To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the differences between (a) notification, (b) acceptance and (c) approval of the European charter for regional or minority languages.

Article 18 of the European charter for regional or minority languages provides that the charter will be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by the member states of the Council of Europe and that such instruments are to be deposited with the secretary general of the Council of Europe.Ratification, acceptance and approval are all ways in which a state indicates its consent to be bound by the treaty. They all have the same effect. Which method a state uses may reflect its domestic practice. But each method requires an instrument to be sent to the depositary specifying whether the state is ratifying, accepting or approving the charter.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which languages in the United Kingdom the Government are considering specifying under article 3 of the European charter for regional or minority languages.

We are still considering whether to sign the charter. That consideration is on the basis that it would apply to Welsh, Gaelic and Irish.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking in relation to the economic blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan; and if he will make a statement.

The European Community made representations to the Turkish Government on 29 January, asking Turkey to allow the transit of fuel supplies to Armenia from third countries and to fulfil earlier commitments to provide electricity to Armenia. Also on 29 January the president of the United Nations Security Council issued a statement expressing concern at the situation in Armenia and urging all countries in a position to help to facilitiate the provision of fuel and humanitarian assistance to Armenia. The British Government associate themselves with these calls and have taken the same line in their bilateral dealings with Turkey and Azerbaijan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received on the continued economic blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan; and if he will make a statement.

The President of Armenia has written to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, and several Armenian Ministers have written to their British counterparts, about the dire effects the Azerbaijani economic blockade has had on Armenia. We have in recent months made nearly £700,000 available for relief work in Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The European Community has made a 38 million ecu loan for food and medicines available to Armenia and is considering further emergency humanitarian aid.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made on the application by Macedonia for admission to the United Nations; and what is his policy on moves to reach an early decision.

Macedonia's application for admission to the United Nations has now been circulated. The three EC members of the Security Council—United Kingdom, France and Spain—have put forward a draft resolution with the aim of securing Macedonia's early admission on terms acceptable to all parties. The president of the Security Council is consulting the Greeks and the Macedonians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the British Government's policy on United Nations resolution 789 on Cyprus; and if he will make a statement.

We support the United Nations Secretary-General's mission of good offices and the Security Council resolutions, including 789, aimed at resolving the Cyprus dispute. We welcome the agreement by all parties to resume talks, and will continue to work for progress and help the Secretary-General.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many officers travelled first class to their posts abroad in the last year because of (a) their grade and (b) operational reasons.

In the 12 months to January 1993, 13 officers travelled first class from London to their posts abroad or returned to London from their posts abroad. One officer travelled first class by virtue of his grade, and 12 for operational reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomatic service officers travelled first class to posts abroad in the last year; at what cost; and in how many cases the families of such officers travelled in first class.

In the 12 months to January 1993, 13 diplomatic service officers travelled first class from London to their posts abroad, or returned to London from their posts abroad, and the total cost was £25,046. Nine officers were accompanied by their families, who also travelled first class: the total cost of the family fares was£18,697. In addition, private secretaries and advisers accompanying Ministers, and officers of the rank of deputy under-secretary or above may travel first class on duty journeys.

To ask the Secretary of State for foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many return air tickets, per year, and of what class, are allocated to diplomatic service officers serving abroad for use by their dependants; and what is the maximum number of tickets available to each family each year.

Dependants at post have the same entitlements as officers. The entitlement for return air tickets allocated to diplomatic service officers serving abroad for use by their dependants is related to the difficulty of the post, and there are basically three categories: the least difficult posts—62—where representational officers and their dependants serve for four years with one fare-paid leave, and non-representational officers for 30 months with no fare-paid leave; the intermediate category—51 posts—where officers serve for three years with one fare-paid leave after 18 months, and the most difficult posts—85—where officers serve for up to three years with a fare-paid leave after each 12 months of duty. For such mid-tour leave journeys, the class of travel is dependent on the time taken to fly to post. For journeys of less than two and a half hours economy class is used. For journeys over two and a half hours, business class. Very senior officers—those of the rank of deputy undersecretary or above—have an entitlement to travel in a superior class by virtue of their grade.In addition, officers at most non-European posts—145—receive an extra economy class fare for each posting of at least three years, and in countries—55—with special difficulties, a contribution towards an annual short local trip outside the country of posting. The class of, and contribution towards, such journeys is based on economy class fares. Also, children at school in the United Kingdom may fly to post for three holidays per annum, by the cheapest possible means.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance has been set, and when, regarding the type of air ticket to which diplomatic service officers and their families are entitled.

Her Majesty's Treasury's guidance regarding the type of air ticket was set in the "Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code", recently superseded by the "Civil Service Management Code". It applies to all civil servants, including diplomatic service officers and their families. The last major revision of entitlements was in 1982 when new fare structures were introduced by the airlines.In summary, all civil servants including diplomatic service officers, normally travel in economy class on journeys of up to two and a half hours. On official duty, and on transfer and mid-tour leave, they travel in business class on journeys over two and a half hours. On other leave journeys provided at the more difficult posts, they travel economy class. The same rules apply to the families of officers. Children who fly to post from school in the United Kingdom for the three main school holidays fly by the cheapest possible means. Very senior officers—those of the rank of deputy under-secretary or above—may sometimes travel in a higher class than those indicated above, by virtue of their grade or for operational reasons.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff have attended courses at Hanslope Park in the last year; on which system Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are trained at Hanslope Park; how many missions abroad use such systems; when such systems are being withdrawn worldwide; and when training courses for the new system will begin.

A total of 2,285 FCO staff have attended courses at Hanslope Park over the last 12 months. They are trained on many different systems in use at home and in 143 missions abroad. The main system being withdrawn is Piccolo HF radio. The last one is expected to go by the end of June 1993. Training on its replacement began in early 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff have attended courses in Brackley, Northamptonshire, in the last year; and at what cost.

No FCO staff have attended courses at Brackley, but they have been accommodated there while attending communications courses in Buckinghamshire. The average cost is £64 per capita per night.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when an appeal application was received at the post in Islamabad from Mr. Abdul Qayum—Ref: IMM/B2588—who was refused entry clearance to join his wife in the United Kingdom; when the explanatory statement was dispatched; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available in London. I have asked the British high commission at Islamabad to provide the answer and I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when it is received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to the United Nations that its special rapporteurs on torture pay an early visit to Indonesia to inquire into alleged violations of human rights in East Timor.

A special rapporteur on torture visited East Timor in 1991. A further visit is for discussion between the rapporteur and the Indonesians.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will propose to the United Nations Human Rights Commission that it appoints a special rapporteur on East Timor.

We are currently discussing with our EC partners how to handle the East Timor issue at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. We do not believe that the situation in East Timor requires the appointment of a special rapporteur.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on facilities in United Kingdom embassies and high commissions in each of the last two financial years in connection with visits to these countries by the Prime Minister or other Ministers.

To provide a full answer would involve disproportionate cost. Generally, overseas posts cope with such visits from within their own existing resources.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application made to the United Kingdom post in Islamabad by Mrs. Jahan Ara (Ref: B5808; DOB 4:11:71) to join her husband in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available in London. I have asked the British high commission at Islamabad to provide the answer and I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when it is received.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when a decision is to be taken on the application by Mr. Ghulam Murtaza—Ref: Gu100/7157/TAH—to join his wife in the United Kingdom following the submission of further evidence requested by the United Kingdom post in Islamabad; and if he will make a statement.

This information is not available in London. I have asked the British high commission at Islamabad to provide the answer and I shall arrange for the hon. Member to receive a reply from the migration and visa correspondence unit of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office when it is received.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what was the average weekly amount per child awarded to heads of lone parent families from maintenance orders in the latest year for which figures are available.

The information requested is not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how much public expenditure was incurred in the abandoned litigation against the pharmaceutical company Roche; and if he will conduct an inquiry into the reason for this nugatory expenditure.

No part of the litigation which is being funded by the Legal Aid Board against the pharmaceutical company, Roche, has yet been abandoned. In the light of the statutory criteria under the Legal Aid Act 1988, some of the legally aided claimants have been sent letters informing them that their legal aid certificates may be discharged and inviting them to show cause why they should not be. There is a right of appeal against discharge. The generic expenditure on all the benzodiazepine drugs in the litigation amounts to approximatley £3 million, though further, as yet unquantified, costs have also been incurred. In view of the numbers of individual cases involved, these costs may be considerable.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will extend the closing date for submissions to the Donaldson inquiry to enable considered responses from the people of Shetland and local coastal authorities to be submitted following the Shetland standard conference of 31 March to 1 April.

The conduct of the inquiry is entirely a matter for Lord Donaldson but I will draw the hon. Member's question to Lord Donaldson's attention.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will grant a sheriff's inquiry in to the sinking of the MV Braer so as to provide information to be considered by the Donaldson inquiry.

Under the Merchant Shipping (Accident Investigation) Regulations 1989, provision is made for investigations into serious marine accidents to take the form of an inspector's inquiry with a report to the Secretary of State by the chief inspector of marine accidents and subsequent publication. This is considered to be the appropriate form of investigation for this accident. However should the evidence being gathered by the inspectors suggest that a formal investigation before a sheriff is warranted then my right hon. Friend will consider ordering one.Lord Donaldson has made it clear that his inquiry is not directed particularly at the Braer accident; however, such information as he needs on that accident will be provided by the chief inspector.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the capital investment required (a) to resignal the west coast main line and (b) to replace the power supply to the west coast main line; and how much money British Rail is allocating to these purposes.

It is for British Rail to assess what capital investment is required to resignal the west coast main line and to replace the power supply. Exactly how much money British Rail will be allocating to these purposes, and over what period, will be decided in the spring, when British Rail has completed its next corporate plan.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how long the power supply and the signalling for the west coast main line were designed to last; and when they were installed south of Warrington.

The west coast main line was electrified in the 1960s. Signalling south of Crewe was also replaced in the 1960s. North of Crewe, the signalling was modernised in the 1970s.The details of the design lives of the various components are matters for BR: it is for it to judge what needs to be replaced when.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he will take to press for international regulations governing the installation and operation of ships' sewerage systems.

The Department of Transport has given full support to proposals submitted by the Department of Marine of the Republic of Ireland to the International Maritime Organisation to regulate the installation and operation of ships' sewage systems. I am advised that this item has been placed on the IMO work programme for completion in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those passenger ferries operating without bilge alarms.

There are no international requirements for passenger ferries to have bilge alarms. However, I am advised that those United Kingdom-registered passenger ferries that operate with certain machinery-space, watertight doors closed do have such alarms.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the desirability of oil tankers and other large ships sending out tracking signals while they are in British waters with the aim of ensuring that their routes minimise the potential environmental damage of an accident and consequent spillage; and if he will make a statement.

The International Maritime Organisation is addressing the provision of equipment to transmit tracking signals for all ships. The Department fully supports this work and is developing a research programme to assess various types of equipment and their potential benefits.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken in pursuance of the Marine Accident Investigation Branch recommendation of 1992 concerning provision of notices on all bathing beaches likely to be affected by the wash of shipping passing close to shore.

As it was not formal or addressed to a specific body or authority, the recommendation and a brief account of the incident from which it stemmed has been included in the MAIB publication "Summary of Investigations".

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total route mileage of scheduled bus services in each local authority area in Cambridgeshire which were supported by a county council subsidy in each year since 1984.

The information is not held centrally by the Department. This is the responsibility of the county council.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total route mileage of scheduled bus services in each local authority area in Cambridgeshire in each year since 1984.

The information requested is not held centrally by the Department.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that arrangements are made enabling British Rail privileged travel facilities, currently enjoyed by British Waterways Board employees and pensioners, to continue; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 1 March 1993]: Powers are being taken in the Railways Bill to ensure that future passenger service operators may be compelled to provide such facilities on their services. This will ensure that the benefits for all those currently entitled can be protected.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of vocational first degree subjects receive (a) mandatory grants and (b) discretionary grants.

Students on first degree courses, irrespective of subject, are entitled to a mandatory award provided they satisfy the personal eligibility criteria.Students on first degree courses who do not satisfy the criteria for mandatory awards can apply to their local authority for a discretionary award. Local authorities are free to determine their own policies on discretionary awards.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has made to the Police Federation's submission to the inquiry on domestic violence in relation to giving courts powers to make short-term ouster orders for the protection of children.

None. This submission from the Police Federation was made to the Home Affairs Committee, which has not yet published its report.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales under what criteria the Trawsfynydd nuclear power station has been entered for the Wales tourist board's annual competition; and if he will make a statement.

Nuclear Electric submitted an entry on behalf of its visitor centres and station tours at Wylfa and Trawsfynydd in the "Best Newcomer" category. Under this category any tourism development, large or small, which has been completed in the last three years by either the public or private sector is eligible to be considered.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received requesting minor works assistance under the renovation grant system; and if he will make a statement.

Requests for minor works assistance are made direct to the local housing authorities not to the Welsh Office.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the subject of the resources test for disabled facilities grant; and if he will make a statement.

Since I announced changes to the test of resources for all grants, including disabled facilities grants last July, I have received a small number of representations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has of the number of people in Wales currently living in areas where air pollution levels exceed European standards.

There are European Community air quality limit values for lead, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone. Monitoring of these pollutants indicates that these standards are not being exceeded in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received on the Welsh Office circular detailing proposed changes in the renovation grant system as operated by Care and Repair Cymru; and if he will make a statement.

No such circular has been issued by the Welsh Office. However, the Welsh Office has consulted interested bodies on draft regulations setting out new arrangements for the housing renovation grant scheme. A small number of comments were received in response.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will provide figures for the levels of radon in dwelling houses in Clwyd and Wales.

It is not possible to provide the figures requested until the full results of the National Radiological Protection Board survey in Wales are known.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Ecotec Research on the socio-economic conditions in the south Wales valleys, commissioned by the standing conference on regional policy in south Wales, the South Wales training and enterprise councils and the Welsh Development Agency.

As the hon. Gentleman rightly indicates, this report has been commissioned by the standing conference on regional policy in south Wales, together with a number of other organisations, and in the circumstances it would be inappropriate for me to place a copy in the Library of the House.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales when he intends to visit the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency to review rural problems; and if he will make a statement.

I have no present plans to do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many representations he has received regarding funding arrangements by the Wales tourist board under section 4 of the Tourism Development Act 1969; and if he will make a statement.Sir Wyn Roberts: None. An independent report recently published found the section 4 scheme operated by the Wales tourist board to be effective and worthy of continuation.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many general practitioner fundholders there are in Wales.

There are 26 general practitioner fundholders in Wales. A further 45 applicants, including three groups of two practices, are preparing to become fundholders from 1 April next.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives he is taking on the training and employment of disabled people; and if he will make a statement.

There are many initiatives taken locally by training and enterprise councils and by the Employment Service placing, assessment and counselling teams to improve access to training and employment opportunities for disabled people. I fully support all of these and am committed to the widest possible access for all to full participation in the labour market.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of schools which have held ballots on grant-maintained status; and how many of them are (a) Anglican and (b) Roman Catholic, listing in each category how many are (i) now operating as grant-maintained schools, (ii) have received approval for grant-maintained status, (iii) have published proposals and are awaiting a decision, (iv) have voted for grant-maintained status but not yet published proposals, (v) have had their proposals rejected and (vi) have voted against grant-maintained status.

Sixteen schools in Wales have balloted the parents of their pupils on the acquisition of grant maintained status. Of these one is an Anglican school and one a Roman Catholic. An application from the former is currently before me; the Roman Catholic school was incorporated as a grant maintained school on 1 January 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what initiatives are currently being pursued to enhance employment opportunities in the Meirionnydd Nant Conwy constituency; and if he will make a statement.

My Department, along with the Development Board for Rural Wales, the Welsh Development Agency, Targed and others, have in place very successful initiatives designed to create new jobs and safeguard existing ones. For instance, DBRW schemes alone have helped to create or safeguard over 800 jobs in the Meirionnydd area since 1979. The board is also developing a business park at Penrhyndeudraeth, which is expected to provide up to 750 jobs in premises totalling 250,000 square feet.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what efforts and initiatives have been pursued in the last 12 months to procure inward investment to Meirionnydd Nant Conwy; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Office, Welsh Development Agency, Development Board for Rural Wales, Targed and local authorities continue to work strenuously to promote inward investment to Meirionnydd Nant Conwy. The Gwynedd marketing initiative has been formed to direct targeted marketing campaigns in the United Kingdom and overseas. Good results are being achieved and three inward investment projects have been recorded for the constituency over the past 12 months.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to bring forward proposals to widen the remit of the Development Board for Rural Wales, by statute if necessary, to enable the board to assist existing businesses which are enduring difficult financial circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

I have no such plans. The Development Board for Rural Wales already has wide-ranging powers to assist businesses in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to bring forward proposals to widen the remit of the Welsh Development Agency, by statute if necessary, to enable the agency to assist existing businesses which are enduring difficult financial circumstances; and if he will make a statement.

I have no such plans. The Welsh Development Agency already has wide-ranging powers to assist businesses in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with Welsh local authorities and other infrastructure-providing bodies in relation to the levels of (a) base and (b) supplementary credit approvals and the effect of his 1993–94 settlements on applications for European regional development fund assistance; and if he will make a statement.

These issues have been raised at meetings of the Welsh Consultative Council on Local Government Finance and its capital working group, which are the forums for discussions with local authorities on local government finance issues including capital provision. I chaired meetings of WCCLGF on 26 November and 12 January. The CWG, involving my officials and officers from local authorities, met on 11 January.I have not had consultations on these issues with other infrastructure-providing bodies in Wales.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what response he has received from the European Commission to the proposal to include rural Wales in the list of areas with objective status for European regional development fund assistance.

The European Commission announced on 24 February their proposals for future objective 1 status which did not include rural Wales (Clwyd, Dyfed, Gwynedd and Powys). I was extremely disappointed by its omission and will be raising this matter with Commissioner Millan when I meet him shortly.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what effect functional changes have had for Welsh Office expenditure for 1992–93 and 1993–94.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 1.13 of the 1993 departmental report for the Welsh Office (Cm 2215).

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many cases of HIV sufferers there were in Wales in 1990–91, 1991–92 and at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

The cumulative totals of HIV positive cases reported in Wales as at 31 March 1991, 31 March 1992 and 31 December 1992 were 234, 279 and 302 respectively.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total payment to chairpersons and members of NHS trusts estimated for 1992–93.

Full details of payments to chairmen and members of national health service trusts are not held centrally.Trust chairmen receive remuneration between £15,125 and £19,285 dependent on the level of income of the trust. Each non-executive director receives remuneration of £5,000 per annum. In addition, travel and other expenses may be payable.Costs associated with executive directors will be included in the accounts and annual report which each trust is required to make publicly available under the statutory obligation to hold an annual meeting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total number of maintained (a) primary and (b) secondary schools; in each case how many are (i) voluntary aided, (ii) voluntary controlled and (iii) grant-maintained; and how many in each category are Anglican, Roman Catholic, other denominational and non-denominational.

Information on the number, type and denomination of schools in Wales as at January 1992 is available from the publication "Statistics of Training and Education in Wales: Schools 1993", tables 3.06 and 4.05 for primary and secondary respectively. There were two grant-maintained secondary schools in January 1992, one was classified as voluntary Roman Catholic and the other was classified as county secondary. A further two schools have since become grant maintained, both of which were previously county secondary schools.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for depositing litter were brought in England and Wales during 1992.

In England and Wales in 1991, there were 1,450 prosecutions under the Litter Act 1983, section 1(3), and 223 prosecutions for depositing litter under section 87 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Information for 1992 will not be available until autumn 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many (a) male and (b) female refugees, from former Yugoslavia have been refused access into the United Kingdom over the past six months;(2) how many

In the six months July to December 1992 inclusive, around 4,600 nationals of the former Yugoslavia (excluding dependants) applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. Except for certain cases refused on safe third country grounds and under paragraph 101 of the immigration rules—detailed in the table—all these applicants are being allowed to stay while their application is under consideration. Comprehensive information on the gender of these principal applicants is not yet available but provisional data suggest that about 60 per cent. were male and 40 per cent. female.In addition, as I announced to the House on 30 November 1992, we are willing to accept 1,000 ex-detainees from Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, together with their dependants, totalling perhaps 4,000 in all. These ex-detainees are being identified for us by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; those identified so far are all male but are being accompanied, or will be joined, by their wives and children.For information on total applications to other EC members states, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a question from the hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) on 18 February (column 297). The information is not available by gender.

Refusals of applications for asylum in the United Kingdom by nationals of the former Yugoslavia, excluding dependants, by gender, July to December 1992
	Total	Male	Female
Refused asylum and exceptional leave after determination of the asylum claim	—	—	—
Refused on safe third country grounds1 2	13	11	2
Refused under paragraph 101 of immigration rules3	40	n/a	n/a
1 Refused on grounds that the applicant had arrived from a safe third country.
2 Breakdown by gender is of those removed on safe third country grounds, which corresponds in total, in this period, to those refused. A breakdown of those refused is not directly available.
3 For failure to provide evidence to support the asylum claim within a reasonable period, including failure to respond to two invitations to interview to establish identity.

n/a not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female refugees, have been received into the United Kingdom over the last six months.

In the period July to December 1992 inclusive, a total of around 15,000 persons (excluding dependants) applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. Comprehensive information on the gender of these principal applicants is not yet available but provisional data suggests that of the order of 70 per cent. were male and 30 per cent. female.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of offenders appearing before the courts in Staffordshire were unemployed in each year since 1987.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a question from the hon. Member for Mansfield (Mr. Meale) on 15 January 1993, column 826.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the levels of juvenile crime and the extent of offending on bail by juveniles.

Information about the number of juvenile offenders is collected routinely by the Home Office and published annually in "Criminal Statistics". This information is supplemented by a number of research projects including a national self-report study of delinquency, initial results from which will be available this year.No figures are held centrally on the extent of offending on bail by juveniles, but research is being undertaken into the bail process in five areas as part of the Home Office's work to reduce the level of offending on bail. This is expected to produce, inter alia, information about the level of offending by juveniles on bail.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had about measures that might be introduced to reduce juvenile crime.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 21 January, at column 332.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what consideration he is giving to the proposals by the chief constable of South Yorkshire on prostitution; and if he will make a statement;(2) what new initiatives he is currently considering to tackle the problems of prostitution in residential districts; and if he will make a statement.

The Government are aware of the difficulties which prostitution generally, and in residential areas in particular, can cause. I am also aware of the personal view of the chief constable of South Yorkshire on this subject.The aim of the law in this area is to prevent the nuisance caused when prostitutes ply their trade in the streets; to discourage women from becoming prostitutes; and to penalise those who seek to encourage, control or exploit the prostitution of others for financial gain.When a suitable legislation opportunity occurs we will amend the law on kerb crawling in section 1 of the Sexual Offences Act 1985 to remove the need to prove persistence, annoyance or nuisance before a man can be convicted of the offence.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many refugees have been accepted into the United Kingdom from each of the states of the former Yugoslavia since the commencement of the recent conflicts.

In the period January 1992 to January 1993 inclusive, around 5,900 nationals of the former Yugoslavia (excluding dependants) have applied for asylum in the United Kingdom. The large majority of these applications are still under consideration and the applicants are being allowed to stay in the meantime. More detailed data on the origin of the applicants is not available.In addition, as I announced to the House on 30 November 1992, we are willing to accept 1,000 ex-detainees from Bosnia and other parts of the former Yugoslavia, together with their dependants, totalling perhaps 4,000 in all.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement indicating the administrative procedures used by his Department to satisfy that the provisions of (a) section 5(4) and (b) section 5(5) of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are being properly directed by those seeking permission to undertake experiments on animals; and how many experiments have been refused permission since the Act came into force.

[holding answer 1 March 1993]: I will write to the hon. Member.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what trials he has authorised of new batons for use by the police; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 1 March 1993]: My right hon. and learned Friend has agreed to the Metropolitan police's conducting trials of an expandable baton, subject to the outcome of a full scientific evaluation of its wounding potential. He has also agreed to their conducting trials of variants of the straight baton which can be carried covertly.

To ask the Attorney-General what was the number of prosecutions for inciting racial hatred in (a) the Greater London area, (b) England and Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland during the year 1992.

In 1992 there was one prosecution in England and Wales for inciting racial hatred. There were none in the Greater London area and none in Northern Ireland. I have no responsibilities relating to criminal prosecutions in Scotland.

To ask the Attorney-General what guidelines the Crown prosecution service has on prosecutions in cases of domestic violence.

The Crown prosecution service reviews all cases referred to it from the police in accordance with the principles set out in the code for Crown prosecutors issued in pursuance of section 10 of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985. The evidential and public interest criteria set out in the code apply to offences committed in "domestic" circumstances just as they do to any other prosecution.The Crown prosecution service recognises that there are complex issues involved in prosecuting domestic violence cases and, in addition to the code, has issued internal guidance to its staff. This guidance, which is being updated, sets out in greater detail the factors which will be relevant to the review and prosecution of these cases. The relevant document will shortly be supplied to the Home Affairs Committee inquiry on domestic violence, and will thereafter be available in the Library of the House of Commons. It will also be made available to relevant interest groups.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many incidents of poisoned carcases being left in the open have been reported to his officials since 1 January 1990; in how many cases prosecutions resulted; and whether he will in due course, inform the hon. Member for Taunton of the outcome of his inquiries into the death through poison of a pet dog at Stoke St. Gregory, near Taunton.

Since January 1990 in England and Wales, 63 incidents involving poisoned carcases have been reported to the department. During the same period, five such cases have resulted in successful prosecution of the offenders. I will write to the hon. Member about the case to which he refers when investigations have been completed.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people have been employed in the dairy industry in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years.

My Department collects figures only For the farming part of the dairy industry. These are as follows:

Employment in dairy farming1England and Wales
	Thousands
1983	116.6
1984	113.8
1985	107.9
1986	105.6
1987	99.4
1988	93.8
1989	90.5
1990	88.7
1991	86.7
1992	82.6
1 Specialist dairy and mainly dairy farms: excluding minor holdings, which accounted for less than 5 per cent. of total agricultural employment (mainly from part-time working) when last surveyed in 1989.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the evaluation being made by his Department on the effectiveness of sea and river flood defences in the eastern counties after the floods of 20 February; and what changes he proposes to make to his policy, investment programme and evacuation procedures.

Our initial assessment is that both the flood warning arrangements and the coastal defences themselves performed well in the face of the events of 20/21 February, reflecting the substantial investment in coastal defences made by successive Governments and local agencies, as well as the professionalism of the emergency services and other organisations involved. Damage to coastal defences is estimated at a little under £2 million and this will be made good as a matter of urgency. A detailed appraisal is under way to ensure that any necessary improvements are made to procedures and that resources continue to be concentrated on areas of greatest need.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to review the group marketing grant; and if he will make a statement.

In the light of experience with the group marketing grant since its introduction last April, I have decided that we should carry out a limited review to simplify the rules of the scheme in order to make its operation more flexible. Industry organisations are being consulted on a series of proposals. It is intended that the changes should come into effect from 1 April. I have placed copies of the consultation document in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for the surveillance for residues of clenbuterol; and if he will make a statement.

Surveillance for residues of clenbuterol in meat is carried out under two complementary programmes. The first is the national surveillance scheme for residues in meat under which randomly selected samples are collected from slaughterhouses and from farms. The second, co-ordinated by the working party on veterinary residues in animal products, is directed at retail and wholesale premises. It covers both imported and domestic supplies of meat.In 1992, 1,074 samples were taken in Great Britain and analysed for clenbuterol under both programmes. Two samples taken were found to contain clenbuterol, at concentrations of 0.4 µg/kg and 3.3 µg/kg respectively. Neither of these residues would have been likely to have posed any threat to human health, but one of them was above the United Kingdom's statutory maximum residue limit of 0.5µg/kg. It has not been possible to establish whether the samples found to contain clenbuterol originated in Great Britain or elsewhere, but under the NSS, which is confined to domestically produced animals and meat, no positives have been identified from samples taken in Great Britain since testing for clenbuterol began in August 1989.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the safety assessment of comfrey has been completed; and if he will make a statement.

Following the report of the working group on dietary supplements and health foods, Ministers asked the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment to review the safety of certain herbal substances, including comfrey, which had their medicinal licences withdrawn but which were still freely available as foods.Comfrey contains toxic substances known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. PAs belong to a large family of alkaloids, some of which are known to cause liver damage and induce tumors in laboratory animals. The COT considered that, although the toxicity data available on the particular PAs found in comfrey were limited, there was evidence that they could cause liver damage in animals and man. The committee therefore recommended that action should be taken to reduce the intake of comfrey and its potentially toxic constituents.Comfrey and its products are on sale in four main forms. Tablets and capsules (made from roots or leaves) are the most concentrated form, and the Food Advisory Committee, to which the COT's findings were submitted for advice, recommended that the Government should seek the health food trade's agreement to early voluntary withdrawal of these products, backing it up with legislation. Roots are sold for use in poultices but may be used in making infusions; the FAC recommended labelling to warn against ingestion. Leaves are mainly intended for use in infusions, but many also be consumed directly, leading the FAC to recommend labelling to warn against the latter use. Finally, comfrey is also available in the form of herbal teas. Like the infusions of comfrey leaf, teas when brewed contain relatively low levels of PAs and the FAC did not consider any warning labelling to be necessary.Comfrey preparations used externally are not a cause of concern, and were not considered by the Committees.In considering these recommendations, the Government have taken account of the many representations that they have received in recent months from the general public, doctors and practitioners of alternative medicine urging that nothing should be done to restrict the availability of dietary supplements and health foods. We recognise the strong public support expressed for herbal products and supplements generally and acknowledge the force of the view that consumers should be allowed to choose these products if they so wish.The Government have therefore considered very carefully whether the action recommended is proportionate to the potential problem. Nevertheless, the recommendations of the independent expert committees are clear and unambiguous, and we have concluded that they should in general be accepted.Accordingly I have today met the health food trade and requested the immediate withdrawal from sale of comfrey tablets and capsules. The trade has confirmed that most firms have already decided not to maintain sales of these products, and endorsed the action proposed. Given voluntary agreement on withdrawal, we do not consider that regulations will be necessary. My officials are, however, informing the European Commission of the findings and the action taken, so that the Scientific Committee for Food can examine the matter from an EC standpoint.In addition, I have asked the trade to consider effective labelling of comfrey root and leaves on the lines recommended, where these products are sold.The FAC also recommended that an information note should be distributed via health food shops and consumer organisations to give wide publicity to its advice. I am asking for their co-operation in distributing a note which we have prepared. It will also be made available to other organisations, for example those that may include growers of comfrey.I am grateful for the responsible, positive and practical reaction of the industry on this issue. I am writing simultaneously to the principal consumer organisations to notify them of the findings of the expert committees and the action being taken.I am putting in the Library of the House copies of the Department's analysis of comfrey products, the advice of the COT and the FAC and the draft information note.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes his Department intends to make in the testing of cattle for bovine tuberculosis in Great Britain.

I have decided to extend the interval between tuberculosis tests for cattle herds. The majority of herds in Great Britain are tested once every three years. Most will now be tested once every four years.The move follows outstandingly successful efforts by Agriculture Departments over many years to reduce confirmed cases of bovin tuberculosis in Great Britain to the present levels of below 0.1 per cent. of herds. In no way does it mean a lowering of our guard against the disease.Cattle herds in the counties of the south-west of England where bovine tuberculosis is present at slightly higher levels will continue to be tested more frequently. This means that all herds in Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Avon will be tested at least once every two years, and some once a year. Most herds in Devon will be tested—as now —every three years. The situation in the south-west of England will be kept under close review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost of the tuberculosis eradication scheme: what estimates he has made of savings that can be achieved by the selective testing of cattle instead of the culling of badgers; and if he will make a statement.

Some £8 million per year is spent on testing and compensation for bovine tuberculosis. A comprehensive national testing programme for cattle already exists, including more frequent testing in high risk areas.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on developments in relation to compensation for poultry flocks slaughtered on account of salmonella.

The PCA has today reported to the House on a complaint referred to him by my hon. Friend the Member for Holland with Boston (Sir. R. Body) about the scheme of compensation payments introduced in 1989 for poultry flocks slaughtered on account of salmonella. I am grateful to the Parliamentary Commissioner for this report, which I have studied carefully.The PCA criticises the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for failing in 1989 to discharge the obligation to devise and implement a compensation scheme which complied with the requirements of the legislation. The Government accept that the original decision to discount the estimated value of the flock by 40 per cent. to reflect the taint of salmonella infection was shown, following an arbitration case the following year, to be incorrect, but I should emphasise, as the permanent secretary has done in his comments quoted in the report, that the legal advice available to Ministers was taken fully into account at every stage, and that the Government considered that they were acting properly at the time.In late 1988 and 1989, the Government were faced with a sudden drop of 60 to 80 per cent. of the market for fresh eggs, leaving individual producers facing a very serious commercial crisis. The Government would have been open to severe criticism had they not moved quickly to restore the position. In fact, a whole series of measures were taken to combat salmonella in a very short time on the basis of the medical, veterinary and scientific advice to protect public health and restore consumer confidence. I must stress that these measures were welcomed by the Select Committee for Agriculture in its report of February 1989, and were again welcomed in a debate in the House on 21 February.The Government are always under a duty to be careful with the use of taxpayers' money. There were those in the House and outside who argued that no compensation was appropriate in the case of egg producers. While this view was rejected by the Government, it was thought justifiable for compensation to be discounted to reflect the fact that the flocks concerned were tainted with salmonella and therefore had a reduced market value.This principle, which was of course designed to protect public funds, was never rejected, although it was found that the Ministry should not have applied a standard reduction to take it into account, but rather should have calculated a specific figure for each case on the basis of the facts. When, following the arbitrator's finding in September 1990 and the further legal advice obtained, it became clear that the basis of compensation applied hitherto needed to be changed, this was promptly done.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what guidance his Department gives on the welfare and protection of horses on farms; and if he will make a statement.

The state veterinary service monitors standards of welfare for all farm animals and is available to provide free advice to farmers on any aspect of farm animal welfare.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to improve the position of milk producers.

Dairy farming is one of the most profitable sectors of British agriculture and the Government will continue to encourage its efficiency and profitability.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedures are in place to ensure that the EC directive on the transport of live animals is complied with.

Directive 91/628/EEC on the protection of animals during transport is implemented in Great Britain by the Welfare of Animals during Transport Order 1992 which came into force on 1 January 1993. The order is enforced by local authority inspectors with support and advice as necessary from the state veterinary service—SVS—which also arranges for the inspection of all consignments of livestock transported to other member states. Local authority and SVS inspectors have wide powers to stop and detain consignments of animals and to make spot checks.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what supervisory powers over the Bank of England will be exercised by the European central bank under stage 3 of EMU if the British Government have announced their intention not to participate; and to what extent the provisions of the treaty requiring the Bank of England to be independent of government apply in these circumstances.

According to the protocol to the Maastricht treaty on certain provisions relating to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the independence provisions of article 107 of the treaty would not apply if the United Kingdom had notified the Council that it did not intend to move to the third stage of economic and monetary union. Accordingly, there would be no obligation to make the Bank of England independent.The bank would, however, be subject to limited obligations under the European systems of central banks protocol, notably as regards the collection of statistical information (article 5), the obligation not to provide debt finance to public entities (article 21), any outstanding obligations arising from the bank's participation in the operating procedures for the EMS (article 44 together with article 6.1 of the European Monetary Institute protocol) and its obligation to provide a minimal percentage, if required to do so by the general council of the European central bank, towards the operating costs of the ECB (article 48).

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage effect on the January retail sales figures of the number of Saturdays in January 1992 compared with January 1993; and if he will make a statement.

The retail sales index is an indicator of the average sales per week within standard four or five-week trading periods as opposed to calendar months. The trading periods for January 1992 and January 1993 both contained four Saturdays. The level of sales in January 1993 was not influenced by an increased number of Saturdays.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which commercial organisations in which Government have a controlling or total ownership, do not have external financing limits.

A list of the organisations subject to formal external finance limits appears in table 6 of the "Cash Limits 1991–92 Provisional Outturn" White Paper (Cm 2010). A number of others do not have formal external finance limits, but their external finance is controlled within the framework of the new public expenditure control total. These organisations are included in table 4.16 of the statistical supplement to the autumn statement (Cm 2219).The following commercial bodies, in which Government have a controlling or total ownership, are not treated in either of the ways described above:Central government trading bodies:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made on the effect on the expenditure of people on low incomes of extending VAT to cover all foods.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the effect that the extension of VAT to food would have on the expenditure of people on low incomes. However, the hon. Member will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment further in the period leading up the Budget.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect value added tax harmonisation will have on public transport fares; and if he will make a statement.

Under the VAT rates agreement reached by EC Finance Ministers, to which my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary referred in his reply to the hon. Member on 15 December 1992 at column 138, the United Kingdom retains the right to apply a zero rate to passenger transport. Any proposed change to that right would require the unanimous agreement of all member states.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives of the four main clearing banks to discuss the question of interest rates cuts being passed onto their customers; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor last met representatives of the four main clearing banks from 15 to 17 December and discussed with them the question of passing on cuts in the base rate to their business customers. He announced the outcome of those discussions and the results of a related study by the Bank of England in a reply to a question from the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 26 January 1993 at columns 623–25.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the percentage bank charges have risen by since April 1992.

The levels of bank charges are not collected centrally and are a matter for the commercial judgment of the banks. The January 1993 Bank of England report on bank lending to smaller businesses found that between June 1991 and December 1992 the average increase in income from fees and charges was just over 5 per cent. A copy of the report can be found in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage change in manufacturing output for each year since 1987.

Indices of manufacturing output may be found on the CSO Databank which can be accessed by the House of Commons Library. Information is currently available for periods up to December 1992.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to arrange the sales of British Coal, Caledonian MacBrayne, Channel Four Television Company, Commonwealth Development Corporation, Covent Garden Market Authority, English Industrial Estates Corporation and Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.

[pursuant to his reply, 23 February 1993, c.558]: There are no plans to sell Channel Four Television Corporation or the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority, which remain public corporations.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list, for each country receiving debt relief on current Trinidad terms, their projected debt service payments for each of the next three years.

[holding answer 24 February 1993]: The information requested is not available. The latest generally accepted source of published information on developing country debt (World bank debt tables 1992–93) is based on data collected up to the end of 1991. Since all but two of the 14 Trinidad terms restructurings so far agreed were concluded after the end of 1991, the projected repayments figures do not reflect the reduction in debt service provided by these agreements.Trinidad terms allow for the equivalent of the cancellation of up to half the eligible debts consolidated under the agreements, and a commitment by creditors to consider the case for a reduction in the whole stock of eligible debt after a period of two to three years' proven financial and economic responsibility, under arrangements monitored by the IMF. In total, about US$ 1.5 billion will be forgiven under the terms of the existing agreements, and more will follow.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average and marginal tax rate including income tax and statutory social insurance payments of a single person, a married couple and a family consisting of a married couple plus two children earning in total (a) half, (b) three-quarters, (c) average earnings, (d) 1.5 times, (e) twice, (f) three times, (g) five times and (h) 10 times average earnings, in each EC member state.

[holding answer 25 February 1993]: Information for 1992–93 relating to the United Kingdom is given in the table:

Income tax and national insurance contributions at multiples of average earnings Single person
Multiple of average earnings1	Amount of tax and NIC2£ per week	Tax and NIC as percentage of gross earnings	Marginal tax and NIC rate per cent.
1/2	36.55	21.1	34
3/4	65.96	25.4	34
1	95.37	27.6	34
11/2	143.93	27.7	25
2	212.68	30.7	40
3	351.08	33.8	40
5	627.88	36.3	40
10	1,319.88	38.1	40

Married man (wife not earning)
Multiple of average earnings1	Amount of tax and NIC2£ per week	Tax and NIC as percentage of gross earnings	Marginal tax and NIC rate per cent.
1/2	28.29	16.4	34
3/4	57.70	22.2	34
1	87.11	25.2	34
11/2	135.67	26.1	25
2	199.45	28.8	40
3	337.85	32.5	40
5	614.65	35.5	40
10	1,306.65	37.8	40
1 Average earnings are taken to be the average gross weekly earnings of full-time males on adult rates with pay unaffected by absence. These are estimated to be £34600 per week in 1992–93 using the Government Actuary's Department assumption of 5¼ per cent. growth in whole economy underlying earnings over 1991–92 as published in the 1992 Autumn Statement.
2 National Insurance Contributions are at the standard Class 1 rate for employees not contracted-out of the state additional (eanings related) pension scheme. The tax figures assume that no allowances or reliefs are available other than the standard allowances.

Similar information on the other EC member states is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Some of the information requested is, however, obtainable from "The Tax/Benefit Position of Production Workers 1988–1991" published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. A copy is available in the Library.

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated revenue yield in 1993–94, and what would be the full year effect, of abolishing the employee's national insurance upper earnings limit from October 1993.

I have been asked to reply.If the upper earnings limit for employees' contributions were abolished from October 1993, we estimate that the additional revenue yield for the six months indicated in 1993–94 would be £1.2 billion and the full year effect would be 1.5 billion. About three million employees would have to pay extra national insurance contributions as a result.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the amount of funding per capita for health care in the last 10 years in Northumberland and Newcastle health authority.

The allocation of funds to the district health authorities—DHAs—is a matter for the Northern regional health authority and detailed information is not collected centrally.However, information which relates the expenditure of the DHAs to their resident populations is shown in the table.The figures, which pre-date the national health service reforms, show the DHAs as providers of health care, and reflect patterns of local service provision and the effects of patient flows across health authority boundaries.

Revenue expenditure per head of population
	Northumberland district health authority pounds (cash)	Newcastle district health authority pounds (cash)
1982–83	162	361
1983–84	172	385
1984–85	183	406
1985–86	193	431
1986–87	204	461
1987–88	220	514
1988–89	243	575
1989–90	257	626
1990–91	271	687

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increase in activity rates, overall and by specialty, in each region in 1990–91 and 1991–92; and what is the Department of Health estimate for the increase in activity by specialty in each region in 1992–93.

Information about activity rates for the major specialties in each regional health authority is given in the table. Activity forecasts by district and specialty are not collected centrally.