To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to reach further conclusions about personnel numbers in the Royal Navy.

As foreshadowed in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Dr. Goodson-Wickes) on 10 December 1992, Official Report, column 800, I can now confirm that, in the light of the overall reductions required in the Royal Navy, a third phase of Royal Navy redundancies will be necessary in 1994. The maximum overall number is likely to be of the order of 2,300, but further work is needed to determine precise numbers. Detailed terms will be promulgated within the Navy in the summer. We will be encouraging the maximum number of volunteers although some compulsory measures may be needed in order to achieve the proper balance of manpower within the Royal Navy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) of 29 March, Official Report, column 16, on what criteria tenders for the amphibious helicopter carrier will be evaluated; and if he will make a statement.

We will hold a full and fair competition for the contract, using our normal technical and value-for-money criteria. We expect to be in a position to award a contract for the amphibious helicopter carrier later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) of 29 March, Official Report, column 16, what decision has been taken on the award of a contract to build the amphibious helicopter carrier; and on what grounds that decision was taken.

No decision has yet been taken on the choice of contractor to build the amphibious helicopter carrier. We expect to be in a position to award the contract later this year, after a full and fair competition using our normal technical and value-for-money criteria.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how long married personnel will be allowed to remain in married quarters in (a) overseas postings and (b) the United Kingdom following the termination of their service with the armed services; and if he will make a statement.

All married service personnel in the United Kingdom and overseas are required to vacate their quarters on the day of their discharge. They are, however, given six months advance warning to vacate their quarter as part of the resettlement procedure. Married service personnel overseas are given the opportunity to move to a quarter in the United Kingdom for the last six months of their service to enable them to 1234look for alternative accommodation. The Ministry of Defence is sympathetic to the needs of ex-service families who face homelessness; in these circumstances ex-service personnel may be allowed to remain in their quarter until they have found alternative accommodation, as long as there are no pressing service requirements for the property.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much has been spent on EUCLID; what is the breakdown of the expenditure; what evaluation of the quality need and effectiveness of these programmes is undertaken; and by whom.

To date, about £160,000 has been spent extramurally on two contracts on interconnection and assembly of microelectronics and solid state laser sources. The quality, need and effectiveness of these programmes are evaluated by the defence staff in consultation with their scientific advisers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

The potential scope of the initiative will vary between departments. My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993. I also refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 362.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are made for the staff in his Department to carry out routine exercises to evaluate their guidelines for dealing with an accident involving the transportation of nuclear weapons; and if he will make a statement.

Regular exercises of varying scale are sponsored by the Ministry of Defence to enable departmental and other staffs to practise the response to a nuclear transport accident.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for contacting local authorities when nuclear weapons convoys travel through their area; and if he will make a statement.

Local civil police forces are always notified at least 24 hours in advance of nuclear weapon convoy movements through their area of responsibility. It is the accepted practice nationally that the civil police will co-ordinate the response of the other emergency services to all serious incidents and they would fulfil this same role in the event of an accident involving a nuclear weapon convoy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many companies submitted bids to take over the running of the Aldermaston nuclear weapons plant; and if he will make a statement.

Three companies submitted bids for the contract to operate the atomic weapons establishment, which includes the Aldermaston site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedure was followed in appointing a company to take over the running of the Aldermaston nuclear weapons plant; and if he will make a statement.

Comprehensive competitive tendering procedures were followed in selecting the contractor to operate the atomic weapons establishment, which includes the Aldermaston site.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the sale of surplus weapons.

As the Comptroller and Auditor General noted in the recent National Audit Office report on disposal by sale of defence surplus equipment and stores—HC 557—my Department has made good progress in establishing a unified organisation for disposal by sale. We are pursuing joint venture schemes with industry, aimed at tackling the exceptional disposal activity necessary in the next few years, which is on a scale unprecedented since the end of the second world war.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at his Department.

MOD recruitment into the fast stream is undertaken by the Recruitment and Assessment Services agency—RAS—on behalf of the Civil Service Commissioners. RAS has put in place a range of measures to aid the recruitment of minority groups. The principle of fair and open competition continues to apply, including the commitment to equal opportunities. The Department is considering with the Windsor Fellowship the possibility of sponsoring students of ethnic minority origin at the pre-recruitment stage for fast-stream entry. Consistent with departmental action programmes for women, ethnic minorities and those with disabilities, we have indicated to RAS our willingness to take fast-stream entrants from minority groups, and new recruits from all three groups have joined the Department in recent years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when his Department last conducted surveys of (a) ethnic origins and (b) the number of women among its employees; when it next plans to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

Ethnic monitoring of all civilian staff was introduced in 1988 as an important element of our equal opportunities policies. A further survey of all staff who did not reply to the initial survey was conducted in March 1991 and resulted in an improved response rate. Ethnic monitoring is a continuous process in the MOD, and all new entrants, except casual staff, are surveyed on joining. The information to establish the number of women employed in the Department is readily available from employment records; surveys to establish gender are therefore unnecessary.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has received from his United States counterpart on the Pentagon's new global positioning system; and what are the implications for British defence plans of the deployment of the GPS by the United States of America.

Our forces have already made use of the global positioning system, and our use of this navigation aid is planned to increase as GPS receivers are fitted to a wider range of equipment. Under arrangements we have with the United States, there is regular consultation between officials about the system.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made in the five-year supply tenders for ammunition manufacture announced in February.

Tenders have been issued and are due for return at the end of April.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received by Her Majesty's Government in regard to the security implications for the Korean peninsula of the Team Spirit military exercise.

We have received a small number of inquiries about Exercise Team Spirit.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on progress made in testing the sonar system for the new Trident submarines.

The sonar system was tested and cleared for the support of Vanguard's contractor's sea trials, and met Vanguard's requirements adequately. The system will undergo further comprehensive testing following Vanguard's acceptance into the Royal Navy later this year.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the management consultants employed by his Department in the last five years, indicating in each case the cost of the contract.

The information requested is not held centrally and could not be compiled without disproportionate cost and effort.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which professional services within his Department have been subjected to market testing within the last 12 months and with what result; and which will be subjected to market testing within the next 12 months.

Functions involving professional staff that have been market tested in the past 12 months include:

• elementary flying training;
• helicopter maintenance and engineering support;
• works service management at various locations;
• engineering and supply services at RAF Scampton;
• management and operation of AWE Aldermaston; and
• aircraft support services at A&AEE Boscombe Down.

All except Boscombe Down resulted in the work being contractorised.In the next 12 months we expect to market test:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the principle that governs the payment of bonuses or bounties to members of the security forces; from what fund bounties or bonuses are paid to the security forces; and who determines the circumstances in which bonuses are paid to members of the security forces;(2) how many bonuses have been paid to troops in the Province for reported sightings of

The only bounties or bonuses payable from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland are those relating to such matters as completion of periods of service or, in the case of the Royal Irish Regiment, home service part time, completion of annual attendance and training requirements. The authority for such payments is contained in the pay warrant and supporting regulations.No payments have been made from public funds to soldiers in Northern Ireland for sightings of suspected terrorists. Local initiatives to make such incentive payments from non-public funds during the first quarter of 1993 have been terminated. There was only one award for a reported sighting, of a suspected "loyalist" terrorist.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set up an inquiry into the disclosure of detailed plans of the Clyde submarine base at Faslane to the Glasgow Evening Times; if he will review his policy of employing private security firms to protect top security installations like Faslane; and if he will make a statement.

[holding answer 29 March 1993]: The plans that have come into the hands of the Glasgow Evening Times are not classified and do not relate to any sensitive parts of the Clyde submarine base. Commercial security companies are not used to guard MOD operational or other sensitive installations. There is no reason to review this policy.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will revise the upper price limit which the Housing Corporation has set on qualifying properties for the do-it-yourself shared ownership scheme.

[holding answer 31 March 1993]: It is the responsibility of the Housing Corporation, with the approval of the Department of the Environment, to set qualifying limits for DIYSO properties. I understand that new DIYSO value limits have been agreed, and will be introduced from 1 April 1993. Qualifying limits vary according to the type of house and area. These limits will enable the DIYSO programme to expand by making it available to first-time buyers who require family housing.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

We have carried out a wide-ranging exercise to inform senior budget holders within the Department of the initiative and to determine the potential for the expansion of the use of private finance in the department's programmes. As the Department's capital programmes are modest, scope for the involvement of private finance is limited. We are, however, continuing to keep this initiative under regular review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the number, by animal type, of live animals transported overseas for each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Details, by type, of the number of live animals exported can be found for the years 1988 to 1991 in the annual volumes of the "Overseas Trade Statistics" for the United Kingdom, while those for 1992 can be found in the December 1992 issue of the monthly version of the same publication. Copies of these publications are in the House of Commons Library. Details of live animal classification within SITC 00 are shown in the "Guide to Classification for Overseas Trade Statistics", which is also in the House of Commons Library.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the outcome of his review of the group marketing grant; and if he will make a statement.

We have today introduced a more accessible and user-friendly scheme in the light of the first year's experience and the comments received in a recent consultation exercise. The proposed changes were warmly welcomed by the industry. Copies of the new scheme have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals he has to review his Ministry's system for testing and appraisal of oil dispersants for use at sea.

Our current arrangements for the testing and approval of dispersants for use on oil spilt at sea have been in place for a number of years. I have decided to review them. I shall be considering, in particular the standards against which dispersants are assessed for toxicity, efficiency and other aspects of performance; whether any changes are needed in the procedures for issuing approvals; the adequacy of information publicly available about the composition of dispersants.In addition, together with other relevant Ministers, and with the advice of the marine pollution control unit and the Warren Spring Laboratory, I will take account of the circumstances in which the use of chemical dispersants is likely to remain the most effective way to protect the environment from oil spilt at sea.My review will take into account any lessons learned from incidents in which dispersants have been used, and of the findings of the ecological steering group set up following the Braer incident by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and of Lord Donaldson's inquiry.I will consult widely during the conduct of the review.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions have been taken about the future status, funding and operation of the Agricultural Training Board following the consultation exercise that took place last month.

The consultation exercise generated a very high level of response. The important role played by training groups was highlighted, but there was some criticism of the current ATB operational structure. Overall, there was no clear consensus in the comments received in favour of the package of changes proposed or continuing with the current arrangements. Nevertheless, it was apparent from the comments that some further restructuring and rationalisation of the ATB would be appropriate. In the longer term, I consider that the industry's training needs could be best serviced by an industry training organization—ITO—that is independent of government. However, there remain a number of issues to be resolved before I can confirm details of the changes.I will make a further announcement in due course.Government funding from MAFF will reduce to £2·6 million per year and will in future be directed primarily towards core ITO activities. These include the identification of training needs, developing and setting standards and the promotion of training within the industry. In addition, some funding will be directed towards local training support activities. There will be some scope to vary these arrangments in different parts of the country to meet specific local needs. It will be for the ATB board to take decisions on the future structure of the ATB and the nature of any local representational arrangements in the light of the Government and commercial funding available to it.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take measures to ban the use of the pesticide trichlorphon.

I have no plans to ban trichlorphon.

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the advice of the Veterinary Products Committee on his request as to whether a moratorium on organophosphorous sheep dips would be appropriate; and if he will make a statement.

Following my meeting with a parliamentary delegation on 16 February, I asked the Veterinary Products Committee for advice on whether it would be prudent, in the light of the evidence currently available, to have a moratorium on organophosphorous sheep dips until its current review of these products is complete. I have now received the following advice from the Committee:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will publish the terms of the letter of confidentiality required to be signed by merchant banks, accountancy practices and other independent advisers to Government Departments when advice on policy discussion papers is commissioned from the private sector; whether the terms of that letter are standard throughout all Government Departments; when he last reviewed the need for advisers to be constrained in this way; and what were his conclusions.

It is for Departments and agencies individually to seek appropriate assurances of confidentiality from those with whom they have dealings. The terms of such assurances will vary according to the prevailing circumstances, including the nature of the official dealings. If my hon. Friend has a specific concern and will write to me with further details of it, I will pursue the matter further.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps the Office of Public Service and Science has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

My Department is examining the scope for involving the private sector in its areas of responsibility in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.Discussions continue with the higher education funding councils and other departments about ways in which the joint funding of infrastructural facilities in the science base might be achieved. On 10 March 1993, I announced the success of the United Kingdom's bid to host the European bioinformatics institute at Cambridge, which will be funded by the Government and the Wellcome Trust.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the future of the Chessington computer centre.

I am pleased to announce that I have today established Chessington Computer Centre as an executive agency and trading fund within my Department. The arrangements for the agency are described in full in its framework document, copies of which have been placed in the Libraries of both houses.Chessington provides a wide range of computerised payroll, personnel, financial accounting, superannuation awarding and other administrative services to customers in central Government and the wider public sector. Over 60 per cent. of civil servants are now paid using Chessington's payroll services and all computerised superannuation awards in central Government are made on Chessington's software. Executive agency and trading fund status will allow Chessington to develop its business on sound commercial lines, thereby enabling the agency to deliver increasing improvements in its services to customers, more efficiently and effectively.I have set Chessington Computer Centre the following key targets:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement on the progress of the next steps initiative.

Work on agency creation has continued. During the first week of April a further 13 agencies will be launched. This will bring the total number of agencies to 89. More than 350,000 civil servants, almost 60 per cent. of the total, will be working in agencies and other organisations working on next steps lines. In addition, a further 19 candidates have been announced covering over 25,000 more civil servants and other areas are under consideration. All candidates will be identified by the end of 1993 with the aim of launching them by mid-1995—end-1994 and mid-1996 in Northern Ireland.Within the civil service, agencies are a key vehicle for putting into practice the principles of the citizens charter. Some of the new agencies will issue a charter or charter standards statement at launch. Others will do so soon. All agencies are committed to delivering a high quality of service.All the new agencies have been set key performance targets for their first year of operation. The details will be given by my right hon. Friends when announcing individual agency launches.The list of agencies established or to be established by 5 April 1993 is:

	Staff1
Accounts Services Agency	85
ADAS Agency	2,280
Army Base Repair Organisation2	3,800
Building Research Establishment	700
Cadw (Welsh Historic Monuments)	245
Central Office of Information3	620
Central Science Laboratory	375
Central Statistical Office	1,235
Central Veterinary Laboratory	615
Chemical and Biological Defence Establishment	600
Chessington Computer Centre2 3	450
Child Support Agency2	3,500
Civil Service College	230
Companies House3	1,035
Compensation Agency4	150
Defence Analytical Services Agency	130
Defence Operational Analysis Centre	175
Defence Postal and Courier Services	485
Defence Research Agency3	11,260
Directorate General of Defence Accounts	2,460
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency	4,450
Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency4	260
Driving Standards Agency	1,900
Duke of York's Royal Military School	95
DVOIT	480
Employment Service	44,610
Fire Service College3	285
Forensic Science Service	615
Government Property Lawyers2	130
Her Majesty's Prison Service2	37,420

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will make a statement on the future of the Health and Safety Executive's electrical equipment certification service.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what legislation would be necessary to privatise the electrical equipment certification service; and if he will make a statement.

Following a recent consultants' report, which recommended privatisation of the electrical equipment certification service, the future of the service is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive and the Health and Safety Commission.Privatisation would require primary legislation and we will be seeking parliamentary approval for powers which would enable privatisation to proceed.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether unemployed people who have once been required to attend either a Restart course or a jobplan workshop, and who have complied with that requirement, are free from a subsequent requirement to attend such a workshop or course in a particular spell of unemployment; and if she will make a statement.

It is not our intention that people should be required to attend more than one Restart course or more than one jobplan workshop within a spell of unemployment if they have already been required to attend and have completed the full programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment who were the successful bidders for the contracts for jobplan workshops—JWPC/B93/12—and Restart courses—RCC/B93/11; what criteria were used for the selection of the successful tenders; and whether the lowest tenders were accepted.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how engagement in an industrial tribunal hearing affects the state benefit status of the applicant.

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Employment Service agency under its chief executive. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what will be the benefit entitlement of unemployed people who take up places on (a) the learning for work programme and (b) the community action programme; in what ways these will differ from the situation of those who join training for work; and if she will make a statement.

People participating in learning for work and community action will receive an allowance equal to their unemployment benefit and/or income support entitlement when unemployed. Community action participants will receive an additional premium of £10 a week. In each case their eligibility for other social security benefits will be the same as that of training for work participants.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated cost to British industry of the implementation of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

At the time of the drafting of these regulations, the Health and Safety Executive estimated that the quantifiable costs to employers would be in the order of £250,000 per annum at 1988 prices.Employers who were already complying with existing legal requirements regarding the maintenance of electrical equipment should not have found it necessary to incur additional charges in order to comply with these regulations.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what is the unemployment figure for the travel-to-work area of the city of Liverpool in figures and percentage terms at the latest available date; and if he will make a statement.

In February 1993, unadjusted claimant unemployment in the Liverpool travel-to-work area was 73,996 or 15·2 per cent. of the work force. This is 29 per cent. lower than in June 1986, when claimant unemployment in the region was at its peak.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what steps she plans to improve the unemployment situation in the city of Liverpool; and if she will make a statement.

The overall policy of the Department is to promote a free and flexible labour market that is designed to help encourage employment in Liverpool, as in all areas. In addition, the Department provides a range of employment and training programmes and local initiatives, through the Employment Service and training and enterprise councils, to help people increase their skills, and equip themselves for work. From April 1993, this range of measures is being enhanced and expanded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many applications by professional cricketers for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom have been (a) granted and (b) refused to date in 1993; what changes have been made this year to the criteria for granting work permits; which British cricketing organisations were consulted about policy changes for granting work permits; and if she will make a statement;(2) how many work permits were issued by the overseas labour section to cricketers to play cricket in the United Kingdom in each year since 1990; how many applications for work permits were

Information about the number of work permits issued by the overseas labour section for cricketers to play in Great Britain is not available. Work permits are issued only to cricketers who have experience of playing first-class cricket in their own country and who it is considered will not take employment away from resident players. The terms and conditions on offer have to be equivalent to those which apply to resident players.The Department has a consistent policy with regard to the issue of work permits for cricketers. The criteria have not changed and, following discussions with the League Cricket Conference, Test and County Cricket Board, National Cricket Association and the Scottish Cricket Union, no changes are envisaged.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment on what basis Indian and Pakistani nationals who are professional cricketers are judged to be qualified to apply for work permits to play cricket in the United Kingdom; how many appeals against refusal to grant a work permit have been lodged this year, to date; and how many appeals (a) have been upheld, (b) have been dismissed and (c) are awaiting decision.

Applications to employ professional cricketers who are Indian and Pakistani nationals are considered on the same basis as those for players from any other country. Information about appeals against decisions to refuse applications for cricketers is not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the number of prosecutions made in each EC country for breaches in each country's health and safety legislation and the total fines realised in each of the last three years.

[holding answer 30 March 1993]: The information is not available in the form requested. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has carried out a comparison of accident statistics in France, Italy, Germany and Spain compared with the United Kingdom. The conclusions were published in 1991 in "Workplace Health and Safety in Europe", a copy of which is in the Library.During the United Kingdom presidency, we gave prominence to the need for a more consistent approach to the implementation and enforcement of EC legislation, including directives on health and safety. A comparison of sanction arrangements in member states would be useful in this context. We would hope that the Commission could include such a study in its future work programme.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how many prohibition notices were issued against employers in 1990–91 and 1991–92 relating to the control of noise at work for each of them geographical areas of (a) the factory inspectorate, (b) the agricultural inspectorate and (c) the quarries inspectorate; and what were the penalties in each case.

Requirements made under the Noise at Work Regulations on Prohibition Notices1 issued against by the Health and Safety Executive's Executive's (HSE) Factory, Agricultural and Quarries Inspectoral during 1990–91 and 1991–922
HSE area	Factory inspectorate		Agricultural inspectorate		Quarries inspectorate
	1990–91	1991–923	1990–91	1991–923	1990–91	1991–923
South West	—	—	—	—	—	—
South	—	—	—	—	—	—
South East	—	—	—	—	—	—
Greater London	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Anglia	—	—	—	—	1	—
Northern Home Counties	—	—	—	—	—	—
East Midlands	6	15	—.	—	—	—
West Midlands	—	—	—	—	—	—
Wales	3	—	1	—.	—	—
Marches	—	—	—	—	—	—
North Midlands	1	—	—	—	—	—
South Yorkshire and Humberside	1	—	—	—	—	—
West and North Yorkshire	—	—	—	—	—	—
Greater Manchester	—	—	—	—	—	—
Merseyside	4	1	—	—	—	—
North West	—	—	—	—	—	—
North East	2	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland East	—	—	—	—	—	—
Scotland West	18	10	—	—	—	—
Total	35	26	1	—	1	—
1Includes deferred and immediate prohibition notices.
2Years commencing 1 April.
3Provisional.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will give the full title of the projects and the amount of funding asked for in the applications for EC funding for the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection from March 1992 to February 1993.

The United Kingdom received 330 applications, which asked in total for nearly 9·8 mecu. I shall place a list of the project titles in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment which projects related to the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection, have received an EC grant of 1 million ecu or more.

None in the United Kingdom.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the outcome of the individual projects supported with regard to improving the health, safety or welfare of employees at work during the European Year of Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection 1992–93; and if she will make a statement.

The United Kingdom is currently contributing to the European Commission's final assessment of the year, which will include information about EC-supported projects. It will be published in October 1993 and I shall place a copy in the Library. In

Prohibition notices do not impose explicit penalties. They are issued when there is a risk of serious personal injury. They require specified remedial action to be taken, usually immediately, to comply with the relevant statutory provisions.The following requirements were made on prohibition notices issued during the periods 1990–91 and 1991–92.making recommendations for EC funding, the United Kingdom sought to support practical initiatives to improve health and safety in the workplace.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what her Department forecasts to be the size of the Greater London labour force in 2000; and what it forecasts to be the total number of jobs available in the capital in the same year.

In the year 2000, the civilian labour force in Greater London is projected to be 3,485,000. The Department does not make forecasts of employment or unemployment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment if she will list the number of employees in employment in the Greater London area in each main sector for each year since 1979.

The information is available from September 1981 from the NOMIS database in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what plans she has to improve safety inspection arrangements for domestic gas boilers and flues in holiday homes available for commercial rent.

The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1984 cover the installation, maintenance and use of most domestic gas appliances. However, they do not require landlords to service such appliances in their properties. The regulations are currently under review and the Health and Safety Commission is expected to publish a consultative document later in the year.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the "Treasury Private Finance Guidance" published on 9 December 1992.

Our early examination of how the Government's private finance initiative might be pursued within the Lord Chancellor's Department has not identified any immediate possibilities for joint ventures, and our present leasing of equipment from the private sector falls outside the scope of the initiative. We will continue to seek the most efficient means of financing procurement and capital projects, including the possibility of private sector investment.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many women recorders and assistant recorders there are.

As at 1 March 1993, there were 41 female recorders out of a total of 828 and 50 female assistant recorders out of a total of 428.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many ethnic minority recorders and assistant recorders there are.

The ethnic origin of applicants for judicial appointment was not recorded prior to the autumn of 1991 so the available information may not be complete. As at 1 March 1993 there were, however, 10 recorders out of a total of 828 and seven assistant recorders out of a total of 428 who are believed to be of ethnic minority origin.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will introduce legislation to abolish the liability of original losses, by virtue of privity of contract, for the defaults of assignees of their lease.

I refer to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Hendry) on 31 March 1993, Official Report, column 197.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many circuit judges are aged over 65 years.

As at 1 March 1993, there were 490 circuit judges in post. Of these, 101 had passed their 65th birthday.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many circuit judges have already completed 15 years' service.

As at 1 March 1993, 61 out of the 490 circuit judges in post had completed 15 years' service as circuit judges.

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of land acreage in England and Wales is currently owned by trusts located outside the United Kingdom.

The Land Registry does not maintain statistics relating to registered land acreage or to the purpose or nature of business of registered proprietors. To obtain the information requested would involve an inspection of each specific registration and this could be done only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Attorney-General when the Law Officers Departments last conducted surveys of (a) ethnic origins and (b) the number of women among their employees; when they next plan to do so; and whether he will make a statement.

The position in the Departments for which I am responsible is as follows:

(a) survey of ethnic origins—the Crown prosecution service conducted a survey in January 1990, which was followed up in June 1990 and December 1991. In the next few months, the service will be resurveying those who have not yet submitted a questionnaire. All new entrants to the service are required to complete a questionnaire on application. The Treasury Solicitor's Department last conducted a survey in January 1993 and the next survey will be in January 1994. The Serious Fraud Office has not conducted a specific survey, and has no plans to do so, as the information is available from staff records.

(b) Survey of the number of women—neither the Crown prosecution service nor the SFO undertakes, or plans to undertake, particular surveys of the sex of staff, as the information is available from staff records. The Treasury Solicitor's Department last conducted a survey in January 1993 and the next survey will be in January 1994.

Neither survey has been conducted, or is planned to be conducted, in respect of members of the legal secretariat, as they are on secondment from other Government Departments.

To ask the Attorney-General what steps he has taken to recruit women, members of ethnic minorities and disabled people, respectively, in top grades of employment at the Law Officers' Departments.

Recruits to the senior grades—as to any grade in the civil service—are selected on merit on the basis of fair and open competition, unless one of the exceptions permitted under the Civil Service Order in Council 1991 applies. Various steps have been taken by the Civil Service Commissioners to aid recruitment from all sectors of the community including extending links with institutions of higher education; equal opportunities training for those involved in selection; and using validated selection procedures.

To ask the Attorney-General how many and what percentage of officers in each grade from 1 to

Grade	Women		Ethnic		Registered disabled
	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
Crown Prosecution Service
1	1	(100)	—	—	—	—
2	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	—	—	—	—	—	—
5	2	(3·4)	1	(1·9)	—	—
6	26	(12·9)	2	(1·3)	—	—
7	922	(45·3)	67	(5·6)	10	(0·5)
Overall (All)	4,002	(61·2)	272	(6·2)	46	(0·7)
Treasury Solicitor's Department
1	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	1	(50)	—	—	—	—
3	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	1	(25)	—	—	—	—
5	10	(23)	1	(2)	—	—
6	12	(19)	1	(2)	—	—
7	28	(35)	7	(9)	—	—
Overall (All)	190	(37)	57	(11)	8	(2)
Serious Fraud Office
1	—	—	—	—	—	—
2	—	—	—	—	—	—
3	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	—	—	—	—	—	—
5	2	(16·6)	—	—	—	—
6	5	(35·7)	1	(7·1)	—	—
7	3	(30)	—	—	—	—
Overall (All)	65	(45·5)	14	(9·8)	—	—

Members of the legal secretariat will be reflected, as appropriate, in the records of the Government Departments from which they are seconded.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment which local authorities have sold off all of their council housing stock.

To date, a total of 21 local authorities have disposed of all, or the vast majority, of their housing stock through large-scale voluntary transfers. The councils concerned are listed in the table. Those marked with an asterisk no longer have any council housing stock other than hostels or part shares in dwellings sold under shared ownership schemes.

• Breckland DC^∗
• Broadland DC^∗
• Bromley LBC^∗
• Chiltern DC^∗
• Christchurch DC^∗
• East Cambridgeshire DC^∗
• East Dorset DC
• Medina DC
• Mid Sussex DC
• Newbury DC
• North Bedfordshire DC

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average band C council tax in Conservative-controlled, Labour-controlled and Liberal-controlled local authorities.

The average headline band C council tax in areas under Conservative control is £456. This is £107 lower than the corresponding figure for Labour areas and £19 lower than the corresponding figure for Liberal areas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, for each of the last five years, the duration, value and nature of contracts awarded by his Department to Arthur Andersen, Andersen Consulting, KPMG Peat Marwick McLintock, Touche Ross, Ernst and Young and Pice Waterhouse.

The information requested is not held centrally by my Department and can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he now proposes to review the housing figure of 7,500 in the Solihull unitary development plan originally recommended in the west midlands strategic guidance of February 1988; and if he will make a statement.

The strategic guidance for the west midlands, published in February 1988, establishes the level of new housing completions to be provided in individual unitary development plans between April 1988 and March 2001. The Secretary of State considers that it is not the role of those individual plans to review the strategic guidance figures. Such a review will be carried out in the context of regional guidance for the west midlands, which the Secretary of State intends to publish during 1994.The inspector into the Solihull unitary development plan endorsed this approach. However, in examining the level of housing supply needed to meet the figure of 7,500, he concluded that further sites should be identified, and he also indicated that the authority should identify a reasonable amount of further land to meet longer-term development needs. The borough council is considering his recommendations and will publish its response in the form of proposed modifications, which will themselves be open to objection.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been received for the post of chief executive of the Urban Regeneration Agency; when interviews will be held; and who will decide who is to be appointed.

A total of 178 applications have been received. The date for interviews has yet to be set. Lord Walker, as the Urban Regeneration Agency's chairman-designate, will play a leading role in the selection process, and the appointment will be made by the agency when established.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on matters discussed and decisions taken during his recent visit to India.

I visited India from 17 to 21 March in order to underline United Kingdom support for environment conservation measures in India and to emphasise our interest in further co-operation as well as to continue the dialogue with India on international environmental issues.I toured the Western Ghats forestry project in Karnataka state where our Overseas Development Administration is funding the joint management by local people and the authorities of a large forest area. In Delhi, I had constructive and practical discussions with members of the Indian Government on environmental issues, including the important role our two countries are playing in the follow-up to Rio, on possible further joint initiatives in that context, on international co-operation and on the ways in which British industry can collaborate with and work in India, particularly in the context of the Indo-British partnership initiative. I also met environmental scientists and held discussions with leading industrialists.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 11 December 1992, Official Report, columns 835–36, what have been the sources of the representations made to the Energy Efficiency Office recommending the abolition of the client contribution.

My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State has received a number of representations from Neighbourhood Energy Action on the abolition of the client contribution. In addition, letters in support of Neighbourhood Energy Action's request have been received from one hon. Member and the chairman of British Gas.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the future use of Woodgate Valley site A in Birmingham.

The Secretary of State has received three letters objecting to the recommendation to allocate the site for industrial use made by the inspector, who held a public inquiry into Birmingham's unitary development plan between November 1991 and February 1992.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have a formal complaints system for service users; and if he will list them.

This information is not held centrally. The position of individual local authorities will be published in local newspapers next year as part of the Audit Commission's work on local government performance indicators. National information will be published by the commission in 1995.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his Department's policy with regard to planning appeals in respect of existing opencast mining applications; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Erewash (Mrs. Knight), on 25 March, Official Report, columns 714–15.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list, by local authority, the total bid for funding under the housing partnership scheme and indicate the allocation made in cash terms and as a percentage of the bid.

I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are his current plans in relation to legislation for the creation of a new board structure for the administration of national park authorities in England and Wales.

Our policy statement on the national parks, published in January 1992, promised legislation to create independent authorities for the eight national parks in England and Wales currently run as county council committees. I fully recognise the importance of introducing national park legislation at the earliest opportunity and I have repeatedly said that we will do so.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will be receiving a reply to his letter of 1 March on behalf of a constituent and which had been originally sent to the Department of Social Security.

I replied to the hon. Member on 31 March 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans his Department has to enable London to be considered in the future as a suitable city to host the Olympic games.

	Authority's 1993–94 budget	Proposed cap	Original council tax for 2 adult band D dwelling	Council tax reduction implied by proposed cap for 2 adult band D dwelling
	£ million	£ million	£	£
Castle Point	8·470	7·97	625	18
Gloucestershire	316·889	306·61	(474–636)	55
Harlow	17·953	11·20	987	288

The principles that I have adopted for selecting these authorities broadly give effect to the provisional criteria which I announced to the House on 26 November 1992.I consider, on the basis of all the available information, that my proposed caps are reasonable, appropriate and achievable in all the circumstances of the authorities concerned. If the authorities accept my proposed caps new lower bills will be able to be issued without delay.Authorities have 28 days in which to accept or challenge my proposed caps. In the latter case, they must specify an alternative cap, together with their reasons for it. In such circumstances, it is open to me to set the final cap at the level originally proposed or some different

None.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has concluded his consideration of the response from Bolton metropolitan borough council to the notice served on the authority on 29 October 1992 under section 19A of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. and learned Friend has now completed his careful consideration of the response which Bolton has made to the notice served on the authority on 29 October 1992, and has today given a direction under section 19B of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980. The effect of the direction is that the authority is required to demonstrate to the Secretary of State's satisfaction that before the current arrangements come to an end in March 1995, the tendering conditions set out in section 9(4) of the Act, have been complied with before any of this building maintenance work is again assigned to the direct labour organisation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how local authorities have budgeted for 1993–94; what decisions in the light of those budgets he has reached on council tax capping for 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.

This year, the first years of the council tax, all but a tiny minority of authorities have set affordable budgets and council taxes. Only three of 419 English authorities have in my opinion set budgets which are excessive or represent an excessive year-on-year increase.I have designated these three authorities—Castle Point, Gloucestershire, and Harlow—for capping and I have proposed caps as shown in the table.amount. If an authority does not accept my proposed cap I have to set the final cap by order, a draft of which must be approved by the House of Commons.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will exemplify, for a single person on average earnings, what would be the annual liability and the rate in the pound under a local income tax system for each local authority area in England in 1993–94 assuming (a) the budgets which local authorities have set for that year and (b) full resource equalisation.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what steps he has taken to (a) monitor and (b) prevent the import of toxic waste cargo containing dioxin TCDD from Hamburg through Hull to Pontypool;(2) when he now intends to implement a ban on the import of toxic waste from developed countries;(3) what information he has about the proposed importation of toxic waste containing dioxin TCDD from Hamburg through Hull to Pontypool.

[holding answer 26 March 1993]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy) on 30 March, Official Report, column 138.The Government intend to use the EC waste shipments regulation after it applies in May 1994 to reduce, as far as possible, the amount of waste imported for final disposal.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps his Department has taken to implement the private finance initiative announced in the autumn statement on 12 November 1992 and in the Treasury private finance guidance published on 9 December 1992.

The reply that I gave to my right hon. Friend on 17 December 1992, Official Report, column 347, set out the Department's role in supporting the introduction of private finance in schools, further and higher education. The Department is now examining the scope for involving the private sector in the ways suggested by the interim guidance published by the Treasury on 9 December 1992, and the further published guidance on contract energy management—17 February 1993—and joint ventures—16 March 1993.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education (1) what plans he has to allow the introduction of condoms in schools;(2) if he will bring forward proposals to ensure that sex education in schools embraces a moral code and the responsibilities of parenthood.