for setting speed limits, which offers greater flexibility in setting speed limits, and a policy document "Killing Speed and Saving Lives". Both these documents make a significant contribution to the process of reducing actual speeds and casualties. Copies of both have been placed in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what allocations will be made from his Department in 1993–94 to allow local authorities to undertake public transport capital works.

In addition to the allocations for measures to promote bus use announced on 15 December, Official Report columns 134–35, we shall be making available £119.7 million for local authority public transport capital works in 1993–94.The allocations are as follows.

Public transport capital works 1993–94: local authority
	Annual capital guidelines £ million	Supplementary credit approvals £ million	Grant (estimated) £ million
Passenger transport authorities
Greater Manchester	4.165	0.840
Merseyside	8.865	6.113
South Yorkshire	26.940	13.000	14.500
Tyne and Wear	2.085	2.073
West Midlands	2.000	3.007
West Yorkshire	1.600	25.543
Metropolitan district councils
Manchester		0.750
County councils
Avon	0.150
Cambridgeshire	0.075
Cornwall	0.135
Devon	0.005
Essex	0.018
Gloucestershire	0.015
Kent		1.000
Hampshire	0.100
Humberside	0.020
Lancashire		0.069
Leicestershire/Derbyshire jointly	1.967	1.966	2.000
North Yorkshire	0.057
Nottinghamshire		0.367
Oxfordshire	0.020
Surrey		0.250
Warwickshire	0.035
	48.252	54.978	16.500

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is his policy over implementation of the 1993 EC baggage reconciliation directives.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Council regulation (EEC) No. 3925/91 and Commission regulation (EEC) No. 1823/92 concern the elimination of Customs controls and formalities applicable to the cabin and hold baggage of persons taking an intra-Community flight or making an intra-Community sea crossing. One of the detailed rules laid down in the Commission regulation was that hold baggage registered in a Community airport was to be identified by means of a green edged tag with specified technical characteristics. The Commission regulation also required each member state to provide the Commission with a list of airports approved for air traffic with third countries—"international community airports". The regulations are binding in their entirety and are directly applicable in all member states. They applied from 1 January 1993.The Commission discussed its detailed proposals about baggage tags with the International Air Transport Association and other organisations, and Customs and Excise and my Department discussed the implementation of the rule with United Kingdom airlines and airports. Customs and Excise have notified the Commission of 34 international Community airports in the United Kingdom and have subsequently added Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, to the list. My Department has recently written to all airlines operating in the United Kingdom to remind them of the baggage tagging requirement.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the budget of the Scottish Arts Council in 1991–92 and 1992–93.

The Scottish Arts Council's grants from the Arts Council of Great Britain were £19,693,000 and £22,691,000 in 1991–92 and 1992–93 respectively. In addition to these grants, the Scottish Arts Council received further income, from various sources, of £183,000 in 1991–92 and £149,000 in 1992–93.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many licences the Radio Authority has issued since they were established; and how far the undertakings invested in them have been complied with.

By 11 January 1993, the Radio Authority had awarded two licences for national services, 25 local licences, 419 restricted service licences, eight licences for licensable sound programme services and 11 satellite licences. The authority also licensed 126 local radio services which had earlier operated under contract to the Independent Broadcasting Authority.The authority considers all written complaints about programming, advertising and transmission aspects of independent radio services and publishes a quarterly complaints bulletin.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what lessons from the Windsor castle fire he has transmitted to the authorities of the Royal Scottish Academy.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: None, so far. As I told the House on 7 December, Official Report, column 579, in the light of the fire at Windsor castle I am setting up an inquiry to assess the adequacy of fire protection measures for the royal palaces for which my Department has a financial responsibility. The report of the inquiry will be published and I shall ensure that it is made widely available.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list (a) the total number of residential properties owned by his Department, (b) the number of such properties which are empty and (c),(b) as a percentage of (a).

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: (a) My Department manages 156 residential properties of which 12 are owned. (b) Eight of the owned properties are empty while awaiting remodelling and renovation works. (c) 66 per cent. of the owned properties are unoccupied.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of trade between the United Kingdom and Kasakhstan; and what is his estimate of the value of trade between each EC member state and Kasakhstan.

The information is as follows:

EC trade with kasakhstan January to June 1992
	Exports £000s	Imports £000s
Belgium/Luxembourg	1,461	710
Denmark	625	6
France	n.a.	n.a.
Germany	5,078	2,473
Greece	n.a.	n.a.
Italy	n.a.	n.a.
Netherlands	124	0
Portugal	n.a.	n.a.
Spain	0	109
United Kingdom	n.a.	n.a.
EC Total	7,289	3,298

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what importation of phosphate was undertaken by the United Kingdom annually for each year since 1982.

Comprehensive statistics on the imports of phosphates are not available. Imports of phosphate are recorded under a large number of categories according to the type of phosphate and its function. The table gives the total figures for the imports of the three largest groups of phosphates: superphosphates, diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate, for each year since 1982.

Imports of phosphates into the United Kingdom
Year	Metric tonnes	£'000s
1982	182,496	21,596
1983	260,878	30,135
1984	282,746	38,386
1985	309,831	42,010
1986	343,414	39,432
1987	386,127	41,883
1988	403,452	46,289
1989	467,591	57,378
1990	561,955	58,570
1991	450,929	48,037
19921	461,611	44,407
1 Excludes figures for December 1992.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what assessment his Department has made of the relative potential for new business development by British firms in each of the countries of the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe; and what comparisons he has made with similar assessments of other regions of the world.

Within the whole area to which my hon. Friend refers we take the view that the best prospects for British exporters in most sectors other than oil and gas are to be found in Poland, Hungary and the Czech lands, although worthwhile opportunities are also being found in most of the other markets. In oil and gas we see the best prospects in Kasakhstan, Azerbaijan and the Russian Federation. Within the world as a whole we see the best all-round prospects in western Europe, north America and Asian parts of the Pacific rim.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what measures his Department is taking to encourage British firms to take the opportunities for new business developments in the former Soviet Union and eastern Europe.

My Department provides a comprehensive range of services to assist United Kingdom exporters and investors who are interested in the region, including support for outward missions—sometimes led ministerially—and participation in overseas trade fairs as well as the provision of general and specific information about the markets and opportunities. Information about export and consultancy projects under bilateral, EC and multilateral funded assistance programmes is also available and my Department encourages United Kingdom companies to exploit such opportunities.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what importance his Department attaches to the further development of commercial and economic relations with the countries of the Pacific rim; and what measures his Department is taking to encourage British firms to develop new business there.

The Asia Pacific rim, like Europe and north America, is a top priority for my Department's trade promotion and market opening work. The region offers the best prospects worldwide for rapid, large-scale and sustained growth of imports and investment. United Kingdom business has a strong position in parts of the region but needs to do much more particularly in such large, growth markets as Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia and Thailand. The region accounts for 8 per cent. of our exports and 6.5 per cent. of our overseas investment. It is the Department's objective to raise this substantially. To that end, 18 per cent. of our overseas trade staff are allocated to work on the region, as well as a substantial proportion of our promotional budget. I have visited the region three times in the past nine months. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, the chairman of the British Overseas Trade Board and I plan more visits to the region this year, mainly with groups of business men. We continue to make a special drive on the Japanese market, through the Priority Japan campaign. We have just held the largest-ever United Kingdom trade promotion in China, involving over 90 business men, and are following it up vigorously. We are also running intensive trade promotion campaigns to pursue opportunities in the other promising markets of the region.This promotional work is led by business men active in these markets who give their time voluntarily. To focus their contributions more effectively the BOTB has set up a new promotional body covering most of the region's markets, the Asia Pacific Advisory Group, and the equivalent bodies for Japan and China have reorganised. Details of their work are published in the annual forward plan of the BOTB.In summary, in the financial year 1993–94 we are planning some 68 outward and inward VIP visits, 50 promotional events in the United Kingdom, 217 DTI-supported missions, exhibitions, technical seminars and store promotions in the region and expect to deal with about 23,000 inquiries from British business. In the next few months we will be intensifying this drive through the full-time secondment of experienced business men to the Department as export promoters. We are also working vigorously through multilateral and bilateral channels to improve business conditions in the region, particularly by working for the successful completion of the GATT Uruguay round.I should be glad to consider additional proposals for intensifying our efforts in these markets, within the resources available to my Department.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many breweries have complied with the Supply of Beer (Tied Estates) Order 1989—SI 1989 No. 2390; what information his Department holds on the purchasers of public houses under the order; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from the Director General of Fair Trading that all the national brewers have complied with the Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) Order 1989, on the basis of information they have supplied to him. The statutory undertakings given by these brewers to provide the Director General with information to enable him to monitor compliance with the order do not require them to provide details of the purchasers of public houses that are sold. His office does, nevertheless, hold a significant amount of information provided voluntarily by the brewers and compiled from reports that have appeared in the trade press.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what investigations his Department undertakes into the ownership of companies purchasing public houses from breweries en bloc; and if he will make a statement.

The Director General of Fair Trading is under a statutory duty to investigate sales of packages of public houses when these qualify as merger situations under the Fair Trading Act 1973. He has also made it clear that he will look very closely at all transactions involving supply agreements. Public houses owned by companies in which a national brewer has a shareholding of 15 per cent. or more, which are tied to that brewer's beer, would count towards its tied pub limit under the Supply of Beer (Tied Estate) Order 1989.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of tonnes of coal used to produce electricity in 1991; what tonnage was imported; and what tonnage was British.

The total amount of coal used to produce electricity in 1991 by the major generators was 82 million tonnes of which 7.3 million tonnes was imported. Other smaller, industrial generators used 2 million tonnes of coal to produce electricity in the same period, but data are not available to show how much of this was imported.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the coal equivalent tonnage of natural gas used in 1991 to produce electricity.

The amount of natural gas used by all generating companies in 1991 to produce electricity was 1.9 million tonnes of coal equivalent.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he has received the report of receivers KPMG Peat Marwick into the insolvency of the National Welsh bus company.

The Secretary of State received reports on 8 January 1993 from the administrative receivers of National Welsh Omnibus Services Ltd., in respect of the conduct of the directors of that company, pursuant to section 7(3) of the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the financial propriety of the directors of National Welsh bus company in the period leading up to the company's receivership at the end of 1991.

It is not my Department's policy to comment on the affairs of individual companies. If the hon. Member has information to suggest that an inquiry would be appropriate, my officials will be pleased to consider any information forwarded in the usual manner.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what performance targets he has set for 1992–93 for the Warren Spring Laboratory executive agency.

Warren Spring Laboratory operates in a competitive market. Its primary performance target for 1992–93 continues to be the recovery of full economic cost through the charges it makes to customers. In addition, new secondary performance measures have been developed to supersede those agreed when the agency was originally established in 1989. For 1992–93 these are:

to recover full economic costs through charges made to customers;

to achieve the net contribution to the Department set out in Supply Estimates of £362,000;

to win and complete business to the value of £13.6 million;

to gain National Measurement Accreditation Service —NAMAS—accreditation for trace inorganic analytical chemistry services and the air quality calibration laboratory.

These targets will in future be reviewed annually as part of the corporate planning process.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade how many pieces of evidence have been submitted to his Department's coal review; and what plans he has to make the evidence public.

Evidence submitted by 327 individuals and organisations had been received by the coal review team by noon on Friday 8 January. Evidence has been copied to the Trade and Industry Select Committee as we have received it and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. In cases where those submitting evidence have provided it in confidence, we have sought their permission to pass it to the Select Committee, and where such permission has been given, have done so on a protected basis.We have also now made the evidence, other than commercially confidential material, more widely available by placing copies in the following libraries where members of the public may call, by appointment, to read it: DTI library and information centre, Ashdown house, 123 Victoria street, London SW1E 6RB, telephone 071 215 4245/4250; DTI energy library and information centre, 1 Palace street, London SW1E 5HE, telephone 071 238 3042; Office of Electricity Regulation library, Hagley house, Hagley road, Birmingham B16 8QG, telephone 021 456 6378.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to set up a national authority to oversee the United Kingdom compliance with the chemical weapons convention; if he will ensure it is fully independent of the Department of Trade and Industry and if it will include experts from outside Government; what parliamentary involvement he proposes; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: The national authority will deal largely with requirements falling on United Kingdom industry, such as provision of information. My Department will therefore be responsible for setting up the national authority. Its structure and organisation will be the subject of consultation with interested bodies in due course.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the date for the next meeting of the Board of Trade; what will be the agenda; and if he will make a statement.

I have no present plans for a further meeting of the Board of Trade.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what communications he has had recently from the Institute of Contemporary History in regard to the release of Cabinet and departmental papers from the Public Record Office.

Under cover of a letter dated 21 December 1992, Dr. Brian Brivati of the Institute of Contemporary British History, sent me the final report of a conference held on 25 November 1992 at which my invitation to historians to suggest blocks of records for release was considered. I replied to Dr. Brivati on 12 January 1993. I have placed a copy of my letter in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Prime Minister what changes there have been since 27 October 1987 in the guidelines for exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology by the United Kingdom set out in the statement by the then Foreign Secretary on 31 March 1976.

An expansion to the guidelines set out on 31 March 1976 was announced by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in a statement issued on 24 September 1991 when he introduced the policy of fullscope safeguards as a condition of supply. This means that we do not allow the export of any significant new nuclear supplies or materials to any country, other than the nuclear weapon states, where there are any unsafeguarded nuclear installations.

To ask the Prime Minister what assessment was made by the European Council at Edinburgh of the net effect of its conclusions on the contributions and receipts of each member state; and if he will make a statement.

The European Council did not explicitly consider the effect of its conclusions on future financing on the contributions and receipts of each member state.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the presidency's special representative on the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the EC summit at Edinburgh on 12 December.

I hope that we can place a copy of this report in the Library soon. But discussion of Macedonian accession to the United Nations is now at a delicate stage in New York. It would not be helpful to this process to make the report public at this time.

To ask the Prime Minister what response he has given to the petition presented to him on the fourth anniversary of the destruction of Pan Am 103 over Lockerbie.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: I have received a letter signed by some of the relatives of those who died, and have replied. I sympathise with their loss. I do not believe that there is a good case for an independent public inquiry into the disaster. There has already been a fatal accident inquiry and the criminal investigation is continuing.The Government continue to put pressure on the Libyans to comply with the United Nations resolutions and to surrender the two suspects for trial in Scotland or the United States.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the yield of restricting (a) the personal tax allowance, (b) the married couple's allowance and (c) the age allowances and the major tax reliefs to (i) the basic rate of tax and (ii) the lower tax rate of 20 per cent. in 1993–94.

The latest estimates of the direct revenue yields in a full year at 1993–94 levels of income and using the autumn statement assumption of a 3.25 per cent. increase in 1992–93 levels of allowances and thresholds are as follows:

	Restriction to 25 per cent. £ million	Restriction to 20 per cent. £ million
Personal allowance (excluding age related addition)	1,100	5,200
Married couple's allowance	320	1,100
Age allowances1	0	100
Pension contribution reliefs2	480	1,150
1 The higher levels of the age-related personal and married couple's allowance given to those aged 65 and over subject to the income limit.
2 Employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes and contributions to personal pensions including retirement annuity premia and free standing additional voluntary contributions.

Mortgage interest relief is currently restricted to the basic rate of tax. Restricting it to 20 per cent. would yield £1,000 million in 1992–93 assuming interest rates remain at current levels for the rest of the year. The yield for 1993–94 has not been shown since it would depend on the pattern of borrowing, the eligibility of borrowers for mortgage interest tax relief, tax rates and interest rates in that year.No account has been taken of possible behavioural change resulting from such restrictions, and the figures shown represent the yield from restricting each allowance separately. if two or more allowances were restricted, the total yield would be greater than the sum of the figures for individual allowances.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the amount of tax paid on a pack of the most popular price category cigarettes in each EC member state and the average price of a pack of 20 cigarettes in each country; and what the figures were in 1990.

We do not have information on the average price of a pack of cigarettes in other member states. The tables show the price of the most popular price category—MPPC.

(a) Tax and price on the MPPC in November 1992, based on exchange rates as on 1 October 1992.
	Total tax (pence)	Most popular price (pence)
Belgium	142	185
Denmark	246	288
France	111	148
Germany	139	192
Greece	38	63
Ireland	184	245
Italy	81	113
Luxembourg	103	140
Netherlands	102	147
Portugal	88	112
Spain	25	40
United Kingdom	170	227

(b) Tax and price on the MPPC in 1990, based on exchange rates as on 20 December 1990.
	Total tax (pence)	Most popular price (pence)
Belgium	79	110
Denmark	197	229
France	70	104
Germany	103	141
Greece	32	45
Ireland	131	179
Italy	62	86
Luxembourg	56	78
Netherlands	72	102
Portugal	42	57
Spain	18	31
United Kingdom	131	180

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the German Government on the mechanisms for moving to stage three of economic and monetary union, following the steps taken towards ratification of the treaty on European union by Germany on 2 December.

None.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of insider dealing were reported to the authorities in each year since 1987.

Alleged cases of insider dealing are generally detected by the stock exchange through its monitoring of share dealing. Following a preliminary investigation, the stock exchange informs the Department of Trade and Industry when it believes that there is a prima facie case. That Department has powers to investigate and to bring prosecutions where appropriate. The cases referred to the DTI in this way since 1987–88 are set out in the table.

Alleged cases of insider dealing reported to the DTI by the stock exchange between 1987–88 and 1992–931
Year	Cases reported
1987–88	29
1988–89	33
1989–90	21
1990–91	8
1991–92	11
1992–93	2
Total	104
1 A case may have led to more than one person being prosecuted. The information for 1992–93 relates to cases which were reported to the DTI between April and the end of December 1992.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of insider dealing have been prosecuted in each year from 1987 to date; and how many of these prosecutions resulted in (a) conviction and (b) acquittal.

The information is given in the table.

Insider dealing prosecutions between 1987–88 and 1992–931
Year	Cases	Prosecutions	Convictions	Acquittals
1987–88	3	3	3	0
1988–89	1	1	0	1
1989–90	10	14	4	9
1990–91	1	2	2	0
1991–92	5	8	3	5
1992–93	1	5	4	1
Total	21	33	16	16
1 The figures in the final three columns reflect the number of individual defendants who were prosecuted, and the verdict reached, in the 21 insider dealing cases which have been concluded since April 1987.

The figures for 1989–90 include one prosecution which was subsequently withdrawn.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place a copy of the guidance produced by the Treasury's central unit on purchasing on car contract hire or lease schemes for public bodies in the Library.

A copy of the guidance will be placed in the Library today.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidelines he has set for the funding of merchant banking consultancy advice in relation to proposed management buy-outs of the whole or part of the operations of non-departmental public bodies, (a) pursuant to statutory approval, (b) without statutory but with ministerial approval and (c) without either statutory or ministerial approval; and if he will make a statement.

The Treasury has issued written guidance to Departments on aspects of trade sales, including the funding of management buy-outs—MBOs. It also advises Departments on the funding of MBOs on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchenquer if he will list the licences granted by his Department to firms or solo traders to conduct investment business under the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958, since 27 February 1998, with the date in each case; and what was the reason for granting each licence.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Principal's licences were issued to the following on the date shown:

Licensed dealer	Date
Spencer Thornton Investment Management Services	7 March 1988
York Australia (UK) Ltd.	7 March 1988
Oxford Seedcorn Co. Ltd.	7 March 1988
Securities and Commodities Investments plc	21 March 1988
London and Bishopsgate International Investment Management plc	25 April 1988

Under the Prevention of Fraud (investment)Act 1958 persons wishing to carry on the business of dealing in securities required a licence from the Secretary of State unless they were exempted dealers or members of a recognised stock exchange or recognised association of dealers in securities. The Secretary of State was obliged to issue a licence unless, on the basis of the criteria specified in the Act, they appeared not fit and proper.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications were made to his Department in each six-month period since 27 August 1987 to obtain a licence for conducting investment business under the provisions of the Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958; and how many of these applications were granted.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: Twenty-one applications for principals' licences under the Act were received between 27 August 1987 and 27 February 1988. One application was received between 27 February 1988 and 29 April 1988 when the Act was repealed. All of these applications were granted.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the increase or decrease in turnover in sub-post office business following the latest increase in the minimum amounts for deposits into the national savings investment account and the ordinary account, and for the purchase of premium bonds by parents and other for children aged under 16.

[holding answer 11 January 1993]: The work carried out by Post Office Counters Ltd.—(POCL)—in respect of all national savings products represents less than 5 per cent. of POCL's total business. The Department for National Savings expects to save about £4 million in agency charges in a full year from the planned changes. This represents less than 0.5 per cent. of total POCL turnover of £1 billion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 24 November 1992, Official Report, columns 628-30, if he willgive the total percentage of economically incentive males aged 16 to 64 years in the valleys programme districts.

The latest available figures for the percentage of economically incentive males in the valleys programme districts are for 1991 and are givin in the table.

Percentage of economically inactive population in 1991 (males aged 16 to 64)
District1	19812	19913
Dinefwr	14.2	21.7
Llanelli	12.9	22.6
Blaenau Gwent	15.2	22.9
Islwyn	12.9	20.6
Torfaen	12.4	18.5
Cynon Valley	14.4	23.8
Merthyr Tydfil	15.2	23.8
Ogwr	13.7	19.3
Rhondda	16.9	254
Rhymney Valley	13.3	22.8
Taff Ely	11.7	18.6
Brecknock	12.5	18.0
Lliw Valley	12.9	20.1
Neath	12.6	21.6
Port Talbot	14.2	24.7
Swansea	12.8	20.7

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Carlile), of 26 October 1992, Official Report, column 473, what further consultations he has had with Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution regarding National Power's application to burn orimulsion at Pembroke power station; and when he expects to receive Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution report.

Her Majesty's inspectorate of pollution announced on 22 December 1992 that National Power had written to the inspectorate seeking to withdraw for now its proposals for the use of orimulsion at Pembroke power station.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has had from the British Medical Association central consultants and specialists committee concerning cancelled operating sessions and bed and ward sessions in South Glamorgan.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest situation in respect of international efforts to establish peace in Angola.

The international community continues actively to support the efforts of the United Nations to secure full implementation of the Bicesse peace agreements in Angola. We fully endorse the recent call by the president of the Security Council for an end to fighting and a dialogue between both sides.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the conflict in the former republic of Yugoslavia; if he will bring pressure to bear on the republic of Serbia to prevent further escalation of conflict; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has received many representations on this subject. The Edinburgh European Council declared that the Serbian nation faced a clear choice: if there were a radical change of policy it would be gradually readmitted into the international community. But if the Belgrade regime continued its present policies, existing sanctions would be tightened and extended to isolate Serbia totally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom's relationship with the United States of America.

The United Kingdom's relations with the United States are in excellent shape and we expect them to remain so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what importance he attaches to the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Britain and the United States have a close bilateral relationship to which both Governments attach high value.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to meet President-elect Clinton to discuss the relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister looks forward to meeting the President-elect and the Secretary of State designate at the earliest opportunity.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Indonesia.

The United Kingdom maintains friendly and constructive relations with Indonesia. I visited Indonesia last October and my hon. Friend the Minister of Trade was there a few days ago.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent common policy initiatives have been taken by EC Foreign Ministers under the European political co-operation procedure.

During the United Kingdom Presidency of the European Community we initiated and co-ordinated EC action in many areas of foreign policy. These included attempts to find a peaceful solution to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, encouragement of a constitutional settlement in South Africa, efforts to provide effective aid to Somalia and support for the coalition force implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 794, participation in the middle east peace process and playing a leading role in CSCE discussions. The United Kingdom Presidency also saw the development of EC co-operation and political dialogue with many countries and regional groups, including the United States of America, Japan and central European countries. The EC has also played an active role during the United Kingdom Presidency in the human rights field.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Japan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on recent developments in the United Kingdom's relations with Japan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on United Kingdom relations with Japan.

Relations between the United Kingdom and Japan are excellent. They are marked by regular contacts between British and Japanese Ministers and senior officials. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister had a constructive and friendly meeting with Prime Minister Miyazawa in July. Since the mid-1980s our trading relationship has greatly improved, with a considerable increase in British exports to Japan over that period. There is a longstanding and continuing welcome for Japanese investment in the United Kingdom. We aim to broaden and improve the relationship yet further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy on safe havens for refugees in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration his Department has given to the establishment of safe havens for non-combatants in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations protection force, which includes British troops, is helping the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to deliver humanitarian relief to refugees and others trapped by the conflict in Bosnia. We believe that their activities are creating de facto relief areas which are a more effective and viable way of providing protection and relief than specifically demarcated militarily protected safe havens.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the number of aircraft flights that have transported (a) Serbian, (b) Croatian, and (c) Muslim forces in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations Secretary-General has issued regular reports to the Security Council giving details of violations of the no-fly zone established by resolutions 781 of 9 October and 786 of 11 November. It is clear from these that, to varying degrees, all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina have conducted flights outside the terms permitted in the resolutions. We have no firm evidence that any of these flights were carrying troops.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the number of aircraft flights that have been used by (a) Serbian, (b) Croatian, and (c) Muslim forces in Bosnia for the purposes of military reconnaissance; and if he will make a statement.

The United Nations Secretary General has issued regular reports to the Security Council giving details of violations of the no-fly zone established by resolutions 781 of 9 October and 786 of 11 November. It is clear from these that, to varying degrees, all parties in Bosnia-Herzegovina have conducted flights outside the terms permitted in the resolutions. It is likely that some of these flights will have been used to carry out visual reconnaissance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information has been provided by his Department's personnel to the United Nations about human rights violations in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.

The preliminary report of the investigative mission on the treatment of Muslim women in former Yugoslavia, led by Dame Anne Warburton, has been submitted to the United Nations Secretary-General. Its full report will be drawn up after the second phase of the mission. This will be submitted to the United Nations commission of experts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he will next be meeting the President of the European Commission to discuss the reform of the European Community's decision-making process.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans to discuss further reforms of the Community's decision-making process with the president of the Commission in the immediate future. The Maastricht treaty, when it enters into force, will involve some changes. Before that, following agreement at Edinburgh a number of changes designed to ensure subsidiarity is respected will be given effect immediately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his counterparts representing the member states of the Security Council of the United Nations to discuss the peacekeeping activities of the United Nations in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Foreign Ministers of the member states of the Security Council have not met to discuss Somalia. Our ambassador to the United Nations joined in the discussion which led to Security Council resolution 794 and keeps in close contact with the Secretary General and other Security Council members.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next expects to meet the Foreign Minister of Pakistan to discuss the state of democracy there; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no plans at present to meet Mr. Kanju or any other member of the Pakistan Government.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on relations between the United Kingdom and Russia.

Relations are excellent. President Yeltsin paid a highly successful official visit to Britain in November during which the first general treaty on British-Russian bilateral relations since 1766 was signed. Our two countries are working together on an unprecedented range of subjects, including key international problems.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he next proposes to discuss ratification and implementation of the Maastricht treaty with other EC Foreign Ministers.

The Maastricht treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month after the last member state has ratified. Denmark and the United Kingdom have still to ratify the treaty. Foreign Ministers regularly review the state of the ratification process, with a view to implementation. We will continue to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his European counterparts about the expected date for ratification of the Maastricht treaty; and if he will make a statement.

The Maastricht treaty will enter into force on the first day of the month after the last member state has ratified. Ten member states have completed the parliamentary ratification process; three of these still have to complete formal ratification. Denmark needs to hold a further referendum. In the United Kingdom ratification follows passage of the necessary legislation through Parliament.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the safeguards in place to protect British-owned assets and investments in the Crown colony of Hong Kong, on the return of the colony to the People's Republic of China in 1997; and if he will make a statement.

The laws of Hong Kong will safeguard all foreign-owned assets and investments after 1997, as they do now. This will include British-owned assets and investments. The Sino-British joint declaration of 1984 provides for the continuation of the legal and financial systems which are the foundation of Hong Kong's status as an international centre of finance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement regarding Britain's relations with the independent states within the CIS.

We have diplomatic relations with the 10 CIS countries, as well as Georgia and Azerbaijan and the three baltic states. We have resident diplomatic missions in six of these states. Our bilateral relations are developing briskly. President Yeltsin paid an official visit in November, and the first United Kingdom-Russia treaty since 1766 was signed. President Kravchuk will visit next month.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what timetable is proposed for enlargement of the European Community.

The Edinburgh European Council agreed to launch accession negotiations with Austria, Finland and Sweden. They will open in early February. Negotiations with Norway are likely to begin not long afterwards. The Government will be working for an early and successful conclusion to the negotiations which would permit accession around 1995. Work is now under way to prepare the Visegrad countries of eastern Europe for eventual Community membership—an objective endorsed for the first time by last month's European Council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the advantages accruing to the north-east of England resulting from enlargement of the EC to include Norway and Sweden.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs expects the enlargement of the EC to benefit all regions of Britain. The extension of the single market will provide more opportunities for British business men and greater choice for the British consumer. It should boost economic growth and create jobs.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the role the United Nations plays in the peaceful settlement of conflicts.

The United Nations has a key role to play in promoting the peaceful settlement of disputes, as is reflected in "Agenda for Peace". The United Kingdom has called for greater resort to preventive diplomacy, including fact-finding missions and the use of the Secretary-General's good offices. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in his speech to the general assembly on 22 September,

"preventive diplomacy is quicker, more helpful to peoples about to be embroiled in conflict than the most successful peace-keeping or peace-making operation which follows the outbreak of violence. It is also less costly, in terms of lives and cash".

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last met his Swiss counterpart to discuss matters relating to EFTA.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs last met Foreign Minister Felber on 15 December in Stockholm. They discussed the future of the European economic area agreement and Switzerland's application to join the EC, in the light of the recent negative vote in the Swiss EEA referendum.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress on the single European market following the Edinburgh summit.

The Edinburgh European Council declared the single market complete in all essential respects. The United Kingdom will now lay emphasis upon ensuring that the single market works in practice and on completing work in areas such as intellectual property, transport, and energy and telecommunications liberalisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress there has been in the development of relations between the European Community and the ASEAN countries.

Considerable progress has been made in strengthening relations during the United Kingdom presidency. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has personally attended two ministerial meetings with ASEAN in Manila. The outcome of the EC-ASEAN ministerial meeting in October will boost co-operation in a range of fields, including trade, environmental protection, technical co-operation and human rights.Burma

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to seek a meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss human rights in Burma; and what recent representations he has made to the Burmese Government about her detention.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no current plans to visit Burma. He has raised Aung San Suu Kyi's detention with the Burmese ambassador on 14 September 1992. We continue to be concerned at the lack of progress towards her release and about human rights generally in Burma.Together with our EC partners, we co-sponsored the resolution adopted at the United Nations General Assembly last month which condemned Burma's human rights performance and specifically called for Aung San Suu Kyi's unconditional release.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government intend to register with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, pursuant to article 102 of the United Nations charter, the decision of the Head of State and Government meeting within the European Council held at Edinburgh on 12 December 1992 concerning certain problems raised by Denmark.

This matter is under consideration. I will arrange for the right hon. Member to receive a written reply.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom commitment to Polish membership of the EC.

The United Kingdom has long supported EC membership for Poland and other central European countries as soon as they are ready. The objective of their accession was endorsed for the first time by the European Council at Edinburgh, which identified the EC association agreements as the means to prepare them for this. The United Kingdom, which was the first EC member state to ratify these agreements, is now working to ensure that they are implemented in full and developed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will introduce a leakage prevention programme for all refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owned and operated by his Department; if he will publish targets for reductions in leakages; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will implement a refrigerant recycling and reclaim policy covering all departmental equipment currently using chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons; if he will publish targets for departmental reuse and recycling; if he will implement an equipment conversion and replacement programme for all departmental uses of CFCs and HCFCs; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 2 December 1992]: I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as the necessary information has been collated.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of (a) the Training and Enterprise Council committee and (b) the Employer Investment committee, advising the national training task force are (a) women, (b) from an ethnic minority and (c) people with disabilities, in numbers and as a percentage of the group.

There is one (14.25 per cent.) woman member and one (14.25 per cent.) member from an ethnic minority group on the TEC Committee and one (6.6 per cent.) woman and one (6.6 per cent.) member from an ethnic minority group on the Employer Investment Committee which advises the NTTF. There are no members who have registered or non-registered disabilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many people aged 16 and 17 years in Birmingham are not in employment, not on a youth training scheme and not in full-time education.

In October 1992 there were 213 unemployed claimants aged 16 and 17 years in the local authority district of Birmingham.Changes to the benefit regulations in September 1988 coincided with the extension of a guaranteed YTS (now YT) place to all those aged under 18 not in full time education or employment, which meant that those who declined an offer of a YTS place were no longer entitled to benefit. However, there are still a small number of under 18-year-olds entitled to benefit due to special circumstances, such as severe hardship or by virtue of their being orphans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what EC directives apply to the education and training of complementary medicine practitioners.

There are two directives concerned with the recognition of education and training. The First Diploma Directive, 89/48/EEC, was implemented in the United Kingdom in April 1991 and covers degree level qualifications. The Second Diploma Directive, 92/51/ EEC, is due to be implemented in June 1994 and will cover those qualifications awarded on completion of higher education courses of up to three years duration and equivalents including national and Scottish vocational qualifications. Both directives are concerned with regulated occupations.The Osteopaths Bill is having its second reading this month and it is possible that osteopaths may subsequently fall within the coverage of the First Diploma Directive.The extent to which other fields of complementary medicine are covered by the Second Diploma Directive will emerge as the implementation proceeds towards June 1994.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future of 33 Regiment explosive ordnance disposal.

33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) is currently located in a number of sites within Chatham garrison. It is proposed, subject to consultation with the trades unions, that the regiment should relocate to Carver barracks, Wimbish. This move would allow it to be concentrated in one site, thus reducing overheads, and would ensure the future of Carver barracks, which is to be vacated by the 16th/5th the Queen's Royal Lancers on their amalgamation with 17/21 Lancers, currently based at Tidworth. It is too early to say what would be the implications for civilian staff at Chatham but it is hoped that they may be employed by other units within the garrison.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer of 10 June 1992, Official Report, column 176, if he is now in a position to make a statement about his plans for an integrated army personnel centre outside London.

On 10 June 1992, at column 176 I announced the start of a stuty into the efficiency and cost effectiveness of forming an integrated Army personnel centre outside London.The study team concluded its work by recommending the formation of an Army personnel centre by 1995 in existing commercial office buildings in Glasgow. The Army personnel centre would encompass the staffs of the Adjutant General and the Military Secretary, including the manning and record offices, regimental pay offices and army pay office (officers' accounts). The existing offices at Chester, Exeter, Leicester, York and Ashton-under-Lyne, and the relevant MOD offices in London and Stanmore would close during 1995–96. Exceptionally, all staff, including those serving in non-mobile grades, would be offered the opportunity to move at public expense. Very substantial efficiency savings, including a reduction of 38 per cent. in overall numbers, would result.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many British service personnel currently deployed in Bosnia are trained in forward air control techniques; and if he will make a statement.

For the type of forces deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina it is usual, and is the case, to have one forward air control-trained officer as part of the headquarters.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration has been given to the provision of additional artillery equipment to British forces in Bosnia; and if he will make a statement.