To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the estimated proportion of economically active Roman Catholics and Protestants as at 31 December 1996.

The Government have not carried out any projections of the economically active population in terms of religion.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proposals he has for the introduction of goals and timetables to other public bodies in Northern Ireland similar to those introduced for senior civil servants in Northern Ireland.

It is not for the Secretary of State to set goals and timetables for other public authorities. Under section 31(3) of the Fair Employment (Northern Ireland) Act 1989, all public authorities have a duty to consider the need for goals and timetables to assist in securing fair participation in their employment by both communities.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

The number of staff employed in this Department' press office in recent years is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

Data on staff employed prior to 1989 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.The available information is as follows:—

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment his Department has made of the effects of overhead electricity transmission wires on farm animals using fields adjoining or below.

The Department has not made such an assessment.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the value in European currency units of the green pound in each year since 1987.

The information requested is given in the table.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he intends to publish advice with respect to changes of name for colleges in the new further education sector.

The Department has today issued advice to colleges entering the new further education sector on 1 April 1993 on the procedure for applying for name changes. The advice also includes guidance on college titles.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

Figures for the number of press officers are available only for the last three years. These are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if Her Majesty's Government will hold urgent discussions with clearing banks about the criteria they use for cashing student grant cheques.

This is entirely a matter for the clearing banks themselves to decide. My right hon. Friend has received no representations about any difficulties over their arrangements for cashing student grant cheques.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a list of secondary schools in Northamptonshire together with the amount spent per pupil in each school in the most recent available year.

Details of schools' planned unit costs are contained within part 2 of the budget statements prepared and published by each local education authority under section 42 of the Education Reform Act 1988. Information on schools' actual expenditure is contained in authorities' outturn statements. Copies of the relevant parts of the budget statements for 1991–92 and 1992–93 and the outturn statement for 1991–92 published by Northamptonshire county council have been placed in the Library.

To ask the Prime Minister when he was first advised of the contents of the letter from Lord McGregor to Sir David Calcutt.

The first I knew of Lord McGregor's letter was when it appeared in the national press.

To ask the Prime Minister when he responded to a letter dated 9 December 1992 from President Dobrica Cosić of Yugoslavia concerning the conflict in the former Yugoslavia; if he will indicate what his response has been; and if he will seek agreement to the publication of the correspondence.

I replied to President Cosić's letter on 11 January. I believe it important to maintain the confidentiality of such correspodence.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 14 December, Official Report, column 37, what is the basis for clear distinction between the intergovernmental binding decision in respect of Denmark taken in Edinburgh, and a treaty judiciable at the International Court at The Hague.

In the EC context 'treaty' is normally used for an instrument amending the Community treaties and thus requiring ratification. The decision in respect of Denmark does not amend either the Maastricht treaty or the earlier Community treaties and does not require ratification. It is, like a treaty, binding in international law.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it the policy of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw all British economic aid to Jamaica if hangings are recommenced there in February.

No. But in line with normal practice, our bilateral aid policy for Jamaica will continue to take full account of all human rights considerations.

To ask the Prime Minister what written evidence or information Her Majesty's Government have received from the Russian authorities concerning the seal cull in Russia; and if he will make a statement.

The Russian authorities informed us of the 1992 culling quotas of 7,300 and 2,300 for adult hooded and harp seals respectively. We have not received any figures for 1993. The Russian authorities are well aware of public concern in the United Kingdom about seal culling.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to incorporate article 10 of the European convention on human rights into British law.

No. Our policy remains not to incorporate the European convention on human rights into domestic law, since we believe that it is for Parliament, rather than the judiciary, to determine how the principles of human rights in the convention are best secured.

To ask the Prime Minister under what circumstances he would recommend to the Queen that awards be withdrawn posthumously; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: None that I can foresee, but the forfeiture of awards is considered on a case-by-case basis.

To ask the Prime Minister what consultations he held with (a) the Prince and (b) the Princess of Wales prior to his statement of 9 December 1992.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Leicester, East (Mr. Vaz) on Tuesday 12 January at column 697.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of fires in (a) the private sector and (b) the commercial sector were caused by faulty electrical installations for the latest year for which figures are available.

The table shows the percentage of fires attended by local authority fire brigades in the United Kingdom in 1991 where the cause was reported to be faults in the electrical plugs, sockets, switches, leads to appliances and other wiring in buildings, by their trade or business activity. The classification of "private" or "commercial" is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to meet the chairman of the British Greyhound Racing Board to discuss the possible extension of betting office opening hours in the evening.

I have no present plans for a further meeting, but have previously discussed this matter with the chairman. In addition, I met a delegation including the chief executive of the British Greyhound Racing Board on 21 December 1992 to discuss evening opening. My officials also met the chief executive and his colleagues on 2 December 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has taken on the continuing right to deny entry to the United Kingdom of visitors to other EC nations; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have access to legal and other advice from a variety of sources, but it is not the normal practice to reveal details of the advice provided in relation to any specific issue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his discussions with Commissioner Bangemann about the implications of proposed article 8A of the treaty of Rome in relation to the right of the United Kingdom to deny admission to visitors to other EC nations.

My right hon. and learned Friend had a number of discussions with EC Vice-President Bangemann when Herr Bangemann had responsibility within the Commission for implementation of the internal market. My right hon. and learned Friend made it clear that, while the Government's policy was to make it as easy as possible for EC nationals to enter and leave the United Kingdom, immigration controls would be maintained on non-EC nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will outline the reasons underlying his statement that the United Kingdom has a continuing right to exclude visitors to other EC nations following the implementation of proposed article 8A of the treaty of Rome.

Our view is that, insofar as it deals with the movement of persons, article 8A of the treaty of Rome applies only to EC nationals.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will use sequestrated assets from drug dealers in Liverpool to fund the expansion of the city's Dare to Care anti-drugs project; and if he will make a statement on measures he is taking to combat drug abuse in Liverpool.

Under present public accounting arrangements confiscated money is treated in the same way as fine revenue, and paid directly into the Consolidated Fund from which Government expenditure generally—including substantial support for drug-related work—is financed. In April 1991 the seized assets fund was established to recycle assets confiscated here under drug confiscation agreements with other countries to support work against drug misuse. £3.2 million has been made available from the fund in the current financial year to enforcement agencies and a variety of individual projects, including some based in Liverpool, directed against drugs misuse. The possibility of further funding being made available from this source is under consideration, but the final amount will depend on the success of international operations to confiscate the assets of drug traffickers.Under the drugs prevention initiative, a local drugs prevention team has been working in Liverpool since 1990. The team has provided financial and other support to a wide range of drugs prevention projects, including Dare to Care.Merseyside police play an active role in tackling drug misuse. In addition to enforcing the law, they are involved with other agencies, including the regional health authority and the education authority, in a number of prevention and education initiatives.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many new drug addicts registered on Merseyside in 1992; how many crimes on Merseyside were drug related over the past five years; and what resources are available to patrol Liverpool bay and the River Mersey to combat the smuggling of drugs into the area via small craft.

Addict statistics for 1992 are not yet available. In 1991, the number of new addicts notified to the Home Office in the Merseyside police area was 893.Information on drug-related offences in Merseyside is contained in table A2.1 of the Home Office Statistical Bulletin "Statistics of Drugs Seizures and Offenders Dealt With, UK 1991 (Area Tables)", a copy of which is in the Library.Anti-smuggling control is the responsibility of the Customs and Excise Department. Patrol of the areas mentioned forms a part of the duties of the flexible anti-smuggling teams based in the Liverpool area. These comprise a total of 38 staff plus support of two further officers whose specific job is to gather coastal intelligence. There are, in addition, further staff based at Holyhead, Heysham and Ellesmere Port who can be called on should the need arise.The staff are supported by a locally based Searider semi-rigid inflatable vessel, Customs marine branch cutters, aerial surveillance and mobile radar vans as necessary. A wide range of other technical aids is also available to local staff as Liverpool is the centre for the research and development of Customs equipment.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measures he proposes to take to tackle youth crime in Mansfield and Nottinghamshire;(2) what measures he intends to take to deal with car crimes committed by young people in

The Government have encouraged the police and other agencies in the development of effective crime prevention programmes aimed at tackling youth crime and have funded a number of initiatives. The Home Office safer cities project in Nottingham has committed more than £100,000 to youth crime prevention schemes since 1989. In addition, we have set up a local drug prevention team in the area. The Department of Education announced last month that Nottinghamshire is to receive £147,000 in 1992–93 under its grants for education support and training (GEST) programme for youth crime prevention schemes, one of which will be a "wheels" project in the Ashfield district to divert young people from car crime. The Department of the Environment's city challenge programme in Nottingham is also targeting youth crime prevention. In addition the probation supervision grant scheme provides funding for three projects in the Nottingham area for support for offenders and ex-offenders.As part of its programme of action on youth crime for 1993, Crime Concern is planning a series of regional seminars, including two in the midlands, on best practice in diverting young people from crime.The Government are also considering what means might be needed to reduce offending by the very small group of persistent juvenile offenders.With regard to the measures being taken nationwide to prevent car crime, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the question from the hon. Member for Alyn and Deeside (Mr. Jones) on 16 December 1992,

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in (a) the east midlands, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and Wales were unemployed in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.

Information on the employment status of defendants appearing before the courts in England and Wales is not recorded centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department will publish regional data on the relationship between property offences and consumption levels.

No.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he will use in deciding which contractors should be awarded contracts to provide prison education services.

Contracts will be awarded to those providers, whether from the public or private sector, who offer the best combination of quality and price which reflects the priority of the service.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when his Department was first made aware of the contents of the letter sent by Lord McGregor to Sir David Calcutt.

My Department first became aware of the letter when it was published in the press on Tuesday 12 January.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders in (a) the east midlands, (b) Nottinghamshire and (c) England and Wales went immediately into employment on release from prison in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.

The information requested is not recorded. However, the National Prison Survey 1991, which was based on a random sample of the prison population, found that about one sixth of prisoners who had an earliest release date in 1991 said that they had jobs to go to on release.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders under supervision by the probation service in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) England and Wales were unemployed in (i) 1989, (ii) 1990 and (iii) 1991.

This information is not available centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been his response to a request from the Association of London Authorities for his Department to meet the costs of the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism operations.

I have not recently received any such request. But I shall be meeting representatives of the association later this month and will consider their views.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

The Home Department's records do not contain a breakdown between press office and paid publicity (advertising, publications, exhibitions and videos) staff before 1982. Instead, public relations branch staff were listed together and this total, including clerical support grades, for 1979 to 1982 was 33 for each year inclusive.Press office staff numbers, including clerical grades, for subsequent years are:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department of he will update Home Office research study No. 119: "Trends in Crime and their Interpretation."

The study examined a period of some 30 years up to 1987 and was published in 1990. More recent trends in recorded crime are being kept under review, but there is no reason to believe that there have been significant changes in the patterns which it describes in the period since publication.In coming to its conclusion the study, published in 1990, based its findings on a period of some 30 years up to 1987 and as a consdquence I have no reason to doubt the continuing validity of its conclusions. I therefore have no immediate plans to repeat this particular work using post-1987 crime data.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Walsall, North of 17 December about inquiries into passport records.

I replied to the hon. Member on 13 January 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 450, if he will identify the professionals who gave references on behalf of Dr. Kypros Loucas.

Dr. Loucas gave the names of two professionals as personal referees whom the Prison Service could approach. The references were given in a personal capacity and with the customary assurance that they would be treated in strict confidence. On that basis, it would be wrong to identify them.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate his Department has made of the cost of a move to central European time.

Estimates of some of the possible costs and savings resulting from a move to Central European Time were made in the 1989 Green Paper "Summer Time: A Consultation Document" (CM722). We will review the adequacy of this information in our further consideration of policy on future summer time arrangements.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cold weather payments were made in November 1992 and in December 1992 (a) nationally and (b) in Merseyside.

The administration of the social fund is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claims remained to be cleared on 26 November 1992 (a) in total and (b) for claimants already in receipt of income support (i) for new claims for the highest rate of disabled living allowance care component and (ii) for new claims for the higher rate of attendance allowance.

The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to compensate claimants for the Benefits Agency delays in processing disability living allowance and attendance allowance and for backdating of linked benefits; and if he will make a statement.

The administration of disability living allowance and attendance allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the number and percentage of all inquiries received by the benefits inquiry line which relate to disability living allowances and attendance allowances in each month since February 1992 and the number and percentage of calls recorded but not able to get through on this line over the same period.

The administration of the benefit inquiry line for people with disabilities is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many disability living allowance and attendance allowance claims from (a) Stoke-on-Trent, North constituency and (b) the entire area dealt with by the relevant disability benefits centre have been outstanding each month since February 1992; and how many additional staff and at what grade have been taken on in each of those months.

The administration of disability living allowance is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he received a copy of the report of the survey of disability living allowance and disability working allowance jointly undertaken by the Disability Alliance and Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation during this summer; what response he has made; and if he will make a statement.

I received a copy of the report of the survey of disability living allowance and disability working allowance by the Disability Alliance and Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation on 25 November 1992 and I replied on 22 December. I noted that, although this report was based on an unrepresentative sample, it raised a number of issues, many of which were already being tackled. Officials from this Department intend to meet the researchers to discuss their findings and recommendations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will provide a breakdown of successful disability working allowance applicants by (a) average hourly earnings, (b) average hours worked, (c) average age, (d) sex, (e) marital status, (f) householder status and (g) qualifying benefit.

Information on the householder status of applicants is not available. The table provides estimated figures derived from an analysis of successful claims up to 30 November.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many people awarded disability working allowance failed to apply to renew the benefit after six months; and what plans his Department has to monitor reasons for failure to renew in such circumstances.

It is not possible to say how many people fail to renew their claim at any one time because they have an eight-week period around the time their award expires in which they can make a renewal claim. However, an analysis of the 1,159 awards made by 30 June 1992 shows that by the end of December, 834 of these recipients had been given a second award. This figure is likely to increase when late claims are decided.We are monitoring disability working allowance claims and awards carefully and are also planning further research.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many prosecutions there have been for social security fraud in the most recent six-month period for which figures are available and the previous five comparable six-month periods.

The investigation of social security fraud is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many invalidity benefit claimants in (a) York, (b) North Yorkshire and (c) England have been called for medical examination in the past 12 months; and what proportion these figures represent of all invalidity benefit claimants;(2) how many claimants in

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

Information for the years 1979 to 1988 is not available in the form requested. There was no separate Department of Social Security until August 1988.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what contribution his Department made to the HTV Cymru programme "Wales This Week", broadcast on 7 January.

The Department had no involvement in the broadcast.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish figures for the numbers of persons aged 16 and 17 years by county or region who received hardship benefit (a) in the financial year 1991–92 and (b) in the period April to October 1992.

The information is not available in the precise from requested. The table gives details of the number of claims for income support under the severe hardship provision by old DSS regions. Some people will have made more than one claim.

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) how many of the applications made in 1992 by (a) 16 and 17-year-olds and (b) 18 to 21-year-olds for (i) social fund loans and (ii) community care grants were made by females;(2) how many applications were made in 1992 by 18 to 21-year-olds for

Information is not collected centrally on social fund applications by people from these age groups. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that excise verification officers, in carrying out spot checks on licensed premises to prevent fraudulent sales of excisable goods, do not impose an undue burden on the operation of legitimate businesses; and if he will make a statement.

Excise verification officers are specially trained to counter the new revenue risks following completion of the single market. They will operate unobtrusively and will impose no undue burdens on legitimate businesses. Their controls will be largely intelligence-based and targeted at points of greatest risk, using information derived in many cases from trade sources. Legitimate traders will welcome this additional protection against dishonest competitors who have evaded United Kingdom duties on the goods they sell.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the yield of VAT estimated for the current financial year; and what would be the yield if VAT at 17.5 per cent. were extended to all goods and services currently zero-rated or exempt;(2) what would be the yield of VAT in the current year if a rate of 15 per cent. were applied to all goods including those presently exempted or zero-rated.

We estimate the VAT yield for 1992–93 will be £37·7 billion.The ready reckoner published in table 4.8 of the 1991 autumn statement suggests that, had the VAT rate been reduced to 15 per cent. from April 1992, the yield might have been £4.3 billion less.No estimates are available for the likely revenue effect from applying the standard rate of VAT to goods and services that are currently zero-rated or exempt from VAT. The 1992 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" provides some indication of the individual costs of the zero rates in 1991–92. These costs are not additive, however, and make no allowance for the likely behavioural response were the standard rate of VAT to be applied to these supplies.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he received last year in duty on whisky and whiskey; and how much more in real terms was received 10 years ago.

In 1991–92 an estimated £730 million was received in excise duty on whisky and whiskey.In real terms, at 1991–92 prices, £365 million more than this was received in 1981–82.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce a carbon dioxide tax.

In 1992 the United Kingdom signed the United Nations framework convention on climate change, which, on entry into force will commit the United Kingdom to draw up a programme of measures aimed at returning emissions of carbon dioxide to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. The Secretary of State for the Environment has recently issued a discussion document designed to stimulate a public debate about how to achieve this target. A tax on carbon dioxide and energy, and a tax on carbon, were included in the summary of possible Government measures.The European Commission has proposed a draft directive to introduce a tax on carbon dioxide and energy. The draft directive requires the unanimous approval of all member states. The proposal was discussed at the Economic and Finance Council of the European Community on 14 December 1992. The United Kingdom made it clear that the Government are not yet convinced that an EC-wide tax on carbon and energy is a necessary or appropriate response to the problem of global warming. The Council agreed that before a decision could be taken on whether, and if so under what circumstances, such a tax should be introduced throughout the Community, further analysis should be undertaken on the impact of the proposed tax, notably on energy consumption, economic activity and competitiveness.Further work should also be undertaken on a number of important features of the Commission's proposals, such as the balance between the carbon and energy elements of the proposed tax and the treatment of electricity. This work will take account of the conclusions of the Edinburgh European Council on the principles of subsidiarity. The Government are examining the Commission's proposal carefully but without prejudice as to its final adoption.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to impose VAT on books.

The hon. Member will not expect me to comment in the period running up to the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what financial controls are imposed on loans granted by (a) Action with Communities in Rural England and (b) the Sports Council; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: The conditions attached to loans will depend on the terms of the scheme under which the loan is offered. Conditions vary between schemes and, over time, within schemes.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in a table the value of (a) imports, (b) exports and (c) trade balance for manufactured goods for each year since 1979; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: Information on imports, exports and the balance for manufactured goods is published regularly in the Central Statistical Office "Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics" and is also available on the CSO database which may be accessed by the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out in a table an index of United Kingdom manufacturing output for each year from 1979, with 1979 set at 100.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: Indices of United Kingdom manufacturing output can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. The indices are based on 1985 = 100, but may be scaled appropriately.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what reports he has received about the fire in Marlborough high street, Marlborough, Wiltshire, on 1 January; and what approaches have been made to his Department with regard to assisting its full restoration.

I was greatly saddened to read of the disastrous fire which destroyed a number of 17th century buildings in Marlborough high street, and I have requested a full report on the incident from English Heritage. The only approach so far made to my Department concerning the possibility of financial assistance has been from my hon. Friend. The extent to which such assistance may be appropriate is a matter which is currently being considered by English Heritage in conjunction with other interested parties.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will list the recipients of embargoed copies of the report by Sir David Calcutt and the dates on which they received them.

No embargoed copies of the report by Sir David Calcutt QC were made available outside Government and civil service prior to the date of the report's publication.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations he has had from the Broadcasting Standards Council and the Independent Television Commission regarding television broadcasts originating from outside the United Kingdom with regard to standards of taste, decency, violence and sexual content; which broadcasts have been mentioned; and if he will make a statement about the United Kingdom's ability to control pornographic broadcasts.

I have received reports from both the Broadcasting Standards Council and the Independent Television Commission concerning the satellite channel Red Hot Dutch. I am considering what action is open to me to take under the powers available to me in the Broadcasting Act 1990, consistent with the United Kingdom's obligations under the EC broadcasting directive.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is his policy and procedure when he responds to complaints (a) from hon. Members and (b) from members of the public that listed buildings are being allowed to fall into a state of disrepair; and if he will make a statement.

When such complaints are received, my officials would normally make inquiries of English Heritage, the local authority concerned, or the owner, as appropriate. Further action would in the first instance be a matter for the local authority, but in exceptional cases consideration would also be given to the use of my reserve powers.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement about ministerial consideration of the issues and proposals in the report from Sir David Calcutt QC.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 14 January 1993, Official Report, columns 1067–82.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will make a statement on the future of Bletchley Park as a museum dedicated to the cryptographers of world war two.

[holding answer 14 January 1993]: Bletchley Park is at present owned partly by the Government and partly by British Telecom, both of whom plan to dispose of the site now that it is no longer needed for their own purposes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State looks on disposal as the opportunity to create at Bletchley Park a visible record of the code-breaking activities which took place there during world war 2. Departmental officials, and British Telecom too, are in touch with the Bletchley Park Trust about the trust's proposals for acquiring part of the site and developing a museum there. These discussions are aimed at translating the present proposals into firm plans.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the effective provision of personal and social education programmes in schools in the last two years.

Personal and social education is subject to inspection by Her Majesty's inspectors of schools who have undertaken several surveys of aspects of its provision in parts of Wales over the past two years.HMI has also addressed the subject, as appropriate, in its report on individual schools. Our new arrangements for inspections by registered inspectors will ensure more published reports on all aspects of the life of a school.For 1993–94, the Welsh Office will be supporting expenditure by local education authorities to support schools in the personal and social development of young people.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what advice has been published in the last two years in school building design; and what was the principal purpose of such advice in each case.

Guidance and advice on school building design in England and Wales is promulgated by the Department for Education. That Department seeks advice from the Welsh Office as and when appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessments he has made of the number of educational psychologists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, qualified specialists in hearing and visual impairments and other specialist support staff needed to ensure that all statements of special educational needs are prepared within six months whilst work with other children with special needs is maintained at satisfactory levels.

It is for local education authorities to assess and make provision for appropriate numbers of such specialist staff to ensure that statements of special educational needs are prepared within six months. I would expect LEAs to liaise and work closely with district health authorities and social services departments in this process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to protect the whorled caraway plant species at the Rhigos site in Brecon Beacons national park.

None. The whorled caraway plant is not protected by schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, nor is it classified as a nationally scarce species.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the procedure he intends to follow in the allocation of quota to individual sheep producers in Wales.

Over 90 per cent. of producers in Wales who were paid sheep annual premium in 1991 have by now received details of their initial allocation of ewe premium quota. Those remaining producers who have not received an allocation under this round are being considered under a second round of allocations. At a later date we will also be considering applications from producers who claimed premium for the first time in 1992 and producers who have inherited holdings from producers who ceased sheep production in 1992. Finally, applications for quota from the national reserve will also be invited following consultations with interested parties on how the reserve will be managed. The reserve has been established in order to deal specifically with cases where the determination of quota on a historical reference period would cause special difficulties for certain producers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the development of the north Wales QED site.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply given to the hon. Member for Wrexham (Dr. Marek) on 17 November 1992 at column 144. This has been supplemented by my letter of 16 December to the hon. Member for Wrexham, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

The number of staff employed in my Department's press office during the years in question is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the Association of European Regions concerning the method of selection of the United Kingdom members and alternates of the proposed Committee of the Regions.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received expressing public concerns over the electromagnetic effects of overhead electricity cables.

My right hon. Friend has received one representation about the possible human health effects.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out the timetable for the procurement of the landing platform helicopter vessel and list any foreseeable factors which might affect the timing of his placing of the construction contract.

Evaluation of the tenders for the new landing platform helicopter vessel, received in October, will be complete this summer. It is planned to place the order in the autumn.Any order would be dependent upon the outcome of our evaluation of tenders and the competing demands within the defence programme at the time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many staff were employed by his Department's press office in each year since 1979.

The numbers of information and administrative grades employed in the Ministry of Defence press and facilities office have been:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what studies have been made by his Department into the effects of electromagnetic field radiation and low-frequency non-ionising radiation, respectively, from facilities and equipment operated by his Department.

The MOD assesses its facilities and equipments against national guidelines for non-ionising radiation. In addition measurement surveys are carried out to determine the field and effects from both existing equipments and new equipments as they are brought into service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to respond to the study by the National Radiological Protection Board into the effects of radiation on personnel in attendance at British nuclear tests; and if he will make a statement.

When the National Radiological Protection Board report is published the Ministry of Defence will, in the light of its conclusions, consider how best to respond.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the outcome of coalition operations against Iraq on 13 January.

I am delighted to report that information now received confirms that no coalition aircraft or personnel were lost or damaged in the attack. There are media reports of a small number of Iraqi casualties, but we are unable to substantiate these at present.I am also in a position to confirm that the operation achieved a high degree of success. All the indicators so far are that a serious blow has been dealt to the Iraqi air defence network in the south, thereby significantly enhancing the safety of coalition aircraft patrolling the no-fly zone. The latest information indicates that the RAF Tornado GR1 aircraft involved successfully inflicted severe damage on their targets in the air defence facilities at A1 Amarah.Further reconnaissance will be required to provide firmer details, and it will be some time before final assessments of the success of the operation are available. I will continue to report to the House as more information becomes available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps are taken at the level of district health authorities, between them, or by the Health and Safety Executive, to survey the incidence of use, and collation of the contents of information supplied by medical practitioners signing death certificates consequent to changes in those certificates under the Industrial Diseases (Notification) Act 1981.

All registered deaths, including those certified by coroners as due to an industrial disease, are statutorily drawn to the attention of the district directors of public health, under section 124 of the National Health Service Act 1977, who may analyse them as they feel appropriate.Information concerning deaths from selected causes which may be the consequence of an industrial disease are routinely supplied to the Health and Safety Executive and analysed and published as appropriate.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement about the future of the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research.

The centre for applied microbiology and research (CAMR) is at present part of the Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS), and reports to me through the PHLS board. Following recent consideration of these arrangements, we have decided that CAMR should become a separate body in its own right, remaining accountable to Health Ministers. This will be implemented by creating the centre as an authority under the Department of Health, which will report to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State through its own board. I will make a further announcement once the necessary preparations have been completed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations she has had with the British Epilepsy Association concerning the incidence of photo-sensitive epilepsy and causal links with computer games.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the allocation of community care grant to each London borough and the City of London Corporation in 1993–94; and if she will make a statement on the ability of the London authorities to provide community care services in 1993–94;(2) if she will provide details of the calculations for community care grant in London as provided by her Department to local authority associations and to provide an explanation for the corrections made.

Indicative special transitional grant allocations for all authorities were given in the Department's circular LASSL(92)12 (amended) issued to local authorities on 14 December 1992. The circular sets out the basis of the calculation, and a copy is in the Library. The figures were revised because of a technical error in the original formula used to calculate the figures. The extra £565 million which has been made available to local authorities for community care has been ring fenced to enable all authorities to arrange and purchase appropriate care under their new responsibilities.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what is the estimated cost of funding the transfer or redundancy of 680 doctors in London, as envisaged by the Tomlinson report;(2) if she will publish the detailed reasoning behind the Tomlinson report estimate of £150 million to be spent on developing primary care services; and if she will publish similarly detailed costing of the costs of implementing the Tomlinson report in respect of

We shall publish our proposals for health services in London in the light of the Tomlinson recommendations, and their financial implications, shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the number of residential care and nursing home places in each London borough.