To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when it is intended to introduce legislation to implement the Law Commission's report on "Privity of Contract and Estate"—Law Commission No. 95; and what representations the Lord Chancellor has received from the business community about legislation on this subject.

The Lord Chancellor is actively considering the recommendations of the Law Commission on this subject and hopes to be able to make an announcement in the near future. He has received representations from both tenants and landlords and is well aware of their respective interests.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what has been the revenue from on-street parking fines in Liverpool for the past three financial years.

The fines, fees and fixed penalties collected by the magistrates courts are remitted to the Exchequer as an aggregate amount and the proportion relating to parking penalties cannot therefore be separately identified.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the adult population in England is currently eligible for legal aid; and what is his estimate of the proportion of the adult population which after 1 April will be eligible for legal aid.

Estimates of eligibility that have been made are based on family expenditure survey data and relate to households. The proportion of households currently eligible for civil legal aid is estimated to be between 50 and 55 per cent. in England and Wales. I estimate that after the changes are introduced in April about 48 per cent. of households in England and Wales will be eligible for civil legal aid. There is no upper financial limit for criminal legal aid: all those whose financial resources are such that they require assistance in meeting their costs are eligible and will continue to be eligible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ban the importation of martial arts knives and similar weapons; and if he will make a statement.

The importation of 14 types of offensive weapon, including certain martial arts knives, is already prohibited by virtue of an order made under section 141 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.My right hon. and learned Friend will consider, in the light of all the evidence, whether further restrictions on the importation of any offensive weapon that is brought to his attention are necessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library a list of all the regulations for which his Department is currently responsible with a descriptive title for each individual regulation.

A provisional list of regulations that impact on business has recently been put together by my Department. I shall place the list in the Library once it has been fully checked for accuracy and consistency of definition.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a decision has yet been made on the proposal to build a prison at Fazakerley in Liverpool.

The Government believe that there is a clear need for more secure prison places in the north-west. A new prison at Fazakerley would enable us to locate many prisoners from Merseyside much closer to home than is now possible. I have looked into the concerns expressed against building a prison at Fazakerley, but have concluded that the site is suitable for such a use. In view of the planning authority's reservations the matter will now he referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment who will consider its request that the matter should be the subject of a public inquiry.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he has had, or proposes to have, with the Greater Manchester police authority about the restructuring of police forces and police authorities.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Home Secretary has not held discussions with individual police authorities. He is considering what reforms in police organisation and structure may be needed. He will announce his proposals as soon as possible. Interested parties will be consulted before final decisions are reached.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new strategies he intends to promote to tackle drug problems in Greater Manchester.

The Government's overall strategy for tackling drug misuse is aimed at reducing both the supply of and the demand for drugs throughout the United Kingdom.Local drugs prevention teams have been set up in both Manchester and Salford under the Home Office drugs prevention initiative, and they will continue to work with the local community in finding effective ways of preventing the spread of drug misuse.Greater Manchester, like other areas, will also benefit from other aspects of the Government's drug strategy such as the assistance we are providing to other countries to help reduce the supply of drugs into this country and the tougher controls which we are introducing on precursor and essential chemicals.At the national level, we are committed to bringing forward proposals to ensure that the control of drug misuse is co-ordinated effectively, and the Criminal Justice Bill which we hope to bring before the House shortly, further tightens the law on drug trafficking and money laundering.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures he intends to take to deal with car crimes committed by young people in Greater Manchester.

The Government has encouraged the police and other agencies in the development of effective crime prevention programmes aimed at tackling youth crime and has funded a number of initiatives. The Home Office safer cities projects in the Greater Manchester area, Salford and Rochdale, have committed £120,000 and £18,000 respectively in 1992–93 to schemes aimed at diverting young people from crime, including car crime. We also established local drug prevention teams in Manchester and Salford in February 1992 with the aim of tackling the spread of drug misuse, particularly among the young. In addition the Home Office currently funds four projects which, in the main, are aimed at providing programmes of supervision or support for young offenders and defendants, in the Greater Manchester probation area through its probation supervision grant scheme. An application in respect of a go-kart project is in the early stages of consideration. The Department of Education announced recently that Manchester is to receive £147,000 in 1992–1993 under its grants for education support and training programme for youth crime prevention schemes. Five estates are targeted and the schemes will focus on car crime and burglary.As part of its programme of action on youth crime for 1993, Crime Concern is planning a series of regional seminars, one of which is to be held in the north-west, on best practice in diverting young people from crime.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grade of staff member has been appointed race relations liaison officer at the Wolds prison.

The post of race relations liaison officer at HM prison Wolds is held by the training manager. Staff at Wolds are not ascribed grades as such.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on staff there were at the Wolds prison between 1 July and 31 December 1992; and what was the average population of prisoners at the Wolds during this period.

During the period in question there were 16 assaults on staff by prisoners. The average prisoner population was 195.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many disciplinary adjudications were carried out at the Wolds prison in the most recent convenient month; in how many cases prisoners were found guilty; in how many cases prospective loss of remission was ordered; and what was the average number of days' remission forfeited.

In December 1992, 71 adjudications were carried out at HM prison Wolds. Prisoners were found guilty in 62 cases and punishment of prospective added days was used in 22 cases. The average number of days forfeited was 3.8.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on other prisoners took place at the Wolds prison between 1 July and 31 December 1992.

Twelve incidents of assault by prisoners on other prisoners took place at HM prison Wolds during the period in question.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) black and (b) female prison officers, there were in 1963, 1970, 1980, 1990 and at the latest available date; and what proportion these figures form of the total prison staff establishment;(2) how many

The Prison Service is currently in the process of conducting a voluntary survey of the ethnic origins of its staff, and until that survey is complete we shall not have comprehensive data. However, the tables set out the information currently available on staff who have recorded their ethnic origin as other than white.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prison officers are working in prisons where the prisoners are of the opposite sex.

A total of 1,124 female prison officers work in establishments with male prisoners and 110 male prison officers work in establishments with female prisoners. One hundred and sixty-one female prison officers and 649 male prison officers work in establishments with prisoners of both sexes.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons prisoners now have access to cardphones; and when inmates of all prisons will have access to cardphones.

Cardphones for prisoners' use are available in all establishments in England and Wales, except Durham prison and Wormwood Scrubs, where installation is due to take place by the end of February.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons sentenced prisoners are allowed to wear their own clothes; and what plans he has to extend this to all prisoners.

Prisoners other than convicted male prisoners are allowed to wear their own clothes, and the Government aim progressively to allow convicted male prisoners to wear their own clothes.Prisoners at Belmarsh, High Down and Woodhill prisons have been allowed to wear their own clothes since they opened in 1991 and 1992. Formal trials are being held at Her Majesty's prison Wellingborough and in Huntercombe and Finnamore Wood young offender institutions to assess the implications of a more general move towards prisoners wearing their own clothes. In addition, some other establishments allow male convicted prisoners to wear certain items of their own clothing.Prisoners in category C and D establishments, including open young offender institutions, are allowed to wear their own socks and underwear if adequate laundering or exchange arrangements are available and they may also be allowed to wear their own shoes.The scope for further relaxations will be considered later this year in the light of the trials.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects the framework agreement for the Prison Service Agency to be finalised.

I plan to publish the agency's framework document on 1 April, when the agency is launched.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if all area criminal justice consultative committees have discussed the Criminal Justice Consultative Council paper on prisoners awaiting trial and reported back to the council.

All area committees are to discuss this paper which was published on 1 December 1992. Those that have not already dealt with this matter are scheduled to do so at their next meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults by prisoners on other prisoners took place in male prisons holding remand prisoners in the most recent six-month period for which figures are available; and what was the average population of those prisons during that period.

The provisional figure for assaults by prisoners on other prisoners in male prisons holding remand prisoners during July to December 1992 is 460 and the average population was 17,162.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on staff there were in male prisons holding remand prisoners in the most recent six months period for which figures are available; and what was the average population of those prisons during that period.

The provisional figure for assaults on staff, including attempted assaults, in male prisons holding remand prisoners during July to December 1992 is 535 and the average population was 17,162.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how often the Criminal Justice Consultative Council has met; and what topics it has discussed;(2) what plans there are for the Criminal Justice Consultative Council to produce an annual report of its work; and when it will be published.

The Criminal Justice Consultative Council has met on five occasions. It has discussed the implementation of the Criminal Justice Act 1991; the establishment of area criminal justice liaison committees; projections for the criminal justice system; prisoners awaiting trial; race issues within the criminal justice system; the mode of trial decisions and sentencing; notification of guilty pleas at an early stage; the public expenditure survey 1992 as it relates to the criminal justice system; the criminal justice special conferences programme 1993–94 and its own programme of work.The council will produce a report of its first year's work which will be published after its next meeting on 22 April.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons prisoners are allowed television in their cells; and what plans he has to extend this to all prisons.

Following the announcement in the White Paper, "Custody, Care and Justice", a trial of battery-operated televisions began at HMP The Mount in December 1991 and of mains-powered sets at HMP Stocken in October 1992. Television in cells has also been allowed in some other establishments, including HMP Garth and HM young offenders institution, Feltham, and we are considering allowing televisions in cells in some other prisons.The trials are addressing a number of issues including safety, security, licensing, cost and effects on prisoners' behaviour and participation in regime activities. The trials are being evaluated and decisions on whether to extend the availability of in-cell television further will be taken as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to serve meals in prisons at times of day which correspond more closely to mealtimes outside prison.

A model regime for local prisons and remand centres was published in November 1992 which governors are expected to work towards. This sets out reasonable times at which meals should be served. A code of standards for the Prison Service is also being developed, for publication by the end of the year, and is expected to include provisions about mealtimes. At contracted prisons, there is a contractual obligation to provide meals at normal times.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many prisons staff now wear name badges; and when staff in all prisons will be required to wear name badges.

It is a commitment by Her Majesty's Prison Service that all staff in both headquarters and establishments will be required to wear name badges from 1 April 1993 when they come in contact with the general public and prisoners. Many staff have already been issued with their name badges and are being encouraged to begin wearing them, but as the manufacture and issue of these name badges is a rolling programme aimed for completion by 19 March 1993, it is not possible at this point in the programme to indicate how many prison establishments have received their badges.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the proposed number of police officers in the Plumstead division of the Metropolitan police for 1993.

[holding answer 5 February 1993]: There are currently 257 officers in the Plumstead division.Allocation of officers in the Metropolitan police district is a matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. I understand that at present there are no plans to alter the number of officers stationed at Plumstead.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many potential contractors have bid to provide prison education services in 1993–94; how many bids are from local education authorities; and how many are from colleges of further education.

[pursuant to his reply, 11 January 1993, c. 597.]: A total of 154 bids have been received to provide future education services in one or a number of prison establishments. Of these, 113 are from colleges and institutions of further education, 28 from private sector organisations and 13 from local education authorities.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the distribution of the science budget in 1993–94.

I have considered the Advisory Board for the Research Councils' recommendations on the distribution of the science budget, and have decided to accept the advice that the £1,164.56 million for 1993–94 should, subject to approval by Parliament of the estimates in due course, be allocated as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Government are taking to secure the establishment of the European Bioinformatics Institute in the United Kingdom.

I am delighted to announce that the United Kingdom has today submitted a bid to host the European Bioinformatics Institute at Cambridge. This presents an exciting and important opportunity for the United Kingdom to secure an international research facility at the forefront of modern science and in an area of great and increasing importance for health care and for industry.The EBI will be an out-station of the European molecular biology laboratory in Heidelberg. Its task will be to provide a database of biological information to researchers throughout Europe. The bid is being underwritten by the Medical Research Council, with support from the Wellcome Trust. Copies of the full text have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what measures he is considering to provide incentives for scientists to continue to work within the United Kingdom.

The Government provide substantial funding to maintain a healthy science base in this country and to ensure continuing opportunities for our scientists. The question of career structures for scientists is one which is being examined in the context of the forthcoming White Paper on science and technology.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the new projects that are to be submitted for financing by the European investment bank and their approximate cost.

The European investment bank—EIB—is required by its statute to seek the opinion of EC member states in whose territory a project is situated before considering it for approval. The Government are, and will remain, in close contact with the EIB, to discuss proposals submitted by United Kingdom organisations for new investment projects. However, projects under consideration are classified by the EIB as commercially confidential and it would therefore be inappropriate for the Government to list those in the United Kingdom, before the loans had been approved by the bank's board of directors.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of debt per household for every £100 of disposable income for each year since 1979.

Figures for the level of household debt outstanding are not available. The levels of debt of the personal sector, which includes apart from households, all unincorporated private businesses, sole traders, partnerships, non-profit-making bodies, serving persons and private trusts, per £100 of disposable income for the years 1979–91 were as follows:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many representations he has received to date calling for the introduction of a VAT rebate scheme for charities within the next Budget.

A considerable number.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Leeds, Central (Mr. Fatchett) of 18 November, Official Report, column 225, when the new contracting terms for Government contractors to be paid within 30 days came into effect.

[holding answer 9 February 1993]: Guidance was issued on 14 April 1992 to all Government Departments and executive agencies. For all contract award procedures initiated after that date, all Government contracts are to contain a clause requiring the supplier or contractor to pay subcontractors promptly. In the absence of normal practice to the contrary for that type of contract, or other special circumstances, the commitment should be to pay the subcontractor within 30 days of receipt of a valid invoice or similar demand for payment as defined by the contract.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the firms of consultants used by his Department as part of the market testing programme since November 1991 together with the total cost; and if he will make a statement.

Since November 1991 two firms of consultants have been used by my Department in connection with my market testing programme. Coopers and Lybrand Deloitte helped to undertake the initial scoping exercise to identify possible activities for market testing in my Department. Capita Management Consultancy is being used to assist my Department in undertaking the 1992–93 market testing programme. The total cost of these consultants up to the end of December 1992 has been £207,625 excluding VAT and expenses.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report on drinking water quality in Scotland in 1991; and if he will make a statement.

A report has been published today by the Scottish Office Environment Department which gives an overview of drinking water quality in Scotland in 1991, under the Water (Scotland) Act 1980 and associated regulations. I have arranged for copies to be placed in the Library.The report shows that drinking water quality in 1991 has improved since 1990 as a result of the action taken by authorities to deal with water quality problems. In 1991, 98 per cent. of all regulatory determinands met the prescribed standards compared with 97 per cent. in 1990. Reported data also showed that for 48 out of 55 numerical standards, 99.8 per cent. of analytical results complied compared with 99.6 per cent. in 1990.The failures to meet quality standards fully did not represent a risk to public health.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice is given to Ministers in his Department (a) concerning their own personal fitness and (b) their role in promoting good health by example.

[holding answer of 21 January 1993]: Having published the policy statement "Scotland's Health: A Challenge To Us All", my right hon. Friend and his ministerial colleagues are fully aware of the life style factors which contribute to personal fitness and good health. We are also firmly committed to the undertaking in the statement that the Scottish Office will develop health promotion policies as exemplars for other employers, and this process has already begun.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice his Department took before authorising the use of chemical dispersants on the Braer oil slick off the Shetland Islands.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: My Department's marine scientists have extensive knowledge of dispersants because of their long involvement with the North sea offshore oil industry. The limits on the sea area in which spraying could take place followed discussions which local fisheries and environmental interests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what permission he has given for the use of Dispolene 34S and Enersperse dispersants to break up the oil slick from the Braer tanker accident off Shetland.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: My Department authorised the use of type 2 and type 3 dispersants, of which Dispolene and Enersperse are two varieties.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the preparedness of further education colleges to transfer from local authority control on 1 April 1993.

[holding answer 21 January 1993]: Colleges are in a good state of readiness. New management structures are in place and the necessary management systems are being set up. Those working in colleges are to be congratulated on the good progress which has been made.

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hectares of (a) Forestry Commission planting, (b) private planting and (c) new trees have been planted in (i) Scotland, (ii) Wales and (iii) England each year since 1981; and what were the Government targets for these years.

[holding answer 8 February 1993]: Information on the planting undertaken by the Forestry Commission and the private sector since 1981 is given in the tables.My right hon. Friend the then Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr. Younger, stated on 10 December 1980,

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what reasons underlay his decision on the provision of community support for Wayne Darvell following his release after the quashing last year of his conviction for murder; and if he will make a statement.

The assessment of need for, and provision of, services in the community for any individual is a matter for the relevant statutory authorities—including the social services authority and/or health authority—acting in consultation with one another. I am advised that West Glamorgan social services department had already sought to give help to Mr. Darvell when he was in their area. Most recently, I understand Mr. Darvell is now living in South Glamorgan where he has been seen by health and social services staff who are discussing his needs with him.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the date on which his Department invited local authorities to bid for the specific grants for the education of travellers and displaced persons in the financial year 1993–94.

No new bids have been invited for 1993–94. The programme for 1993–94 will support expenditure of £100,000 relating to ongoing projects in Gwynedd, Dyfed and South Glamorgan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, columns 2–3, if he will give further details of the capital programme for the year 1993–94 and the percentage rate of increase thereof since the year 1987–88.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will publish figures for (a) the gross budget for capital expenditure and (b) net budget for capital expenditure in respect of his Department's programmes (i) for each year from 1987–88 to 1992–93 and (ii) planned for 1993–94;(2) if he will publish figures for

The information is as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it his policy to establish the right of employees of statutory bodies in Wales to make claims for a specified number of work days each year for attending courses to assist with the reading, writing and speaking of Welsh.

The provision of opportunities for employees to learn Welsh is a matter for individual employers and organisations to consider.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much financial assistance has been provided by his Department to establish Welsh language learning centres in Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will list the amount granted to each centre.

The Welsh Office awards grant aid to a number of organisations which support Welsh language learning, for example the Urdd, local authorities and the learners' organisation CYD. Figures for grants awarded in respect of learning centres run by these organisations are not kept separately. However, direct support for the Welsh language centres at Nant Gwrtheyrn and Canolfan Iaith Clwyd over the last five years has been as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money has been allocated by his Department in each of the last five years to assist directly the marketing of Welsh learners' courses for adults.

Direct Welsh Office support for teaching Welsh to adults over the financial years 1990–91 to 1992–93 is as follows. Figures for previous years were not kept separately.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many hired consultants have been employed by (a) central and (b) local government and by the public sector excluding local government in Wales to advise on the introduction of compulsory competitive tendering to (i) professional and specialist services, (ii) executive and clerical operations, (iii) office services and (iv) estate and construction services since the publication of the "Competing for Quality" White Paper; and what was the total cost of hiring consultants according to (1) the type of work to be tendered and (2) the organisation conducting or partaking in the tendering process.

The information is not available in the form requested. Three firms of consultants have been employed by the Welsh Office to advise on the Department's own current market testing programme. The cost to date of employing these consultants is £25,000. Information on the employment of consultants by other parts of the public sector is not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on recent air quality audits conducted in Wales by the Warren Spring Laboratory on behalf of the Government.

The Warren Spring Laboratory conducted a survey of nitrogen dioxide levels in the United Kingdom in 1991–92. All the readings for Wales were well below EC guideline limits.The laboratory is also currently taking measurements in Wales as part of a survey of toxic organic micropollutants in urban air and an interim report was published in September 1992. Monitoring is continuing and trends in readings are being analysed.Copies of the published reports of both surveys are held in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what specific processes have been established by his Department to monitor the effectiveness of contracted-out services in comparison to services undertaken prior to contractorisation in Wales.

Monitoring of contracted-out service delivery in the local authority and health service sectors is the responsibility of those sectors. Specifications for contracts let in respect of the Department's own current market testing programme will be performance-based and will form the basis for the monitoring of the service deliverer's performance.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his oral answer of 1 February, Official Report, column 10, what is the estimated amount in the reduction of basic credit approvals (a) to Mid-Glamorgan and (b) to Welsh counties arising from the transfer of further education institutions.

Local authority credit approvals have been reduced in total by £8.915 million in 1993–94 compared with the level which would otherwise have been set to take account of the transfer of further education institutions. A deduction was not made as such for each individual county. Basic credit approvals are allocated according to a formula agreed with the local authority associations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment is made of environmental factors in encouraging inward investment into Wales.

The excellent environmental attractions of Wales continue to be a factor in encouraging high levels of inward investment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the south Glamorgan training and enterprise council concerning the future of the Astra skilleentre at Gabalfa, Cardiff.

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on progress made by local authorities in introducing recycling schemes in Wales.

information relating to increases in the number of bottle banks will be published in the 1992 series of the "Environmental Digest for Wales". Definitive information on other aspects of recycling will not be available until district councils complete their recycling plans under the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in the coal industry in (a) Wales and (b) Clwyd in (i) deep mining and (ii) opencast mining in 1980, 1990 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The available information is presented in the following table:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in the steel industry in (a) Wales and (b) Clwyd in 1980, 1989 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

The number of people employed in the steel industry in Wales in 1980, 1989 and 1992 were 32,200, 19,400 and 16,500 respectively. Comparable figures for Clwyd cannot be given, as to do so would breach rules of company confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people were employed in the aerospace industry in (a) Clwyd and (b) Wales in 1980, 1990 and at the latest date for which figures are available.

According to the census of employment, in September 1981 there were 6,500 people employed in the aerospace industry in Wales. In the latest available census, in September 1989, this figure had risen to 9,300.Figures at county level cannot be given, as to do so would breach rules of company confidentiality.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many construction workers are currently unemployed in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The sample size for the labour force survey is not sufficiently large to allow a reliable estimate of unemployment by region and by previous industrial sector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the cost to industry of road congestion and road accidents in Wales.

Information on the cost to industry of road congestion and road accidents is not available. The total cost of road accidents in Wales in 1991 is estimated to be £230 million.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received concerning hill livestock compensatory allowances in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from Welsh Members of Parliament, the Welsh fanning organisations and individual farmers in respect of hill livestock compensatory allowance payments in Wales. I have also recently had meetings with two Welsh Members of Parliament, some farmers and representatives from the Welsh farming unions to discuss this matter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is his policy for upland areas in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 19 June 1992, at column 711.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received regarding the development in Clwyd of the Liverpool Bay gas reserves; and if he will make a statement.

I have received many representations in relation to the application by Hamilton Oil for planning permission for a gas and oil terminal at Point of Ayr, Clwyd. A public local inquiry has been held and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the hospital incinerators in Wales that (a) burn less than 25 kg of clinical waste per hour and (b) burn less than 1 tonne of clinical waste per hour.

There are no hospital incinerators in Wales that burn less than 25 kg of clinical waste per hour. The hospital incinerators that burn less than 1 tonne of clinical waste per hour are as follows.

To ask the Prime Minister if the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will administer the fishing decommissioning scheme for the entire United Kingdom fishing fleet; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will administer the decommissioning scheme on behalf of all four fisheries departments. The scheme is part of a package, including effort control measures, designed to conserve fish stocks and help to meet targets the United Kingdom as a whole under the European Community's multi-annual guidance programme.

To ask the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to co-ordinate the activities of Departments on the transportation of radioactive materials from and to Thorp; and if he will make a statement.

Transport arrangments are the responsibility of the consignor, subject to meeting the requirements of the Department of Transport on safety issues and the Department of Trade and Industry on export control and security issues. The two Departments co-ordinate as necessary.

To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he has given to the establishment of a ministerial group to co-ordinate youth policy across Government Departments; and if he will make a statement.

The interests of young people can best be served through action which addresses specific issues. Where action involves more than one Department, co-ordination between Ministers takes place. These arrangements work satisfactorily and there is currently no need to establish a formal ministerial group.

To ask the right hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to his answer of 11 January, Official Report, column 551, if he will outline the initiatives planned by the Director of Finance and Administration to improve financial management systems in House Departments.

In addition to the further development of measures already taken, the Director of Finance and Administration is planning to introduce an integrated payroll and personnel system for staff of the House early in the next financial year. A new computer system for the Fees Office is also under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is his estimate of the amount to be spent in 1993–94 in rent and other costs associated with the offices of his Department in Sanctuary buildings, Great Smith street, London.

The estimated rent for Sanctuary buildings for the financial year 1993–94 is £10,368,823. This figure includes the service charge and VAT. The estimated contribution in lieu of rates to be made for Sanctuary buildings is £2,350,400.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will publish a table showing for each education authority the percentage cash increase between education standard spending assessments for 1992–93 and 1993–94; how much of this increase is due to changes in student numbers; how much this increase is in standard 1992–93 price terms, using the inflation estimate in the autumn statement; and what is the percentage relationship of the 1993–94 standard spending assessment with the 1992–93 budget.

Local education authorities' standard spending assessments—SSAs—for 1993–94 are not directly comparable with those for 1992–93: they will be lower in cash terms, mainly because local authorities will from this April hand over responsibility for most further education to the Further Education Funding Council, and will begin to relinquish responsibility for school inspections. When