To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the comparative reconviction rates within two years of young people who complete their sentences in custody and those who participate in full-time, away-from-home community service programmes.

The latest available figures for young offenders released from custody relate to those released in 1986 and are published in table 9.1 of "Prison Statistics 1989", Cm 1221, a copy of which is in the Library. Information relating to the number of young offenders who participate in full-time, away-from-home community service programmes is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will inquire from each of the police forces in England and Wales and thereafter publish the costs to the police of kennelling stray dogs and any other associated costs during the most recent 12-month period;(2) if he will inquire from each of the police forces in England and Wales and thereafter publish the costs associated with policing the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991, during the first year of the Act, distinguishing (i) the total spent in kennelling dangerous dogs, (ii) the cost of veterinary fees, (iii) the purchase of protective clothing and equipment and (iv) the estimate of the cost of time spent by police officers being trained to identify the types of dog covered by the Act, in seizing dogs and preparing evidence.

I understand that my right hon. Friend has been provided with information on the costs to the Metropolitan police of policing the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 and of dealing with stray dogs.Similar information in respect of provincial police forces in England and Wales is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the prison staff responsible for security at Manchester crown court were involved in the specifications for the building of the cells, holding and toilet areas to contain the prisoners on trial for the Strangeways riot.

The prison staff responsible for the security at Manchester Crown court were not involved in the specification for the building of the areas used to contain the prisoners on trial for the Strangeways riot.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many assaults on prison staff at the Crown court, Manchester there have been since the trials relating to the Strangeways riot first commenced.

There have been nine reported incidents of alleged assault on prison staff by defendants in the Strangeways riot trials at Manchester Crown court.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the cost of radios, televisions and multigym facilities provided for the five prisoners who recently escaped from Manchester Crown court.

The television was borrowed from the Greater Manchester police. The prison service provided 11 radios at a total cost of £65 and a multigym at a cost of £3,000.These items were provided for all the prisoners on trial in connection with charges arising from the Manchester prison disturbance. The prisoners concerned were held in police accommodation not designed for this purpose and which did not have normal regime facilities found in prison service establishments.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions the prison officers were given in respect of confrontation with the prisoners on trial for the riot at Strangeways prison.

The inquiry mounted by the prison service will investigate all circumstances of the escape of five defendants on trial at Manchester Crown court, including any instructions give to prison staff supervising the trial. It would be wrong to comment further while these inquiries are in progress. All prison officers receive training in how to deal with confrontation with prisoners, including the use of force where that is necessary to maintain control.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the toilet area at Manchester Crown court had been inspected and security arrangements accepted before being handed over to the prison staff prior to the recent escape of five prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

The toilet area at Manchester Crown court is part of the original complex built in the 1960s, long before formal arrangements regarding specifications and acceptance of physical security elements of the building were set up between the Home Office and the Lord Chancellor's Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers retired on sickness grounds while disciplinary action involving them was under consideration in each year since 1980.

Information about retirements following the laying of disciplinary charges have been collected only since 1991.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to his answer of 22 February, Official Report, column 430, what were the ranks of the police officers who retired in 1991 after disciplinary charges had been brought against them, but before those charges were heard; whether they retired on fully accrued pension terms; and whether any enhancements were provided.

Retirement from the police service, whether on grounds of ill-health or otherwise, is the responsibility of police authorities and details are not collected centrally.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) who will run the new-style secure units planned by his Department;(2) who will have responsibility for the operation and oversight of the new-style secure units proposed by his Department;(3) what arrangements will be made for inspection and monitoring of the new-style secure units planned by his Department;(4) what consideration he has given to the location of further secure places for young people;(5) what he estimates will be the capital costs of the new-style secure units planned by his Department; and who will pay these costs;(6) what regime he intends shall be provided in the new-style secure units planned by his Department;(7) what proposals he has for the reintegration of young people into family and community after a period in the new-style secure units proposed by his Department;(8) how many places

My right hon. and learned Friend will shortly be making a statement to the House about his proposals for more effective measures to deal with persistent juvenile offenders.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the incidence of all categories of unlawful killings, in each year since 1979.

The available information is for notifiable offences recorded by the police in England and Wales and is contained in the table. Figures for 1992 as a whole are not yet available.

Unlawful killings1recorded by the police England and Wales: 1979–1992.
Year	Number of offences
1979	856
1980	857
1981	794
1982	887
1983	739
1984	844
1985	875

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish guidance on fire safety for small residential care homes before 1 April.

We sent draft guidance to the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and the Chief and Assistant Chief Fire Officers Association for comments by 26 March. The guidance will then be considered further and issued as soon as possible.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department's officials will have discussions with those responsible for operating the Homerunner women-only bus service in Bradford with a view to funding the service indefinitely; and if he will make a statement.

The Homerunner women's safe transport scheme commenced in November 1989 funded jointly by the Home Office, through the Bradford safer cities project, and the West Yorkshire passenger transport authority, Metro, for a period of 12 months. Further funding from safer cities, Metro and Bradford metropolitan borough council allowed the service to continue until March 1992 to enable the Homerunner steering group to seek funding from local sources to secure the future of the scheme. Exceptionally, safer cities grant was contributed to a further year's funding to enable the service to operate until March 1993, while Homerunner continued to make arrangements for alternative funding.When the safer cities programme was established in 1988, it was intended that the modest amount of grant funding for each project would act as pump-priming and not to finance schemes on a long-term basis. It has consistently been made clear to the Homerunner scheme that the safer cities grant could not continue indefinitely.Bradford safer cities final year as a Home Office project is 1993–94 and its steering committee has concluded that, in the light of the more limited grants budget available and the previous history of funding the Homerunner scheme, it could not recommend a further grant for the scheme.There are no other Home Office grant-giving initiatives available which could assist Homerunner and in these circumstances a meeting with the operators of the service would serve little purpose. However, I hope that funding will be found from local sources to enable this service to continue.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider his proposals for the future funding of the safer cities project in Bradford; and if he will make a statement.

By the end of this financial year, Bradford will have received safer cities grant funding of over £1 million since the safer cities project was set up in November 1988. In 1993–94 grant funding of £100,000 has been allocated to Bradford and in that year the project will have access to further funds for work specifically directed at leaving in place long-term arrangements for multi-agency crime prevention work. I hope that the safer cities investment will provide a platform for local crime prevention efforts to become self-sustaining after March 1994. In the light of this, I will not be reconsidering my plans to make the safer cities model available to new locations. There is nothing further I can usefully add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member's previous question on 9 February, at column 531.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the funding in real terms for Relate for each year from 1983–84 to 1993–94.

[holding answer 26 February 1993]: The Home Office grant in aid to Relate for each year from 1983–84 to 1993–94 is set out in actual terms and real terms, using 1991–92 as the base year.

	Actual expenditure (£)	Real terms expenditure (£)
1983–84	788,000	1,254,957
1984–85	827,460	1,254,183
1985–86	864,570	1,242,609
1986–87	890,500	1,239,974
1987–88	912,870	1,204,902
1988–89	935,910	1,151,478
1989–90	958,890	1,106,408
1990–91	1,006,840	1,076,408
1991–92	1,107,500	1,107,500

	Salary	Other benefits
Bermuda	B$117.150	B$68,900 Accountable entertainment allowance
Gibraltar	£50,636	£5,609 Duty allowance £8·51 per day table allowance—paid by MOD
Hong Kong	HK$l,912,200	HK$463,200 Entertainment allowance
Cayman Islands	Cayman $90,804	£6,311 Diplomatic service allowance—DSA—paid by FCO

The governors of St. Helena, Turks and Caicos and Montserrat are paid a local salary by the dependent Governments, and a salary supplement based on the salary

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, further to the statement of the Attorney-General, Official Report, 22 February 1993, column 241, in the absence of incorporation of the social protocol into United Kingdom law what further legislation would be necessary to enable payment of the EC administrative costs of the protocol.

If the administration expenses were included in the Community budget, the United Kingdom would charge its contribution direct on the Consolidated Fund under section 2(3) of the European Communities Act 1972. If the Community budget were not used, the United Kingdom contribution to any expenses would be met from voted moneys on the authority of the Appropriation Act alone.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list each of the colonial governors who are currently exempt from paying income tax on the salary they receive; what is their current salary; and what other non-taxable benefits they or their families receive.

The information is as follows:The following governors are paid salaries and allowances by the territory which are not liable to United Kingdom, or local, tax. Their annual salaries and non-taxable allowances are as follows:of a diplomatic service grade 4 officer which is abated for notional United Kingdom income tax. Their annual salaries and non-taxable allowances are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has about the proposal by the Indian Government to legislate for a human rights commission.

The Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narasimha Rao, told my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25 January that legislation to establish a human rights commission in India would be introduced during the current session of the Indian Parliament. The commission would be composed of internationally known independent human rights experts.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what access arrangements have been agreed by the Indian Government for Amnesty International and other agencies to Punjab and Kashmir; and if he will make a statement.

The Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narasimha Rao, told my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 25 January that the Indian Government had decided to allow some access in India to Amnesty International and Asia Watch, although they could not go to states where there was trouble and where the visit could itself lead to tensions. But as things calmed down, such organisations could gradually be able to travel more widely.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to ratify the 1981 United Nations inhumane weapons convention.

The situation remains as set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Leyton (Mr. Cohen) on 16 November 1992 at column 79.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the state of diplomatic relations with Armenia and with Azerbaijan.

The United Kingdom has been in full diplomatic relations with both Armenia and

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings he has held recently regarding British membership of UNESCO; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs met a group of hon. Members on 25 February. We continue to follow closely matters at UNESCO and our officials have frequent contacts with the organisations's secretariat, member states and other interested parties. The question of the United Kingdom rejoining UNESCO remains under review.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the outcome of the Government's review of export licensing criteria for Iran, announced by the President of the Board of Trade on 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 479.

The Government's consideration of the criteria that should be applied in exercising rigorous scrutiny of export licence applications for Iran is now complete. The Government have decided to apply henceforth the following criteria in considering applications for the export of licenseable goods to Iran:

(i) With two exceptions we should not approve licences for any goods or technology on the Military or Atomic Energy Lists (Schedule 1, Part 3, Group 1 and 2) of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1992 (as amended). The exceptions are:

(a) goods essential for the safety of civil aircraft and air traffic control systems;

(b) radioactive material in the form of sources for medical equipment and deuterium labelled compounds for medical use.

(ii) We should not approve licences for any equipment (including the exceptions to the complete ban mentioned above) where there was knowledge or reason to suspect that it would go to a military end-user or be used for military purposes.

Existing export licences, approved under the old guidelines, will remain valid. We shall support efforts among supplier countries, in particular the G7 and our European partners, to promote a harmonised approach to effective controls on the export of dual-use goods to countries of particular concern.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Vietnamese migrants.

The orderly repatriation programme is proving most successful; since it started in November 1991, a total of 487 Vietnamese illegal immigrants have been repatriated from Hong Kong. There were only 12 new arrivals in Hong Kong in 1992 compared with 20,207 in 1991.Since the start of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' voluntary repatriation programme in 1989, some 35,000 Vietnamese migrants have been screened out and returned home voluntarily, more than 26,000 of them from Hong Kong. There has been no substantiated report of persecution.At present rates of return and resettlement, the Hong Kong camps should be empty in about three years.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on who decided on an open door policy during the trials at Manchester Crown court of the riot prisoners from Strangeways prison.

The phrase "open door policy" is not recognised, but it is established policy that criminal trials should take place in open court and be freely reported. During the trials in question, the courtroom in use was kept locked outside operational hours, as were all the courtrooms; circulation of court users segregated; and perimeter doors properly secured, when not in use. All fire escape doors were alarmed so as to alert security staff should they be opened.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will make a statement on the security arrangements for the cells and holding areas at Manchester magistrates court, Crown square.

Security arrangements for magistrates courts are taken into account during the planning of the buildings and in any modifications to those buildings, after consultation with the appropriate authorities. Details of these measures cannot be revealed, as it would not be in the interests of the security of a building to do so.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department which Government Department commissioned the plans for the holding area, the cells and the toilet areas prior to the recent escape of five prisoners from Manchester Crown court; who checked the plans; what assessment was made of their specifications; and if he will make a statement.

The Government Department responsible for commissioning the plans for those areas was the Department of the Environment—Property Services Agency, north-west region—on behalf of the Lord Chancellor's Department to standards recommended by the Home Office.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what evidence he has of a breach of security regarding a blueprint relating to construction details of the Manchester Crown courts; and what action he has taken.

It is believed that a plan, which is currently in the possession of the police, was stolen along with a number of other items during the course of a burglary of one of this Department's offices in 1990. There is nothing to link the theft of this plan and the incident of 17 February 1993 when five defendants escaped from the custody suite of Manchester law courts, but the incident is still the subject of police investigation. Following the burglary, police advice was sought over security measures to protect against burglary and various recommendations were introduced.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what security measures were included in the refurbishment of Manchester Crown court prior to the recent escape of five prisoners; and if he will make a statement.

There was consultation with the police and prison service during the planning of the refurbishment of Manchester Crown court which was completed in 1990. Additional security measures were introduced, again following consultation with the police and the prison service, in connection with the case in question. Details of these measures cannot be revealed, as it would not be in the interests of the security of the building to do so.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he has now had the opportunity to consider the Kennedy report on the number of judges required for the commercial court; and if he will make a statement.

The report was received by the Lord Chancellor on 10 February 1993 and he and the Lord Chief Justice are now considering the advice it contains. The advice is concerned with the work, deployment and numbers of High Court judges in all the jurisdictions in which they sit and does not relate solely to the commercial court.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of his Department's investigations into David Abell, chairman of Suter, in respect of allegations that he was involved with insider dealing; how long this investigation took; and if he will make a statement.

Inquiries under section 442 of the Companies Act 1985 and under section 177 of the Financial Services Act 1986 into share transactions involving, inter alia, Mr. David Abell were begun in July 1988. These inquiries were concluded on completion of the Companies Act inspections in October 1992, the report of which was published in January 1993. No proceedings are contemplated against Mr. Abell or any other persons as a result of these inquiries, which in total cost £501,000.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the countries he and his ministerial colleagues have visited to discuss coal and energy issues since taking office; how many days each visit took; and if he will name any colliery visited.

[holding answer 23 February 1993]: Since April 1992 I have made the following overseas visits during which energy issues were discussed:

• Russia and Azerbaijan—5 days
• Belgium (twice)—1 day each

In addition, my hon. Friend the Minister for Energy made the following visits to discuss energy issues:

To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the bid for Owners Abroad by Airtours to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

[holding answer 26 February 1993]: I announced my decision not to refer this bid to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on 24 February 1993.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received as to the effect on small tour operators of a takeover of Owners Abroad by Airtours.

[holding answer 26 February 1993]: All representations received are treated in confidence. All relevant considerations were taken into account in the Director General of Fair Trading's advice to me and in my decision not to refer the proposed acquisition to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission.

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the current research being undertaken by the coal research establishment; when each piece of research was commissioned and by whom; and when the research will be completed.

[holding answer 26 February 1993]: The current research undertaken by the Coal Research Establishment chiefly covers activities related to the British coal topping cycle, the Point of Ayr coal liquefaction plant and a number of other projects related to the coal industry and industrial uses of coal. As British Coal owns and manages the coal research establishment, I have asked the chairman to respond in more detail to the points raised.

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the public library book fund for each local authority in (a) 1982, (b) 1987 and (c) 1992, at 1993 prices.

Readily available information on book fund expenditure comes from statistics collected by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Expenditure is expressed in pounds per 1,000 population. The table is presented on the same basis with figures adjusted to 1992–93 prices.

Library Authorities	1981–82 (£)	1986–87 (£)	11991–92 (£)
LONDON
City of London	39,443·13	81,976·24	116,022·95
Inner London
Camden	4,689·41	2—	1,314·59
Greenwich	3,269·56	2—	2,576·02
Hackney	294·02	3,238·58	2,040·17
Hammersmith and Fulham	3,087·19	3,033·90	2,646·91
Islington	3,820·38	2—	2—
Kensington and Chelsea	3,420·29	4,604·56	3,974·01
Lambeth	2,845·28	2—	41,438·65
Lewisham	1,754·81	3,231·32	6790·77
Southwark	3,941·34	2—	1,301·04
Tower Hamlets	716·44	2,974·38	41,484·52
Wandsworth	2,292·60	2,713·09	2,410·26
Westminster	4,456·80	4,997·95	5,307·37
Outer London
Barking and Dagenham	1,477·54	2,271·80	2,490·53
Barnet	1,959·50	3,102·13	3,686·28
Bexley	2,435·89	2,634·70	2,672·97
Brent	2,694·55	5,172·14	172·1
Bromley	2,301·90	3,523·10	3,248·43
Croydon	2,160·48	2,636·15	2,737·61
Ealing	2,633·14	0·00	1,944·26
Enfield	2,322·37	2,557·77	2,236·16
Haringey	1,721·31	2—	952·85
Harrow	2,474·97	2,531·64	2,108·98
Havering	1,674·79	2,003·24	1,999·52
Hillingdon	1,591·05	2,149·86	2—
Hounslow	2,627·56	2—	3,118·12
Kingston upon Thames	1,832·96	2,515·67	2,443·62
Merton	1,745·50	2,419·86	2,517·64
Newham	2,703·85	585·01	2,063·11
Redbridge	2,590·34	3,340·19	2,811·62
Richmond upon Thames	2,551·26	2,178·89	2—
Sutton	2,450·77	3,004·87	2,603·12
Waltham Forest	2,729·91	2,553·41	1,646·11
METROPOLITAN DISTRICTS
Greater Manchester
Bolton	1,604·08	2—	1,818·12
Bury	1,056·98	1,334·04	1,247·87
Manchester	3,429·59	0·00	3,742·58
Oldham	1,890·65	1,903·08	1,808·74
Rochdale	1,406·82	100·16	2—
Salford	1,416·13	1,373·24	1,101·92
Stockport	1,710·15	2,369·05	2,217·40
Tameside	2,153·03	2,155·67	51,851·48
Trafford	1,741·78	1,551·79	1,629·43
Wigan	1,351·00	1,275·98	1,346·91

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to bring forward proposals to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to prohibit the ploughing of scheduled monuments.

[holding answer 26 February 1993]: The present position is that the Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) Order 1981 gives general permission for normal ploughing on scheduled sites which were under the plough during the five years up to October 1981. Specific consent is required for deep ploughing and for the ploughing, of previously uncultivated sites. Certain aspects of the order are currently being reviewed, but I see no case for any general prohibition. New trends in agricultural practices can offer new opportunities to protect archaeological sites and monuments through co-operation with the farming community.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will set out for (a) each education authority in England and (b) in total (i) the number of available places in primary and secondary schools, respectively, (ii) the total number of children on the school rolls and (iii) the number of places considered appropriate.

It is estimated that there were some 4·5 million primary school places and some 3·5 million secondary school places in England in 1991. Information on the number of places available in each local education authority is not available. The numbers of pupils being taught in maintained primary and secondary schools in each LEA in England in January 1991 are shown in the table. It is for LEAs in the first place to decide on the number of school places considered appropriate, in the light of local need.

Pupils in Maintained Primary and Secondary Schools (including Self Governing State Schools (GM) in each Local Education Authority in England January 1991
Local education authority	Primary	Secondary
City	209	0
Camden	9,936	9,891
Greenwich	20,473	13,470
Hackney	15,981	7,592
Hammersmith	8,649	6,050
Islington	14,130	7,223
Kensington and Chelsea	6,091	3,539
Lambeth	18,665	5,955
Lewisham	19,630	11,428
Southwark	19,853	9,487
Tower Hamlets	18,978	10,751

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to change the training of teachers for the under-eights; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is considering reforms to the training of primary teachers, including possible changes to the training of teachers specialising in the early years of primary education. He intends that these reforms should be introduced in September 1994. Proposals will be issued for public consultation in a few weeks' time.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are the current occupations of the members of the National Curriculum Council.

The current occupations of the members of the National Curriculum Council are as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the composition of the National Curriculum Council, broken down by the profession or group which each member of the council represents; and if he will state for the teacher members their teaching experience and, if relevant, the age group of the schools in which they currently teach.

The members of the National Curriculum Council are selected as individuals rather than as representatives of professions or groups. The professions of the current members are as follows: five are head teachers of primary or secondary schools, four work in further and higher education, four are industrialists, and one is the chief education officer of an LEA. The Department holds the following information on the five members who are head teachers:

Mr. JOHN BURN: Headteacher since 1980 of Longbenton Community High School, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, an 11–18 school. He is a chemistry graduate who has taught in comprehensive schools for 26 years and has been a Head of Department and Deputy Headteacher. He was also a Senior Lecturer in science for 4 years in a teacher training college. He is a member of the Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.

Mrs. PENNY COOPER: Headteacher since 1988 at The William Brookes sch000l, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, an 11–18 school. Mrs. Cooper was a Modern Language teacher at a number of mixed comprehensive schools in London and Shropshire and prior to her current appointment she was a Senior Teacher at Ludlow CE School, Shropshire, with rsponsibility for curriculum and professional development.

MISS BRENDA LOFTHOUSE: Headteacher, All Saints Church of England Primary school, Wellinborough, Northamptonshire, a 5–11 school. Miss Lofthouse started teaching in a village primary school in Bedfordshire in 1971. She has also taught in a special school, a junior and a primary school in Northamptonshire and became a Deputy Headteacher in 1976.

Mr. JOHN MCINTOSH: Headmaster of the London Oratory School—an 11–18 grant maintained school. Previously an Assistant Master and Deputy Headmaster at the same school.

Mr. ANTHONY WATES: Headteacher, Tavistock County Primary School, Tavistock, Devon, a 5–11 school. Mr. Wates has taught in primary schools in Kent, Plymouth and Singapore for the Service Children's Education Authority. Prior to his current appointment he was headteacher of St. Peter's Church of England Primary School, Plymouth.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to increase the funding allocated by his Department to the Office for Standards in Education to cover special educational needs.

The following sums have been transferred to Ofsted to cover programme and running cost expenditure for all its activities for the next three financial years, including establishing and running the new inspection system for schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what representations he has received about the extension of the Deaf Awareness Week recently held in Liverpool schools; what plans he has to encourage the extension of this scheme to other local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no representations about Liverpool schools' participation in the extension of Deaf Awareness Week. I am sure that other local education authorities will have noted this promotion of deaf culture and signing and that this will inform their decisions about how best to make appropriate provision for children with impaired hearing.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education when he expects to give a decision on the formation of a joint sixth form for the Harris Church of England school and the Bishop Wulstan school in Rugby.

My right hon. Friend expects to reach his decision on the proposal in the near future.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the number of graduates who are unemployed and are unable to repay, or are having difficulties repaying, student loans; and what provisions are made for this.

Figures are not available on the number of graduates who are deferring repayment of student loans specifically because of unemployment. The Student Loans Company's annual report 1992 records a total of 16,746 borrowers who had deferred repayments in the last academic year. Any borrower whose gross income, for whatever reason, does not exceed 85 per cent. of national average earnings can defer repayments for a year at a time. These deferment provisions mean that borrowers are under no obligation to repay loans until their income reaches a level where they should be able to afford to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education if she will publish a league table indicating public education provision for under-fives in Europe.

The centrally available information given in the table shows that public and private participation rates combined as separate participation rates are not available. There are also some differences between countries in the distinction drawn between education and day care. If the United Kingdom figure is broadened to include nursery schools, nursery classes, infant classes, pre-school play groups and group day care, the participation rate of three and four-year-olds rises to over 90 per cent.

Proportion of the age group in education (per cent.)
	1989 Ages13 to 4
Belgium2	96
Finland2	18
France	99
Germany	52
Ireland	27
Italy (estimated)2	76
Netherlands	49
Norway	40
Spain	53
Sweden	42
United Kingdom	46(50)3
1 Excluding two year olds in nursery education.
2 1988 data.
3 1991 data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what studies he has commissioned on indefinite exclusions of pupils from maintained and grant-maintained schools.

None.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the formal or contractual arrangements which exist between (a) Mr. Li Ka Shing and (b) Norinco and United Kingdom Government agencies or bodies, including those in Hong Kong.

As far as I am aware, none.

To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the occasions on which Ministers have exercised prerogative powers in the last 18 months; and how this was reported to Parliament in each case.

In the main, specific functions are conferred on Ministers by Act of Parliament. Statute now covers much of the ground which in earlier times was covered by prerogative powers. However, the common law still recognises some prerogative powers as residing in the Crown and some of these are, by convention, exercisable by Ministers. Examples of areas where the prerogative still plays a part are foreign affairs, defence and the regulation of the civil service. Particular examples of the exercise of prerogative power are the issue of a passport or the grant of a pardon or reprieve under the prerogative of mercy. It is for individual Ministers to decide on a particular occasion whether and how to report to Parliament on the exercise of prerogative powers. The relationship between statutory powers and prerogative powers can be very complex and it would be impracticable, and would lead to disproportionate cost, to list all the occasions when action was taken under the prerogative.

To ask the Prime Minister which department is responsible for the work and advice leading up to the adoption of the European charter for regional or minority languages by the Committee of Minorities.

The Welsh Office took the lead in the discussions on the text of the charter, but consulted all other Departments with an interest.

To ask the Prime Minister which Ministers and Departments are responsible for (a) policy in regard to the provision of secure places for young people in England and Wales and (b) providing such places and the relevant finances.

Policy on the provision of secure accommodation in England and Wales, and the allocation of capital grants for such projects, are matters for my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Health and the Secretary of State for Wales respectively.Local authorities are responsible for providing secure accommodation and for meeting the running costs.

To ask the Prime Minister when the secure places for young people announced in 1991 will be available.

The provision of secure accommodation is the responsibility of local authorities. The Government remain committed to their target of abolishing the practice of remanding juveniles to prison by 1995–96 and will provide the necessary capital resources to achieve this.

To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to make St. David's day a bank holiday in Wales.

We have no plans to make St. David's day a bank holiday in Wales.

To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to the oral statement by the Attorney-General of 22 February, Official Report, cloumn 736, whether the Attorney-General attended the meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday 11 February.

The Attorney-General did not attend the meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday 11 February.

To ask the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on his policy of prosecutions for incitement to murder.

The Crown prosecution service would need to be satisfied in such cases that the available evidence was sufficient to provide a realistic prospect of a conviction. If justified on evidential grounds a prosecution would normally be required in the public interest.